Things to do this month:

IT WAS encouraging to see so many people visit the Indigenous Open Gardens last weekend and held by The Kloof Conservancy. Twelve gardens were open to the public showcasing some of the magnificent indigenous flora that exists in KwaZulu-Natal. Well done to those champions who, over the past 20 years, have promoted the use of local flora over exotic through plants sales, lectures and the Botanical Society. This does not mean I don’t like exotic plants. I just feel it is the right thing to do in growing local flora.

Winter is finally upon us. It is my favourite time because it is the flowering season for most Aloe species. Listed are a few to give you joy in winter:

Most Aloe species flower from late May to July

Hypoestes aristata –ribbon bush with its purple flower

Strelitzia reginae – bird of paradise that flowers for months

Kniphofia praecox – red hot poker that flowers best in wet areas

Tecoma capensis – Cape honeysuckle, especially the orange variety

Plumbago auriculata both blue and white

Erythrina species – coral tree with red and orange flowers

Barleria obtuse – bush violet with blue flowers

Crassula multicarva – fairy crassula with pinky-red flowers

Bulbine natalensis – Broad-leafed bulbine with yellow flowers

Here are 12 genera of plants that flower in winter. One of the most-often asked questions was how to combine different plants to create maximum impact. I will list feature plants – followed by filler plants and other materials you can use.

When designing a garden you need to determine the size and what you would like to achieve. It could be privacy, hiding an ugly building or creating colour throughout the year. The selection of trees is important as you need to make sure what you plant is going to be the right size and create the most impact.

Maybe you want a tree that in summer is in full leaf to provide shade for your home and in winter loses its leaves and produces flowers that attract birds and butterflies. An example would be Erythrina lysistemon, better known as the coral tree that flowers in June and July.

I have Erythrina lysistemon and caffra in my garden and sitting on the deck during winter and watching the sunbirds feed on the sweet nectar gives me so much joy. It also provides food for the bird life in winter.

Once you have selected your trees and planted them, decide if you want to add rocks or driftwood to create a feature. I have a very steep garden. I have used wooden poles for my pathways which are a feature. Now select your form plants. Here are some I recommend: 1. Aloes: Ferox, chaubaudii, vanbalenii, arborescens. These are most commonly used in the landscape industry. Aloe arborescens will grow into a large multi-stemmed Aloe that will produce up to 50 flower spikes at once. They come in different colours, from dark red to yellow. It is my favourite.

Aloe ferox is single-stemmed and can grow to 4m in height, with one large flower spike with many stems on that spike. Aloe chaubaudii and vanbalenii produce new plants from the base of the mother plant and, when in flower, produce many sprays. They are rewarding due to the number of flower spikes per plant and the colour on the leaves, especially A vanbalenii which can turn a burnt yellow. 2. Cycads: This is one plant that will make a huge impact in any garden. The local cycad most commonly used is the genus Encephalartos. Depending on the size of your garden and how big your bank balance is, here are a few species most commonly used. Be aware that if you have one of these in your garden or are about to buy one, you need a permit from Ezemvelo Wildlife:

Silver foliage: Enc lehmani, horridus and princeps

Cut your lawns short and leave for the next few months. Most lawns go semi dormant in winter with very little growth. Lawns will grow slowly for the next two to three months before the first spring rains. No need to feed or top dress until spring. Every so often give it a little sprinkle of water.

Cut back to a third of their size many of the early

Green foliage: Enc natalensis, ferox, altensenii, arenerius and longifolius. 3. Flowering shrubs: Summer flowering: Bauhinia galpinii (pride de Kaap), Turraea obtusifolia (small honeysuckle tree), Gardenia thunbergia (forest gardenia), Orthosiphon labiatus (small shell bush), Plectranthus ecklonii (large spur-flower bush), Polygala myrtifolia (September bush).

Winter flowering: Leonotis leonoris – wild Dagga, Tecoma winter flowering shrubs such as Plectranthus ecklonii and Tecoma capensis. Wait until the other winter flowering shrubs have finished flowering before pruning.

Repot pot plants. Remove plants from the pots, remove all the old soil from around the roots, wash the roots well in a bucket of water, and remove any diseased or dried roots. Use fresh soil to repot. Remove capensis – Cape honeysuckle, Becium obovatum – cat’s whiskers, Hypoestes aristata – ribbon bush. 4.Groundcovers: Summer flowering: Agapanthus praecox, Tulbaghia violaceae, Aloe cooperii, Asparagus sprengerii, Asystasia gangetica, Anthericum saundersiae, Chlorophytum bowkeri, Dietes grandiflora, Gazannia sp.

Winter flowering: Crassula multicarva, barleria obtusa, Plectranthus ciliatus, Bulbine any dying leaves.

Plan any new plantings during the dry winter months. It's very difficult to do much planting during the drought, but if you have access to water then plant trees and shrubs now for spring.

Watch Aloes for diseases such as scale and mealy bug, plus fungus on the leaves.

Get out and enjoy the Aloe flowering season. natalensis.

If you need any information or help with any gardening queries please e-mail me at: cgmdalzell@gmail.com

This article is sponsored by Chris Dalzell Landscapes, specialising in landscaping, consultation and botanical expeditions.

Happy gardening.