South African Garden and Home – September 2019

gardenandhome.co.za | SEPTEMBER 2019 93

MUST-DOSTHISMONTH

ContributinggardeningeditorMarianneAlexander’s

handychecklistofessentialchorestodoinSeptember

1

Cutoutorpulldeadleavesfromornamentalgrassesand

sedgessuchascarexandgrass-likeplantslikeNewZealandflaxandmondo

grasses.DivideorsplitoutsizedclumpsoffestucaandMiscanthusspp.Rejuvenate

restioslikeelegiaandthamnochortusbybreakingoffalltheoldstemsatthebase.

2

Enhancetheblueofhydrangeaflowersbymulchingwithacid-based

compost,oldpineneedlesoroakleaves.Applyaluminiumsulphatefortnightly.

Dissolve25ginawateringcanandwaterinaroundtherootzone,usecommercial

blueingcompoundsorflowersofsulphur.

3

Spikedampandcompactedlawnsandfeedwith2:3:4or3:1:5topromoteroot

growth,or6:3:4forleafgrowth.Don’tcutthelawntooshortinshadyareasasit

needsbladesurfacetoproducefood.

4

Checkdormantindoorpotplantslikeamaryllis,gloxinias,tuberousbegonias

andachimenesforregrowthandrepotortopupthesoil.Ifplantsinhanging

basketsarewilting,immersethewholebasketinwaterforafewhourstorehydrate.

5

Oncewinterandspringdisplayshavefaded,preparebedsforsummer.Digin

compostandasprinkleofbonemeal.Feedtheentiregardenwithorganicslow-

releasefertilisersthenapplyagenerousmulch.

6

Repotcymbidiumsthathaveoutgrowntheirpotsinaloosemedium,suchas

aspecialorchidmixorcoarsebarknuggetsthatdrainfreely.Repotmothorchids

(phalaenopsis)inthesamepotwithfreshmedium.Cutofffadedflowers2–3cm

abovethenextgrowthnode.

7

Foralongerdisplayofroseblooms,pinchoutthetipsofthenewshoots

byaboutathird.FeedwithVigorosa5:1:5orTalborneVita-Green5:1:5.Starta

preventativesprayingprogrammeforblackspotandmildew.

8

Gentlyteasethesoilaroundfuchsias.Mulchwithcompost,andifavailable,

well-rottedmanure.Feedwithahigh-nitrogenfertiliser;sprayingfoliageor

wateringtheplantwithKelpakwillstimulategrowth.Oncenewshootsappear,nip

backthetipstoencouragenewgrowth;usethesetipstopropagatenewplants.

9

OncespringannualslikeindigenousNamaqualanddaisy,blueflax,kingfisher

daisy(Feliciaspp.),andexoticlinaria,calendulasandVirginianstockshavedied

back,collecttheirseedfornextyear.Whendry,storeinlabelledpaperpackets.

10

Sowseedsofannualsincludingalyssum,candytuft,cosmos,cleomes,

hollyhocks,lavateras,marigolds,scabiousandsunflowersinsituinwarm

areas.Ageratum,Chrysanthemumpaludosum,nicotianas,phlox,salviasandhybrid

vincaswithfineseedarebestsowninseedtrays.

GARDEN NEWS

Be inspired by spring and get your garden

off to a great start

NOTES

Garden

TEXT

MARIANNE ALEXANDER

AND

DIANE PEACOCK

PHOTOGRAPHS

MARIANNE ALEXANDER

AND

SUPPLIED

PRODUCTS ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY AND PRICES WERE CHECKED AT TIME OF GOING TO PRINT. SEE PAGE 4.

We’re PLANTING...

REGAL PELARGONIUM

‘NOVITA’

Why: Its abundant flowers in vivid

colours (purple, red, violet, dark red

with a purple eye, and a pink bicolour),

appear throughout summer if fed

monthly with 3:1:5 fertiliser.

Where: Plant it in full sun to semi-

shade. It’s not frost tolerant, and in

cold gardens, should be protected from

frost or treated as an annual. It will also

flourish in coastal gardens.

How: Plants do best in well-draining

soil. Add compost and fertiliser to the

prepared beds before planting. Those in

containers need more regular watering;

allow the soil to dry out before

rewatering. To retain a neat shape,

regularly remove spent flowers and

trim in spring and autumn.

For more information, visit

ballstraathof.co.za

10

THIS

WEEKEND

Now is a good time

to propagate plants.

Take soft tip cuttings

of daisy bushes, lavender,

pentas, salvias, pelargoniums

and impatiens (busy Lizzies).

Cut off truncheons of moon

flower, poinsettias and frangipani

(pictured). Allow the base to dry for

a day or two before planting in a

well-drained sandy mix.