Page 18 - FWG_Issue 2_March_2022

Estate News

March in the Garden

March is changeover time in Gauteng, marking the start of the
shift from summer to winter. This makes it quite a tricky month for

planting. It’s even sometimes quite a wet month.

• Time to lift and divide agapanthus, wild iris, penstemon, campanula and asters. Cut them
back, lift out, split up and replant into freshly composted soil.
• Sow Namaqualand daisies, sweet peas, poppies, primula, foxgloves, hollyhock, and
larkspur. Don’t be scared to sow the flowers that you love — success is guaranteed if you
just follow the instructions on the seed packet.
• Sow seeds for new lawn grass, especially in colder areas where Shade Over and All Seasons
Evergreen grow well.
• In the veggie garden, sow fast-growing greens like lettuce and spinach, and start preparing
to plant winter crops like cabbage, cauliflower, parsnips, and broad beans.

• Top tip: Before it gets cold and the job becomes uncomfortable, clean out your water
features. Check that your pump is clean and in good condition. You do not want to do this
when it’s freezing cold!

• Pull out spent annuals and old perennials and tidy up beds and borders. Prepare the soil
to a spade’s depth for seasonal annuals and bulbs: loosen the soil and mix in well-rotted
manure with good-quality compost and a little bonemeal.
• Rose care – Build healthy leaves by fertilising with a rose-specific fertiliser this month. With
plenty of leaves, the process of photosynthesis remains in full swing, strengthening plant
stems for fast spring sprouting and winter flowering.

Image: James Coleman – unsplash Image: Laura Lefurgey-Smith – unsplash
March is truly a marvellous month in the garden and promises many
treats before autumn sets in. Enjoy planting your plant communities

and have fun decorating with smart, ornamental grasses. Image: Geraldine Dukes – unsplash

To purchase natural gardening products, or for more information about how to be eco-friendly, contact Turfnet on
Tel no: (011) 464-5088 or Mobile no: 073 935 9754. Alternatively, email: Jerida@mweb.co.za, or visit www.turfgreen.co.za
Address: Plot 17, School Road, Diepsloot. 2187.

Fourways Gardens • 16 • March 2022