Now
is the time to start thinking about planting winter flowering bulbs.
Even the smallest garden can have a drift of daffodils if the bulbs
are planted in groups and not in straight rows. The indigenous bulbs
(sparaxis, ixia, babiana) look particularly effective planted in
groups under deciduous trees. Start sowing Namaqualand daisies,
Ursinias and Bokbaaivygies in sunny places in the garden. They grow
easily and make a magnificent display.
Summer flowering annuals Water those, which are still flowering. Pull up those, which have come to the end of their flowering season and prepare the beds for winter flowers by digging in well-matured compost and 2:3:2 at the rate of 60g per square metre. Hardy summer flowering annuals Continue sowing these in the winter rainfall and warm frost-free areas. Best results are usually obtained from seed sown in seed trays. If these annuals are sown now the seedlings will stand through the winter and start flowering early next summer: Acroclinium (Helipterum) Ageratum houstonianum (Floss flower) Agrostemma githago milas (Agrostemma) Alcea rosea (hollyhock) Alyssum Anagallis (pimpernel) Anchusa capensis 'Blue bird' Antirrhinum majus (snapdragon) Campanula medium (Canterbury bells) Centaurea cyanus (cornflower) Centaurea moschata (sweet sultan) Clarkia Daucus Carota var. carota (Queen Anne's Lace) Delphinium grandiflorum (butterfly delphinium) Dianthus (pinks) Digitalis purpurea (foxglove) Gaillardia pulchella (blanket flower) Gilia capitata Godetia (satin flower) Iberis umbellata (candytuft) Limonium bonduellii (Statice) Linum grandiflorum (Flowering flax) Lupinus hartwegii (lupin) Malcolmia maritima (Virginian stocks) Marticaria maritima (feverfew) Miulus luteus (monkey flower) Mimulus moschatus (musk flower) Lolucella laevis (bells of Ireland) Nigella damascena (love-in-a-mist) Papaver rhoeas (Shirley poppy) Petunia x hybrida Phlox drummondii Reseda odorata (mignonette) Rudbeckia (gloriosa daisy) Salpiglossis sinuata (trumpet flower) Scabiosa atropurpurea (picushion flower) Tropaeolum majus (nasturtium) Verbascum phoeniceum (verbascum) Verbena x hybrida Winter flowering annuals Sweet peas: Do not over water seedlings, but keep the soil evenly damp. When seedlings are about 10cm tall pinch them back, then allow only two of the new stems to develop. Summer rainfall areas: Any of the annuals listed below can be sown from the beginning of the month onwards, unless otherwise stated: Arctotis acaulis Calendula officinalis (pot marigold) Chrysanthemum carinatum (annual variety) Clarkia Consolida ambigua (larkspur) (sow in situ) Dimorphotheca sinuata (Namaqualand daisy) Dorotheanthus bellidiformis (Livingstone daisy or Bokbaaivygie) (protect seedlings from birds by putting chicken wire over the beds) Felicia bergerana (kingfisher daisy) Godetia (satin flower) Linaria maroccana (toad flax - sow in situ) Nemesia Schizanthus (poor man's orchid) Winter rainfall and warm frost free areas: Any of the annuals listed below can be sown from the beginning of the month onwards, unless otherwise stated: Arctotis acaulis Calendula officinalis (pot marigold) Chrysanthemum carinatum (annual variety) Clarkia Consolida ambigua (larkspur) (sow in situ) Dimorphotheca sinuata (Namaqualand daisy) Dorotheanthus bellidiformis (Livingstone daisy or Bokbaaivygie) (protect seedlings from birds by putting chicken wire over the beds) Felicia bergerana (kingfisher daisy) Godetia (satin flower) Lathyrus odoratus (sweet pea) Linaria maroccana (toad flax - sow in situ) Nemesia Viola x wittrockiana (pansy) PERENNIALS Water once a week during dry weather. As the flowers fade cut the stems dow to ground level. In the summer rainfall areas water helebores once a week. Lifting
perennials:
The following perennials can either be lifted and divided now, or in
September when new growth has started. Water the clumps the day
before they are to be lifted. After lifting do not let the roots
become dry. Do the dividing in the shade, and if you are expecting
the task to take some time cover the clumps with damp sacking to
further protect the roots. For replanting choose healthy young
growths from the outer edge of the clump. Takings
cuttings:
Cuttings of the following perennials can be taken this month. Select
healthy growths, about 5cm long, and cut just below a node or leaf
joint. Remove the lower leaves and dip the end of the cutting in a
rooting hormone. Then insert the cutting in sand, or a mixture of 2
parts sand and 1 part peat. Press the soil firmly around the cutting,
and water. |
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