Page 5 - Landscape-Issue125

RAND WATER EDITORIAL

WINTER GARDENING TIPS

As temperatures drop and days get shorter, we are reminded that winter is on its
way. Winter is a time of rest and recovery in nature, and the same applies to your
garden. Just because it is cold and dry doesn’t mean you must stop enjoying your
garden. Water Wise has compiled some great tips on how you can make the most

of your winter landscape and use water responsibly.

June: It’s all about preparation
• Winter in Gauteng often means less
rain and more frost. Prepare your flower
beds for cold, dry weather by spreading
a layer of mulch over the soil. Mulch acts
as a blanket, keeping the soil warm and
preventing the loss of soil moisture.
• Identify all your frost-sensitive and
vulnerable garden plants and protect
them from frost with frost-netting,
hessian or frost guard. Make sure this is
done before the first frost hits.
• Don’t worry about your yellowing lawn
in winter. Lawn requires a resting period
when it is allowed to go dormant. Resist
the urge to over-water and only water
your lawn once a month in summer
rainfall areas, and not at all in winter
rainfall areas.
• Remember that the evaporation rate on
the Highveld goes down to almost zero
in the winter season. This means that
less watering is required in the garden
overall. However, water-stressed plants
will be more vulnerable to the cold, so
ensure your garden gets enough water • Just because it is cold does not mean that • Many of your bedding plants may have
to make it through winter. vegetable gardens are a no-go, especially gone dormant for the winter, so this
• Try not to water your garden before a in winter rainfall areas and regions that do is the best time to spot and remove
cold front hits, as the water may freeze, not get severe frost. Beetroot, cabbage, persistent weeds from flower beds.
causing damage or death to your plants. carrots and spinach will do well in frost- Remember to always remove weeds
free areas such as KZN and Mpumalanga, with the roots intact; if you leave roots
July: Winter is always welcome while celery, parsley and turnips are best behind, the weeds will grow back
• Even though it is cold and dry outside, a for areas in the Cape. quickly and easily.
winter garden needs as much care and • Always water your garden in the morning • Add nutrients to your soil in preparation
attention as a summer one. Caring for during the cold winter season. This for spring growth. Add leaves that
your garden during the winter season prevents the water from freezing and have fallen from winter trees, and
will make sure it flourishes in spring. damaging delicate plant roots. Also, any homemade compost to your soil.
• Plant indigenous aloes in your garden, plant growth slows down in winter so the Summer growth would have removed
such as Aloe marlothii and Aloe davyana frequency of watering can be decreased much of the nutrient load from your
(check for frost levels of your garden). slightly. soil, so it is important to replace those
The profusion of yellow, orange, and red nutrients to ensure healthy summer
winter flowers will add splashes of colour August: Preparing for spring plants.
to the low water use zone in your garden. • Now is the time to prepare your garden • While you may have forgotten about
• For more colour and brightness in a for spring planting. your lawn in winter, pay attention to it
dry and grey winter garden, consider • This is the best time to prune trees and now. Scarify and remove all dead growth
planting winter flowering annuals such shrubs as the cold weather prevents and winter debris from your lawn to
as primulas, cyclamen, camellias and infections from setting in and allows encourage light and moisture to enter
pansies in the high water use zone of cuts to heal before summer. Make sure the soil and encourage good growth in
your garden. your secateurs are sharp and always cut summer. Caution: don’t start watering
• Remember that many plants take the approximately 1 cm away from a leaf lawns now, as it is far too early.
chance in winter to rest and go dormant. node to allow for new growth.
This allows them to store resources that • Annual pruning is important for many We hope these tips encourage you to enjoy
will take them safely through to spring. trees and shrubs as it allows them to your winter garden. For more information on
Resist the urge to force your plants to increase their flowering in spring and Water Wise, visit the Rand Water website and
continue their usual growth patterns stimulates the production of new flower click on the Water Wise logo. Alternatively email
through winter. buds. waterwise@randwater.co.za n

Landscape SA • Issue 125 2023 3