𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗶𝗽 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆

𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴’𝘀 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁.

Most people think winter is when gardens go to sleep. The truth is far more interesting. Beneath the surface, your soil is having one of its most important moments of the year - and the gardener who shows up with compost in June is the one whose garden quietly outperforms everyone else’s in October.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝘆, 𝗸𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲.

Compost is essentially decomposed organic matter - kitchen scraps, garden clippings, leaves and manure that have broken down into a dark, crumbly, earthy-smelling material. When you dig it into your soil or layer it on top, 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻:

▪ 𝗦𝗼𝗶𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀. Sandy soils hold moisture better. Clay soils loosen and drain. Compacted beds soften and breathe.

▪ 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝘀. The bacteria, fungi and earthworms that do the real work of feeding plants come alive in compost-rich soil.

▪ 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲. Cold months are the perfect runway for this - by the time spring growth begins, your soil is ready.

𝗔 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀:

▪ Spread a 3 to 5 cm layer of well-rotted compost over your beds. Lightly fork it in, or leave it on top as a slow-release blanket.

▪ Pay extra attention to your roses, fruit trees and perennial beds. They are the long-term performers.

▪ Build or feed your compost heap now. A larger pile retains heat better through winter and keeps the microbes working even on frosty mornings.

You will not see fireworks in June. You will see them in October. Which is, conveniently, when the gates open at Bedford.

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 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 - 𝗠𝗮𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼̈𝗺

𝗕𝗼𝗹𝗱, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿.

Maasström is the kind of garden that makes you stop, tilt your head, and look again. 𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗱𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 - confident plant groupings, striking textures, water features, garden art used with real purpose.

It is also a garden that takes its setting seriously. Every design choice nods to the landscape it sits in. Nothing feels imported. Everything feels considered.

𝗔 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗲, and a beautiful argument for what happens when design and nature decide to collaborate.

𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼̈𝗺 at the 2026 event - 30 October to 1 November, and 6 to 8 November. R30 per garden, paid at the gate.

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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𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿 - 𝗟𝗶𝗲𝘀𝗹 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝟯𝟱𝟬 𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀, 𝟵𝟱 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗱𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻.

Liesl Brown is the heart of The Orchards. You will find her in the garden most days, sleeves up, hands in the soil, attention fully on whichever bed is asking for it. She is the kind of gardener who knows every plant by name and remembers exactly where each one came from.

Her love affair with roses is impossible to miss - 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝟯𝟱𝟬 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝟵𝟱 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, threaded through clipped hedges, generous herbaceous borders and cheerful pockets of colour that shift with the seasons. It is a garden that mirrors the woman who tends it: bright, busy, full of life and quietly excellent at making people feel welcome.

In 2016, she brought Bongo onto the team and took him on a tour of the open Bedford gardens so he could see what was possible. He has been alongside her ever since, the warm welcome at the gate, while Liesl carries on doing what she does best - 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀.

Come and see the garden she has built.

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

𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴.

𝗠𝘂𝗹𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 sounds fancier than it is. Put simply, it is the act of covering the soil around your plants with a thick layer of organic material - anything from compost and bark chips to dry leaves, straw, grass clippings or shredded prunings. That is it. No magic, no special equipment, just a 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻.

So why bother, especially heading into winter? 𝗔 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀:

▪ Keeps the soil warm. Roots are protected from frosty nights and cold snaps.
▪ Holds in moisture. You water less, which matters in Karoo and Eastern Cape gardens.
▪ Smothers weeds. Fewer weeds means less work for you come spring.
▪ Feeds the soil as it breaks down. Free fertiliser, slowly released over the cold months.

𝗔 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁:

▪ Aim for a layer roughly 5 to 8 cm thick. Thinner and it will not do the job.
▪ Keep mulch a few centimetres away from plant stems and tree trunks. Touching the stem can cause rot.
▪ Water the soil before you mulch. You are locking moisture in, so make sure there is some to lock.

Do this now, and by the time spring arrives your soil will be richer, your plants healthier, and your garden ready to put on a proper show. Which is, incidentally, the exact kind of garden we love to open at Bedford.

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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𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀. 𝗕𝗲𝗱𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆-𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀, this quiet Eastern Cape village has done something rather extraordinary every spring. Private gates swing open. Strangers are welcomed like old friends. And approximately 𝟭𝟲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘀 in the country reveal themselves to anyone willing to take the country road less travelled.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀:

▪ 30 October — 1 November
▪ 6 — 8 November

𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟬𝟴:𝟬𝟬 𝘁𝗼 𝟭𝟳:𝟬𝟬.
Entry is R30 per garden, payable in cash at the gate.

Four distinct routes - Town, Mountain, Cowie Valley and Heading West - each unfolding a different version of Bedford’s remarkable landscape.

There is plenty of time to plan. Start now. 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, contact 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝘄 𝗼𝗻 𝟬𝟴𝟯 𝟴𝟳𝟰 𝟳𝟴𝟭𝟲
or hello@bedford.co.za. Visit www.bedford.co.za to plan your stay.

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Exciting news as we release our 2026 dates 👇🏼
Mark the calendars for a road trip to the country side where breath taking gardens, fresh clean air, curated shopping and Eastern Cape hospitality await. 🍃 ...

As the Bedford Country Gardens Festival draws to a close, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us over the past two weekends. Your enthusiasm, support, and love for gardens and community made this year’s festival truly special.

From the gardeners who opened their gates, to the visitors who travelled near and far, and all the local businesses, artists, and volunteers who brought Hope Street and De Oude Fabreeck - we couldn’t have done it without you.

We hope you leave inspired, refreshed, and with memories that will keep blooming until we meet again next year.

#bedfordcountrygardens #happeninginhopestreet #hopestreethub ...