The Gardener Magazine

The Gardener is a monthly, national magazine dedicated to inspiring gardeners, providing practical advice and showing step-by-step garden projects. Our monthly features include garden design, in-depth plant features, growing vegetables and herbs, water gardening, garden wildlife and pets, specialist plant articles and much more. We have an extensive database on our website that is growing daily.

Welcome

FRESH PICKS AND CLIPS

LETTERS

COVER STORIES

Spring DELIGHT • A gracious farmhouse in Kloof, KwaZulu-Natal, is the epitome of adaptive living and innovative gardening.

Potting BENCHES • A potting bench is more than just a place to repot plants – it’s the gardener’s workstation, a hub of creativity, and a practical solution for organising tools and supplies. Whether you’re an avid plant lover or a weekend gardener, having a dedicated space makes gardening more efficient, comfortable, and enjoyable.

THE GARDENER’S GEMS Boodles Raindance • Mesmerising… gardens that tip the scales, gardens that move and are seamless, these are only some of the outstanding showstoppers Chelsea had to offer this year. From the main show gardens providing pure theatre, and the smaller show gardens which graced the side avenue, to the imposing Karoo Succulent installation, we have hand-picked a few sparklers.

GCA HOME STORE AND CONSUMER CHOICE AWARDS • The Garden Centre Association presents the awards for this year’s independent garden centres and home stores with an exciting new programme – the mystery shopper.

WHAT TO PLANT NOW

Blazing colour for October • Known for their vivid blooms and ability to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, salvias and bidens thrive in sunny spots and are perfect for borders, containers or hanging baskets. Together, they provide a summer splash of colour with minimal effort.

Fynbos for everywhere • Modern fynbos varieties have no boundaries and will grow happily in winter- and summer-rainfall regions. Plant them now!

Chic and trendy • Our old favourites just got an upgrade, meet the new hybrids.

Clematis ‘Ithemba’ • An even more beautiful story backs up this beautiful new clematis cultivar.

Wisteria in bloom • An old-fashioned plant with mind-blowing beauty at this time of year…

Guardian Angel Angelonias

Protek’s all-around care for Roses

Unique Utopia

Be nice!

Pink pompon trees for small gardens

IN THE FOOD GARDEN

8 veggie garden secrets for success • If you need some inspiration on how to improve a lacklustre veggie garden, this article is for you. Here are my eight ways to get the most out of your food garden.

The fragrance of NUTMEG • It’s time to try something new in the herb garden.

Grow a pineapple in a pot

Sowing Guide October

Subscribe and win! • Subscribe this month and you could win a GARDENA Lawnmower and Trimmer Combo – the perfect pair to keep your garden looking its best.

THINGS TO DO IN THE GARDEN

Supercharge the soil for planting • A plant will grow itself as long as it has everything it needs, and that means putting everything into the soil to give it what it needs.

Pick lemons for lemonade • It can take 3-5 years for a lemon tree to produce lemons, but once you have one, or two, or more, you can harvest every year for decades.

Plant Amaryllis this month • Amaryllis is one of those bulbs that are easy to care for and grow so well in an indoor setting. Everyone should grow these, especially for the upcoming festive season. There are several ways to grow these bulbs and a few tips to get it right.

Ptyelus grossus

Time to repot carnies

Keeping lawn weeds at bay • It’s a familiar story: you’ve spent a...