Spring is just around the corner, so August is your golden window to prepare for a vibrant garden season.
What to sow & grow
Durban’s coastal climate is ideal for a mix of hearty veggies and cheerful flowers. Try these:
Flowers:
- Sow seeds of marigolds, salvias, cosmos, dahlias, agnostem, lobelia, and impatiens directly in beds or trays for vibrant summer blooms.
- Plant daisies, osteospermum, Geraldton wax, and marguerites for colour all season long.
Tender bulbs and perennials:
- Divide and replant cannas, heliconias, agapanthus, and ferns, then mulch and feed well.
Indoor Plant of the Month
It’s time to refresh your indoor green friends. Our top pick? The resilient Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) – a low-fuss succulent native to KZN.
Why we love it:
- Thrives in bright light and needs water only when dry
- Adds charm to windowsills
- Easy to propagate and pet-friendly
Care tip: Give it a re-pot into a slightly larger pot with well-draining soil to invest in long-term growth.
Gardening tasks
Prune and tidy up:
- Trim back shrubs and prune bougainvillea, fuchsias, and other winter blooms.
- Clean up rose canes, cut back spent foliage, and tie new shoots.
Soil and mulch
- Add compost and a balanced fertiliser like 2:3:2 or 3:1:5 to beds and under trees for nutrient boost.
- Spread a mulch layer (bark, straw, compost) to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
Lawn love
- Mow and spike lawns (kikuyu or Durban grass); top-dress with compost or lawn dressing.
Water smartly
- Increase watering as temperatures rise; water deeply but less frequently to encourage strong roots.
Pest patrol
- Be on the lookout for slugs, snails, and aphids. Use organic controls and plant pest deterrents like mint, chives, and geraniums.
Plan and prep
- Sketch out veggie layouts, mark where new trees or shrubs could go, and order spring bulbs.
- Fix or install irrigation systems early so you’re ready for the hot season .
Vegetables
- Sow directly in well-prepped soil: beans (bush and runner), cucumbers, lettuce, Swiss chard, radishes, carrots, and baby marrows.
- Plant out seedlings of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, sweet potatoes, capsicums, and squash now that frost risk is gone.
Harvest it!
It’s also a great time to enjoy your garden’s yield:
- Pick early-sown lettuce, radishes, chard, and baby beans frequently – this encourages more growth and prevents bolting.
- Feed fruit trees (citrus, pawpaws, figs) with organic food like 3:1:5 and supplement citrus with Epsom salts and kelp solution for lush spring flowering.
Meet the clever clay cone that waters your plants for you!
The Blumat Classic delivers just the right amount of water your indoor plants need – no matter the light conditions. Simply connect it to a nearby container or bottle and let the clay cone do the thinking while you’re at work or away on holiday. Want more water for sun-loving plants? Try the Classic XL!
Details: blumatsouthafrica.co.za
