Innholdsfortegnelse for 2018 i Home

No stone unturned We love the sandstone craftsmanship of Louise and Manfred Vietze’s home in Stilbaai. The stone comes from the surrounding area and together with the ornate metal railing and combination of wood, pale blue shutters and grey window surrounds, the home exudes a charming, romantic atmosphere. When the Vietzes decided to build a guest cottage on their property for when their children visit, they had to plan carefully in order to adhere to the heritage stipulations of the municipality (the house is more than 100 years old). “There was quite a lot of chopped stone available, but we still had to get more. Fortunately, expert stonemasons helped us carve the new stone,” says Manfred. True blue Jill and Craig Marion have jazzed up an alcove in one of…

[1] BRAAI TIME! Keen entertainers Magdel and Charl van den Berg of Somerset West have transformed their old lapa into a cosy braai room, ideal for laid-back get-togethers. By enclosing it, they gained a space where they can braai and socialise – even in winter! Botanical textiles, a variety of plants and rustic textures create an outdoor feel, while lounge-style furniture pieces echo the décor in the rest of the Van den Bergs’ home. What Magdel loves most about the space is that they can throw open the doors in summer and make the most of the stoep, while in winter they can close up and enjoy stormy weather from the comfort of their couch. In your own style… Magdel shares her tips for adding that personal touch to your…

TANK #1 Industrial chic Pretty enough for the front garden! Although a steel tank is considerably more expensive than a water tank typically made of polyethylene plastic, it was the contemporary look of this tank that convinced Wilhelm van der Hoven and Waldimar Pelser to dig a little deeper into their pockets. The 4 000L tank from Aquadam with its slimline design was also ideal for their small property in the Cape Town city centre. “The colour works well and it complements our home,” says Wilhelm. “We love it just as it is, which is why we have no intention of hiding it away. The brightly-coloured bougainvillea also goes well with the grey.” It was quite a challenge to get the steel tank into their yard because, unlike a plastic…

Mother Nature has a way of shedding that which is superfluous at just the right time. And when gardening, we tend to lend a helping hand by pruning out dead or damaged branches at certain times of the year. The timing of your pruning influences your plant’s reaction. Plants pruned in late winter and early spring produce plenty of new growth, while those pruned in summer will fruit and flower more prolifically. Summer pruning also extends the flowering season and even merely deadheading is a form of pruning that will prolong flowering. Pruning is largely determined by when the plant flowers and whether the flowers are carried on old or new branches. Some shrubs bloom on branches produced the previous season, others on new growth. Plants that bloom on old…

Clifford’s veggie garden was started in 2009 with a small raised wooden bed on top of the asphalt tennis court. “It was 1.5 x 1.5m and 300cm deep but I quickly learnt that the asphalt was too hot for the plants so very few of them thrived,” he explains. “I then did a three-week permaculture course through Cape Town-based organisation Seed and used the information to design my garden in harmony with nature. “Using nature as the blueprint, I mapped out my space based on where the shadows from the trees fall, which plants need more or less sun and where the rainwater flows and runs off. I also positioned water tanks strategically to collect excess water.” Clifford began digging beds into the 20cm-deep court. “I waited for hot days…

The archway at the entrance is the first thing we see when we arrive at home, so I wanted it to lift our spirits.– Thelma [1] Pot luck The entrance to Willouw Deacon and Thelma Schempers’ Greyton home features an ornate security gate at the front door. The pair didn’t want to break the bank by making any structural changes, so they opted for a quick, budget-friendly solution to create a striking new look: a lick of paint and a decorative installation of potted succulents above the arch was just the ticket. “We envisaged a more accentuated entrance and wanted to create depth,” says Thelma. When visiting the popular farm Babylonstoren near Franschhoek, Thelma spotted potted plants above the entrance to the Scented Room. There, the terracotta pots were planted…

When the Merbold family renovated their dated Pretoria home in 2010, the impressive transformation drew attention to the fact that the surrounding garden and yard were also in need of an extensive makeover. But the cost of the renovation had taken its toll. “We did quite a lot to our home; I even established my new practice on our property,” says Rouxlene, a medical doctor and owner of Rejive Skin & Body Clinic. “So my husband suggested that we first recover from 10 months of expenses!” Two years later, they were finally ready for the next transformation. They enlisted the help of a landscaping company to assist with the design. They had just started creating the beds, laying stepping stones and installing irrigation when the owner emigrated and the company…

Climbing plants offer many advantages: they’re great for adding a vertical dimension to your garden when planted against a wall, for defining various spaces when wrapped around an arbour, for softening hard lines or covering unsightly areas, and they can create lovely shade when grown over a pergola. They’re also ideal for attracting a variety of wildlife such as birds, bees and butterflies to your garden. Some are slow to grow and if it’s cover you want in your garden – and quickly – JJ van Rensburg of Garden World in Johannesburg suggests these prolific growers… Three fast-growers FOR WALLS #1 TICKEY CREEPER (Ficus pumila) While this climber is slow-growing at first, it eventually grows prolifically, attaching itself to any nearby porous vertical surface. It also works well as a…

Mulch is also important in winter, especially in areas that get severe frost as it helps to keep the plants’ roots warm. The hot summer weather can dry out your garden’s soil quicker than you realise, causing plants to wilt. This is why mulch is especially important in new gardens where groundcovers have not yet had a chance to cover the soil. However, mulch is also vital for established gardens because: • It keeps the soil cool. • It prevents the soil from drying out due to evaporation and prevents water run-off, thus saving water. • It restricts weed growth. • As organic mulch breaks down, the texture of the soil improves; it also provides the soil with nutrients. • It helps earthworms with their work – they will thrive…

January Give roses a deep watering three times a week if no rain has fallen, and mulch well. Now is also a good time to do summer pruning. (Remember, cutting blooms for the vase gives them a trimming.) Fertilise roses at the end of the month and if the weather is very hot, be on the lookout for red spider mite – their presence is often a sign that your roses are not getting enough water. February Deadhead roses regularly and make sure the soil around them remains moist during hot weather. Fertilise once again at the end of the month and keep the plants well mulched. In rainy weather, watch out for black spot and treat accordingly. March Pick roses regularly and deadhead spent blooms – this will ensure…

When Clifford’s veggie garden began producing an abundance of food, he felt the need to share the surplus and his knowledge with others. In 2011, he started a nonprofit company called the Let it Grow Foundation with fellow growers Jayson Fox and Calvin Ncube. “Once I was more in tune with nature, I knew that urban farming was the key to sustainability and food security and felt I needed to share the ‘how to’ of growing veggies with others,” he says. The Let It Grow Foundation runs the urban farm at the Soweto Association of Persons with Disabilities; they not only enjoy their own produce but also sell their surplus to the local community to generate an income.…

WHO LIVES HERE? Saranie and Eddie Harvey and their sons Matthias, Simon and Edward WHERE Rietondale, Pretoria SIZE 50m² When asked which aspect of their deck project she enjoyed the most, Saranie Harvey doesn’t hesitate for a second: “It’s not the before-and-after photos,” she says, “but rather how my husband and three sons worked so well together. It was wonderful to see.” And teamwork it was indeed… “Fortunately, the boys are all amateur rock climbers so it was child’s play for them to put up roof sheeting using safety ropes or to do welding at that height!” says this proud mom, relating the story of how the deck alongside their house was erected – the area that has now become their favourite spot on lazy summer days and balmy evenings.…

[1] Cosy corner SIZE 45m² We featured Home food editor Johané Neilson’s original stoep renovation in the 2014 issue of Yard. In last year’s issue, landscaper Pietman Diener shared his ideas on what she and hubby Allister should do with the rest of this part of their property. And here’s the end result – just right for little Zac who has since made his appearance! The project 1 The neighbour’s beautiful thorn tree that casts shade over the wall resulted in the grass becoming very straggly and dying back, so the back garden was divided in two: a decorative cement slab where the Neilsons can braai and entertain, and a patch of artificial grass (about 20m²) next to it. Once the artificial grass was laid, it was neatly finished off…

Always choose healthy plants for dividing. If you use diseased plants or those that haven’t flowered well, the new plants will probably never reward you with a good show – much like the mother plant. Multiply your plants by dividing them. This can be done at any time of the year, but a good guideline is: divide perennials that bloom in spring in late summer or early autumn, and those that flower in summer and autumn after winter before the growing season begins again. When you divide your plants, it is also an ideal opportunity to work compost into the soil. Plant them immediately after dividing them and water well. Choose plants with strong root systems – those with sparse roots will take much longer to become established. Here’s how……

For Clifford Rosen, the decision to convert an abandoned tennis court on his property into a food garden was an easy one. “I was looking for a sustainable and healthy way to grow food for my family so I could become self-sufficient in the heart of the city,” he explains. “It was crucial for me to grow food that was free of pesticides and harmful chemicals; through online research and talking to friends and fellow growers, I discovered the permaculture method. A permaculture garden is organic by nature and must have a minimal impact on the surrounding environment by conserving water, energy, resources and the soil. “I’ve been asked if digging up the tennis court was wise – and my answer is a firm yes. The asset of a food-producing…

Pickled jalapeño chillies Wear plastic gloves when you cut chillies – if the juice comes into contact with your skin and you accidentally touch your face, you’ll be reduced to tears. Makes 2 small jars Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes • 250ml vinegar• 125ml castor sugar• 5ml pickling spices• 5ml salt• 12 jalapeño peppers, washed and sliced Mix the vinegar, sugar, spices and salt in a small saucepan and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to the boil and add the chillies. Cook for a minute. Remove the peppers with a slotted spoon and place in sterilised jars; top up with the hot pickling brine. Seal while hot and allow to cool. Refrigerate until needed. Tip Any chillies or a combination of chillies can be pickled.…

PROJECT #1 Herb planter Build a box for growing your own healthy ingredients and place it conveniently close to the kitchen. SHOPPING LIST • pallet wood (± 20 x 90mm) cut to: eighteen 1 000mm lengths four 210mm lengths eight 400mm lengths five 1 040mm lengths • pallet support beams (± 40 x 75mm) cut to: three 350mm lengths • one hundred and twenty 6mm x 40mm chipboard screws • 120-grit sandpaper • 1.5m weed control fabric TOOLS • cordless drill and 3mm drill bit • pencil • jigsaw • tape measure • 16mm spade bit • square ruler • staple gun • sharp knife QUICK PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 3/10 Skill level 3/10 Time needed ± 2 hours Finished size ± 1 000 (H) x 1 000 (W) x…