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Trees
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85 guidesBefore buying an avocado tree: match the plant to the site
An avocado cultivar name is only part of the buying decision. Rootstock, planting-material health, soil drainage, water quality and frost exposure can matter just as much. Prepare the site questions before arranging an expensive tree purchase.
White growth on mango flowers: check before spraying
Powdery growth on mango flowers or young tissue deserves prompt investigation because flowering is a valuable stage. Photograph the symptoms and confirm the cause before choosing a treatment. White material can be confused with insects, residues or other damage.
Grape problems: make a useful photo and field record
A clear record can turn “what is wrong with my grapes?” into a question someone can help answer. Fruit appearance alone is often insufficient. Include the vine, leaves, irrigation history and timing so the pattern can be assessed.
Cactus pads: keep useful establishment records
A small, labelled cactus planting can answer a useful question: which known planting material establishes reliably on your site? Keep the identity, purpose and source attached to each plant from the beginning. A fruit colour or familiar name alone does not tell you how it will perform as fodder.
Cactus drip irrigation: turn operating time into litres
An irrigation schedule becomes useful when it states how much water reaches the planting. “Once a month” leaves out the flow, duration and number of emitters. Convert your own system into litres, then check where that water goes in the soil.
Inspect new cactus pads before adding them to a planting
Inspecting a few new pads is easier than dealing with a pest throughout an established cactus planting. Keep incoming material apart while you check its identity, health and source. White waxy colonies deserve attention, but a photograph alone may not establish the exact insect species.
Build a coastal bee-forage calendar
A bee-forage calendar records when useful flowers are actually available near you. On the Namibian coast, a sheltered irrigated garden can flower differently from exposed ground nearby. Observing those differences helps gardeners and beekeepers plan beyond a list of supposedly bee-friendly plants.
Trees, rainfall and the water cycle: choose restoration that fits
Trees influence water through their roots, leaves, shade and place in the wider landscape. These connections help explain both the value of restoring appropriate vegetation and the need to consider water trade-offs. Planting trees is not a guarantee of more rain at the planting site.
Quince: choose a tree for fruit, not just survival
Quince can give fragrant fruit for cooking. Before planting, find a named variety that has actually fruited in conditions like yours.
Jujube: a fruit-tree trial for hot, dry gardens
Chinese jujube is worth investigating where heat and water limits make fruit growing difficult. Choose the species and variety carefully, then measure how it performs in your own garden.
Apricot: match the variety to your winter and spring
Apricots can be rewarding, but early flowers can be lost to cold weather. Find a variety with a local cropping record before giving it a permanent place.
Kalahari apple-leaf: plan for a lasting native tree
Kalahari apple-leaf belongs in the conversation about native shade and agroforestry. Give it space and patience; do not treat it as a guaranteed fast mulch factory.