Beautifying your surroundings

Many citizens who now have their own homes also have a desire to beautify their surroundings.

But before they do, homeowners need to decide what kind of garden they would like, based on what they can afford: Do they also want indoor plants? Do they want flowering or non-flowering plants or some of both? Do they want annuals or perennials?

Once they would have answered these questions, homeowners can begin putting their gardens together.

Things to note:

20131117peggy* Take care to choose the right plant for the right spot. Spend some time examining the plant and get advice on whether it thrives in hot sunshine or in the shade. Buy plants from reputable garden centres, nurseries or plant shops, where advice is available.

* When selecting plants choose bushy specimens, rather than those with long stems and few leaves that look spindly and bare. Ask the name of the plant and how to care for it. Information on plant care is available online, but it’s necessary to have the correct name of the plant to access the right information.

* Check for pests and diseases under the leaves as well as on top. Care ought to be taken when transporting plants to their new locations. Allow them time to adjust to their new surroundings. After transplanting them, make sure you water them.

Until next week, happy gardening!