Page 23 - FWG Issue 7 August 2024

Gardening

Gardening tips for August

Windy August is not a hot

favourite amongst gardeners.
It is normally miserably cold,
blustery, dry and still dark in the
mornings. The promise of spring,
with the sweet scent of jasmine,

is already in the air.

outh African gardening circles
this is the month to get all of your
pruning done. Pruning is especially
Simportant for fruit trees and roses,
but it’s also necessary for any deciduous
shrubs that may be in need
of a trim. Cut out all dead wood, diseased Photo by Maylee
branches and dead leaves. Cut back trees
that are getting too big and perhaps healthy patch of the lawn on a bed of
shading the lawn or obstructing your fine compost and level with the existing
view. Remember that after pruning, plants lawn.
need to be fed. Feed contour compost to 2. Veggie patch: Start planting different
your roses and fruit trees at soil level. And salad varieties. You can also be very
don’t forget to shred all your cuttings and fashionable by planting a variety of
pop them onto the compost heap. salad types in pots or wooden boxes.
Sow some nasturtium seeds between
Transplanting is another common theme the leafy stuff, the flowers and leaves are
during August as many plants are still edible and great for salads. The plants
dormant and can be moved without are known as great companions that will
worrying about disturbing them. So, if you keep pests like aphids away.
are looking for a change of scenery or just 3. Tootie fruity: Plant young strawberry
to update the overall look and feel of your plants and sow seeds of Cape
garden, now is an ideal time. gooseberries.

1. Awakening the lawn: After scarifying
your lawns by cutting it very low,
spike, feed and top-dress
around the end of
August, also repair
ragged lawn edges
as they are easier
to trim if neat. Do
this by laying new
sods or pieces from a
Photo by Tinashe Guni Photo by Speciality Produce
To purchase natural gardening products or for more information about how to be eco-friendly,
contact Turfnet on tel: 011 464 5088 or cell: 073 935 9754, or visit www.turfgreen.co.za.
Address: Plot 17, School Road, Diepsloot.

Fourways Gardens • 21 • August 2024