Local garden centres gear up to raise funds for Trees4Schools

This week, major garden centres across Cape Town joined forces to raise funds for Trees4Schools. The four week campaign will run through to Earth Day (April 22).

Working primarily in Cape Town, Trees4Schools aim to plant trees and vegetables in as many of our local schools as possible. The charity also aims to increase the awareness of our youth and future leaders regarding re-greening, reducing our country’s carbon footprint, the effects of global warming and growing our own food.

Part of the Trees4Schools ethos is a sustainability pledge. “We understand that the only way these projects are going to be successful is if we continually follow-up and ensure that on-going education happens with the children”, says Pascale Hoare. “For this reason a Trees4Schools representative returns at least once a month to check on projects and ensure that the trees and vegetables are being maintained”.

“Water is another big issue, especially during school holidays and in low rainfall periods”, says Pascale. “This is why Trees4Schools makes use of Yo’Manzi (DriWater), when planting in dry months, dry areas or during holiday periods”, she adds.

Charity plants
Over the next month, participating members of the Western Cape Garden Centre Association (GCA) will donate R2 from the sale of a range of individual promotional plants to the Trees4Schools campaign. Each garden centre will be working with suppliers to identify whichwater wise trees, shrubs, groundcovers, a climber, fruit trees, herbs and vegetables on which they offer the R2 donation.

If you would like to contribute to Trees4Schools, look out for these plants when you are shopping for trees, shrubs and food plants for your local GCA garden this month:

* TREES: As the garden centres are raising funds for Trees4Schools, many garden centres have opted to place the spotlight on trees for your garden. Look out for promotions on the classic indigenous white stinkwood (Celtis africana), evergreen wild plum (Harpephyllum caffrum), white karee (Searsia pendulina syn. Rhus pendulina), the Chinese poplar (Populus simonii) and spectacular indigenous fever tree (Acacia xanthophloea) which thrives in a garden, but can reach 15m in height.

* PINCUSHIONS (Leucospermum spp.) are fairly fast growing shrubs that bloom in winter or spring. Now is an ideal time to plant them so that they can establish their roots during the cool winter. Expect a profusion of flowers in the third or fourth year after planting.

* CONE FLOWERS (Leucadendron spp.) Flowering at different times of the year,
these 1m-2m high shrubs are an indigenous winner. Look out for Red Devil, Yellow Devil, Candles and Chameleon.

* GO LOCAL: Indigenous favourites such as the Cape reed (Chondropetalum tectorum), wild iris (Dietes grandiflora), agapanthus, water wise gazanias and ivy pelargonium should be the backbone of any garden.

* CLIMBERS: Possibly the best climber for local gardens is the star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides), a strong evergreen climber with starry white flowers in summer that will tolerate sun and semi-shade.

* FOOD GARDENS. Every gardener should have a Eureka lemon surrounded by herbs and home grown vegetables. It is a great time to sow carrots, leeks and parsnips or plant seedlings of broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprout and cauliflower.
For more information on where to find your local GCA garden centre, go to www.lifeisagarden.co.za