August is the turning point in the Cape Town garden. The days are warming, the spring rains are on their way, and the work you do now sets up the whole growing season.
Pruning and Cleaning
This is your last chance to prune roses before the middle of the month to ensure a strong summer display. It’s also a good time to cut back any dead or frosted parts of your shrubs and other winter-flowering climbers.
Weeding
With the warmer days and spring rains on the way, weeds will start to appear en masse. Get ahead of them now before they set seed.
Staking
Ensure all young trees are securely staked to prevent damage. Use a relaxed tie that allows for some movement to avoid girdling the bark.
Soil and Mulching
Prepare your garden beds for spring planting by digging in compost or well-rotted manure. Apply a layer of mulch to help the soil retain moisture, suppress weeds and regulate temperature.
Lawn Care
Give your lawn a spring treatment. This involves a sharp cut, raking to remove dead thatch, aerating with a garden fork, and then feeding with a good lawn fertiliser.
Indigenous Plants
August is an excellent time to plant indigenous species that are water-wise and well-suited to the local environment. Look for fynbos varieties like pincushions (Leucospermum) and other plants such as vygies, osteospermums and nemesias.
Feeding
Give your established plants a boost with a general-purpose fertiliser. Remember to feed your fruit trees and berry-bearing plants with a high-potassium fertiliser to encourage a good crop. For bulbs that have finished flowering, feed them with a bulb food to help them store energy for next year.
Lawn Fertiliser
For August, use a 2:3:2 lawn fertiliser.
If you require any help with your garden, we’d be happy to help. We offer:
- Pruning & trimming
- Pest & disease control
- Garden design and re-design
- Irrigation installation and maintenance
Contact us today. We cover Bellville, Durbanville, Milnerton, Sunningdale, Bloubergstrand, Brackenfell, Kuils River, Edgemead, Panorama, Parklands and Century City.