Gardening – What to do in September

Spring is here and the experts at Starke Ayres have a few hints and tips to get you into the gardening mood this September.

• Join Starke Ayres every weekend for the month of September and plant up a FREE colourful pot with your child, parent, a friend or a loved one. Look out for our “Caring is sharing” potting station in our store.

• Plant summer vegetable varieties in your veggie patch such as Chillies, Peppers, Tomatoes, Patty Pans, Baby Sweetcorn, Cucumber, Squash, Pumpkin, Beans and Brussel Sprouts. For the seed enthusiast we offer a wide range of Starke Ayres Vegetable Seed to choose from such as the Low Carb Mix.

• Planting a hanging basket, a first in the Western Cape, has never been easier and more fun. If you’re short on space in your garden, hanging baskets and pots are the ideal addition to your edible garden. Add Palm Peat to pots to help with the water retention.

• Deadhead your pansies and violas, so that they can continue to flower right into summer. Continue feeding with an Organic Liquid fertiliser such as Sea Secret.

• Clivias, commonly known as bush lilies, bring spectacular colour to any shady area of your garden during the month of September. They are not just easy to care for but are indigenous and waterwise. Rhaphiolepsis is a tough, wind resistant, low maintenance shrub and prolifically blooms in late September and October.

• Plant a fruit tree during Arbour month. Fruit trees not only offer shade, but will reward you with fruit during season. A Lemon or Olive tree is a 12 month asset to all gardens and is easy to grow in containers.

• Lawns require a boost into spring. Talborne fertilisers are organic and slow release and only needs to be applied 3 monthly. All other chemical options should be applied 6 weekly. If your lawn is sparse now is a good time to plant grass plugs and lightly top dress with one of our weed free lawndressings.

• Have a look at the spring promotions which will help you grow your rand.