Page 20 - IFV Issue 7_2023

Gardening

attention as a summer one. Caring for KZN and Mpumalanga, while celery, persistent weeds from flower beds.
your garden during the winter season parsley and turnips are best for areas in Remember to always remove weeds
will make sure it flourishes in spring. the Cape. with the roots intact; if you leave roots
• Plant indigenous aloes in your garden, • Always water your garden in the behind, the weeds will grow back
such as Aloe marlothii and Aloe morning during the cold winter quickly and easily.
davyana (check for frost levels of season. This prevents the water from • Add nutrients to your soil in preparation
your garden). The profusion of yellow, freezing and damaging delicate plant for spring growth. Add leaves that
orange, and red winter flowers will add roots. Also, plant growth slows down have fallen from winter trees, and
splashes of colour to the low water use in winter so the frequency of watering any homemade compost to your soil.
zone in your garden. can be decreased slightly. Summer growth would have removed
• For more colour and brightness in a much of the nutrient load from your
dry and grey winter garden, consider August: Preparing for spring soil, so it is important to replace those
planting winter flowering annuals such • Now is the time to prepare your garden nutrients to ensure healthy summer
as primulas, cyclamen, camellias and for spring planting. plants.
pansies in the high water use zone of • This is the best time to prune trees and • While you may have forgotten about
your garden. shrubs as the cold weather prevents your lawn in winter, pay attention to
• Remember that many plants take infections from setting in and allows it now. Scarify and remove all dead
the chance in winter to rest and go cuts to heal before summer. Make sure growth and winter debris from your
dormant. This allows them to store your secateurs are sharp and always lawn to encourage light and moisture
resources that will take them safely cut approximately 1 cm away from a to enter the soil and encourage good
through to spring. Resist the urge to leaf node to allow for new growth. growth in summer. Caution: don’t start
force your plants to continue their • Annual pruning is important for many watering lawns now, as it is far too
usual growth patterns through winter. trees and shrubs as it allows them early.
• Just because it is cold does not mean to increase their flowering in spring
that vegetable gardens are a no-go, and stimulates the production of new We hope these tips encourage you to
enjoy your winter garden. For more
especially in winter rainfall areas and flower buds. information on Water Wise, visit the
regions that do not get severe frost. • Many of your bedding plants may have Rand Water website and click on the
Beetroot, cabbage, carrots and spinach gone dormant for the winter, so this Water Wise logo. Alternatively email
waterwise@randwater.co.za
will do well in frost-free areas such as is the best time to spot and remove

Photo by David Vig on Unsplash

18 • Issue 7 2023 • The Villager