Lawns need fertiliser and a lot of water to ensure an emerald green lawn. Water in the early morning hours or after sunset to limit evaporation.
Start to prepare your garden for the December/January holidays at home or away from home. Weed properly, fertilise and cover with mulch and water properly. Hydrangeas, gardenias and fuchsias are flowering now. Feed with an acidulous leaf nutrient and cover their feet with tree bark.
Be prepared for the lily borer, which is black and yellow and bores right to the heart of the clivias, agapanthus and arum lilies. Spray early with a registered insecticide which contains cypermetrin. It is also the right time to spray for fruit flies.
Cut back old flowers and fertilise with 6:1:5 to encourage further flowering. Lavender must be cut back for an autumn flush. The white fly is active in warmer weather - make sure you spray under the leaves.
Yellow, green and red peppers can be planted for the kitchen, as well as hot chillies. Cherry tomatoes and a large variety of other tomatoes, spinach, beetroot, carrots and brinjals can be planted now. White fly loves all types of cabbage - it is actually cheaper to buy cabbage. Watermelon, spanspek, etcetera can also be planted for natural protection against pests. Plant garlic and Afrikaners amongst your vegetables. It is also time for lettuce - plant it and make sure you have fresh salad on your table.
Make a herb garden in a sunny part of your garden. Thyme, oregano, mint and basil are easy to grown and look very attractive. There is nothing like fresh herbs for the chef of the home.
Plant a variety of berries. They will provide fruit throughout the summer and are very healthy. Nothing is better than earthworm compost. Come visit me at Verdant Nursery - I have been using it for years and my garden is full of earthworms.
Don't dig in your garden now, since it will encourage evaporation.
Enjoy the festive season!