What to do
What to do in the garden
By Lindsay Charters
Dividing Irises
Bearded Irises create a splash of colour in the garden in late spring , early summer . They come in an endless variety of colours and make fantastic cut flowers . Towards the end of November their flowering will come to an end – make sure all the dead flower spikes are cut off at the base and feed the plants with a liquid fertiliser or worm tea : two doses , one week apart . This will rejuvenate the root corms this summer
( bulb area ), improving their recovery after being divided . Dig the plants up , taking care to not damage the roots . Split by simply pulling apart the roots . Examine all the root corms for signs of fungal rot ; discard any diseased pieces into a dustbin bag , not the compost heap ! Keep all the healthy root corms , even those that that don ’ t have leaves , as they will grow . Add compost and a multi-purpose fertiliser to the bed and plant the corms horizontally in the soil .
Extend the flowering season
Remove dead flower heads off all plants in the garden to extend their flowering season . If seeds are allowed to develop on some plants , all of the plants ’ energy will go there , rather than forming new flowers .
Cut less , more often
One of the most important tasks to keep on top of during the summer months is keeping your shrubs cut back to promote healthy , bushy growth . Remember to also prune your spring flowering shrubs after flowering . Keep a close eye on your fuchsias too , pinching back any long , lean growth every week to prevent the plants becoming leggy during the rainy season . Keep hedges well clipped to maintain their shape but be wary of cutting too far back as this can cause unsightly bare branches , as well as sun damage to the plant .
Tip
With all the energy your plants are putting into producing new growth , flowers and fruit , don ’ t forget to feed them every two months with good quality compost and a multipurpose fertiliser .
Get the ‘ Aliens ’ out !
‘ Alien ’ invasive weeds are species of plant that are not indigenous . They rapidly invade natural bush and gardens , posing a threat to our natural ecosystems .
Many ‘ alien ’ seeds are spread by birds , which drop them in our gardens . During the rains they germinate and grow rapidly – this is the time to remove them before they get too big and flower again , repeating the cycle .
Some of the worst offenders : Ligustrum species ( Privets ), Solanum mauritianum ( bug weed ), Lantana species ( seed-producing ones ), Bauhinia purpurea and Bauhinia variegate .
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Solanum mauritianum Bug weed
Bauhinia purpurea