This month's TO-DO LIST

INLAND GARDENING

(Gauteng, Free State, North West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo)

• It’s herb-planting time – recommended easy-to-grow summer herbs include thyme, rosemary, marjoram, oregano, basil, rocket, parsley and mint.

• Start planting begonias and impatiens in the shade and SunPatiens in the sun.

• As soon as winter- and spring-flowering shrubs like the Cape mayflower have flowered, prune them back. Following this simple rule allows for the longest possible regrowth time before the next flowering season.

• Plant seed potatoes in about 10cm- to 12cm-deep trenches that are filled while the tubers are growing.

COASTAL GARDENING

(Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal)

• Plant sweet potatoes and seedlings of green peppers, eggplants and parsley. Sow cucumbers.

• Prune hibiscus and poinsettia and other winter-flowering shrubs.

• Plant gerberas and gladioli bulbs.

• Create a pretty border with indigenous gazanias, arctotis, blue felicias, scabiosas and Plectranthus ‘Mona Lavender’.

• Start planting dahlia tubers. The flowers are available in most colours except blue and vary in size, from less than 2cm in diameter to huge, soup-plate sizes.

• Plant young Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Gold Crest’ for a green and gold flush. Stake the main stems straight, and keep removing side growth from the bottom two-thirds of the plant. As soon as it reaches about 1,2m, start shaping the top growth into balls.