Garden Care, Tips To Nature Your Garden In Winter months
June, like January, is a quiet gardening month in the Western Cape, so lets take some time to consider a few aspects of our gardens.
One of my pleasures in moving to the Cape has been to enjoy watching the changing seasons through the leaves on all our deciduous trees. At present we can view them in all the glory of their naked branches, while waiting for that first hint of green that tells us summer is around the corner. And, bearing in mind that long hot summer to come, lets consider planting some more trees for shelter. Do not shy away from planting deciduous trees because you are worried about all the leaves falling and making a mess the benefits far outweigh the drawback of a bit of sweeping in autumn.
Evergreen Plants and Flowers
Many evergreen trees become too solid an element in our domestic gardens, not letting any welcome winter sun and light in during those months when the sun is low on our northern horizon and the days are correspondingly short. Evergreens also present their own cleaning hassles, as they tend to drop leaves continually throughout the year.
Old fashioned favourites such as the London plane (Platanus) and the many different Oak (Quercus) varieties are generally too large growing for most Cape gardens these days but there are number of trees that are well deserved of planting. I am often asked to incorporate Silver Birch (BETULA alba) in gardens but have had mixed success as they really are not fond of our strong winds and dry summers. They do well in the more lush areas, such as around Kirstenbosch, and are very effective when combined with a simple massed green under-planting such as Dietes or Barleria.
Acer family Plant
The Acer family is more tolerant of our extreme weather, especially the negundo and palmatum species, which form elegant small trees. They are also available in a range of variegated leaf forms that can provide a welcome contrast when planted amongst a group of dark evergreens. Commonly known as the Maple family, they are fast growing to around 5 metres and provide a truly remarkable autumn show as their leaves drop.
One of my personal favourites is the indigenous Stinkwood tree, CELTIS africana. Like the Maples, it has a superb upright trunk with a neatly spreading canopy. It is the perfect tree for planting above paved areas to provide cooling summer shade. They can grow into very large trees but we have had much success in pruning them into a various sizes compatible with different garden requirements.
planting VIBURNUM Opulus and PHILADELPHUS coronarius
On a smaller growth level, consider planting VIBURNUM Opulus and PHILADELPHUS coronarius (Mock Orange). These are both shrubs that easily grow to 2 metres in height with a very pleasing rounded shape. This makes them ideal for use in a mixed shrubbery and they are particularly useful along a south-facing wall that does not get any sun at this time of year. They do lose their foliage, which will let winter warmth filter down through their branches to your under-planting. In early spring you can enjoy their fresh green foliage followed by masses of fragrant white flowers.
Recently I have numerous enquiries about another group of plants:
Apples, Pears, Peaches and the other members of the prunus family. We will soon be breathing that fresh spring air scented by the amazing displays of blossoms these small trees produce. Unfortunately this seldom results in a significant crop of fruit on the Peninsula; our winters are just not cold enough. Many of the more established suburbs have old flowering quinces, plums and cherries that belong to the same family, evidence of which plants will grow well here. Consult with your local nurseryman as to what will do best in your area.
While we wait for the Cape plant kingdom to put on its late winter floral display, let us consider some plants that are prized for their amazing growth structure. I am referring to cacti and succulents. The interest in plants such as Crassula, Aloes, Agave and Cacti has been growing steadily over the last few years, as gardeners and landscapers have begun to note their compatibility with contemporary Cape architecture. Their appeal has, of course, increased even more rapidly over the last hot and dry summer.
The visual appeal of these succulent plants lies in the detail of their sculptural growth patterns and the intricacies of their leaf shapes and features. This is why they work best as specimen plants, providing a focus point in a bed or arranged specifically in a simple but striking container. The most common mistake made when positioning them is to plant them en masse. This kills the impact of their fascinating structure. I enjoy planting them in gravel between rocks with some fynbos for softness. Best of all, these living sculptures thrive on neglect, making them ideal for rocky banks, holiday homes and busy households.
Garden care in June:
If you have a Kikuyu lawn, it will be growing well now and should be fed alternately with Bladerunner and 2:3:2. The lucky owners of Buffalo lawns can relax as their lawns will not be needing mowing at all until the grass starts to grow again in spring.
Freesia bulbs are growing well this year. Like all bulbs they will appreciate a regular feeding with a dedicated bulb food or just use some 5:1:5 slow release. This will help the blooms last longer as well as aid the bulb in storing up nutrients to produce offspring and flower again the following year. I prefer to leave the bulbs in the ground through summer to enjoy the surprise of what comes up again.
Gardening the herb garden
In the herb garden, trim back dead foliage from your Lemon Grass, Dill and Fennel. Now is a good time to lift and divide your Lemon Grass and Chives while Dill and Fennel will tend to self-seed. If you are concerned that your kitchen garden is looking a little empty, add more Parsley to the warmer areas as this grows well throughout the year and is always useful when cooking. I enjoy mixing Violas and Primulas into my herb patches and pots for some winter cheer. The Viola flowers may also be added to salads or used as decoration on serving platters.
Now is a great time to be pruning back deciduous climbers such as Grapes, Podranea and Wisteria. These do grow so well here in the Cape so do not be shy to cut off all untidy growth and leave just a good framework of strong healthy woody stems. They will respond well with new vigorous shoots in spring.
You may be tempted to put your indoor plants outside to receive some natural rain. This is great if it is not too cold. Bear in mind that most plants grown for indoors are sub-tropical species and will not take kindly to being placed in the face of a cold wind off the Atlantic. The best would be to place them briefly in a soaking rain. This will help to clean their leaves and give them a boost of natural nutrients.
By Luke Maddams
Published with permission of Chris Wilkinson Graemark