Gardening – What to do in October

As the seasons change from spring to summer, we need to ensure a healthy garden transition into the warmer months. Here are some expert tips from Starke Ayres.

• Plant summer herbs and vegetable seeds or seedlings, like Basil, Coriander, Aubergine, Beans, Squash, Baby Marrow, Tomato, Sweetcorn, Kale, Chillies and Sweet Peppers. Promote healthy strong growth by feeding with organic Talborne 6:3:4 or Starke Ayres 3:1:5. Protect them against snails by using an organic snail bait such Biogrow Ferramol.

• Protect new leaves on Roses from thrips, aphids and other insects that enjoy the sap of the lush new leaves and buds. Drench the bushes with a systemic insecticide such as Koinor.

• Sow seed in areas of the lawn where you have bare patches. Select from our range of Lawn seed to suit your garden. For shady areas there is Shady mix and for Sunny spots Evergreen Mix. For high traffic areas choose Playmix, it does not only have a low mowing height, but also a high traffic tolerance.

• Fertilise lawns with a fertiliser high in Phosphate such as organic Talborne 2:3:2 or a chemical alternative. Chemical fertiliser releases nutrients quickly whereas organic fertiliser offers a slow release resulting in fertilising less frequently.

• Apply Kelpak to the roots or the growth tips of your plants to boost and promote healthy root and leaf development. The growth hormones in kelp such as cytokinin aid the plant in processes like cell division and enlargement and development of chloroplasts. Kelp also stimulates soil bacteria which improves the soil fertility. Plants treated with Kelp develops a stronger resistance to disease and insect infestations.

• Plant indigenous Zantedesch aethiopica, (Calla lillies), available in an array of colour in shady part of your garden. They are easy to maintain and will only require feeding from time to time with Starke Ayres 3:1:5

• It’s prime season for Alstroemerias (Inca or princess lillies ). There are many new hybrids which are introduced, some with unusual colours and some dwarf, compact growing plants. They are all herbaceous perennials with tuberous root systems with masses of fleshy stems.

9 October is National Gardening Day

19 October : Free Talk – All you want to know about Clivias

Buy any Kombat product and stand a chance to win a Weber braai worth R 2800

Starke Ayres Garden Centre Rosebank – Tel: 021 685 4120/1
& West Coast Village Shopping Centre – Tel: 021 554 8450