Gardening in November

Some great advice from the gardening guru’s at Starke Ayres. With the water restrictions in place we need to be making water wise choices in our gardens. Here are a few pointers.

Summer heralds the time for all summer hotties such as Chillies, Peppers, Basil, Coriander, Pumpkins, Tomatoes, Sweetcorn, Watermelon and Sweet Melon to shine.

• Plant flower seedlings. Starke Ayres stocks a wide variety of waterwise seedlings such as Portulaca, Petunias, Dianthus, Lobelia and Marigolds. Protect newly planted seedlings against snails by scattering some Kombat Snails.

• The heat can take a lot of nutrition out of the plants in the garden. Add some nutrients in the form of an organic Starke Ayres 3:1:5 or Atlantic All Purpose Fertiliser.

• Tillandsia spp (Air plants) has become a very popular addition to our garden palette. Exciting new stock has just arrived and will become the new talking point amongst your friends.

• Feed with organic slow release fertilizers which needs little watering and aids in retaining moisture. Now a first in Cape Town, pelletized kraal manure from Just Organics, available in pellet or crumble.

• Plant a hanging basket for the veranda or patio. Be adventurous and plant succulents for the very hot areas on the veranda and herbs for the kitchen. See our display and starter kit for the latest concept in hanging baskets in the Western Cape.

• In large gardens, plant huge swathes of drought-hardy groundcovers and spreading succulents like Crassulas, Cotyledons, Vygies, Gazanias, Arctotis and Osteospermums. Include some groupings of grasses and restios like Elegia tectorum.

• Mulch flower beds with a good quality mulch to help with water retention in the soil. It will also help with keeping the plant roots cool and aid in optimising the growth potential of your plants. Adding a good handful of Gold Dust will also improve the drainage reducing chances of water evaporation or run off.

• Plant new exciting varieties of Protea and Leucospermums. Now in stock is the Protea King Pink and Pincushion Carnival. Once established they will become the
champions in a waterwise garden.

16 November 2016: Free Talk – West Coast Village