Cuddled under rich green blankets, with the aroma of roasted tomato soup simmering nearby, garden enthusiasts gathered in Surieta Esterhuizen’s lush Parkrand garden for the May Boksburg Garden Club meeting.

Taking centre stage, Arina Duvenhage of Garden of Eden Garden School shared her wealth of gardening knowledge, paying particular attention to Hydrangea, Camellia, and Azalea.

Armed with pens and dedicated garden journaling notebooks, those in attendance feverishly took notes as Arina outlined how to best cultivate these plants into blooming, flourishing shrubs.

Hydrangea

“Hydrangea are misunderstood plants and are making fewer appearances in gardens as they are deemed old-fashioned,” she said.

“With the wide variants currently available, these are steadily making a comeback and with the right care will adorn gardens with their magnificent blue, lilac and pink hues.”

• Planting and care:
Arina said the success of any plant starts at planting.
“We often buy plants and leave them to stand until the weekend when we have the time to plant them; however, many of us plant dry plants, which jeopardise their growth.
Before planting anything, immerse the roots in water for an hour to ensure any air bubbles have been released.
Also, ensure that the hole dug is fully hydrated.

• Don’t plant flowering plants
Remove the flowers and keep them in a vase in your home.
“By removing the flowers, the plant will signal its growth hormones to stimulate root growth, ensuring better blooms during the next flowering season.”
“When pruning your Hydrangea, the 1/3 rule applies. Prune once it has finished flowering in February in order to stimulate growth and blooming in October and November.”

• Bone meal fertiliser
A common mistake is to add bone meal under plant roots; this prevents essential fungi and organisms from reaching the root systems, thus ensuring optimal nutrient absorption.
Mix bone meal with the soil that you will be planting your plants in to prevent root burn.

• Importance of PH
Municipal water is chemically treated and will neutralise the PH level of the ground.
“Hydrangea loves acidity and a lack thereof will diminish its ability to form full blooms. Products such as mushroom compost will assist in maintaining optimal PH levels.”

Camellia

“These are autumn to winter bloomers; however, certain cultivars prefer semi-shade while others flourish in full sun, so make sure where you plant these.”

“A handy tip to ensure that these plants, as well as other fruit and flower-bearing plants, have well-oxygenated root systems is to plant a 50cm long PVC pipe next to the roots.”

Arina explained that the pipe, which must protrude above ground, will ensure the roots are well oxygenated, create a funnel for deep root watering, and ensure nutrient-rich plant food reaches the heart of the plant.

“This handy trick also speeds up growth among notoriously slow growers and will lead to it donning a floral jacket sooner.”

• Pruning
Regular pruning of Camellias will lead to denser growth and more flowers throughout the season.

Azaleas

It is recommended to buy Azaleas in October, with blooming usually occurring in March and September.
As with Hydrangea, these plants thrive in acidic soil, prefer morning sun, but do not tolerate cold winter winds.

• Water
Azaleas love moisture and it is therefore important to pay attention to it during the dry winter months.
Arina recommends deep root watering.

• Protection against the cold
“A thick layer of mulch offers great root protection against the harsh winter. As a natural insulator, the mulch systematically breaks down, offering vital nutrients to the plant.”

In closing, Arina said that a beautiful garden does not hinge on how much you spend on it.

“Proper deep root watering, organic nutrients and effective pruning will make or break a garden. A garden gives the gardener as much joy as it asks for in return: consistent, quality care.”

The Boksburg Garden Club will meet again in Parkrand on July 8 at 10:00, where Arina will present a practical pruning demonstration focused on roses.

For more information, contact Surieta on 083 271 1852.

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