Perk up the patio!
We’re planting … Geranium Marcada Magenta to perk up the patio for winter. It’s a hardy geranium that flowers effortlessly and will cascade over the edge of hanging baskets and pots. It loves autumns cooler temperatures and is an easy plant for hanging baskets and containers because it likes to be kept drier than most other geraniums. The best is to water it once the soil has dried out slightly. A drench of liquid fertiliser once a month will keep looking good and flowering well. Don’t hang your basket too high, rather have it at shoulder level for easy care and to appreciate all its flowers. A position that receives morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal. Details: www.ballstraathof.co.za
Indoor plant of the month
It’s time to take tuberous begonias indoors for some long lasting indoor winter flowers. The large blooms with their frilled petals come in such a huge range of colours that it is almost impossible not to find a colour that will either stand out or tone in with your home’s colour scheme. Being compact, they just need to be popped into a decorative pot as a table top or coffee table feature. Make sure they receive good light in a bright room, but not direct sunlight. Water directly onto the soil, keeping the leaves dry. Keep the soil lightly moist, but not soggy otherwise the roots will rot. Details: www.lvgplant.co.za
Garden tasks for March
- Plant autumn flowering perennials like rudbeckia, gaillardia, asters, argyranthemum, and osteospermum.
- Towards the end of March sow colourful winter flowering Namaqualand daisies, calendula, Iceland poppies and Shirley poppies. For fragrance there are sweet peas, Virginian stocks, alyssum and nemesia.
- Divide perennials like agapanthus, arum lilies, summer flowering red hot pokers and day lilies that have become too crowded. Prepare the soil well, with lots of compost, before replanting.
- To keep your lawn green during winter (in frost free areas), fertilise this month with 5:1:5 and water regularly.
- Start harvesting and preserving your herbs for winter. Aromatic herbs like oregano, marjoram, thyme, sage, bay, and rosemary dry well and keep their flavour.
- Water once a week and give the garden a last application of 5:1: 5 fertilizer to keep the garden going through winter. Water well after applying the fertilizer.
