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Life Sandton Shops For: Winter Garden
What should you be doing to warm up your patio or entertainment area this winter? Top South African designers and landscapers are following international trends, which emphasise the importance of creating a warm retreat for family and friends. This can be achieved by installing fire pits and wooden decking as a backdrop to décor comprising large comfortable couches, rugs, scatter cushions and throws in warm winter colours. “Fire pits are brilliant in any garden,” says UK-born Jeremy Elson of The Green Room, who recently moved to South Africa. “They’re great for braaiing and they keep you warm and cosy, chatting late into the evening. We install sunken fire pits with cascading seating decorated with cushions designed to hold in the warmth and create a secluded escape, perfect for hiding away.” “A good fire pit in the right setting is wonderful for heating and cooking,” says Debbie Smit of Foxgloves. “I also love the new gas heaters that are so freely available these days, as well as braziers, which give a delightfully local feel. I always pack small throws on a baker’s rack or over the back of each chair on the patio when we entertain there in winter. It’s wonderful to snuggle under a blanket and socialise. Candles and flares add warmth, as do hot water bottles. Warm colours, such as reds, yellows, oranges and browns, can easily be incorporated into a patio situation through seasonal colour. These colours psychologically warm us up.” Andrew Hecker of Andrew Hecker Garden Design agrees. “The casual look is in, and to achieve this you can build fairly wide and deep bench-lounging areas on the edge of the patio that gets the most sun in winter. If the patio is under cover, then a rug or two on the floor will also create a warmer ambience.”. Timber decking is more appealing than cold slate or paving when it comes to winter entertaining. “We have been converting many patios into timber deck,” says Colin Thompson of Green By Nature. “Decking warms up the patio space through its soft lines and wooden texture. In terms of maintenance it is also very easy and we suggest that it be treated with linseed oil every few months.” Another great idea is to use vertical sleepers on a deck. “We created an ashtray stand out of a sleeper and fixed a bowl on top with sand. This is a great way to deal with smokers on the patio,” adds Thompson. “I would generally keep planters and planting down to a minimum on the patio, so as not to clutter the space. Hanging baskets are fun, but I prefer slim, elegant pots filled with Agave attenuata, pachypodiums or Dracaena species, which have really warm colours and add to the décor of the space.” “The garden does not necessarily stop on the edge of the patio and creating beds in and around the entertainment area softens the hard landscaping,” says Michelle Seddon of Green Creations Landscaping. The indigenous coral tree (Erythrina lysistemon) makes a striking patio tree, as it will let in the sun after losing its leaves and then produce bright orange flowers in late winter. “Since most aloes flower in winter they are great for winter gardens,” says Thompson. “Aloe gardens do not necessarily have to be planted in an African feel but can be used in a contemporary setting. You will not be disappointed by species such as Aloe chabaudii, and a combination of ornamental grasses or Gazania uniflora with aloes is always stunning,” he adds. Choosing shrubs with deep red or gold leaves is always a winner in winter. “The leaves of the miniature sacred bamboo (Nandina domestica ‘Pygmaea’) turn purple in winter, whilst the deep-purple, strappy leaves of Phormium rubrum ‘Nana’ offer a great contrast to ornamental grasses such as the golden Acorus. Red-hot pokers (Kniphofia spp.) and the yellow bulbine offer a profusion of colour in winter and each will look great amongst a group of Carex comans ‘Frosted Curls’,” he adds. “For a winter garden, select companion plants of different sizes that have similar characteristics to create a greater impact,” advises Hecker. “The forest lavender tree (Heteropyxis canescens) and sacred bamboo (Nandina domestica) both have magnificent autumn and winter foliage, and both are neat and tidy plants which keep their shape well without needing clipping. Nandina domestica ‘Fern Flame’ is a hybrid with exceptional crimson red foliage. Contrast this bright colour with a softer green Stachys flexuosa for a hardy winning combination which would look lush throughout winter,” he adds. “Our indigenous plants are in greater demand than ever and combine well with a water-wise approach,” says Seddon. “The bushveld feel is in, but do research the plant’s water requirements and group plants with similar needs together. Grasses are very fashionable, with a diversity of sizes and colours available. If you would like to keep your garden indigenous, go for the winter flowering sage bushes (Buddleja salviifolia and Buddleja auriculata) which have fragrant flowers. Add a lion’s ear (Leonotis leonurus), red-hot pokers and a variety of aloes, all of which give colour to brighten the winter drabness.” “My favourite indoor plant is a cyclamen for winter. They love the cold, bring bright colours into the home and can be used singly or massed. They have a slightly retro feel to them, which is currently all the rage,” says Smit. “I also love to grow paperwhite narcissus hydroponically. They always look elegant,” she adds. Seddon says, “Remember to water indoor plants in winter, as heaters dry the air, reducing the amount of moisture available to the plant. I like peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) for reliability, cyclamen for colour, the leatherleaf fern (Rumohra adiantiformis) for evergreen interest and orchids for that exotic touch.” Thompson says, “I love the low-maintenance dragon plants (Dracaena spp.) when it comes to indoor plants. They create great focal points and you can get lime variegations in their leaves, which add interest.” What are the latest design ideas for homeowners this winter? “I think the most important design principles centre around establishing multi-functionality within our gardens,” says Elson. “Let’s make spaces that we love to use and entertain in, but that also benefit the environment and perhaps provide for the home. I think every little bit helps and it’s important for people to understand that going green doesn’t have to limit the design of the garden. Planting water-wise is great. Using fruit and vegetables in unusual situations gives us the wow factor that we can also eat. Creating a working area in the garden is cool. Establish a compost area or create a wormery to break down unwanted kitchen waste into super-nutritious plant food.” Planting water-wise and going organic is very trendy. “Always look at sustainable materials and eco-friendly solutions,” says Elson. “We build natural swimming pools that are completely chemical free. We also recommend composite and bamboo decking that is sustainable, and when we use natural stone, we source from local quarries to minimise our carbon footprint.” Thompson agrees. “The future of gardening requires simpler planting styles in the complexity of the plant and the variety of species. Climate change is placing more reliance on the ‘old faithful plants’, such as agapanthus, bulbine, daylilies, asparagus ferns and arums, and less reliance on the very hybridised plants, which should be used, but in smaller quantities.” Smit says, “I think the trend is towards creating a holistic, sustainable garden using organics methods, planting for biodiversity and using indigenous species … but all with style.” All designers agree that winter is the best time for renovations and maintenance, such as sanding wooden decks and furniture, resurfacing pools, laying paving and installing water features. One of the latest ideas is to create a pebble-pond water feature, which can be purchased as a kit that includes the pot, fibreglass sump, the plate on which the pot sits, a pump “Winter is also a fantastic time to maintain existing water features,” says Hecker, “as well as feeding the garden and mulching with a thick layer of compost to set the stage for wonderful spring growth and correct the levels of the garden while there is no rain washing away soil.” Winter remains by far the best time to reassess the basic structure of the garden and how it has evolved. Ask yourself questions, explains Seddon. “Are trees and shrubs creating more shade than the surrounding vegetation can cope with? Do you still require lawn or has your family’s needs changed? Do plants in pots need new soil, and do the pots require a makeover? Cast a critical eye over retaining walls and paving, which may need a coat of paint, or loose bricks secured and cracks filled. “Add trellising to a patio wall either as a backdrop for a group of pots on the floor or pots hung on the trellising. There is a huge variety of trellis designs and materials available. One could give an illusion of space by having a mirror cut to fit an arched trellis. Be sure to angle it slightly so you don’t see yourself but rather a vista.”
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Summer is over and now’s the time to prepare your home for the cool winter months ahead. Our dry Highveld winters are a great time to renovate the garden by installing a gazebo, decking the patio or constructing a fire pit to provide a focal point for your entertainment area. 
