Gardening in March – All about Earth Hour and other Green Things

Earth Hour – Natural systems are vital for all our futures – and yet, the rate of global loss of nature during the past 50 years is unprecedented in human history. Nature not only provides us food, water, clean air, and other services – it is also one of our strongest allies against climate change. Protecting nature is one of the most immediate, powerful, and cost-effective solutions to the climate crisis. Earth Hour aims to increase awareness and spark global conversations on protecting nature not only to combat the climate crisis, but to ensure our own health, happiness, prosperity and even survival.

Inquisitive gardeners have created inventive gardening methods and products that are not only good for us but also beneficial for our plants. With our new range of Plastia self-watering pots and throughs you can explore how you can save water, keep your plants moist and healthy and have a flourishing green garden all year round. Now on promotion

Keep your lawn green during winter by fertilising now with Atlantic Fertiliser Lawns on promotion @ R109.00 for 5 kg. Another way to keep your lawn green over winter is to over-sow with a cool season grass like Starke Ayres Winter Green or Four Seasons grass seed. Setting your lawn mower blades a bit higher can result in strong and healthy foliage coverage. Use Lawn dressing to fill hollows and encourage a flat, even lawn.

All seasons converge in March. Summer is coming to an end, autumn has just begun and it is also the right time to plan your Winter and Spring garden. Sow spring and winter flowering annuals like Alyssum, Bokbaaivygies, Calendula, Poppies, Lobelia, African daisies, Nasturtiums and Sweet peas.

Unlike the summer crop, there are fewer vegetables that grow through winter which means that fewer beds are needed for root vegetables, salads, legumes and brassicas. Grow what your family enjoys eating. Devote more space to cool season Lettuce, Rocket, Coriander, Cabbage, Radishes Onion and Dill.

During Autumn, deciduous trees are preparing to go to sleep for winter. They take a lot of nutrients over this period, so you need to give them fairly good feed of a plant food low in nitrogen such as Pokon Bonsai liquid fertiliser.

Delicious, nutritious and its most beautiful in autumn, the Pomegranate used to be considered garden royalty and is enjoying something of a renaissance. Pomegranates are deciduous and lose their leaves in Winter. They can easily be grown in pots with enough space for the root mass to double. Increase the pot size every 2 – 3 years as your tree grows.

Starke Ayres, West Coast Village

Tel: 021 554 8450