Botanica Nursery Organic gardening solutions.

Botanica Nursery Organic gardening solutions. This is a business that has been around for more than 50 years, specializing in landscaping and renovations of gardens

Started in 1963 as a wholesale business specializing in production and sale of indoor plants and collector's plants from all over the world. Diversified into outdoor plants and landscaping in 1987, offering a full landscaping design service including irrigation installations, renovation of existing gardens, and maintenance service for domestic and corporate clients. Further diversification in the

late 1980 saw the introduction of plant decor hire for functions such as weddings and corporate functions. Corporate clients were mainly the platinum mines of the North West, Gauteng and Limpopo, but also the SABC, several government departments and large hotels. Due to our ever present problem with a reliable water source and the nearby squatter camp, and the death of one of the partners, we decided to close the nursery in 2008, and relocate to Pretoria. The decision was not a success due to the start of the recession in South Africa, so the nursery finally closed down in November 2009. The business continues to function as a landscaping design and irrigation service, garden renovation service and maintenance service for clients within the Gauteng region.

16/09/2016

NOTE TO ORGANIC GARDENERS: With the haet of summer already upon us, donèt forget to mulch your flower beds with a thick layer of leaves and lawn clippings to save water and keep your soil moist and the root zone cool. As some Agricultural lime every few months to help decomposition. Enjoy your garden.

HOW CONSTANT DIGGING AND SCATCHING IN FLOWER BEDS HARMS YOUR SOIL:Traditional gardening dictates that there must be cons...
12/08/2016

HOW CONSTANT DIGGING AND SCATCHING IN FLOWER BEDS HARMS YOUR SOIL:
Traditional gardening dictates that there must be constant digging and scatching around the garden to "AIRATE" the soil!?!?!?
This has been prooved to be a very old myth.
What happens when you constantly dig or scratch when "there is no itch" as it were, is the following:
1/ Constant trampling by feet to the soil to lossen the soil causes compaction and damage to the root structures of plants and even trees.
2/ Constant digging depletes the soil moisture content through evaporation.
3/ Mocro-organisms are exposed to air and light killing them off. Most of these mocro-organisms break down organic matter so that it is once again available for plants to take up and use, and are thus no longer in the soil.
4/ Digging when not neccessary, also promotes the sowing of w**d seeds that are always present. Weeds are pioneer plants and generally only grow in disturbed soil, and have a harder time growing in undisturbed soil.
5/ Nutrients such as nitrogen are lost by evaporation causing plants to become yellow.
6/ Due to constant digging and scratching of the soil surface also indirectly causes leeching of all nutrients from the soil simply due to the fact that more water is always needed to maintain moisture levels.
7/ Removal of all organic materials before digging also changes the structure of the soil and stops soil retaining water.
8/ Ph or acidity/ alcalinity levels are also changed by lack of organic materials and by unneccesary soil disturbance.
Next time you feel the urge to dig for no apparent reason, STOP, make a cup of tea and mow the lawn instead. Your soil will be very happy indeed, and your garden will rejoice!!
Nature created things the way they are for a reason, and the faster we go back and simply LOOK AT NATURE, the faster we will learn that what nature intended is always there for a very simple reason!!!
Remember always......YOU DIG TO PLANT, you DO NOT dig for fun!!!.....unless you are a miner or an archiologist that is!!!!
Have a great day gardening the way nature intended!!!!

Been busy for years trying to fill this very difficult acidic shaded area with colour, and some years ago bought these a...
12/08/2016

Been busy for years trying to fill this very difficult acidic shaded area with colour, and some years ago bought these as a test.....divided them last year and this year they are beautiful!!!! Guess the name! Note the heavy layer of organic materials to keep things moist and well fed!

More Canadian ideas. With some effort, and adhering to organic principals, even this is possible without breaking the ba...
11/08/2016

More Canadian ideas. With some effort, and adhering to organic principals, even this is possible without breaking the bank! Regular automated watering will be essentail though for the best results! Be creative and most of all have fun doing it!! ENJOY! NOTE: A garden like this will require ingenuity and possibly a shadier spot that would be the case in Canada, especially in the hot mid and afternoon sun!

I was for many years an advocate for succulents, growing and collecting and trying (generally unsuccessfully to use them...
11/08/2016

I was for many years an advocate for succulents, growing and collecting and trying (generally unsuccessfully to use them in gardens, about 15 years ago!). It has taken 15 years for people to learn to appreciate succulents for colour and magnificant display. Take a look at some of these ideas executed around Pretoria over the last few years. TAKE INSPIRATION, AND ENJOY!!! Note: The gardens all make use of a mulch....in most cases it is rock or stones........An alternative way to garden organically and sustainably?!?!?

While in Canada last year, we visited as many gardens as was possible. simply to see how people do things on the other s...
11/08/2016

While in Canada last year, we visited as many gardens as was possible. simply to see how people do things on the other side of the world, and here are some ideas that will definitely work back here at home.......take a look and enjoy. This botanical gardens also works on a sustainable organic principal, and as can be seen, it works for them too.............Take a look and enjoy!!!! These photos display the play of colours.....in this case yellow and purple....easily done back here is South Africa! This is springtime... end May. You will see, that natural landscaping is used wherever possible!

One of our regular gardens of about 600m2, and maintained almost totally organically with ALL garden organic waste going...
11/08/2016

One of our regular gardens of about 600m2, and maintained almost totally organically with ALL garden organic waste going back into the beds, and maintained ONLY 2 hours a week!........summer takes a little longer though with all the hedges! Since we went organic about a year ago, the difference in growth is clearly visable, and maintainance has been reduced by 50% with almost no w**ds and healthier plants. Water useage has dropped with the organic mulch keeping moisture in the soil.

he organic veg garden is bearing "fruit" at last!! The brocolli is ready.....pity its all at once though!!!One of the tr...
10/08/2016

he organic veg garden is bearing "fruit" at last!! The brocolli is ready.....pity its all at once though!!!
One of the trustees also has her own garden.....ORGANIC obviously!!
The next load of leaves, as a mulch, is also ready to be piled on soon!!
Everyone should try this at home!!!

RESPECT?!?!?!What does this mean?In this day and age, it seems that respect is old fashioned to say the least.I started ...
10/08/2016

RESPECT?!?!?!
What does this mean?
In this day and age, it seems that respect is old fashioned to say the least.
I started working at the age of 16 (part time) in the nursery industry, for the love of nature and thinking that I could make a difference in this world of ours. I got the relevant qualifications and studied constantly, ever learning more and more.
Over the years, I saw that what was taught was not always the best solution to a problem.....especially since what was taught was based on Victorian ideals and not what we needed here at the other end of the world. Nature should always be used as the IDEAL, TO BE RESPECTED in all its Glory.
People, the world over like a "Pretty Garden" in the European or Victorian image, but show little respect for nature as God intended.
Respect in general among individuals is also old fashioned it seems, where experience and qualifications in the industry are not respected or seems not to deserve respect. People in this industry are the ones doing natures work where nature has been curbed. We are the ones who see to it that plants do not become extinct, are multiplyed sustainably and teach people respect for nature.
It is never an easy thing to do, BUT be brave and do your thing and most of all BE PROUD OF WHAT YOU DO.
RESPECT YOURSELF, and never get disheartened by people who lack the basic respect for each other and nature as a whole.....some people simply take that much longer to see what we have always seen!!!

I know I hav'nt placed much news for a while, but we are proud to say that as of the 1st of September 2016, we will have...
10/08/2016

I know I hav'nt placed much news for a while, but we are proud to say that as of the 1st of September 2016, we will have gone 99% GREEN in our complex!!!!
1/ For the last 8 years the garden IS GREEN, with 90% of all organic materials recycled back into the garden as mulch and compost making. (the Other 10% being organics too large to compost)
2/ We are on full LED lighting saving about 60% on energy monthly
3/ Due to the organics from the garden.....lawn clippings, leaves etc going back into the garden, we also save a lot in water, with only minimal use of fertilisers on the lawns occationally.
4/ As of the 1st September, we will be recycling all waste......plastic, paper, metal, and glass....this may take a while to get people to do it, but we are heading in the right direction by reducing our carbon foot print in a biggggg way!
I maintain quite a few other gardens, half of which have gone organic with great results, but unfortunately the other half will take longer, IF EVER!?!? to GO GREEN.
South Africa has many chalanges as the powers that be keep telling us, but some people may never try, so set in their ways are they. The Victorians have a lot to be blamed for when it comes to garden change where labour was cheap and it was expected that neatness was a priority, instead of good old common sense!! South Africans have learned from them too.....UNFORTUNATELY......mostly the poorer habits when it comes to gardening!!!!!
Time will tell who was or is wrong and who is right in the big sceme of things......we should be working with nature, not against it to make the world a better place!
Happy Gardening .............Organically!!!!

27/06/2016

So it seems winter has finally arived! Although it is not that cold, there are still things to do to prepare for spring.
1/ Prune roses, fruit trees and grape vines about 2 weeks earlier if the weather holds up like this.....say end june to mid July.
2/ Hybiscus can be reduced by a 3rd
3/ Hydrangeas reduced by one 3rd to a half. The amount you reduce them will depend on your aim. reduction by a 3rd will mean that you will have lots of flowers....more than a 3rd will be more like rejuvinating old plants....they will grow more leaves and fewer flowers.
4/ Cut your lawns down very low....1-2cm and then either top-dress or treat with 2:3:2 to get it started again.....end June to mid July.
5/ Turn your compost over and if ready, use it as a mulch if not already done in the Autumn.
6/ Remember that when gardening sustainably, the aim is NOT to dig around unless you are planting something......the more you didturb the soil, the more damage you do.....NATURE NEVER DIGS AROUND!!
7/ The leaves you added to the beds in the Autumn may need a little bit of lime, so this can also be added sparingly.
8/ Your spring bulbs and seedlings will need a boost with some 2:3:2 or 3:1:5. Organic gardening does not mean that all fertilizer is eliminated, but that it is used to a minimum and sparingly, and preferably using a slow-release bio-carbon fertilizer which does less damage to he environment!!!
9/ Roses are bulk feeders and need a lot of water, so they will need added fertilizer to get them going.
10/ Your deciduous fruits should have been watered throughout the winter months, but need added nutients now to get them going .
11/ Your veg garden needs a good layer of mulch consisting of WELL ROTTED MANURE and COMPOST. Planting Marigolds and Calendula between your veg, really does help to suppress pests, and looks pretty too! ( The Calendula are also fun flowers in salads)
12/ Bio-carbon fertilizer is needed in bigger quantities to get better results, but if you have left all leaves in the beds, and added manure regularly, your soil will eventually reach a point where less fertilizer is required as time goes by. Leaves dropping from trees is natures way of recycling, so USE WHAT NATURE GIVES.......DON'T WASTE THEM!!!!!
Have fun and enjoy your garden!!!!

It is officially SPRING!! It has taken long enough, and was gone again almost as soon!!! We did ourusual rounds tree hun...
14/10/2015

It is officially SPRING!! It has taken long enough, and was gone again almost as soon!!! We did ourusual rounds tree hunting, and brought back some photos of what is in flower now....take a look!! I am, and never was exclusively for or against indigenous plants, so the photos are a mix of what makes our city beautiful!! It is said that exotic trees deplete ground water more than indigenous trees, but as far as I have found, all trees use what is available in equal measure and grow accordingly. Some exotics may be more effective at seeking out and using water, but I do not agree that they are to blame entirely for ground water depletion.
The only way to keep our water supplies in check would simply be that we must ALL be responscible gardeners and use plants that are drought tolerant and thus need less water, be they trees or other plants.

Address

Muckleneuk
Pretoria
0002

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00
Thursday 08:00 - 17:00
Friday 08:00 - 17:00

Telephone

012 3411720

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Botanica Nursery Organic gardening solutions. posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Botanica Nursery Organic gardening solutions.:

Shortcuts

Share