According to the calendar March should be early autumn, but in South Africa, Mother Nature’s sun is still hot and sitting high in the sky with yet no great hurry to set at the end of the day. Enjoy this special month by running around with your wheelbarrow filled with dark compost to nurture and replenish your soil.
Plant like there is no tomorrow, feed everything that has given you pleasure during the summer months to do it again, come shopping for winter- and spring-flowering bulbs at Tuingenoot.
Spotlight on: Plectranthus
The plectranthus species is known for its aromatic foliage and its mass of mauve, purple or lilac flowers from February to November, bringing beautiful colour to your winter garden. They require very minimal attention and, once established, are hardy during periods of drought. To grow these perennials, follow our easy guidelines:
- Plectranthus thrive in cool areas, so choose a site that’s shaded by overhanging trees.
- They grow well in well-composted soil and requires water only every few days.
- After flowering, feed every two weeks with an all-purpose, water-soluble fertiliser or slow release fertiliser that is low in phosphorus all of which can be found at Tuingenoot.
ON YOUR TO-DO LIST FOR MARCH
Sowing
- Look at sowing sweet peas if you haven’tgot to it yet also, primulas, poppies, pansies, Namaqualand daisies, foxgloves and snapdragons can be planted now – don’t be scared to sow the flowers that you love, it is easy and success is guaranteed if you just follow the instructions on the seed packet closely.
- March is always a prime month for sowing autumn and winter crops and setting yourself up for an abundance of tasty winter veggies. Start your winter veggie garden by sowing leafy greens such as kale, lettuce, spinach and cool-season herbs such as chives, rocket and calendula. Also start preparing to plant winter crops like, parsnips and broad beans.
- If you haven’t already why not try your hand at brassicas this season by sowing broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and kale. Also look at growing easy root crops such as carrots, beetroot and radishes.
- You can also sow seeds for new lawn grass, especially in your colder areas of your garden where Shade Over and All Seasons Evergreen grow well, and prefer the cooler temperatures.
- The time for spring bulb planting has started, as the soil has cooled down sufficiently by this time of the year. This month, plant anemones, ranunculus, freesias, tritonias, Ixias, sparaxis and Babianas.
- March is the month to start to lift and divide agapanthus, wild iris (Dietes), penstemon, campanula and asters. Cut them back, lift them out, split up and re-plant into freshly composted soil.
Feeding
- Feed your lawn with fertilawn to keep it green and lush going into winter.
- Replace lost nutrients with organic Atlantic Fertilisers Bio Ganic Lawn.
- Feed your garden with organic-based Atlantic Fertilisers Bio Ocean or Protek Flower power.
Pests
Certain pests, such as red scale and whitefly, are more active during the cooler months of the year. Protect your plants with these solutions all availableat Tuingenoot:
- Use Protek Complete 350 SC for sucking and biting insects such as red scale and whitefly.
- Check for scale along the stems and on the leaves of your citrus trees, and if they are infected treat by using Efekto Oleum or Efekto Malasol.
- With Margaret Roberts Organic Insecticide Spray to protect agapanthus, clivias and other plants prone to worms this time of year.
OTHER FRESH IDEAS
Clean up your garden for winter
- Lightly trim your plants that may be out of shape or overgrown. This will give them time to harden up before the cooler weather arrives.
- Compost areas where you plan for new seasonal planting and also where soil needs added nutrients.
- Mulch around azaleas, hydrangeas and camellias with an acidic compost to keep the roots cool and moist. This will also help to fight back weed growth. Note that of you are wanting pink hydrangeas or to keep them pink then rather feed with normal compost.
- Hot tip: Before it gets to cold and the job becomes uncomfortable, look at cleaning out your water features. Check that your pump is clean and in good condition. You do not want to do this in mid-winter!
Implement water-saving gardening habits
To celebrate National Water Week, start using these savvy water-saving practices:
- Design a water-wise garden. With the right garden design and hardy, drought-resistant plant varieties, your water needs in the garden will decrease drastically. If you’re not sure where to start, pop into our nursery and our knowledgeable staff will guide you through a variety of plants that are water-wise.
- Look at watering during cooler times of the day. Watering during early morning will minimise evaporation and allow your plants to absorb the water before the sun dries them out.
- Use more containers in the garden. Pot plants have a smaller surface area for water loss and evaporation, making container gardening one of the best ways to save water in the garden. It’s especially effective when you use water-retention granules and vermiculite.
- If budget allows look at installing a rainwater harvesting system. Depending on the requirements and installation, initial setup can be costly but will pay off in the long run. Other water-saving methods include using household containers, rain chains, rain barrels and ponds. Top tip: rainwater is better than tap water for gardening because it contains no chemicals.
