new year notes
Time for the pleasure of planning your gardening year . . . but before you get creative, you need to tidy up and take stock
1 TRIM.
The first step is to tidy up. Trim back plants that have swamped others, cutting out dead wood and water shoots and generally sharpening up the scene. Not too dramatically – in the heat, plants and soil need plenty of leaf cover. Deadhead summer annuals and perennials to keep them flowering and remove spent or diseased plants. Trim lawn edges sharply but set the mower high; a longer cut will retain moisture and prevent scorching.
2 MULCH.
Water deeply, then spread a generous layer of compost over beds to give plants a muchneeded boost. In bare areas, top that with a generous layer of bark or wood chips. This helps to keep the soil cool, and defines the picture a little more too.
3 SNAP.
Make notes and take photographs. This is a huge help in seeing the garden with a fresh eye (especially if you make them black and white) and a valuable record. If you are not already keeping a diary, this is the year to begin and one of the best ways of really learning about nature. Record planting, feeding, pruning, blooming, rainfall, birds and insects. Very easily done now with a smartphone, via text and pictures; there are numerous apps available. But it’s also handy to make your notes in an old-fashioned page-a-day diary, where you can also sketch plans.
4 ENHANCE, FIX, CHANGE?
Take a good look at the photos and the garden and consider what to enhance, fix and change. See how you can simplify, practically and visually. Bolder shapes and plantings always work well. Think about reducing the number of different plants, adding more of those that do well and eliminating those that do not. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new plants.
5 PAINT.
Consider adding fresh colour with paint – on garden furniture, pots, woodwork or plastered walls. (Soft turquoise blue is the new outdoor favourite for 2015.)
6 CONSULT
a landscape designer, especially if you’re considering major changes or projects. Professional advice can save you a lot more money than the consultation fee.
7 VISIT
botanic, public and open gardens for inspiration. In Gauteng, Gardens of the Golden City begins its summer season this month. Visit gardensofthegoldencity.co.za for more details. And if you’re aiming for sustainability, drive out to Muldersdrift to see the little urban farm at Random Harvest Nursery, randomharvest.co.za, which will be on display until January 31. It includes a raised vegetable garden, herbs, useful indigenous plants, chickens, a model bee farm and a rainwater harvesting system – delightful proof of how productive you can be in a small space.