Gardening can be quite an expensive pastime if you need to buy new plants regularly. One of the biggest killers of lush gardens is the winter frost and dry conditions we experience in South Africa.
A fair amount of preparation is needed to keep your garden green during the cold season, and to keep your beloved plants and lawns alive. This doesn’t necessarily mean using more water either - we all want to be water-wise and continue saving the precious resource as much as possible.
It’s important to protect your plants and irrigation from the harsh winter and save some money at the same time - trips to the nursery can be costly. Here are a few tips on how to maintain your garden during winter:
Plan for spring - The best way to prepare your garden is to plan ahead. By planting certain seeds during winter, you’ll have a budding new garden by the time spring rolls around. New season fruit and roses are perfect for planting now.
Prune dead flowers - You can encourage new growth by pruning your bushes and plants of their dead flower heads. Once a plant has bloomed, cut it back a bit to conserve its water uptake and to encourage new leaves to grow at the end of winter.
Plant succulents - Drought-tolerant plants such as succulents and aloes are a great way to keep a healthy-looking garden during winter. They are hardy plants that need little water to survive and can make your garden look natural when it’s a bit dry.
Fertilise your flower beds - Add organic compost or mulch to give the soil a boost of nutrients. Once the new season comes, the soil will be fertile and perfect for planting flowers. Adding a thick layer mulch around the base of your plants is a great way to protect them from frost and to conserve moisture too.
Water from a storage tank - Instead of using municipal water to keep delicate plants alive, you should try to harvest rainwater and store it in a tank. In the Western Cape, the rainfall is quite good during winter, but further north, this might be a bit harder to do. You can always prepare ahead and start storing rainwater in the first few months of the year.
Rake up dead leaves - By collecting the old leaves from the ground, you expose the grass and base layer to more sunlight. You can also use the leaves to create compost, which can then be added back to the soil.
Create drainage - You can improve the aeration and drainage of your lawn by spiking it with a garden fork every 10cm. This grid pattern of holes will increase the natural irrigation of your lawn and will allow water to seep into the ground better when the rains start again.
Keep an eye out for leaks - Winter frost and ice build-up can damage your pipes and hoses, so look for any signs of leaks or seepage every week. Make sure you know where you water cut-off valve is located so that you can perform any emergency repairs if needs be.
Use these handy tips to keep your garden healthy during the cold winter months, and to give it a headstart when September arrives. The key is to be prepared and plan ahead for a luscious garden.
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