MAY GARDENING IN GAUTENG

As the cold, crisp weather sets in, now is the time to prepare your garden for the winter months ahead. Follow our guide on which bulbs and vegetables are suitable for May, and what plant varieties to plant now for a vibrant spring garden.

Spotlight on: Maintaining a healthy winter lawn

• Water your lawn twice a week to keep it healthy and maintain its green colour. Water after sunrise to avoid frost.
• Buffalo lawn becomes dormant as winter arrives, so you can mow it less frequently. Kikuyu lawn should be mowed every two weeks.
• Use a fertiliser high in phosphate, such as 3:2:1 or 3:1:5, to encourage root development.

ON YOUR TO-DO LIST FOR MAY

Plant & sow

• Attract birds by planting Strelitzia reginae, salvia, succulents such as echeveria and Crassulavarieties, grass varieties such as carex, pincushions, ericas and aloe varieties.
• Plant Iceland poppies, foxglove, dianthus, delphiniums, primulas, violas, pansies, tulips and cyclamens.

Tip: Plant tulips 10–15cm apart and 8cm deep.

• Plant bulbs such as daffodils, hyacinth and snowdrops.
• Plant your own spinach, peas, broad beans, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage varieties, kale and lettuce seedlings.
• Plant self-sufficient perennials such as agapanthus and yellow wild iris.
• Sow rows of carrot, leek and beetroot seeds.

Prune

• Keep conifers in shape by pruning gently.
• To regulate fruit production and encourage rejuvenation of evergreen fruit trees, prune their branches and young tips.

Tip: Invest in a pair of elbow-length gloves if you’ll be pruning thorny and spiky shrubs.

Neaten up

• Tidy flowerbeds and perennials such as cannas.
• Stake trees and shrubs in wind-prone areas.
• Clean up under hedges and loosen the soil to get rid of pests that may be sheltering underneath.

Feed

• Feed existing plants with a high-nitrogen fertiliser like Atlantic All-Purpose Fertiliser.
• Feed your lawn before rainfall with a handful of 3:2:1 or 3:1:5 per square metre.
• Water and feed indoor plants such as cinerarias, cyclamen and daffodils every two weeks with a liquid fertiliser like Multifeed Classic.

OTHER FRESH IDEAS

Prepare your garden for winter frosts

First frosts are usually expected around the third week of May. Protect your plants by covering them with a frost guard, protect roots with a thick mulch and move pots into a sheltered spot.

Buy a gardening gift for Mother’s Day

Spoil your mom this Mother’s Day with a thoughtful green gift to let her know how much she means to you. Here are a few gardening gift ideas:

• A trendy terrarium for her living room
• The popular Scindapsus aureus for her bookshelf
• If you’re struggling to decide on the perfect gift, indulge her with a Stodels Gift Card and let her choose her favourite.