AUGUST 2018 WEEK 1 SATURDAY

Transcription

1 AUGUST 2018 SUNDAY WEEK 1 MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY Mulching Mnday! There is still a risk f frst in cler areas, s make sure yu keep thse tender plants and rts cvered with cmpst until the last risk f frst has passed. Staking Tuesday! August is cnsidered t be the windy mnth in mst parts f Suth Africa s dn t frget t give yur trees, rses and ther plants sme supprt t prevent them frm tppling ver r snapping in the wind. Watering & Weeding Give yur garden a gd watering yur lawn get attended t. It s time t weed and clean-up the lawn. T get rid f mss in lawns, mix tw tablespns f sulphate f irn int 5 litres f water and water it in; repeating 7 days later. Remember t check yur bird when necessary t keep yur winter FRIDAY SATURDAY Preparing fr August planting: Prepare beds well fr planting when weather warms up, especially when it cmes t vegetables which must grw quickly fr ptimal flavur and quality. Thrughly dig ver the entire bed, adding lts f cmpst and 100 grams f rganic 2:3:2 fertilisers per square metre. Rake the bed level, water well and allw the bed t lie fr at least a week befre swing seed. The perfect sil fr grwing vegetables is a lse crumbly well-drained sil that still retains misture and nutrients. Check ur August fr planting, feeding and spraying.

2 WEEK 2 Watering Give yur garden a gd watering yur lawn get attended t. Spray Sunday! Check yur newly planted veggies and existing plants/trees fr pests. Als have a clse lk at yur indr plants fr signs f pests and diseases. If there is lts f existing weeds in yur lawn d nt cut the lawn. Apply a suitable selective bradleaf herbicide allwing at least a week befre mwing fr the herbicide t act n the plant tissue. Remember t check yur bird feeders and bird baths and refill when necessary t keep yur winter Feeding Friday! August is the perfect time t start preparing yur garden fr the burst f new grwth and activity that will erupt thrughut the spring mnths; fertilising specific areas f the garden, giving it that extra needed bst. Check the August n feeding. Check ur August fr spraying. Prepare t Prune! Althugh July is traditinally the time t prune, yu still have time t prune befre new grwth begins in time fr spring. Check ur August fr what t prune. WEEK 3 Mwing Mnday! Give yur lawn the spring treatment, which includes a sharp cut (scarifying- nt t shrt); severe raking t remve the ld, dead mat; spiking with a garden frk t allw air, fd and water t reach the rt system; generus feeding with a lawn fertiliser that is high in nitrgen and, finally, a bit f levelling ut and cvering with an rganic blanket f lawn dressing. See ur August fr mre inf. Watering & Weeding Give yur garden a gd watering yur lawn get attended t. It s als time t g thrugh the rest f the garden and weed ut all the intruders befre they seed again in spring. Remember t check yur bird when necessary t keep yur winter Identify and prepare yur beds fr planting yur vegetables, fruit, herbs and flwers tmrrw! Have yur hand frk and trwel set, watering can/hse, fertiliser, bne meal and ptting/tp sil ready t g. It s time t plant yur vegetables, fruit, herbs and flwers tday! Visit yur lcal garden centre t see what is available fr this seasn. Or check ur August gardening tips fr what t plant this mnth.

3 WEEK 4 Spray Sunday! Check yur newly planted vegetables, fruit, herbs and flwers as well as existing plants/trees fr pests. Als have a clse lk at yur indr plants fr signs f pests and diseases. Tidy-up Tuesday! Tidy away the last bits f dead and ld winter grwth in shrubs and trees t make space fr the spring flush, getting the sil int prime planting cnditin by adding cpius amunts f cmpst t new and planted beds. Check ur August fr feeding & spraying. WEEK 5 Maintenance Mnday! This is the last time t check if yur garden is in tip tp shape and ready fr the spring flush f grwth! Make sure t check yur staked plants and trees t make sure they are still safe and secure. Check yur newly planted veggies, flwers, fruits and herbs, feeding and spraying as need be. G thrugh yur garden t ensure everything is need and tidy, raking up leaves, clearing ut gutters, neatening up beds etc. Watering Give yur garden a gd watering yur lawn get attended t. Remember t check yur bird when necessary t keep yur winter Feeding Friday! August is the perfect time t start preparing yur garden fr the burst f new grwth and activity that will erupt thrughut the spring mnths; fertilising specific areas f the garden, giving it that extra needed bst. Check the August n feeding. Watering & Weeding Give yur garden a gd watering yur lawn get attended t. It s als the last time t check fr weeds in all areas f the garden, including yur lawn and paved areas, weeding ut intruders befre they set seed again. Remember t check yur bird when necessary t keep yur Watering Time! As the days begin t warm up yu can gradually increase the amunt yu water yur garden, especially twards the end f the mnth where yu can start watering yur garden twice a week. S give yur garden a gd watering during the day, making sure all plants, trees and yur lawn get attended t.

4 TIPS FOR AUGUST It s time t start banishing thse winter blues because August is the mnth when the first sign f spring arrives in the garden. August is nt a favurite with gardeners, but with the prmise f spring already in the air, this is the time when fresh shts start emerging and yur garden starts readying itself in anticipatin f the cming mnths. S get ready fr a busy mnth f prep fr warmer days ahead. Happy (nearly) Spring Gardening! - General Maintenance: Althugh there are days when yu will dubt it, spring is just arund the crner actually making this a busy time in the garden. If yu tackle the mundane but necessary tasks nw, yu will have time fr lts f planting later. Neatening & Cleaning: Tidy away all dead and ld winter grwth in shrubs and trees t make space fr the spring flush, getting the sil int prime planting cnditin by adding cpius amunts f cmpst t new and planted beds. D nt dig it in as this will just encurage new weeds t germinate. Just leave it n tp! D nt be tempted t cut ff the leaves f yur bulbs which have finished flwering as they require these leaves t make fd fr the develping bulb. Staking: August is cnsidered t be the windy mnth in mst parts f Suth Africa s dn t frget t give yur trees, rses and ther plants sme supprt t prevent them frm tppling ver r snapping in the wind. There are many different types f tree stakes and ties, and different staking methds that yu can use but remember t ensure that they are nt t tight as yu might damage the plant. A relaxed tieback in the frm f a figure eight arund the stake and the main stems, which allws sme mvement, wrks fine. Weeding: Since spring is just arund the crner, the warmer weather will bring an en masse f weeds with it. S get stuck int the garden (even the paving) and weed them ut befre they set seed again. Check fr weeds and use a selective weed killer n lawns, pavements and ther unique areas in yur garden, ding yur research befre buying these prducts s yu use the right prduct fr the jb. T get rid f mss in lawns, mix tw tablespns f sulphate f irn int 5 litres f water and water it in; repeating 7 days later. Prtecting & Mulching: There is still a risk f frst in cler areas, s make sure yu keep thse tender plants cvered until the last risk f frst has passed. Fr extra prtectin, mulch yur beds t help cnserve water, keep sil temperatures up and t help smther emerging weeds. August is als a great time t mulch the rts f yur plants with mature kraal manure r cmpst; keeping it well away frm the stems t avid cllar rt. Watering: As the days begin t warm up yu can gradually increase the amunt yu water yur garden, especially twards the end f the mnth where yu can start watering yur garden twice a week. In dry/ semi-arid areas and summer rainfall areas, water the garden deeply and regularly during this dry perid, especially yur spring flwering plants. Remember t check yu irrigatin system and make any repairs befre summer. In terms f specific plants, if rses start shwing signs f shting after pruning give them a deep saking and then water deeply every week. Pruning: Althugh July is traditinally the time t prune, yu still have time t prune befre new grwth begins in time fr spring. Rses: In mst temperate parts f the cuntry, July is traditinally the time t prune and t plant ut new rses; but yu can still safely prune nw if yu get it dne quickly befre new grwth begins and sap begins t rise. If yu haven t already, early spring is a great time t rejuvenate yur rses, s dn t frget t prune and fertilise them nw because August is yur last chance t prune. Delaying fr anther week r tw is nt detrimental but will result in yur rses flwering later than nrmal. In very cld/ winter-rainfall regins, pruning is dne between end f July t end f August. Trees, Plants & Shrubs: August is als the time t cut back dead and frsted parts f yur shrubs, but dn t cut back frsted grwth n plants that have been damaged by the cld until all danger f frst has passed. When yu d prune, remve all green branches frm variegated shrubs right at their base, r the strnger grwing green shts will quickly vertake the variegated nes. As the weather warms cut back fuchsias by a third and mulch with cmpst; twards the end f the mnth, when they start shting, start pinching ut the grwing tips t develp a bushier plant. D nt accidently prune yur spring and early summer flwering evergreen shrubs and climbers until they have finished blming. Hydrangeas that were nt given a summer prune can be pruned nw t. The Lawn: A perfectly healthy summer lawn starts with a gd spring-clean, s if yu want a grgeus lawn this summer yu need t start preparing nw. Give yur lawn the spring treatment, which includes a sharp cut (scarifying- nt t shrt); severe raking t remve the ld, dead mat; spiking with a garden frk t allw air, fd and water t reach the rt system; generus feeding with a lawn fertiliser that is high in nitrgen and, finally, a bit f levelling ut and cvering with an rganic blanket f lawn dressing. Adding sme bne meal t the lawn dressing will give yur lawn a bst; and if there are any bare patches, seed can be added t the dressing. Water thrughly and regularly thereafter until yur lawn is well established. Nte, that this treatment shuld nly be applied t runner-type lawns like Kikuyu and sme f the tugher Cyndn grasses. D nt scarify cl-seasn lawns like Kentucky Blue, tuft-type perennial grasses r blended mixes like All Seasn s Evergreen r Shade Over. Kentucky Blue and subtrpical grasses like Berea (which is als called LM r Durban grass) can be spiked and dressed but shuld nt be cut t shrt. Established areas f tuft frming grass varieties like shade lawn and evergreen mixes can be very lightly mwed and then dressed and any hllws evened ut with a gd lawn dressing. Remember t feed yur lawn every 4 t 6 weeks; t mw and water regularly; and t remve weeds as sn as they appear.

5 - Planting/Swing: It is time t prepare fr yur spring and summer vegetable garden. Select an area with plenty f sun and well-draining sil and add plenty f cmpst t the sil befre planting yur favurites. Vegetables must grw quickly fr ptimal flavur and quality, s prepare the beds well. Thrughly dig ver the entire bed, adding lts f cmpst and 100 grams f rganic 2:3:2 fertilisers per square metre. Rake the bed level, water well and allw the bed t lie fr at least a week befre swing seed; sme large seeds like beans can be damaged by direct cntact with fertiliser. The perfect sil fr grwing vegetables is a lse crumbly well-drained sil that still retains misture and nutrients. Nt sure what t plant this mnth? G dwn t yur lcal garden centre t see what is available, yu will be pleasantly surprised. Althugh it s nt quite spring yet, yu can still plant the fllwing in August: Vegetables: Plant veggies like parsnips, turnips, beetrt, carrt and radish. Sw tmates, eggplants, glbe artichkes and peppers utside if all chance f frst is past. Otherwise, get a start n the seasn by swing them indrs r in a greenhuse in trays fr planting ut next mnth when the weather is warmer. Sw beans in situ and a rw r tw f carrts. Leeks, beetrt, radish, parsnips and turnips can als be swn in the latter part f August. - Ptates: Mid-August t mid-octber is the best time t plant ut yur spruted ptates (which yu chitted last mnth) int the pen grund. Late varieties can be planted ut during December. Plant them in trenches 10cm deep, with spruts pinting up abut 35 cm apart, in rws that are 75 cm apart with the rws running frm Nrth t Suth t allw each plant its full share f sun. Hand-fill trenches t prevent damaging spruts and scatter bnemeal r ther fertiliser ver the tp and gently rake it in. If shts emerge abve the sil level and frst is an issue, draw a bit f sil frm the bed edges ver them, Once the plants have grwn t 20cm, rake up sme sil in-between rws and cver the plants, nly leaving a few centimetres f the plant still shwing. D this prcess again in 2 t 3 weeks time. Remve any weeds that start t appear as well as flwer heads r buds as these will prduce ptat seeds which will divert energy frm the ptat tubers. - Cabbage: Cabbage is a cl seasn crp and grws best in temperatures ranging frm degrees. Fr spring crps yu can sw seeds indrs in seedling trays, keeping sil warm (24 degrees) until germinatin. When the plants are 6-8 weeks ld, they can be transplanted int an area where there is well-drained, fertile sil and full sun. Or yu can directly seed as sn as yu can wrk the sil, remembering t plant 1-2 cm deep and abut 8 cm apart. When seedlings are abut cm tall, thin r transplant them s they are 30-60cm apart. Use flating rw cvers and mulch well with cmpst halfway thrugh the seasn t cnserve misture, prtect rts and t prevent weeds and ther pests. - Other Veggies: Summer Rainfall Regins: Plant beans (als Ple beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners), beetrt, cabbage, bell/sweet peppers, carrts, celery, endive, lettuce, parsnip, peas, radish, rhubarb, rutabaga, Swiss chard, snw peas, turnip and spinach. Vegetables like celery, chili pepper, sweet/lemn balm and tmat yu can start undercver in seed trays and plant ut in 4-6 weeks. Winter Rainfall Regins: Plant asparagus pea/ winged bean, beetrt, bell/sweet peppers, carrts, cauliflwer, celery, chicry, crn salad/lamb s lettuce, eggplant, endive, Jerusalem artichkes/ sunchke, lettuce, marrw, NZ spinach/ Warringal greens, mustard greens, nin, parsnip, peas, radish, rhubarb, rutabaga, Swiss chard, snw peas, spinach, sweetcrn, sweet ptat, tmat, turnip and zucchini/c curgette/marrw/summer squash. Vegetables like tmatill and lemn/sweet balm yu can start undercver in seed trays and plant ut in 4-6 weeks. Plant ut (transplant) seedlings f shallts. Semi-Arid Regins: Plant beans (climbing (als Ple beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners) and dwarf (als French beans, Bush beans)), beetrt, bell/sweet peppers, carrts, chicry, crn salad/lamb s lettuce, eggplant, endive, Jerusalem artichkes/ sunchke, lettuce, marrw, NZ spinach/ Warringal greens, nin, parsnip, peas, radish, rhubarb, rutabaga, snw peas, spinach, sweetcrn, turnip and zucchini/c curgette/marrw/summer squash. Vegetables like tmatill, tmat and lemn/sweet balm yu can start undercver in seed trays and plant ut in 4-6 weeks. Plant ut (transplant) seedlings f shallts. Humid Sub-Trpical Regins: Plant asparagus, asparagus pea/ winged bean, beans (climbing (als Ple beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners) and dwarf (als French beans, Bush beans)), bell/sweet peppers, carrts, chicry, crn salad/lamb s lettuce, cucumber, eggplant, endive, Jerusalem artichkes/ sunchke, leeks, parsnip, ptat, pumpkin, marrw, mustard greens, NZ spinach/ Warringal greens, radish, rhubarb, rutabaga, shallts, squash, sweetcrn, turnip and zucchini/c curgette/marrw/summer squash. Vegetables like tmatill and lemn/sweet balm yu can start undercver in seed trays and plant ut in 4-6 weeks. Plant ut (transplant) seedlings f tmates.

6 Herbs: Our Suth African climate is suitable fr grwing herbs during mst f the year. August is the perfect time t prepare a small herb garden fr summer, preferably as clse t the kitchen as pssible, in a sunny area r alternatively, plant them between the rws in the vegetable garden t help keep yur crps healthy and pest-free. Start with herbs yu are familiar with and use regularly in the kitchen, yu can always expand yur cllectin later. Visit yur lcal garden centre t see what is available fr this seasn. - Summer rainfall regins: Plant sage. - Winter rainfall regins: Plant brage, dill and sage. - Semi-Arid Regins: Plant chives and sage. - Humid Sub-Trpical Regins: Plant brage, chives, dill, ginger and sage. Start regan and sweet marjram undercver in seed trays and plant ut in 4-6 weeks. Fruit: If yu have space fr smething sweet, August is the perfect time t try Cape gseberries, rhubarb, strawberries, meln and watermeln. - Summer Rainfall Regins: Yu can start Cape gseberries undercver in seed trays and plant ut in 4-6 weeks. Plant ut strawberries. - Winter Rainfall Regins: Plant ut Cape gseberries and strawberry plants. Yu can start strawberries undercver in seed trays and plant ut in 4-6 weeks. - Semi-Arid Regins: Yu can start strawberries undercver in seed trays and plant ut in 4-6 weeks. Plant ut Cape gseberries. - Humid Sub-Trpical Regins: Plant rck meln (als cantalupe) and Cape gseberries. - Fruit Trees: Find a space t plant at least ne fruit tree. Citrus des well in a large pt at a sunny drstep. Many ther fruit tree varieties have been especially dwarfed fr easy harvesting and als, t fit mre easily int a smaller hme garden. Fruit trees, like peach, aprict and plum, are great chices as deciduus trees, especially fr small gardens. It is a 'fruitful' chice, as yu get shade frm a relatively petit tree, as well as the delicius fruit. Flwers: August is a great time t plant spring and summer annuals including but nt limited t: Pansies, Petunias, Lbelias, Dianthus (sweet William), Begnias, Gazanias, Alyssum, Calibracha (millin bells). The large selectin f flwering bedding plants available in Suth Africa enables us t have clur in ur gardens thrughut the year. Bedding plants allw yu t incrprate a fresh "new lk" every seasn by using different clur schemes and plant varieties. If it s extic clur yu re after, here are sme extic perennials and small shrubs t plant in August: Argyranthemum (daisy bushes), Cuphea, Brachyscme, Lavenders. Indigenus plants are always in fashin because they save water, grw well in ur envirnment, are fast grwing and clurful. These are just a few that yu can get frm yur lcal garden centre: Vygies, Ostespermums, Nemesias, Diascias, Gazanias. - Subtrpical summer rainfall regins: Sw r plant alyssum, aster, cleme, impatiens, salvia, csms, verbena, marigld, dianthus and bedding dahlias. Cuttings f begnia, cleus, salvia and New Guinea Impatiens will take rt quickly as the weather warms up. - Dry semi-arid regins: If yu have a seed germinatr tray r a warm, prtected place, yu can start swing early summer flwers int trays; if yu dn t have a prtected place wait until September because summer seeds can nly be swn directly int garden beds when all danger f frst is ver and the sil temperatures are warm. - Winter rainfall regins: Daisies thrive in these regins; and nw is the time t plant them ut, try Margeurite Daisy(Argyranthemum), arcttis and stespermum. - Feeding & Spraying: August is the perfect time t start preparing yur garden fr the burst f new grwth and activity that will erupt thrughut the spring mnths; mulching, fertilising and spraying all areas f the garden giving it that extra needed bst. What t feed: Outdr: Ø Flwers: As temperatures rise, apply a fertiliser that is high in ptassium t yur bulbs that have cmpleted flwering and feed yur fuchsia with a high-nitrgen fertiliser t encurage new grwth. Ø Rses: Feed yur rses with an rganic fertiliser that is high in nitrgen like 8:1:6 and water thrughly. Ø Hydrangeas: Start feeding hydrangeas twards the end f August. T enhance the blue f yur hydrangeas, sprinkle 25g f aluminium sulphate arund the rt zne f the bush and water very well r spray it nt the leaves by diluting 25 grams f aluminium sulphate int 5 litres f water; repeating every tw weeks until January. Ø Fruits: Feed trpical fruits like figs, avcads, pineapples, paw-paws, granadilla and manges with 3:1:5. Feed yur strawberries with 2:3:3 and water it in well. Fruit trees like peaches, apricts, plums, nectarines, pears and apples will be cming int blm this mnth, s mulch them with cmpst and feed with a granular rganic 3:1:5 fertiliser; watering it in thrughly. Citrus trees shuld be fed with rganic 3:1:5 r 2:3:2 and will benefit frm a dse f irn chelate; fllwed by a dressing f Epsm salts tw weeks later. Trim citrus trees after they have finished fruiting and befre they have started t flwer fr next year s fruiting. If leaves are slightly yellw apply Multifeed Flwergr r Seagr ver the fliage.

7 Indr: Dse yur indr plants with liquid fertiliser and clean the leaves with a damp clth t bst their immunity. What t spray: Rses: T prevent early insect infestatins spray yur plants with an rganic insecticide when the new leaves emerge; it shuld nt be necessary t spray against fungal diseases this early in the seasn; unless yu live in subtrpical regins. Fruit: If yur trees were infected with peach leaf curl last seasn, spray them with a suitable rganic fungicide befre they cme int blm. Spraying regularly with a trace element mixture like Trelmix is als beneficial. If citrus psylla was a prblem last seasn, resulting in unsightly bumps n the leaves; spray as sn as the new, yung grwth emerges, paying particular attentin t the new leaves as well as the undersides f the leaves. Lawn: If there is lts f existing weeds in yur lawn d nt cut the lawn. Apply a suitable selective bradleaf herbicide allwing at least a week befre mwing fr the herbicide t act n the plant tissue. Pests: Ø As the weather warms up, snails and slugs start t appear eating int yur tender seedlings and bedding plants. Stck up nw n rganic snail baits t prevent them frm settling them in. Ø Spray indr plants against mealy bugs and scale. Ø Check all yur bulbs fr early signs f lily brer. Tell-tale signs are clusters f tiny eggs underneath the leaves. Later the vracius zebra-striped caterpillars appear and start eating the leaves, wrking their way right dwn t the bulbs. Spray regularly with a suitable ec-friendly insecticide. Ø Check yur vegetables fr aphids and spray with a very effective systemic insecticide like Garden Ripcrd, Malasl, r Aphicide, which will knck them ver effectively. Remember t check the label fr the withhlding perids when using pesticides n vegetables. Please nte that this planting guide has been put tgether frm many varius surces and thus, Lasher des nt take respnsibility fr the accuracy f the infrmatin cntained herein. This planting calendar is fr infrmatinal and educatinal purpses nly.