GARDENING

Winter is a good time to do some landscaping in the garden.

Winter is a good time to do some landscaping

INLAND GARDENS (NORTH WEST, LIMPOPO, MPUMALANGA, GAUTENG AND FREE STATE)

• Feed foliar fertiliser to all winterflowering annuals every two weeks to keep them healthy and happy. • When pruning hydrangeas, cut back the stems that have only partially flowered, ensuring that you cut above a thick round green bud. Remove all diseased, dead or damaged growth. • July is a good time to cut out all dead wood, diseased branches and leaves, and to cut back trees that are getting too big and perhaps shading out the lawn or obstructing your view. Remember that after pruning, plants need to be fed. • Fertilise roses and fruit trees with a slow-release fertiliser (or bonemeal) at soil level. These colourful plants will lap up a dressing of kraal manure, worked into the soil.

COASTAL GARDENS (KWAZULU-NATAL, EASTERN CAPE, WESTERN CAPE, NORTHERN CAPE)

• Care for compost heaps by including activators to break the compost down more rapidly, and use the ash from your fireplace to enhance the calcium, phosphorus and potassium content of finished compost. • Use chicken manure on your lawn for heat-generating nitrogen. • This is the best time to review the ‘bones’ or pathways of your garden, and perhaps turn it into a special feature. Widen paths taken back by an overgrowing garden by adding more pavers. Create new paths into very deep beds – these not only add interest but are also a great help with garden maintenance. • Have your lawnmower and edge cutters serviced and ready to go when summer arrives.