APRIL GARDENING IN GAUTENG

Prep for a flourish of colour in autumn by planting winter- and spring-flowering bulbs. Pruning hedges, deadheading roses and recycling garden waste is also at the top of the gardening agenda. Read our guide for what to tick off your task list this month.  

Spotlight on: Indigenous spring-flowering bulbs 

Plant a quilt of colours this season by opting for indigenous bulbs such as chincherinchee, Lachenalia, Ixias, watsonias, tritonia and sparaxis. Follow our comprehensive spring-flowering bulb guide, or use these tips:

• Plant in a sunny spot to ensure your bulbs receive sufficient sunlight.
• Soil should be well-drained and kept moist at root level.
• Plant all bulbs, except anemones, with the pointed side facing up. Bulbs with claws, like ranunculus, are planted with the claws facing downwards.
• Feed with bulb food every two weeks for maximum flowering.

ON YOUR TO-DO LIST FOR APRIL 

Plant & Sow

• Plant easy-to-grow beauties such as calendulas, primulas, Iceland poppies, pansies and violas, and Namaqualand daisies.
• Sow sweet peas and vegetables such as broad beans, peas, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, onionsand turnips.
• Harvest root vegetables such as potatoes, beetroot and carrots. Dry them out over a few days and then store them.
• Now’s the time to prepare your bed for sowing sweet peas so you can look forward to filling your home with these fragrant blooms come spring. Read our guide to growing your own sweet peas and keep your eyes open for the seeds, which should be coming into Stodels Garden Centre soon.

Feed

• Use magnesium sulphate to support the health of lemon trees.
• Feed aloes and succulents with Atlantic Fertilisers Bio Ocean.
• Feed your lawn with a fertiliser rich in potassium, such as Atlantic Bio Lawn, to build hardiness ahead of the cooler season.
• Apply acid compost and feed Colourburst to acid-loving plants such as camellia, azalea and gardenia.

Neaten up

• Prune hedges into shape.
• Deadhead roses to encourage more flowering into the cooler season.
• Spike lawn areas where the soil is compacting to allow time to recover before the cold season begins.

Pests

• Check for psylla on citrus trees and treat with Biogrow Neem Oil.
• Spray scales on roses, aloe and citrus trees with Efekto Malasol.
• Use organic Biogrow Ferramol for snails in vegetable gardens and on plants such as arum lilies and agapanthus.

OTHER FRESH IDEAS

Plant shrubs and trees

• Now is the best time to add shrubs and trees to your garden landscape. Trees that work well in small gardens include the false olive and lavender trees.
• Try your hand at indigenous, bird-attracting shrubs such as Cape honeysuckle, cross-berry and lion’s ear.

Recycle garden waste

• Start a compost bin by mixing garden waste with fruit and vegetable peelings, weeds, grass cuttings, leaves and prune cuttings.
• Use a chipper or shredder machine to process woody stems and branches from shrubbery leaves.
• A Bokashi Digester is a great alternative for recycling kitchen waste in small, indoor spaces.
• If you are still unable to compost the waste at home, take it to your local garden waste recycling collection point.