The season of new growth, vibrant blossoms and sweet scents has finally arrived. There are lots to enjoy in the garden this month. Spring annuals and bulbs are at their best, flowering plums and peaches burst into bloom, deciduous trees are budding, and the sounds of chirpy birds and active pollinators are restored to the garden after winter's silence.
There is much to do in the garden this month, especially in preparation for summer. So, grab your hat and gloves, we’ve got work to do!
Garden tasks to tackle this month:
MUST dos in the garden this month
- First things first, adjust watering as the day temperatures increase, always abiding by water restrictions.
- Spike compacted lawns to aerate them and apply a thin layer of lawn dressing to improve soil condition and encourage growth. Also, apply the first high nitrogen feed of the season (3:2:1 or 7:1:3).
Tip | Learn more about spring lawn care in the article below.
- Now is the time to plant summer-flowering bulbs like Amaryllis, Dahlia, Dietes, Crocosmia, Eucomis, Gladioli, Gloriosa lily and Zantedeschia. Plant in well-prepared beds and remember to feed after flowering.
- Clivias are synonymous with September. If you’re missing out on their beautiful bursts of colour - now is the time to plant them! Plant in dappled shade and well-draining soil.
Tip | Growing clivias from seed or just want to learn more? Tap the articles below!
- Now is the perfect time to take softwood cuttings from the tender new growth.
Tip | Not sure how to take softwood cuttings? Dig into the easy how-to guide below to learn how.
- This is also the best month for sowing herbs like caraway, cress, dill, chervil, borage, fennel, coriander, sweet basil, summer savoury, aniseed, and white mustard.
General tasks
- Prepare beds for summer planting. Incorporate compost, a dusting of hoof, horn and bone meal, and dig in a handful of fertiliser (2:3:2) for each square meter.
- The garden will benefit from an application of general fertilizer to maintain strong spring growth. Water thoroughly and spread compost under trees, shrubs and climbers as a mulch.
Tip | Read more about general fertilising and NPK in the article below.
- Warmer weather also welcomes weeds, so make sure that you get on top of weeding early in the season.
- Prune shrubs, trees and climbers that have finished flowering.
- Regularly deadhead flowers to encourage continuous flowering, unless you want to save the seed.
- Add colour to your flower beds with these indigenous beauties: African Daisies, Arctotis, Cape Scabious, Blue Felicia, Gazania, Arctotis, Argyranthemum spp., African Daisies, African sage, Blue sage, and Pelargonium.
- After flowering, collect the seed of spring-flowering annuals, like Namaqualand daisies, ursinias and nemesias.
- Feed bulbs with a high potash fertilizer to boost the development of flowers and continue to water.
- Feed Hydrangeas with a general fertilizer and a solution of iron chelate. Water well.
- Divide and transplant ornamental grasses and crowded perennials that have finished flowering.
- Cut back, mulch and feed ground-covers that have become untidy.
- Boost Cymbidium orchids with a fertiliser high in nitrogen to boost leaf growth.
- Clean out water features and divide and replant aquatic plants if necessary.
Rose care
- Fertilize rose bushes with a balanced rose fertilizer, Epsom salts and increase watering.
- Add a good layer of mulch around roses.
- Pinch prune Hybrid Tea roses to encourage new basal growth and root development.
Food garden
- Remove the last of the spent winter crops and prepare beds, containers and hanging baskets for summer vegetables and herbs.
- For bountiful summer harvests, plant or sow these now: beans, beetroot, carrots, radish, lettuce, spring onion, Swiss Chard and spinach.
- Water seedlings daily and feed with an organic fertilizer every fortnight.
- Now is the time to plant seed potatoes and sweet potatoes in well-prepared beds.
- There is still time to get asparagus crowns in the ground. Soil preparation is key!
- Ensure citrus trees that are in blossom are well watered.
- Plant strawberries in hanging baskets, containers or beds.
- Take cuttings from pineapple sage, rosemary and thyme.
Indoor plant care
- Reduce the amount of water given to Cyclamens.
Tip | Dig into the article below to learn more about the growing cycle of Cyclamens and how to take care of these stunning flowering plants.
Pest Patrol
Along with the increase in temperatures comes the increase in pests and disease so stay on top of pest patrol this month.
- Inspect roses for aphids, thrips, bollworm and powdery mildew.
- Keep an eye on Clivias and other lilies, like Amaryllis and Agapanthus for the deadly lily borer.
- Protect fruit trees from the fruit fly and codling moth by starting spray treatment when at least three-quarters of the petals have dropped.
- Put bait out for cutworm, slugs and snails.
Tip | Read more about controlling slugs and snails in you garden.
- Leafcurl on peaches.
- Citrus psylla on lemons.
In flower this month
Annuals
Perennials
Bulbs
Climbers
Shrubs
Trees
