Agri Kultuur Julie / July 2014 | Page 55

Let your imagination run wild, undersea theme with Gazanias with it. That doesn’t mean that you will necessarily end up with something that looks like the veld. With a bit of imagination, you can create just about any style of garden with indigenous plants. You shouldn’t have any problem finding plants. Most garden centres stock quite a lot of indigenous species. If you are a beginner gardener, you can always ask for a bit of advice. There are even nurseries that specialise in indigenous plants in some areas. Birds love trees, especially when they can get food from them. Euclea undulata Get gardening Remember that indigenous plants like good soil preparation. Sure, they will grow in the local soil as it is, but you want them to thrive and look their absolute best, so use plenty of compost. Although you would not have to water your garden as often as you would if you had used exotics, indigenous plants will do better if given a bit of extra water during dry spells. Mulching is a great way of conserving water and is also good for the Nectar loving birds love orange and red flowers best. Crocosmia aurea health of the soil, so add a good layer of organic material on top of the soil. For rapid, lush growth, light applications of fertilizer definitely make a difference. Garden friends and foes If you would like to turn your garden into a haven for birds, you will want to plant up some trees and large shrubs to give them shelter and you’ll be looking at providing a food source in the form of fruit, seeds and nectar. Plants with fluffy seeds are favourites for nest-lining Halleria lucida flowers attract bird life and so do the fruits