𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 — 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀. 𝟯𝟱𝟬 𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀. 𝟵𝟱 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Liesl shows up. Bongo welcomes you at the gate. Roses fill every corner. Honey bees do the rest.

𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 at the 2026 event - 30 October to 1 November, and 6 to 8 November. R30 per garden.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 or hello@bedford.co.za. Visit www.bedford.co.za.

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𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗶𝗽 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲.

Indigenous plants have evolved naturally in South Africa’s conditions, making them uniquely suited to our landscapes. In the Eastern Cape, choosing native species is not a trend - it is an investment in a garden that works. 

Here is why they matter.

Key benefits include water-wise gardening - many indigenous plants are drought-tolerant and perfect for water-restricted areas, support biodiversity by attracting birds, bees, butterflies and beneficial insects, and are eco-friendly, requiring less fertiliser and fewer pesticides. 

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆, consider agapanthus, wild iris, candelabrum lily, pelargonium species, and aloes. All are locally adapted. All thrive in our climate. All feed the birds and bees that keep your garden balanced.

𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹-𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, often requiring less water and being more resistant to local pests, while providing better support for local wildlife such as birds and pollinators.

Stop fighting your climate. Work with it. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀. 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 or hello@bedford.co.za. Visit www.bedford.co.za.

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𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 - 𝗟𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀

𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲. 𝗟𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱.

Winter is lopper season. This is when you reach for them most, when roses need cutting back, when deciduous trees show their bones, when every branch worth pruning becomes visible.

Loppers are long-handled pruning tools specifically designed for cutting branches that are too thick for standard hand pruners. They are designed to cut branches up to around 50mm thick. If your secateurs are straining, loppers are what you need.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸.

Bypass loppers feature two curved, thick blades that glide past each other when making a cut, providing the cleanest cut. Anvil loppers have a single sharp blade that cuts against a flat surface — better for deadwood.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺.

Late autumn or the end of winter when most plants are gearing up for a healthy growth spurt and blooming in the upcoming spring or summer. Most plants respond well to winter pruning because they are dormant and suffer less stress.

𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀.

▪ Keep blades sharp and clean. Dull blades crush stems instead of cutting them.

▪ Cut at a downwards angle so water runs off the wound.

▪ Open loppers wide and place the branch deep between the blades before cutting.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 or hello@bedford.co.za.

Visit www.bedford.co.za.

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“𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲.”
— 𝗨𝗻𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻

This is what gardens are, really. Not about perfection. Not about control. But about offering something another chance - a plant you thought had died back, a corner that looked bare two seasons ago, a space you thought would never recover.

The gardens of Bedford are built on second chances. Twenty-three years of them. Every spring, they prove it again.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 or hello@bedford.co.za. Visit www.bedford.co.za.

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𝗩𝗲𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 - 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻. 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿.

In the Eastern Cape, August is a pivotal month for the vegetable garden. You are not quite out of winter, but you are close enough to begin planning ahead. The good news is you can do both — keep harvesting what you planted in autumn and begin planting for spring.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁.

Broad beans and peas are the legumes of the South African winter garden and are sown directly from seed from April through June, tolerate light frost comfortably, and produce generously over an extended harvest period. Both can still be sown early in August in the Eastern Cape - think of this as your last chance for a winter legume harvest before spring arrives.

Potatoes are an August crop. The early crop is planted now and will be ready for harvest by October. Seed potatoes can be grown year-round, especially in containers that can be protected, with the main crops being an early crop from August to October.

Tomato seeds can be sown indoors now, 6-8 weeks before the final frost date, so they are ready to transplant when the soil warms. Keep them in a warm, protected spot while they establish.

From your autumn plantings, you will still harvest carrots, beetroot, kale, Swiss chard, lettuce, cabbage and celery. Winter is the ideal time to grow carrots, beetroot, turnips and radishes in most South African regions as these crops prefer cool soil temperatures.

𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁.

▪ Prepare beds now for spring plantings. Add compost and organic matter while the soil is still workable.

▪ Protect young seedlings from wind and unexpected late frosts with row cover or cloches.

▪ Keep wat ...

𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 - 𝗢𝘄𝗹𝘀

𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗥𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗺𝘆.

An owl hunting in your garden at dusk is the sound of a healthy ecosystem working. Rodents are a key food source for many birds of prey. A single owl can control a rodent population that would otherwise devastate your vegetable garden, your stored goods, your peace of mind.

But there is a problem. When pests such as rodents consume poisoned bait, they often do not die immediately. During this vulnerable period, they become easy prey for predators like owls. Because birds of prey regularly eat multiple rodents, the toxin builds up in their bodies over time.

This is called secondary poisoning. The owl eats the poisoned rat. The owl becomes toxic. The owl dies slowly, bleeding internally.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻.

Removing food and shelter can often solve a rodent problem before traps or poison are needed. Remove fallen leaves and garden debris. Trim dense vegetation. Seal gaps in sheds and storage. Use trapping instead of baiting. These changes protect owls and the other predators that keep your garden in balance.

If you must control rodents, use mechanical traps. Do not use poison. Your garden’s owls - and their gift of pest control - depend on it.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 or hello@bedford.co.za. Visit www.bedford.co.za.

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𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 - 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘂𝘀

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝗹𝘆. 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲. 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲. 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗹𝘂𝗲.

Agapanthus is native to South Africa and thrives in various conditions, making it a favourite for many gardeners. In the Eastern Cape, it is a plant that does what you ask of it — flowers reliably, tolerates neglect, and produces blooms that stop traffic.

Agapanthus is incredibly low-maintenance and drought-resistant. They thrive in full sun to partial shade, making them ideal for tricky garden spots that get morning sun but afternoon shade. Once established in the ground, agapanthus are relatively drought tolerant.

This is a plant for any gardener. Beginners can plant them and forget them. Experienced gardeners can mass them for dramatic effect or tuck them into containers. They grow large enough to command space (up to 1.5m on flowering stalks) or small enough to fit into tight corners.

Apply a balanced, slow-release fertiliser in early spring as new growth appears. A layer of compost around the base each year will also keep them happy and healthy. Every three to four years, you might want to divide overcrowded clusters.

Plant them now, in late winter, and by November they will be unfurling the kind of blooms that make a garden look intentional and alive.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 or hello@bedford.co.za. Visit www.bedford.co.za.

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𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗶𝗽 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀.

Earthworms play a pivotal role in the regulation of soil health. They are not glamorous. They do not flower or fruit or look anything like a garden should. But they are doing the most important work in your garden right now.

These creatures help aerate the soil and break down organic matter, contributing to a nutrient-rich environment. As they move through the soil, they create pathways for water and air. As they digest organic matter, they turn it into castings — concentrated nutrients that plants can access.

Earthworms feed on soil and dead or decaying plant remains, including leaf litter and dead roots. They are the principal agents in mixing dead surface litter with the soil.

𝗔 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆:

▪ Add compost and organic matter regularly. This is their food supply.

▪ Avoid tilling and digging unnecessarily. Undisturbed soil is their home.

▪ Skip chemical fertilisers and pesticides. These harm them.

▪ Keep soil moist through mulch. Earthworms need moisture to survive.

The presence of earthworms is a sign your soil is working. Nurture them, and they will nurture your garden.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 or hello@bedford.co.za. Visit www.bedford.co.za.

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“𝗧𝗼 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄.”
-Audrey Hepburn

It is that simple. Every seed, every cutting, every bed you prepare is an act of faith. You do not know if it will grow. You do not know if it will flourish. But you plant it anyway, trusting the seasons, trusting the soil, trusting that the work matters.

The gardens at Bedford have been planting for twenty-three years. And every single year, the gardens believe in tomorrow.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 or hello@bedford.co.za. Visit www.bedford.co.za.

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#bedfordcountrygardens #isuzusa #bedford #bedfordeasterncape #opengardenssa ...