Ask The Expert

QUESTION: Hi Tanya I desperately want to grow lawn on a shaded area for this summer. I saw some law-seeds being sold at Builder’s Warehouse and wasn’t sure about the result. What would you suggest I do? Buy the lawn blocks or try out those seeds? Regards Terry-Joburg TANYA REPLIES: Hi Terry This is a […]

Question: Hi Tanya, I have sprayed Kombat Wipe-out none selective foliar control of annual and perennial grasses and broadleaved weeds onto my lawn to get rid of winter grass my whole lawn has now gone brown can I save it or must I replace the lawn. Regards Anthony TANYA REPLIES: Oh my word, well as […]

Question: Hi there would like to know what plants to plant in a front garden. I live in Muizenberg Cape Town and the soil is sea sand, I bought a few plants they have all died and I’m clueless as to what plants would be appropriate for this area.Please help. Candice – Muizenberg Tanya replies: […]

Dear Tania.  My beautiful green mint just died overnight. My soil needs help. It is very stony. When do I use kraal manure? How do I use worm compost? My strawberries don’t grow well. I suppose what I’m asking is, how do I improve my soil. Thank you sincerely Poppy TANYA REPLIES: Dear Poppy: Here […]

Viewers often send in questions to Tanya Visser, presenter of the gardening show – The Gardener. Below are some of the questions below sent in by our viewers.

What to do this week: Trim Hedges This is an opportune time to give your hedge a last prune before winter because the next time you are going to touch them again is in spring. The most important thing to remember when pruning is the hedge needs to be square, from the top to bottom. […]

Plant seeds to fill empty gaps in the garden Fill in the empty spaces left behind when you removed your summer colour by planting seeds. Right now is a fantastic time to plant Namaqualand daises. They are available in mixed packets and if you follow the instructions of the packet you can’t go wrong. Plant […]

Tanya visits the Oranjezicht City Farm project to see how a group of individuals have brought the community together to grow veggies and herbs and transformed a once neglected part of the city into edible greens. She also takes a short trip to Shadowlands wholesale nursery to see how veggies and herbs are propagated.  Tanya […]

This episode is all about grasses; how they can be used to give a garden a desired certain look and as well as some of the new varieties available. Tanya travels to Bristlecone nursery to meet with owner and grower Leon Scholtz who show her two ways to grow grasses and make more for the […]

Tanya talks perennials as she visits a colourful garden in KwaZulu-Natal that showcases the splendour and beauty of these plants as well as the qualities they possess that make them a firm favourite with gardeners, she then chats to Jenny Howells from Blackwood nursery about the propagation of perennials. Ofcourse- what to do in this […]

Cyclamen plants are blooming at the moment giving you gorgeous winter colour. Remove any old flowers and stems on the plant and don’t overwater them. Fix lawn patches by planting grass plugs – these are easy to do and available at your local garden centre Fill up the empty spaces in your garden beds with […]

Tips: Use this time to prune overgrown trees that are perhaps hanging over into you neighbours yard or even in your own garden. This action not only keeps them neat and tidy but also revives them. Don’t forget to keep the lawn edges nicely trimmed and manicured. Edging shears work best for this activity. Just […]

Tips Prune all plants that have finished flowering in the garden to rejuvenate them and encourage new growth. You need to dead head any flowering winter annuals such as pansies – to make sure that they carry on flowering and giving you brilliant colour

What to do: Even if its winter, you can still have a continuous supply of fresh herbs by planting frost sensitive herbs such as basil and rocket in containers. Use coconut husk as a planting medium for optimal results. It’s available at garden centres in a block form. You will have to soak it into […]

It’s almost the middle of winter and many aloes are flowering at the moment. Keep an eye out for diseases such scales that tend to be a nuisance when it comes to aloes and other succulents. There are a number of products on the market that can be used, all you need to do is […]

The end of June signals the beginning of the rose pruning season. This will encourages growth and the health of your roses.  For step by step guidelines in rose pruning; visit www.thegardener.co.za Winter is the time when grass slows down in growth but the weeds thrive as they love the cooler temperatures. A way to […]

Spray your lemon tree with an insecticide to get rid of pests Make sure that you are using a insecticide that is for edible crops. Start a garden bed to plant up plants that will flower when the season changes. Remember to add some compost to the soil. Always add a bit of bone meal […]

If you love gardening, but are looking for ways to take it to the next level, then join Tanya Visser for a brand new season of The Gardener. Loaded with spades full of new ideas, Tanya shares fun DIY projects, practical tips and even some of her favourite recipes. In her Potting Shed is where […]