The 5th of December is World Soil Day and at BERA BV we plan on getting our hands dirty with BERA Urbanscape... There are three BERA Urbanscape products on the market:  BERA Urbanscape Green Roll, BERA Urbanscape Green Flocks and BERA Urbanscape Green Cubes. These green products are not only hugely beneficial for soil quali...

Thunderstorm season has arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa. These electrically charged storms are a welcome addition to the Highveld - adding important nitrates to the soil as a natural fertilizer. While the theatre of the sky entertains and enthralls us, closer to earth calamity and chaos ensues as stormwater drains flood. Urban stormwater...

What are Geotextiles? Geotextiles are permeable fabrics or materials associated with landscaping and soil. Geotextiles are used to: separate, filter, reinforce, protect, or drain soils.Typically, geotextiles are made from polypropylene or polyester. When it comes to gravel stabilisation products (made from geotextiles) the porous membrane is typica...

Green roofs are a trend on the rise. In South Africa, the city of Durban is at the forefront of this phenomenon. While Germany, is listed as having the most green roofs in the world.  BERA Urbanscape has created a green roof product that helps landscape architect, engineers and construction companies with installing roof top gardens. In&n...

Managing a holiday home remotely can be a source of stress for home owners. The garden needs like weeded, watered, mowed and pruned. Most second home owners rely on garden service companies to maintain their gardens while they are not there. However, there are ways to make your holiday home garden more self-sufficient, eco-friendly and hassle free,...

Capetonians may have weathered the drought but water problems are not going away in the foreseeable future. It has citizens digging for boreholes, planting indigenous water-wise plants and investing in grey water recycling systems. The 22 March is World Water Day, water is a basic human right, for thousands have lived without love but no one withou...

Who said gumboots are the only shoes to wear in the garden?!Be kind to the environment and your shoes. Gravel is generally not considered to be shoe-friendly, especially when it comes to high-heels of stilettos. The heel of the shoe sinks into the ground and is damaged by small sharp stones but not with BERA Gravel Fix.Ladies, how often have you sc...

​Between 25% to 40% of turf is grown in partial or deep shade. A 50% or more light reduction is not uncommon. Shade effects turf by: Reduced light intensityExtremes of temperatures are moderatedWind movement is restrictedRelative humidity is increasedIntensity and duration of dew is increased &Turf has to compete with tree roots for water and p...

Landscaping for wetlands Celebrate 2018 World Wetlands Day by appreciating the ecological and investment importance of landscaping wetlands into property developments across South Africa. World Wetlands Day is celebrated annually on February 2, a day marking the adoption of the Convention of Wetlands, known as the Ramsar Convention, held in Iran in...

 The water crisis is a major cause for concern and poses a serious threat to some businesses and people's livelihoods. On the positive side it has raised public awareness about the value of water and highlighted the bad practice of using potable water for irrigation. A workshop was held in August called 'Water restrictions as an agent of posit...

​Recently, Servest's Landscaping and Turf division received the SALI Rand Water trophy for Best Water Wise Project in South Africa in recognition of their contribution to the Meyersdal Eco Estate, a residential estate in Alberton, south of Johannesburg. This achievement is an important breakthrough for any landscaper and is particularly remarkable ...

 Low maintenance, high impact kerb appeal If you own an investment property, a corporate building, or if you simply wish to implement better maintenance techniques into your business complex, kerb appeal is the cornerstone to making a positive impression on all of your visitors. Following these simple tricks can minimise time spent invested in...

​Insects, whether pests or pest predators are essential for garden stability. Pesticides upset the delicate balance that exists within gardens. It is possible to radically reduce the number of insect pests in your garden without having to resort to hosing your garden with a potion of harsh chemicals and toxins. Poisoning the lower end of the food c...

It may seem like an obvious statement – "protect our trees". They give us shade in the summer, they clean our air and provide oxygen, they reduce traffic noise, they provide homes and shelter for birds and other creatures, and they give our neighbourhoods and homes beautiful green surrounds, increasing property values. These are just a few reasons ...