November 2005

"Because Gardening is supposed to be fun!"

www.gardendesign.co.za
Wayne: 083 289 2009

OK so I am officially a little worried about the lack of rain that we have experienced this season... I was expecting the rain to come by the middle of October and not, NOT AT ALL!
Well, all I can do is hope and pray that it does arrive and when it does, it fills those dams to the brim.

It has been a weird season though. I am not sure when last I have experienced such cold weather in October, but you know what the memory is like... It tends to get shorter and shorter each year.

The landscaping industry is abuzz! I have seen many landscaping vehicles in my travels in the last two months. I have had numerous calls from people who complain that they can't get any landscapers to come and see them because they are so busy. As mentioned in my footnote last month, I am going to start an all-out campaign to get people to garden in winter, or at least get their ground preparation done before summer starts and landscapers go crazy.

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Roses

The roses in my garden have done so well this season. I think it has something to do with the milder winter that we experienced.

Ludwig Taschner, in his online newsletter, said that had he known how mild the winter was going to be, he would have advised us all to prune in May and enjoy a really early flush of blooms. By the way, have you enrolled for his rose newsletter yet? (www.ludwigsroses.co.za)

Keep spraying your roses every two weeks against all the nasties that will befall them, namely fungus, aphids and the dreaded chafer beetle.

Container gardening

I am often asked for low maintenance gardens. Here's the truth: THERE IS NO SUCH THING! There is a lower maintenance garden, but the Low maintenance one will ever elude us.

Some time back there was a container gardening craze which promised to be Low maintenance. I believe this idea was propagated by our European gardening cousins who are blessed(?) with thick grey skies and almost daily rain.

Container gardening is great for patios and also those areas where you need some brightness that you can change regularly as the colour fashions come and go. There is nothing nice than a large containers filled with the season's latest colours or fashionable "pretty".

Here is my advice if you are going to be planting in containers:

As far as possible, use the largest pots you can afford

Either line the pot with thick plastic, or paint the inside with a latex based paint such as Super Laykold to prevent water moving from inside the pot

Use water retention granules to stop the pot from drying out too rapidly

Ensure that there is good drainage in your pots

Get the latest SA Gardening magazine for some more hints and tips

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Courtesy Obbligato

Fertigation

You may have an irrigation system in your garden which is currently keeping your garden alive. What better way to keep your garden looking good than watering and occasionally feeding at the same time.

This month I will be putting some fertigators (a contraption which you attach at the beginning of your irrigation system which feeds your plants as they are watered) on trial.

Watch this space!

Old fashioned stalwarts

As with all things in life, gardens are no strangers to fashion. Just like the minis and afro's make their come back every now and again, the old fashioned beauties of the garden are punted by garden centers. Here is a list of some which you may want to try in your garden this season:

Dahlia
Gladiolus
Canna (watch out for the invaders and only buy those which are in the garden centers, and don't get them from aunt Mabel who may just be giving you the noxious weed)
Day lilies

Things to do this month

Pests and diseases will start to flourish in the hot dry weather. Keep an eye out for aphids and squish them with your fingers or spray with an organic insecticide. Avoid using chemicals as they kill off the beneficial organisms which help in the fight against bugs.
Look out for bare patches in your garden and fill them with some of the colour bags which are kept by your local garden centre. There is no reason why you should have soil showing in your garden.
I can't emphasize enough that you should rather water deeply than shallowly. If you don't have an irrigation system, purchase a timer which you can attach to your tap. This will help you remember to switch off your water.
If you are going to be relocating plants this summer, use a product called Wilt prufe which prevents excess water loss when the plant is moved. Move those plants in the late afternoon, after 4pm so that they can have the cool of the evening to recover.
If you are lucky enough to have Cymbidium orchids, hose them down at sunset. This will induce spike formation. Don't forget to feed them regularly for a bumper crop of flowers.

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"Because Gardening is supposed to be fun!"

	Roses The roses in my garden have done so well this season. I think it has something to do with the milder winter that we experienced. Ludwig Taschner, in his online newsletter, said that had he known how mild the winter was going to be, he would have advised us all to prune in May and enjoy a really early flush of blooms. By the way, have you enrolled for his rose newsletter yet? (www.ludwigsroses.co.za) Keep spraying your roses every two weeks against all the nasties that will befall them, namely fungus, aphids and the dreaded chafer beetle.
Container gardening I am often asked for low maintenance gardens. Here's the truth: THERE IS NO SUCH THING! There is a lower maintenance garden, but the Low maintenance one will ever elude us. Some time back there was a container gardening craze which promised to be Low maintenance. I believe this idea was propagated by our European gardening cousins who are blessed(?) with thick grey skies and almost daily rain. Container gardening is great for patios and also those areas where you need some brightness that you can change regularly as the colour fashions come and go. There is nothing nice than a large containers filled with the season's latest colours or fashionable "pretty". Here is my advice if you are going to be planting in containers: As far as possible, use the largest pots you can afford Either line the pot with thick plastic, or paint the inside with a latex based paint such as Super Laykold to prevent water moving from inside the pot Use water retention granules to stop the pot from drying out too rapidly Ensure that there is good drainage in your pots Get the latest SA Gardening magazine for some more hints and tips	Courtesy Obbligato
Fertigation You may have an irrigation system in your garden which is currently keeping your garden alive. What better way to keep your garden looking good than watering and occasionally feeding at the same time. This month I will be putting some fertigators (a contraption which you attach at the beginning of your irrigation system which feeds your plants as they are watered) on trial. Watch this space!	Old fashioned stalwarts As with all things in life, gardens are no strangers to fashion. Just like the minis and afro's make their come back every now and again, the old fashioned beauties of the garden are punted by garden centers. Here is a list of some which you may want to try in your garden this season: Dahlia Gladiolus Canna (watch out for the invaders and only buy those which are in the garden centers, and don't get them from aunt Mabel who may just be giving you the noxious weed) Day lilies
Things to do this month Pests and diseases will start to flourish in the hot dry weather. Keep an eye out for aphids and squish them with your fingers or spray with an organic insecticide. Avoid using chemicals as they kill off the beneficial organisms which help in the fight against bugs. Look out for bare patches in your garden and fill them with some of the colour bags which are kept by your local garden centre. There is no reason why you should have soil showing in your garden. I can't emphasize enough that you should rather water deeply than shallowly. If you don't have an irrigation system, purchase a timer which you can attach to your tap. This will help you remember to switch off your water. If you are going to be relocating plants this summer, use a product called Wilt prufe which prevents excess water loss when the plant is moved. Move those plants in the late afternoon, after 4pm so that they can have the cool of the evening to recover. If you are lucky enough to have Cymbidium orchids, hose them down at sunset. This will induce spike formation. Don't forget to feed them regularly for a bumper crop of flowers.