Garden care in August

Although there are days when you will doubt it, spring is just around the corner – making this a busy time in the garden.

Water saving at this time of the year is often the farthest thing from our minds but preparation done now will save you hours of anguish in the middle of summer. Any plants placed in the ground during the cooler months, from the largest tree down to the smallest seedling, will benefit from the addition of Stockosorb – water storing granules in the hole. Help protect your indoor and outdoor plants with mulch and use groundcovers where ever you can.

Tidy away all dead and old winter growth in shrubs and trees to make space for the spring flush.
Do not be tempted to cut off the leaves of your bulbs which have finished flowering as they require these leaves to make food for the developing bulb.

As the weather warms cut back fuchsias by a third and mulch their beds with compost. Towards the end of August, start pinching out the growing tips of shoots as soon as they develop two pairs of leaves as this will result in bushier, floriferous plants.

Repot container grown plants into a pot one size bigger if they look cramped.

Do not cut back frosted growth on plants that have been damaged by the cold, until all danger of frost has passed.

Hydrangeas that were not given a summer prune can be pruned now!

Ensure that all roses have been pruned by now! Increase watering to twice a week.

It is time to prepare for your spring vegetable garden. Select an area with plenty of sun and well-draining soil and add plenty of compost to the soil before planting your favourites.

What to Plant:

Plant veggies like parsnips, turnips, beetroot, carrot and radish.

Add some colour to your garden with camellias, leucospermums (Pin cushion), chamelaucium (geraldton wax), azaleas, violas and pansies.

Herbs such as chives, fennel, sage and sorrel can be planted and even basil if you are in a warmer part of SA.

Rue can be planted as an insect repellent.

Find a space to plant at least one fruit tree. Citrus does well in a large pot at a sunny doorstep. Many other fruit tree varieties have been especially dwarfed for easy harvesting and also, to fit more easily into a smaller home garden.