We have passed the winter peak and it’s time to start getting excited for longer days and warmer weather. Spring is around the corner and soon the swallows will grace us again with their aerobatics and Bergvliet gardeners will be at it again in full force.
Stodels August Newsletter
Herb of the Month – Dill
Dill is very popular in Greek and Scandinavian cooking and adds wonderful flavour to summer soups and salads. It’s an annual herb, but it self-seeds very easily, so once you’re planted it you’ll have a steady supply for years to come.
Grow your own Carrots
Freshly picked carrots taste vastly different to the ones you can buy in the supermarket. If there is any vegetable that is worth growing yourself, then it must be the humble carrot.
Pretty Pelargoniums
Indigenous pelargoniums are mainstays of the garden, providing instant colour for window boxes, containers on patios or in flower borders. Pelargoniums, which are commonly (and incorrectly) referred to as geraniums, are sun loving perennials which require very little care, yet provide months of colourful flowers and foliage.
It’s time to give your lawn a boost
August is a good month to give your lawn some extra attention. This will help it recover from the winter cold and prepare it for the spring growth that lies ahead. Here’s what you should do now to ensure that your grass stays lush and green.
- Feed your lawn with a specially formulated lawn fertiliser such as Bio Ganic for Lawns. Apply fertiliser in the early morning, while it is still cool and water well afterwards. Make a note in your diary to feed your lawn again at 4-6 week intervals.
- Top-dress your lawn now to level out uneven patches and to stimulate spring growth. Use a specially formulated lawn dressing and not topsoil, which may contain unwanted weed seeds.
- Target any weeds that pop up in early spring as soon as possible. Either pull them out by hand or use a broad-leaf weed killer in targeted areas. If you’re not sure what to use, bring a sample of the weed into your closest Stodels Garden Centre and ask a sales consultant to advise a suitable weed killer.
Colourful Conifers
Conifers are a great addition to any South African garden – they’re water-wise, drought tolerant and cope well with frost. They also have non-invasive root systems, so they can be planted next to walls or swimming pools without the fear that they will lift paving stones or walls.
Here’s how to get the most out of these versatile plants:
- Plant conifers in medium to well-drained soil.
- Choose a sunny spot in the garden, although dark green and silver varieties will cope with dappled shade.
- Fertilise your conifer monthly with liquid fertiliser
Grow your Own Insect Repellant
Outdoor entertaining is one of the perks of living in sunny South Africa, but we all know how unpleasant it can be when flies or mosquitoes join the party. Here are a few ideas of plants to add to the areas surrounding your outdoor patios and other entertaining areas:
- Aromatic plants like mint, chives, basil, buchu, lavender, lemon grass, scented pelargoniums and confetti bush work extra well if they are planted in areas where people will brush against them to release their scent.
- Creeping mint varieties like Corsican mint and pennyroyal can be planted between pavers and stepping stones. They will release their insect-repelling scent when they are stepped on.
- Catnip is an excellent mosquito repellant, so make sure you plant some close to your patio or garden bench.
To read more visit www.stodels.com or visit one of their Garden Centres to speak to any of their horticulturists.