Page 16 - FWG 9 October 2021

Gardening

October in the garden

Simple ways to give back to earth

October gardening is all about making those dreams and pictures you see in your mind come to reality, and
then having the patience and energy to see them evolve gloriously, right in front of your eyes.

f you haven’t done anything yet, don’t
worry, but loosen your brakes! You
are going to plant, feed, prune, pick,
Ideadhead, water, harvest and keep an
eye on pest and disease attacks.

Spring flowering plants like ‘Yesterday,
Today and Tomorrow’, crab apples, and
cherries are already in full bloom; then there
are the beautiful bearded irises, foxgloves
and delphiniums. Luckily, we are all inspired
to garden at this time of the year because
there is no time to rest for gardeners in
October.
FLOWERING ANNUALS soon as they have finished blooming.
If you really want a good return on money Your winter- and spring-flowering annuals • Mulch the roots of your spring plants and
spent in the garden this season you need will start dying down as the weather warms feed with Contour Compost.
to get cracking and plant this month. This up, so it’s time to start planting your summer • Scarify and feed your lawn with Contour
will give you the whole season to reap the beds. Try alyssum, aster, cleome, cosmos, Lawn Dressing.
rewards of summer. dianthus, gaillardia, sunflower, lavatera, • Feed your camellias with Contour Compost.
lobelia, marigold, zinnia, bedding begonia, • Feed your Hydrangeas with Contour
Picking the lovely garden roses can be Celosia, New Guinea impatiens, petunia and Compost.
done at any time of the day, if they go vinca. Pinch out the young leaves on newly
straight into a bucket of cold water. Do not planted seedlings to encourage bushy PLANT
pick more than 50% of the long-stemmed growth. October is also time to plant summer bulbs
blooms on any one plant at a time, as a big such as arum lily, caladium, spider lily,
loss of leaves can cause root shock which HOT TIPS amaryllis, tuberous begonia hybrids, lilium,
sets back growth. Rather pick again as more If you need new lawn, sod it with instant tigridia and tuberose.
flowers are produced. lawn sods, but do not take shortcuts with
soil preparation. Dig the area over and It is also time to plant Gladioli corms for a
Enjoy the last flowers of the Clivia’s. If they remove all the weeds and stones. Add a brilliant Christmas show. Store Amaryllis
need to be lifted and divided, do so after the copious amount of Contour Compost and bulbs in the fridge and plant them into pots
flowering phase at the end of the month. rake smooth and level. Water the soil lightly six weeks before Christmas and they will be
before laying the sods tightly together, fill in full bloom; wrap them up in a pretty sleeve
Buy tall annuals like aquilegia, campanula, any cracks with Contour Fine Compost or and you have a gorgeous and affordable gift.
delphinium and digitalis in colour bags Lawn Dressing.
to fill up bare spots in mixed beds. Border Plant all the mints for cooling summer
flower beds spectacularly with Carex GENERAL TASKS cordials. As the mints are invasive, rather
hachijoensis ‘Evergold’ a clump-forming • Split and divide overcrowded perennials, plant them in pots. You can sink them, pot
ornamental grass with narrow yellow and ornamental grasses and succulents. and all, into the soil as the mint will not mind
white, green-edged leaves. • Prune all your spring flowering plants as being kept prisoner.

To purchase natural gardening products, or for more information about how to be eco-friendly,
give Turfnet a call on 011 464 5088. Address: Plot 17, School Road, Diepsloot.

Fourways Gardens • 14 • October 2021