Gardening Advice Article by WO 2 B. Walters Environmental Services

February – (Last Month Of Summer Season)

Do’s & Don’t’s

• Fertilise plants and lawns after heavy rains to replace nutrients in the soil.
• Use a mulch layer of 1 – 3 cm to help keep the soil temperature constant.
• Ensure that mulch does not touch the stems of plants.
• For mulch, use dry veld grass, dry leaves, composted tree bark or old compost.
• Do not use fresh grass clippings, sawdust or wood shavings.
• As mulch is broken down into compost and later humus, nitrogen is lost, so be sure to add nitrogen to the soil from time to time.

Ageratum

Plant, Sow Or Propagate

• Plant ageratum, candytuft, Canterbury bells, delphiniums, foxglove, lobelia and freesia.
• Sow penstemon, petunia, stocks, gazania, impatients, nemesia, pansy and daisy.
• Sow radish, lettuce, onion, parsley, spinach, turnips and beetroot. • Propagate carnations from layers
• Take soft-wood cuttings of plants such as geraniums, marguerites, hydrangeas and pestemon.
• Lift and transplant lilies, gladioli and watsonia bulbs once they are fully dormant.

Canterbury bells	Petunias - Pink Wave

Planting Tips

• Provide shade for seedlings, as it is still very hot in some parts of the country.

Enquiries: WO 2 B. Walters Environmental Services (021) 787 4215

Note: All products are obtainable from your local nursery.

Impatients

Happy Gardening!

“The earth can’t keep giving, put something back!”