The Zimbabwean Gardener Issue 13 Winter 2015 Low res | Page 26

What to do

The winter guide
By Gill Olivey and Sally Meikle

A weekly and monthly garden guide to help beginner
gardeners or for those who like a routine to see what
gardening chores should be done this winter
The weekl routine
y
Use this as a guideline to see what you should be doing on a weekly basis. You
can change the days to suit you or add other tasks. Where it says ‘monthly task’,
do a task on the opposite page according to the month.

EVERYDAY

MORNING
Feed animals and fill water bowls, put away bedding
Water and deadhead pot plants, hanging baskets and clean up lawn.
Remove garbage from house and recycle cans, bottles, plastic and paper
Switch on pumps for pools or water features.
Clean swimming pool
EVENING
Switch off pool pumps.
Clean garden tools and lock away.
Roll up hosepipe and cover.
Provide protection at night from frost to newly planted shrubs and trees

MONDAY

Weed and mulch veggie garden, water if necessary.
Feed annuals, pot plants and veggies where necessary
Collect vegetables.
Backwash pool, weekly dose of alginate late afternoon.
MONTHLY TASK

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY

TIPS
26

Clean outside verge.
Sweep driveway.
Weed front lawn.
Tidy shrubs and hedges
Spray annuals, veggies or any plants where necessary before it gets too hot.
Mulch beds to protect roots of tender plants from frost and cold as well as to retain
moisture.
Weed back lawn.
Mow the lawn, trim edges, rake up grass and add to compost pile.
Water veggie garden if necessary and collect vegetables
Remove faded flowers.
Wash cars
Tidy garden shed and make note of fertilisers, chemicals, tools needed
Do not put dog faeces and cooked food on the compost heap.
As the days get cooler, mow less frequently and not too low.
Lawns, aerate using a large metal fork and comb the lawn once a month. Mow if
necessary.
From June don’t water in the afternoons to prevent frost-burn.
Turn and water your compost well monthly.