In summer rainfall area winter can be described as the ugliest season of the year, as everything loses colour and vibrancy, your lawn and shrubs turn yellow and your plants "die". For the keen gardener or plant enthusiast this is a miserable time … but it is over and Spring is here!
So it is time for you to liven up your dull winter garden. We asked the experts at Abacus Gardens and Enchanting Gardens to give us some useful advice on how to prepare one’s garden for summer. Hope you enjoy your lovely summer garden once it is ready!
Q: What are the basic things one can do to prepare your garden for summer and when should you start working on this?
Phil Skerritt, Enchanting Gardens: “Before you start planting for summer you must first ensure that your entire winter pruning is done i.e. removing any dead wood and mulching around existing shrubs using decomposed organic matter to both conserve water and provide additional nutrients. This is particularly important if you experience long dry winters when the daytime temperatures are still quite high such as in Natal. During this period the ground also becomes very hard so make sure you aerate the soil using a fork or scarifier so that the soil can breathe and water can seep down to where the roots are. Otherwise the water will simply evaporate on a compact surface. The best time to prepare your garden for summer is just before the first spring rains. Make sure that you prepare your flower beds properly using copious amounts of compost and preferably organic fertilisers to improve the quality and structure of your soil. This will stimulate both new and existing plants to grow and flower profusely.”
Tim Horn, Abacus Gardens: “Early September is the time to increase your watering cycle as the temperature heats up and also do not forget to water early in the morning.
Early August you should scarify your lawn. Scarification is when you partially remove the thatch layer (and moss if it is present) - you need to do this to prevent the growth of disease as the thatch stores disease. Thatch also prevents nutrients and water getting to the roots. Weeds and dead crop plants have to be removed, and a layer of compost has to be applied – this should be done in August.”
Q: What are the most common problems one can expect when preparing your garden for summer and what can you do to solve these problems?
Tim Horn, Abacus Gardens: “You could experience problems with drainage due to leaves falling to the ground – it is important to have a good spring clean and rake up all the debris. There could also be a nutrient deficiency in your soil and it would be prudent to have the soil tested. Root growth is effected by soil with poor drainage, and the absorption of nutrients by the plants is greatly affected by too much or too little drainage. You can test your drainage ability with a simple, do-it-yourself-test. Dig a hole about six inches across and twelve inches deep. Put water in the hole and let it drain. Once the water has drained, fill it again and time how long it will take the water to completely drain out of the hole. If it takes more than eight hours, you have a problem with your drainage that will affect the growth of plants.”
Q: When is the best time to start planting summer plants and vegetables?
Tim Horn, Abacus Gardens: “All vegetables are season related and that should be looked at per species and not per season. The best time for summer plants to be planted would be in September.”
Q: Which plants are ideal for summer gardens and why?
“The best way to announce spring and summer in your garden is to prepare your soil well in advance and plant lots of colourful seasonal perennials, bulbs, annuals and shrubs such as the free flowering Banksia Rose, Jasmine, Yesterday, today and tomorrow, Petrea and wisteria for dramatic colour and scent. Perennials such as day lilies, agapanthus, Tulbaghia and lavender are also a must as well as growing your own herbs and vegetables if you can keep the monkeys away!”
Tim Horn, Abacus Gardens: “There is a large variety but 3 good species are:
Xanadu’s is a great lush low shrub that fills an area really well
Coco’s Palm gives instant height and a great tropical feel. They can also provide an instant canopy.
Plectranthus (“Mona Lavender”): Great for shady areas and brightening a dark area up.”
Q: What should readers keep in mind when planning a new summer garden?
Tim Horn, Abacus Gardens: “Irrigation is essential. No garden should be looked at without irrigation. The state of the soil should be looked at and enriched with the correct quantity of compost and fertilizer.”
Phil Skerritt, Enchanting Gardens: “If you are trying to create a new garden or refurbishing an old garden you may wish to introduce some new plant varieties so make sure you familiarise yourself with the individual characteristics of each plant taking into consideration the eventual size and growing requirements such as soil, sun/shade and climate for your particular region.
You may wish to seek the advice of a professional Nurseryman or Landscape Gardener when planning your new summer garden as they will help you with the lay-out and advise you on which plants do well in your area. The main purpose of designing a new garden is to produce a scheme which is both practical and imaginative using proven methods and design techniques to create all year-round interest. In selecting plants you also have to consider form and texture, colour, flowering season and fragrance. Complimentary plants should be linked together to provide a harmonious atmosphere which, as well as being appealing to the eye, are also sensitive to the environment and supports wildlife. With this in mind, indigenous plants are very useful and play an important role in both water and nature conservation requiring less maintenance whilst attracting wildlife to your garden.
In South Africa, we have an incredible variety of native plants too numerous to mention and these can be used to great effect in our own gardens.”
Q: What can one do to ensure that your lawn is instantly green after winter?
Phil Skerritt, Enchanting Gardens: “You may also wish to revitalise your dormant lawn after a long dry winter and this can be best achieved by aerating the grass using a spiked roller, fertilising using either organic pellets or artificial granular fertiliser such as L.A.N. or a more balanced fertiliser like 2.3.2. When applying the fertiliser use a calibrated fertiliser spreader for an equal distribution and once this is done apply a recommended lawn dressing which is refined and quickly absorbed into the ground. Last but not least, water thoroughly to activate the growth process.”
Tim Horn, Abacus Gardens: “An early treatment of lawn dressing, ensuring that your lawn is well watered, and a good fertilizer (7:1:3) should do the trick. Scarifying the lawns between August and early September.”
Q: Please give our readers some basic gardening tips they can apply when preparing their gardens for summer?
“Cut back all dead growth that has occurred during winter. A thorough clean up of the existing area is essential. Introduce compost and fertilizer to the bedding and don’t forget to treat your lawn with a nice dose of lawn dressing.”
Q: Are there any pests that grow / make themselves at home in your garden during winter and if so what can one do to get rid of these – eco-friendly options if possible?
Tim Horn, Abacus Gardens: “At this time of the year (August / September) crickets may appear and eat up dead organic material but this can be more harmful than good.
Mixing general soap (like Sunlight liquid) with water and then spraying it over the garden should drive them out of their holes and prevent unnecessary damage.”
Tip: “To protect your plants this summer from common bugs, use environmentally friendly methods to repel them such as wild garlic, tobacco powder or ultrasonic devices designed to chase away uninvited guests.” - Phil Skerritt, Enchanting Gardens
Links
http://www.abacusgardens.co.za
http://www.enchantinggardens.co.za
Images supplied by: Enchanting Gardens & Abacus Gardens
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