Plant smart with in-season top sellers
COLOUR matters and to enjoy lots of autumn colour now, means you should plant smart which means taking home top sellers, buying plants which are in season (a time when they will be looking their best), and using those which will give you better bang for your buck.
Ribbon Bush ( Hypoestes aristata) is a handy gap filler for sun or light, dry shade. This indigenous plant has a reputation of being one of the toughest choices for harsh growing conditions.
Lilyturf (Liriope “Evergreen Giant”) is also called an ornamental grass, but actually belongs to the lily family. It grows everywhere (sun or deep shade) in thick clumps, with dark green leaves about 90cm long.
Cordyline (Cordyline banksii “Electric Pink”) has leaves with shocking pink edges giving it a very tropical appearance. With a mature size of about 1x1m, it is ideal for small gardens or containers.
Everlasting (Syncarpha argentea “Emma Everlasting”) seems to be indestructible, handling any abuse it might receive. If, however, well cared for, it will produce masses of papery, rose-pink buds fading to white with bright yellow centres, carried on wiry silver-white stems. Perfect for retaining walls.
Planting spring-flowering bulbs
PLANT alliums, anemones, babianas, chincherinchees, freesias, daffodils, hyacinths, ixias, Dutch irises, lachenalias, snowdrops, muscari, blue bells, narcissus, ranunculi, sparaxis and tritonias.
After you have finished your bulbplanting, set out the following seedlings to grow around them: ornamental kale, pansies, violas, fairy primula ( Primula malacoides) and Iceland poppies.
Remember to: Water newly planted bulbs deeply every four days.
Coastal gardening
PLANTS look top notch in April, providing you with a mass of colour. Canary Island hibiscus is a large shrub reaching 2.5m in height and 2.5m in width; evergreen, garden hybrid with classic pink flowers; the blooms are large (125mm in diameter) and displayed during late summer to autumn.
This plant makes an effective barrier specimen and grows best in subtropical and tropical climates especially at the coast.
Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha) is a downy and spreading shrub which produces white or purple flowers clasped by soft purple calyces from late summer to early winter when it should be cut back drastically.
It is very tough and drought resistant and basically looks after itself in well-draining sandy soil. Butterflies love them.
White correa (Correa alba) is a small shrub up to 1.5m high and wide with delicate white flowers in autumn. Tolerant to salt spray, wind, drought and moderate frost.
Garden tasks
Sow in situ: Wild snapdragons (Nemesias), Namaqualand daisies, bokbaai vygies, and Virginian stocks.
Pinch out the growing tips of sweet peas when the seedlings are about 10 to 15cm tall to encourage bushy plants. Feed with 3:1:5 SR.
Feed young flower seedlings regularly with a water soluble fertiliser and to keep them well-watered.
Keep on weeding, but leave some seed heads for the birds.
When belladonna lilies have stopped flowering, they can be lifted (only if overcrowded), and replanted with the neck of each bulb showing above soil level.
Hold on to fallen leaves. They can be used as a mulch for woodland plants, such as azaleas and rhododendrons.
To ensure a great harvest of lemons, you have to fertilise at least four times per year – in July, September, January and April. Use a balanced granular fertiliser such as 3:1:5 or 8:1:5.
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