Page 26 - FWG Issue 2 March 2024

Gardening

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.

s the weather starts cooling If you didn’t make use of mulch during the
down don’t forget to adjust your hotter months, you have no excuse now as
watering, especially any automatic mulching will prevent the soil from losing
Asystems, use less of this precious moisture on hot days in the warmer regions,
commodity. Having said that, you should still help with protection on cold frosty nights
water before 8am to lose as little moisture to in the colder ones and serve a dual purpose
evaporation as possible while still allowing for our more temperate regions. Mulch is
the foliage enough time to dry off before also great for suppressing weed growth, in
nightfall, minimising the chance of your case you needed yet another reason to get
plants developing any fungal diseases. stuck in.

GARDENER
OF THE MONTH

Our gardener of the month is Zenith
Mashaba.

He is always willing to help with any
duty given to him. He has worked
extremely hard this month with
irrigation repairs, slashing Uranium
Park and K56 Dog Parks, tree cutting
and pruning. Well done, Zenith, for
always willing to help with anything
in and around the Fourways
Gardens Estate, and thank you.
Wild Iris

ON YOUR TO-DO LIST FOR MARCH instructions on the seed packet. becomes uncomfortable, clean out your
• Time to lift and divide agapanthus, wild • Sow seeds for new lawn grass, especially water features. Check that your pump is
iris, penstemon, campanula and asters. in colder areas where Shade Over and All clean and in good condition. You do not
Cut them back, lift out, split up and replant Seasons Evergreen grow well. want to do this when it’s freezing cold!
into freshly composted soil. • In the veggie garden, sow fast-growing • Pull out spent annuals and old perennials
• Sow Namaqualand daisies, sweet peas, greens like lettuce and spinach, and and tidy up beds and borders. Prepare
poppies, primula, foxgloves, hollyhock, start preparing to plant winter crops like the soil to a spade’s depth for seasonal
and larkspur. Don’t be scared to sow cabbage, cauliflower, parsnips, and broad annuals and bulbs: loosen the soil and mix
the flowers that you love – success beans. in well-rotted manure with good-quality
is guaranteed if you just follow the • Top tip: Before it gets cold and the job compost and a little bonemeal.

To purchase natural gardening products or for more info on how to be eco-friendly give us a call:
073 935 9754 School Road, Plot 17, Diepsloot, 2187

Fourways Gardens • 24 • March 2024