• High altitude gardens
• Keep your plants healthy
• Longevity of Mediterranean plants
• Pests on Mediterranean Plants
• Plants in pots
• Stabilizing gardens on slopes

Keep your plants healthy

After spending many years studying plants, learning the habit of different plant cultivars in the UK, it then became necessary after starting a new landscape business in Cyprus a few years ago to begin the process all over again, this time studying Mediterranean plants and their habit. As you can imagine this was a very long process but one that was vital in order to control each garden and its design so that all the plants used in the gardens stay healthy year after year. It is necessary because all plants in Cyprus grow 10 times quicker then they do in the UK, due to photosynthesis, high and long light levels, connected to an automatic irrigation system. Therefore the purpose of initially choosing the correct plants for your garden at the beginning and knowing how to maintain these plans is vital, especially if you have a house that is not lived in regularly or is rented. Because plants grow 10 times quicker than they do in the UK, this means that a lot of plants also get older 10 times faster, therefore they need to be pruned often in order to keep their healthy shape, foliage and their condition, obviously, then, this will prolong their lifespan and it will mean you will not have to dig out and replace your plants after a few years. These are some examples of problem plants if not controlled correctly: Honeysuckle (Lonicera), is a very woody climber, very pretty but grows very vigorous in Cyprus, so do climber and shrubs; Hibiscus, Jasmin, Bougainvillea, Solanum, Lavenders, Rosemary, Pandorea, Anisodontia, Roses and any other woody stemmed plants. You can do more harm than good by leaving these plants than if you prune regularly. For example, if you see these plants flowering happily but getting very long and overgrown, take the courage to cut them back, you know that most people don’t like cutting plants back when in flower but don’t worry, after a few months they will be back flowering as healthy and happy as before. However, do make sure that you have a good irrigation system connected, set on a regular watering timer, and feed every 3 months with a good rose and shrub fertilizer. This technique will also help to control pests and diseases, as plants have problems when the pests and diseases are sheltered in thick foliage with no aeration, therefore giving them an ideal habit for them to breed. As discussed earlier it has taken a few years studying different plant cultivars in order to learn some very good and healthy, all year round “cut and come again plants”. Try to find the following in garden centres if you would like some successful colourful and pretty flowering shrubs; Margarita rose (pink not white, prune well every 3 months), Tulbagia violacea (flowers permanently, no pruning required), lavenders (prune to 20 cm every 3 months, even when flowering), Mini Roses (prune well every 3 months), Rosemary (Prune well every 3 months), Anisodontia (prune well every 3 months), Solanum (prune well every 3 months), Plumbago (prune well every 3 months). If you need any further assistance on maintaining healthy plants in Cyprus try to chose qualified Cyprus landscapers, especially here in Pafos. There are many Pafos garden services available but always try to use Paphos landscapers that are registered.