What to plant and where to buy it

Flowers and Herbs

Although spring has sprung and cerain trees and flowers have started to blossom early this year - there are still some winter annuals (such as Pansies and Violas), that you can plant in your garden (in shady areas). Its also time to start planting your summer annuals such as Zinnias, Marigolds, Petunias (a noce one is the Vista Bubblegum) and Begonias.

Herbs are a must for any season but its a great time to start sowing seeds of basil, coriander, Borage and Rocket. These are on special until the 17 September at our Waterfall Wilds Centre. Other vegetable to plant this month are green peppers, beans, tomatoes, aubergines, garlic chives, artemesia parsley and seed potatoes. When planting, remember to do so in a well composted soil to the depth of the seedling tray they are in and water frequently.

Perennials like Gaura So White and Gaura Rosa Jane will add a beautiful sparkle of colour to your beds.

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Lawn Maintenance

With water restrictions being implemented please ensure that you plant indigenous drought tolerant lawns which require less water to look good.

1. LM (Berea) and Buffalo are more water wise as they are dormant in winter in summer-rainfall regions and don’t die off.
2. Cool season grasses like shade over and shade-master they are excellent for shaded areas in the garden like under the trees and semi-shaded areas in the garden.
3. All season’s evergreen and evergreen grasses grow well in full sun and partial shade. They stay green all year round and are frost hardy. Lawn dressing is not applicable to these grasses as it smothers them. The downside of this type of grass is that it requires more watering all year round.

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Water-wise and Warm season lawn expamples

Kikuyu lawn – it spreads easily and grows best in full sun. If planted in shaded areas the blades should be kept longer at 5 – 7cm and 4cm in full sun

LM Berea – this is an indigenous creeping grass and is suitable for both full sun and semi-shaded areas. Maintain a mowing height of 6 – 8cm and it should be longer in the shade.

Bermuda (Cynodon transvaalensis hybrid) –a low maintenance fine textured creeping grass. Requires less water to survive and is suitable for sunny or shady positions in the garden. Maintain a mowing height of 4-6cm

Our own Buffalo grass variety – an indigenous course textured relatively drought tolerant grass. This is only available in plugs or runners. Grows well in full sun and semi-shade, requires a mowing height between 4-6cm.

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Lawning and Lawn Care

Everybody wants to have a nice lawn - it's nice to look at and soft for your kids to play on. There are options for everyone to enjoy and some great tips on caring for your lawn

Seeds are cost effective takes longer to germinate and requires regular watering, Lawn plugs are affordable but labour intensive and require regular watering to promote growth and Instant lawn costs alot but is less labour intensive, it also grows quickly and requires initial watering just after planting.

Mow once a week and less when it’s very hot or dry. Water established lawns once or twice a week depending on the weather. To save water ,water deeply and infrequently. Fertilise every three months with 5:1:5 (44) (SR) or 3:1:5 (26) to promote disease resistance and root growth Remove weeds by hand pulling out the roots, sharpen lawn mower blades and remove old dead grass by cutting the lawn on the lowest setting - remember not to fertilise until new growth starts.