August in the Garden

August is the month when we are tired of winter and are itching to get back into the garden. There are plenty of chores waiting to be completed.

• Divide grasses and other overcrowded perennials
• Overseed lawn where bare with Grass seed. Lightly dress/ cover seed with Lawn Dressing.
• Dig in compost and bonemeal to prep soil for planting
• Mulch with compost, no need to dig it in
• Repot indoor plants
• Top dress Asparagus plants with well-drained potting soil
• Last chance to prune Roses. If the plants need to be pruned, now is the time to do it
• Summer seeds are waiting to be sown- beans, radish, mealies, basil, coriander, rocket. Flowers like Alyssum, Begonia, Antirrhinum can be started in trays in a sheltered spot
• Add a sprinkling of snail pellets where persistent snails may damage new plantings
• Orchids are in season so remember to apply Starke Ayres flower food.

Do not accidentally prune spring and early summer flowering shrubs and climbers until they have finished flowering.
Strawberries are here! These sweet plants are surprisingly easy to grow. Plant in full sun and good, well-drained soil. Water well and regularly. Mulch to avoid water loss, snails and weed infestation. They are perfect for pots and hanging baskets. Fun strawberry fact- Fragaria x ananassa is a hybrid between two American varieties of Fragaria, developed in France around 1750. They are great for planting in pots as well as hanging baskets but add Hydrocache for water retention.

Flame lilies (Gloriosa superba) loves climbing up other plants with the tendrils on the ends of their leaves. National flower of Zimbabwe, they grow in sun to semi-shade during summer, flowering from November to March. They are secretive plants rather than a mass display, popping up with a surprise flower where one least expects them. We have stock of very few fresh tubers ready to be planted this spring.

Beans are great for introducing kids to fun gardening. They germinate easily and are good for the soil as they are nitrogen fixing. By planting runner beans to climb on a trellis or a tepee made of poles your kids will be able to watch them grow into a fun playhouse for summer. Choose from green Lazy Housewife or yellow Canneloni Pole beans. Bush beans like Purple King, Top Crop or Contender can also grow in containers.

Gardeners Gold Dust breaks down compacted heavy clay soils, improves water retention in sandy soils, reduces excess salinity in coastal soils, prevents water runoff and erosion and assists plants in absorbing more nutrients. Sprinkle the dust liberally over garden beds and water it in. Gardeners Gold Dust is gypsum, consisting of calcium and sulphur, elements required for healthy plant growth and production of chlorophyll. Calcium is lost through crop removal (mowing lawns, annual flowers being replaced and harvesting vegetables), leaching and soil erosion. Added seaweed provides even more essential minerals and trace elements. What’s not to love about this awesome product?

West Coast Village Shopping Centre – Tel: 021 554 8450/1