With the chill still in the air you may not be too keen to drag yourself away from the couch, a hot chocolate and a good DVD to spend time doing gardening, but it’s an important time to be considering a number of chores if you want to reap the reward of having a great garden in warmer months.
Ettiene Raats, manager of Dunrobin Garden Centre in Botha’s Hill in KwaZulu-Natal, says that one of the top things to do between now and the end of August is to start cutting back on all the old branches of trees and to start splitting perennials.
It would not be advisable to fertilise too much at this time as plants go dormant in winter, he advises, adding that you should should rather compost well and, if possible, give plants a good mulch with bark chip.
“Old leaves can be used for mulching, but the chances of transferring a fungal disease to healthy plants is high, as spores gather on dead leaves this time of the season.”
If you’re planning to plant trees, now would be a good time, says Raats, but you should take care to consider garden size when it comes to tree sizing.
“Winter is a very dull time for the garden. Adding colour in the form of annual seedlings is a good idea. Just make sure plants that need shade are planted in shade, and if you are not sure, don’t hesitate to ask for help at your nearest garden centre.”
Raats’s suggestions for plants that would be good for winter include aloes and succulents. He says they are “water wise” and a lot of varieties flower in winter.
Also worth considering for planting now are Duranta varieties, which make for great hedge shrubs with colour, as well as azaleas, camellias and gardenias, which are good for colourful shows in shady spots.
When it comes to perennials, Raats suggests petunias (available as perennials or annuals, and liking full sun), and also recommends felicias, agapanthus and a variety of ornamental grasses to fill in any open spots.
“Primulas are also good choices. They add some annual colour to shady, cold areas. And consider some hanging baskets around your home. Not only do they brighten up even the coldest of areas, but they are very easy to maintain.”
Raats points out that thrips, cutworms and other pests live in, and on, old leaves during winter, so treating and spraying infected plants is important to prevent the attack of young leaves and plants in spring.
Fungi, which leaves parasites on plants, usually form spores so dropped leaves should be raked up and disposed of, he says.
* The Dunrobin Garden centre, open every day from 8.30am to 5pm, has a number of specials worth checking out.
It offers indoor plants for the home and office, a huge range of constantly changing plants for all garden and patio conditions, and a large choice of pots, water features, garden ornaments, tools, fertilisers and garden chemicals.
The centre also offers training for the beginner and advanced domestic gardener, plus a range of interesting and educational talks on garden-related topics, held throughout the year.
Teas, breakfasts, lunches and Sunday roasts in a tranquil garden setting are also on offer at the centre.
* Contact Dunrobin Garden Centre by phoning 031 777 1855 or 031 777 1893. - Independent on Saturday