The Zimbabwean Gardener Issue 2 Spring 2012 | Page 29

What to do
cut this
out and
stick it
on your
fridge

• Make way for summer annuals by removing your
spent spring and winter annuals. Revitalise the soil by
digging in generous amounts of compost, a general
fertiliser and superphosphate.
• In sunny areas plant: bedding dahlias, celosia, cosmos,
marigold, salvia, torenia, verbena, vinca and zinnia. In
light shade or semi-shade plant: bedding begonias,
coleus and busy lizzies.
• Don’t forget to spray your busy lizzies with Ridomil
against the Downy Mildew disease.
• Water annuals during dry weather, feed every two
weeks with ZFC Best bloom and remove faded flowers.

nov

The smell of the first
rains is always a delight,
but if the rains don’t
come early keep an eye
on your plants as they
might be struggling with
the heat.

• When the foliage of winter flowering bulbs die down,
lift the bulbs and dry in the shade. Remove old leaves
and roots, then store the bulbs in a box in a cool, dry
place.
• Prune the following shrubs when they have finished
flowering: Abelia, Mock Orange, Forsythia, Cape May
(Spiraea) and the Snowball Bush (Viburnium sp). Do
not remove more than a third of a young plant.

What seedlings to plant
SEPTEMBER
Alyssum, antirrhinum, aquilegia, busy lizzy, Canterbury bells, bedding dahlia, dianthus,
gaillardia, gazania, lavatera, lobelia, marigold, pansy, petunia, portulaca, salvia and viola.

OCTOBER
Alyssum, aquilegia, busy lizzy, bedding dahlia, celosia, coleus, dianthus, gallardia, gazania,
lavatera, marigold, nasturtium, pansy, portulaca, salvia, sunflower, verbena and zinnia.

NOVEMBER
Alyssum, asters, begonia, busy lizzy, celosia, coleus, chrysanthemum, dahlia, dianthus,
lobelia, marigold, nicotiana, penstemon, portulaca, torenia, verbena and zinnia.

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