November

 

 

Consider planting on of the following indigenous trees that are in flower at this time of year: the pompom tree with its pink flowers, the wild pomegranate with its beautiful clusters of orange flowers.

 

Weeds can take over quickly at this time of year, so always put out weeds and never let them go to seed.

 

Remove green shoots from variegated shrubs as soon as they appear to prevent them from robbing the plant of energy and reverting back to the original green form.

 

Continue making softwood cuttings from flowering shrubs.

 

Water hydrangeas well and feed regularly with an appropriate fertilizer. Also give them a hick mulch to help keep the soil moist.

 

The lawn needs some pampering before summer. Feed with 3:2:1 or lawn fertilizer at a rate of 60g/m. Water the lawn thoroughly once a week during dry weather.

 

Dry inland:

 

Consider adding shrubs with silver or grey foliage to your garden to create a cool effect this summer.

 

Consider planting drought – resistant shrubs that originate in low- rainfall areas, like streitzias, rosemary and lavender bushes, tamarisks. These plants look beautiful throughout the year even if they do not get much water.

 

Cut back faded flower heads on bougainvilleas to tidy then up. Remember, to encourage good flowering  bougainvilleas, reduce watering and stop feeding them as soon as new flower buds appear. You can resume watering and feeding once the plants have finished flowering. Continue mowing and watering the lawn regularly.

 

Water all trees and shrubs deeply during dry weather.

 

Ensure that newly planted trees and shrubs are adequately tied to their stakes as summer storms can do a lot of damage.

 

Cut back poinsettias to encourage bushier growth.

 

Prune hibiscuses and tibounchinas to promote flowering in late summer and autumn. Water the lawn thoroughly during dry weather.

 

A few perennials to keep in mind for some colour in partly shaded areas of your garden are begonias, columbines, hostas, balloon flowers, foxgloves and meadow rue. Continue planting gladioli bulbs for an extended flowering period. Remember to water annuals and perennials regularly and to feed them with liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks. Remove faded flowers to prolog flowering.

 

Lift and divide bearded irises after they have finished flowering. Choose new rhizomes with a good fan of leaves for replanting. To make the soil more alkaline, add a sprinkle of agricultural lime, as bearded irises prefer alkaline soil. When planting the rhizomes, remember to leave the top of the rhizome exposed to the sun as irises will not flower well if they are planted too deep.

 

When the foliage of spring bulbs has died down, lift and dust the bulbs with flowers of sulphur before storing them.

 

Continue making cuttings of       Marguerite daisies to ensure a constant supply of new plants throughout the season.

 

Cut back petunias as soon as they become straggly and feed them with a liquid fertilizer to ensure another flush of flowers.

 

Continue sowing quick growing summer flowering annuals such as, alyssums, bedding dahlias, Californian poppies, portulacas, marigolds, nicotians, sunflowers and nasturtiums.

 

Try out some day lilies, they are among the earliest of perennials to perennials to grow and will reward you with an abundance of flowers throughout summer.

 

 

Put out small bait late in the afternoon to protect annuals and new growth on perennials. Plant impatiens in containers on shady patios and paved areas, and annuals like zinnias, petunias, marigolds and phoxes in containers positioned in full sun on the patio or around the pool. Water indoor and outdoor container plants regularly and feed with a liquid fertilizer every three to four weeks. Remember to arrange for someone to water your pot plants if you are planting to go away during the December holidays. You could also stand your plants in a bath or tub filled with a few centimeters of water.

 

Check hanging baskets, repair coir lining and replace spent flowering plants with fresh annuals and flowering groundcovers.

 

Pinch back new growth on herbs like sweet basil, thyme, mint, marjoram and oregano to encourage the development of more shoots.

 

Sow vegetables like beetroot, broccoli, Brussels’ sprouts, cabbage, carrots cauliflower, cucumbers dwarf and runner beans, lettuces, parsley, pumpkins, radishes, Swiss chard and vegetable marrows