It's the height of summer and your garden should be flourishing and overflowing with shrubs, annuals and perennials in full bloom. Gardenias fill the air with their heady scent, and roses are having their second flush of blooms. Agapanthus, Hydrangeas, Fuchsias, Day Lilies, Dahlias, Liliums and New Guinea Impatiens will also be looking at their best.
If you planted the new generation of gorgeous Zantedeschia hybrids, bred from our original indigenous species for their sheer flower power, you can pick them for the vase. They come in fashionable shades of pink, yellow, white, cream, apricot, peach, orange, purple (almost black) and red. If you have them in pots, move them to where their beauty can be admired by your guests.
Whether you are going away or staying at home, December can be a very busy month in the garden, but if you get stuck-in early you can sit back and relax over the festive season with family and friends. Because it remains light for so much longer, late afternoon and early evening are perfect times to potter in the garden, or just to relax and enjoy.
Members can click on highlighted text to read more about the plants mentioned
Read my November article for some great ideas on how to spruce up your garden for Christmas.
Image by Alexa from PixabayHow to prepare your garden if you are going away in December
If you are going away, if possible, arrange for a family member or friend to water, mow your lawn, and if necessary, harvest your vegetables and fruit. And, if you still have a post box, remind them to empty it, as an overflowing post box is a sure indicator to intruders that you are away.
If you have no help and don’t want to come back to an overgrown jungle of rampant growth, do not fertilise your lawn or garden beds before you leave; and if you are concerned about watering and have to rely on rainfall, renew the mulch in your beds and water deeply before you leave.
If you are lucky enough to have an irrigation system complete with a timer, and there are no water restrictions in your region, make sure it is set correctly and all the sprays heads are working efficiently. A drip irrigation system can be invaluable as it uses less water and is able to reach groupings of garden pots as well.
If possible, group all your smaller outdoor pot plants together in a shady spot where natural rain and your watering system will reach them. If you don’t have irrigation, mulch the pots with potting soil to which water retentive granules have been added, then mulch with bark chips. If possible, stand them in drip trays, and water thoroughly before you leave, leaving the drip trays full.
Mulch your roses deeply to keep the soil cool and moist, and pinch out the growing tips from young branches and remove all flower buds. This will help the bushes to conserve energy until you get home. Spray preventatively against black spot and other fungal diseases, and also with a general purpose insecticide before leaving. Roses in containers that are easy to move can be placed in a more shady area where your irrigation system and rainfall will reach them. If they cannot be irrigated, before you leave place the pots in saucers and water well, leaving the saucers full of water.
Clean your garden really well, removing all weeds and spent flowers, and trim your hedges etc. If you have a vegetable garden, or fruit trees that are bearing, harvest and store as much as you can, or give it away to family and friends before you leave. A well-groomed garden will leave no obvious indicators to would-be burglars that you are not at home.
Members can click here to read about common rose pests and diseases
Just before you leave mow your lawn for the last time, but do not be tempted to cut it too short or it could get scorched by the sun, especially if rainfall is erratic and the days are very hot.
Group your indoor pot plants together on a sink rack with a bidum liner or an old blanket underneath. Part of the liner is immersed into a sink of water, allowing your plants to draw water as they need it, without them standing in water. Never allow your potted plants to stand in trays of water for long as this is sure to drown them. Leave the curtains or blinds open to allow the natural light to reach your plants.
Before you say goodbye to the swimming pool, some preparations beforehand can help prevent a host of problems. Firstly take a water sample to the professionals for a water analysis. They will advise you concerning the balance of your water and provide any chemicals you may need to add, like a shock treatment. Brush all the walls thoroughly and clean the weir and pump baskets. Backwash the filter well, before topping up with water to the highest level. Set the time clock to run your pump and filer for about 12 hours per day. Check and adjust your pH if necessary, the correct pH should be in the range of 7.4 to 7.6; and the free chlorine should be a minimum of 2 to 3ppm. Add a monthly chlorine floater to the pool, and for added protection from algae, apply a dose of algae inhibitor.
Now that all is taken care of relax and enjoy the holidays, but please travel safely.
Image by Alex from PixabayWhat to do in your garden if you are staying at home in December
If you are staying at home and are expecting guests, the holiday rush before Christmas can leave one overwhelmed and exhausted. So put aside time early in the month to give your garden a good clean and clip. You will then only need to tidy up a bit before your guests arrive, leaving you feeling more relaxed and able to enjoy the garden with family and friends.
Feed your beds with an organic 3:1:5 fertiliser, and deadhead roses and summer flowering plants regularly to ensure a continuous supply of blooms.
Continue to feed and water your Hydrangeas and Fuchsias regularly for a spectacular show in December. Don't forget to water your Azaleas and Camellias well now as they are already forming their new buds for next season.
Ensure that your garden is well-mulched to conserve moisture, and when watering established shrubs and trees, remember, it is more beneficial to give them a deep watering once a week, rather than daily sprinklings. Watering deeply will encourage deeper roots which are hardier to drought.
Cut your Hydrangeas for the vase, they are fantastic cut flowers and also dry well, but need to be picked when they are fully open. The woody stems cannot absorb water well, so remove the bark completely up to about 5cm from the bottom, before placing the stems in bucket deep enough to cover the entire length of the stems with water; leave in a cool place overnight before arranging.
If you are staying at home and want a lush green lawn, feed with a high nitrogen fertiliser. Raise the blades on your lawnmower and mow more frequently - this will produce lovely fine blades. In our dry, semi-arid and continental regions it is vital that you do now mow to short and that you water well once a week.
Watch out for fungal diseases as these are more evident in warm, wet and humid weather. Brown patch causes irregular brown or dead patches; dollar spot shows as yellow patches which merge and darken with age leaving fungal cobwebs on the blades that are very visible when wet; fairy rings show as dark green rings that slowly grow larger and sometimes host clusters of slender toadstools.
Click here to see Google images of brown patch on lawns
Click here to see Google images of dollar spot on lawns
Click here to see Google images of fairy rings on lawns
Annuals to brighten up your garden for December
Brighten up prominent garden beds, patios and pool areas by planting out 'instant colour' seedlings and flowering perennials into garden beds, pots and hanging baskets. At this time of the year garden centres offer a good range of “instant colour seedlings” which are perfect to dolly-up your garden for the festive season. Here are some popular summer annuals you could try.
New Guinea ImpatiensImpatiens, New Guinea Impatiens, Sunpatiens
The old-fashioned shade-loving Impatiens, (Impatiens walleriana) will flower all summer long, and are available in colours from white through every shade of pink and magenta to oranges and reds; as well as those with starry centres and swirls, and lovely selections of double-flowered varieties. Most modern varieties are dwarf and compact; growing 15 to 30cm tall and 10 to 15cm wide. These are perfect in borders and in pots, hanging baskets, window boxes, and in massed beds and underneath trees, for a dazzling display.
Because New Guinea Impatiens can take a lot more sun than the ordinary impatiens they are even more versatile in the garden. Their flowers are also a lot larger than ordinary impatiens and come in a vast colour range, covering every shade of red, orange, pink, lavender and white. They are also a lot taller, growing from 30 to 70cm in height. Many varieties also have interestingly coloured foliage in tones of green, together with plum and bronze, or golden to clear yellow. Their bright leaves and big, showy flowers will liven up any spot in the garden, and they are stunning in hanging baskets, window boxes and containers of all kinds.
Sunpatiens are used in the same way as New Guinea Impatiens, but thrive in full sun and hot, humid weather, as well as in semi-shade. They come in an excellent colour range, making them perfect container and bedding plants for long lasting colour. Sunpatiens come in compact, and spreading forms - the compact ones can fill in gaps in the garden or in pots and are easy to combine with other annuals; while a single spreading one will fill out a hanging basket or pot spectacularly, and in garden beds it is also a wonderful filler plant.
Members can click here to read more about Impatiens
Dianthus Dianthus
You can always rely on Dianthus as they are tough, long-blooming little annuals which cope well with heat and rain. New compact hybrids vary in height from 15 to 25cm, and often have frilled or zigzag edges to their petals. They are available in outstanding hues of salmon, pink, red, violet and white, and in lovely clear colours as well as bi-colours.
Members can click here to read more about Dianthus
Salvia, Scarlet Sage
Salvia, or Scarlet Sage in its original scarlet colour is perfect to liven-up garden beds for the festive season. It loves the summer heat and can be planted in full sun or light shade, and hybrids are available in vibrant shades of pink, purple, cream and white.
Members can click here to read more about Salvia
Vinca Vinca
Vinca is called Kanniedood for good reasons. It is very hard to kill, and one of the most reliable plants to grow in the blazing sun. And because it does not like to be overwatered it’s a perfect choice for water-wise gardens. It produces its charming phlox-like flowers in many shades of pink, carmine, blush, coral, peach, mauve burgundy and white all summer long.
Members can click here to read more about Vinca
Verbena
Verbena is another summer stunner that loves the heat and is water-wise. There are hundreds of cultivars and several series of cultivars that vary in flower colour and growth habit. Some are erect and bushy, others trailing and mat forming, some are dense and compact, while others have a more open and spreading growth habit. The small individual flowers are borne profusely in dense clusters all summer and come in shades which include white, pink, crimson, scarlet, vermilion, purple, blue, and yellow. Some are bi-coloured, and some have a central white eye. Trailing varieties may extend 30 to 60cm, and the largest erect forms may reach 45cm tall.
Members can click here to read more about Verbena
Begonias
Begonias are truly the backbone of the flower garden and very free-flowering. They are available as small compact plants, like the ever popular bedding varieties that are perfect for flower borders, and the taller growing types like Begonia 'Big' that are great in the middle of the flower border. The large upright or trailing types like 'Dragon Wings' and 'Bossa Nova' are stunning in containers and hanging baskets. Although begonias will grow in quite a lot of shade they flower best in positions where they receive dappled or bright shade.
Members can click here to read more about the various types of Begonias
ColeusColeus, Painted Nettles
Coleus or Painted Nettles are favourites for shady gardens because they are good-natured plants that are pretty hard to kill. Coleus is listed amongst the most magnificent foliage plants the plant kingdom has to offer, and hybridization has produced an almost infinite number of leaf shapes and colour combinations, which include most colours of the spectrum, except true blue. New introductions have also been selected for increased sun and heat tolerance. Most varieties prefer bright semi-shade and good, moist, well-drained soil.
Members can click here to read more about Coleus
AnthuriumPotted Plants
Splash out on a few colourful pot plants to add cheer to your indoor space this Christmas. Potted plants also make perfect gifts for the festive season.
The ever popular Poinsettia (Euphorbia) always looks festive, and Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) is also popular for the Christmas holiday season as its magnificent trumpet-shaped blooms demand attention, and it comes in fabulous shades of pink and magenta, to salmon, orange, red, and white.
If you want to add some tropical flair, you can’t go wrong with the Flamingo Flower (Anthurium) with its deep green foliage, and heart-shaped flowers in many sizzling colours like bright red, pink, purple, orange, and white. In spite of its exotic appearance the flamingo flower is not hard to care for, as long as you understand its needs.
Another tropical beauty is the exquisite Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis) which remains popular among novice and experienced growers alike because it is easy to grow and adaptable to many different types of environments. The Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes) has tons of personality, and its brightly spotted leaves stand out in the crowd. It grows just as easily in bright light indoors as it does outdoors.
To cool down all these bright colours you can’t go wrong with the fresh, crisp green leaves of the Boston Fern, and the Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) is another leafy tropical plant that is easy to care for indoors. Some varieties have solid green leaves, but most have interesting variegations in shades of silver, grey, or light green. The Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) is a decorators dream because its fresh, lush green foliage compliments most styles, and its striking white flowers will liven up any colour scheme.
Members can click on highlighted text to read more about the plants mentioned
AmaryllisSummer Bulbs:
You can still plant summer bulbs like Amaryllis, Arum lily, Canna Cultivars, Dahlia, Pineapple Lily (Eucomis), Berg Lily (Galtonia), and Liliums.
December is the last month to plant out bulbs of the beautiful Nerine fillifolia with its dainty pink blooms that are perfect for adding a subtle touch of elegance to the garden, and for cutting for the vase. If you plant nerine bulbs now they will flower in autumn. Feed them regularly to encourage flowering, adding some wood ash to the soil will also encourage good blooms.
Make sure your Dahlias are securely staked and do not dig around them as they have surface roots. If you did not divide your Bearded Irises last month and they are overcrowded, you can still divide them now (Read last month’s article).
Roses:
When your roses have had their second flush of flowers feed them with a fertiliser that is high in nitrogen like 8:1:5, this will encourage lush leaf growth and another flush of blooms at Christmas. Water deeply about twice a week during hot, dry spells; ensuring that the water gets right down to the roots of the plants. If your soil is a bit hard water won’t penetrate properly and you need to dig it over lightly and put down a good layer of mulch. Continue to spray regularly with organic fungicides and insecticides to keep pests and diseases at bay. Floribunda roses and some Hybrid Teas produce clusters of flowers, and if you remove the centre bud, it will allow the clusters to develop stronger stems and spread out the flowering time. Hybrid tea roses are often also disbudded, leaving only one bloom per stem; this produces very beautiful large blooms for the vase.
Pruning:
Prune climbers like Jasmine and Petrea to maintain a compact shape. Prune your wisteria, cutting back any side shoots that have developed to 15cm from their base. Trim Lemon-scented Verbena after flowering, and tidy up spring and early summer flowering groundcovers and perennials and mulch them thickly with compost to conserve moisture. To look at their best, hedges and topiary need to be trimmed regularly in summer, and if your variegated plants produce green branches, cut these out immediately or they will eventually overtake the slower growing variegated branches.
Check the water level of your ponds regularly and ensure that your water plants are not growing too thickly, blocking sunlight from reaching the bottom of the pond.
Check that your garden birds always have fresh water available.
Take Cuttings:
December is a good month to take semi-hardwood cuttings of Begonias and your favourite shrubs like Lavender, Hydrangeas, Fuchsias, Pentas, Hypericum and Pelargonium. It is also a good month to take cuttings of the common garden Azalea (Rhododendron indicum).
Semi-hardwood cuttings are taken from young growth that is just starting to harden off. These are normally side shoots which can be tugged off the plant, leaving a ‘heel’ attached to the bottom of the stem. Leave this little ‘heel’ of bark on the cutting as it will hasten rooting. Remove all the bottom leaves from your cutting and cut all large leaves in half with a scissors.
Dip the cutting into rooting powder no 2 and gently shake off any excess powder before planting into a rooting mix like washed river sand, vermiculite or palm peat. Water and place in a cool, bright place and mist spray daily, or tie a plastic bag over the cuttings to help conserve moisture. If the bag produces too much condensation, remove it for a while.
Flowering Annuals:
Red Hot Sally Salvia. picture courtesy Ball Horticultural CompamyDecember is an awkward time of the year to sow flowering annuals, as many of them will be at their best just when the cold winter weather hits, so check the ‘weeks to flowering’ on the back of your seed packet before sowing.
For example, fast growing varieties like Alyssum germinate in about 3 days and take up to 9 weeks to flower. Nasturtiums germinate quickly, within 2 to 5 days and the plants will start blooming 8 to 9 weeks after sowing. Marigolds will germinate within 4 to 7 days and bloom about 10 to 12 weeks after sowing. Salvias germinate within 10 to 14 days and will bloom about 13 to 15 weeks after sowing. Portulaca takes 2 to 4 days to germinate in ideal temperatures but will take longer in cooler soil. The plants will flower about 12 to 14 weeks after sowing. Cosmos grows quickly, and modern hybrids can start blooming within 10 to 12 weeks after sowing, but in some climates, cosmos sown in spring may not come into full bloom until the days become shorter in late summer.
At this time of the year garden centres are brimming with 'instant colour' seedlings, and they will probably have some of the annuals mentioned above. If cared for correctly they will continue to flower for many months, and are often the better choice.
During the heat of mid-summer, always plant during the cool of the late afternoon and water well afterwards. This will give your plants a chance to recover before the next hot day. Regular deadheading of your flowering annuals not only keeps the plants neat but encourages more blooms, as instead of putting energy into producing seeds the plants will utilise their energy to produce more blooms.
“Growing Bedding Plants in South Africa”
This e-book covers everything you really need to know about growing annuals, plus a lot more! It includes useful information on the best planting and sowing times for each variety, as well as the ideal germination temperatures and days to flowering. Read more or order here..
New Potatoes Vegetable Garden:
Your vegetable garden should be flourishing, so harvest regularly. Remember that some crops like Tomatoes, Eggplants, Peppers and Pumpkins need a long growing season and if sown too late will not have sufficient time to set fruit; so if you live in a cold frosty region, check your days to harvesting before sowing or planting out seedlings of these slow maturing crops.
Baby Potatoes will be ready to harvest once the plants have finished flowering. Loosen the soil lightly with a fork to check on their development before lifting gently. Do not leave the tender-skinned tubers to lie in the sun for too long before storing.
If your Onions are ready to harvest, lift them with a fork and shake off excess soil before laying them out to dry in a cool, well-ventilated, place. Once they are totally dry, clean them by brushing with a soft brush or cloth and store them in paper bags; or plait the leaves together in bunches and hang them up in a dry cool place that is well ventilated.
In the cooler Highveld regions, the eastern Free State, the KwaZulu-Natal midlands, parts of the North West Province, as well as in the western, eastern and southern Cape, late December and January are traditionally the months when the first sowings of slow maturing winter vegetables like Cauliflower, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts and Cabbage are done. In these regions Carrots, and Summer Lettuce Varieties can also be sown now. Try sowing Nasturtiums between your rows of carrots as they grow well together.
In the warmer inland regions like Pretoria, Brits and parts of Johannesburg, wait until January to sow these winter vegetable varieties; and in the frost-free subtropical regions like the KwaZulu-Natal coast, the Lowveld and parts of Limpopo sowing is only done in February.
In sub-tropical regions remember that Okra, Sweet Potatoes, Eggplants, Peppers, and Chillies will grow well no matter how hot it gets, so will Sweetcorn and Green Mealies.
Generally, gardeners can still sow or plant seedlings of Patty Pans and Gem Squash, Baby Marrow, Cucumber, Radish, Sweetcorn and Maize, Carrots, Beetroot, and Bush Beans. If you want to sow Lettuce in the heat of summer, choose heat tolerant varieties, water them very well, and plant them where they are shaded during the hottest time of the day. Potatoes can be planted, except in very hot regions.
In regions with long summers you can plant out your last Tomato plants for this season, but remember to spray them weekly with an organic fungicide to prevent infections; this is especially important to do during wet and hot, humid weather.
For vegetables that are susceptible to blight and fungal diseases, like tomatoes, squash, pumpkins and cucumbers; water early in the morning so that the leaves are totally dry by sunset. To hasten the ripening of tomatoes, cover well-developed clusters with a brown paper bag.
“Growing Vegetables in South Africa”
This e-book will soon have you growing your own veggies with a minimum of fuss. Click here to order or read more.
Herbs:
Feed and prune your herbs lightly if they are becoming straggly and cut back your rocket to encourage it to produce fresh new leaves. Always feed herbs with organic fertilisers.
Plant out more Celery and Parsley to see you through to the end of summer; and you can still sow and plant Caraway, Coriander, Basil, Dill, Sage and Thyme.
Pennyroyal is great for keeping mosquitoes at bay but can become invasive in garden beds, so plant it in tubs near the patio. Rubbing or bruising the leaves will release its strong mentha scent and send the mozzies packing.
Planting catmint or catnip underneath roses will help to keep insects at bay.
"Growing Culinary Herbs in South Africa"
This e-book covers everything you need to know about growing and using culinary herbs, including their health benefits and a whole lot more. Click here to order or read more.
Fruit:
Strawberries are producing the last of their fruits and need to be fed with a liquid fertiliser once all the crop has been harvested. Grapes need to be watered well as the fruit begins to swell. When your berries like Blueberries have finished fruiting, prune out all sickly or damaged canes; leaving only young healthy canes. Tie these young shoots to a sturdy support, and train them to grow out into a fan shape. As melons start to swell it is best to reduce watering, as too much water will result in tasteless fruit.
Continue spraying your late bearing deciduous fruit trees against Fruit Fly and coddling moth, with an eco-friendly insecticide like Eco Fruit Fly. Remove any fallen fruit that may be infested with fruit fly larvae. Remove or cut back excessive water shoots.
Members can click here to find my detailed spraying programme for decidious fruit trees.
Feed your Citrus trees with an organic fertiliser; 8:1:6 or 6:1:5 are good but if you don’t have them, use 3:1:5 or 2:3:2. Each mature citrus tree needs 2kg of fertiliser spread over the root area, starting at least 10cm away from the trunk and ending at the drip line.
In sub-tropical regions you can sow Paw-paw seed this month. Sow them directly into the soil (5 seeds per hole) and once they have flowered, remove all male plants; leaving only one male plant for every 6 to 8 females. Male flowers hang on long stems and female flowers are tight against the stem. Feed and water your avocados and litchis regularly.
Plant 
Damage from red spiderPests & Diseases in December
During hot and dry weather Red Spiders are most active. They inhabit the undersides of plant leaves, where it is nice and dry, and seem to prefer plants with soft leaves like roses, impatiens etc. Visible signs are a mottled yellow look on the upper side of the leaves, a fine web over the leaves, and sometimes leaf curl. Severe infestations cause yellowing and bronzing of the leaves, followed by leaf drop. This will adversely affect flower and fruit production but will rarely kill the plant. If you look with a magnifying glass you will see them. Alternatively, pick a leaf and press it down on a sheet of white paper; if there are tiny red dots left behind on the paper, you have red spider.
To control them you must spray regularly, as recommended. Try Ludwig’s Rose Spider Mite, it has no adverse affect on the natural predators of red spider mite. Other organic formulations containing Canola oil, with or without garlic extract work well but can cause harm to natural mite predators. Rape or grape seed oil is also effective. To help prevent red spider, ensure that ventilation is good amongst your plants and do not over feed with nitrogen. Red spider is very difficult to control and will require regular spraying.
Black spotWatch out for fungal diseases like Powdery Mildew and Black Spot, and spray your roses and other susceptible plants regularly with an organic fungicide. Add a sticker or wetting agent like G-49; or a ½ teaspoon of dishwashing liquid to the mixture. This helps the spray to stick to the plant longer, especially during rainy weather. Watering very early in the morning will help prevent fungal diseases.
Homemade natural sprays for fungal diseases:
Spray with compost tea made from a container filled to a third of its volume with mature compost and topped up with rainwater. Allow to soak for 1 to 3 days and stain through a very fine mesh strainer or a nylon stocking. Dilute until it looks like weak black tea before spraying on the affected plants. Another anti-fungal spray is low-fat milk diluted with an equal volume of rainwater.
Gardenias are susceptible to black sooty mould; a fungus which lives on the honeydew that is secreted by aphids. The aphids are ‘farmed’ by ants for this honeydew and are also protected from their natural predators by them. Get rid of the aphids and the ants and the mould will disappear.
If the brown chafer beetles, also called Christmas beetles, are chewing your roses and other plants, spray regularly with Ludwigs Insect Spray. Spray in the late afternoon as these beetles hide in the soil during the day and come out at night to feed.
Click here to see Google Images of Brown Chafer Beetles
To protect against beetle attacks:
Tobasco sauce will keep flying insects at bay. Mix two teaspoons of Tobasco sauce with one litre of water and a ½ teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. Spray your plants thoroughly at least once a week and repeat after rain. Very hot fresh chillies can also be used.
Take two handfuls of chopped comfrey leaves and 250 grams of chopped garlic. Add them to 2 litres of cold water and leave overnight. Bring the mixture to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes with the lid on. When the mixture cools down dilute it with water 1:10 (one part mixture to 10 parts water). Spray at least once a week when beetles are active. Comfrey is rich in nitrogen, protein, potash, trace elements and minerals and promotes healthy plants and strong cell structure, while the smell of garlic repels beetles. This recipe is also used to control the cucumber beetle.
Dry, semi-arid and continental regions
December and January are very hot months in these regions, so water regularly and deeply. A wide variety of container plants, annuals, herbs and vegetables can be grown using rainwater, so consider putting up a rainwater tank. Rainwater tanks are essential if you live in an area with brackish water. Brackish water, sometimes termed ‘brack’ water, is water occurring in a natural environment that has more salinity than freshwater, but not as much as seawater.
Many annuals die in hot summer regions if the water is brackish because they require regular watering, and using brackish water regularly deposits many harmful salts into the already saline soil. Many small seedlings are also killed by very hot winds. In these very arid regions, forget about a summer garden, dig the soil over, enrich it with lots of compost; and if your soil is clay, dig in lots of compost and washed river sand into the soil as often as you can. This prevents a hard crust forming on the top of the soil that water can’t penetrate. Winter and spring gardens are very successful in these areas, so wait until autumn to plant again.
In the hot areas of this region seed sown this month will also struggle to survive the warm winds and intense heat, but if you want to add some colour to your garden beds for Christmas plant instant colour seedlings of Portulaca - they can take the heat and if planted out now they will provide colour over December and late summer. Petunias and Vincas are also great for instant colour - they thrive in the heat and despise too much water.
In cooler parts you can still plant summer annuals like Alyssum, Marigold, Vinca and Zinnia. Salvia farinacea, Lobelia, Celosia, the Cone Clower (Rudbeckia hirta), and our gorgeous Falling Stars (Crocosmia aurea), look stunning planted together in a sea of White Alyssum.
The beautiful Butterfly Bush (Gaura) is another good candidate for these regions as it is a hardy perennial which thrives on poor soils, and is also wind and drought resistant. It flowers all summer and looks lovely planted singly or in groups. The indigenous daisy Euryops pectinatus with its masses of golden yellow flowers and attractive grey-green leaves is also highly recommended as it flourishes in brackish water.
If you live in a very hot region, unlike other parts of the country where roses are having their second flush of flowers, do not expect too much from your roses this month as the buds often get scorched by the sun before they even open. Use lucerne, or hay mulch around the bushes, water them regularly and don’t over fertilise.
Winter rainfall regions (Mediterranean)
December days can be very hot and most gardeners prefer to do light garden chores during this month, and when the spring and early summer displays fade, heat-loving flower varieties like Cosmos, Petunias, Gazania, Marigolds, Phlox, Salvia and Zinnias come into their own.
In the very hot areas of this region seed sown this month will struggle to survive the warm winds and intense heat, but if you want to add some colour to your garden beds for Christmas plant instant colour seedlings of Portulaca - they can take the heat and if planted out now they will provide colour over December and late summer. Petunias and Vincas are also great for instant colour - they thrive in the heat and despise too much water.
Continue to deadhead your flowering annuals and perennials regularly, and if you wish you can also still plant out Ageratum, Aquilegia, Begonia, Coleus, Dianthus, Lobelia and Nasturtium.
The beautiful Butterfly Bush (Gaura) is a good garden candidate for these regions as it is a hardy perennial which thrives on poor soils, and is also wind and drought resistant. It flowers all summer and looks lovely planted singly or in groups. The indigenous daisy Euryops pectinatus with its masses of golden yellow flowers and attractive grey-green leaves is also highly recommended as it flourishes in brackish water.
Mulch your garden beds to keep the soil moist and cool, and do this before the weather becomes very hot and dry in January and February. Water regularly during hot weather and continue feeding your flowers, bulbs and vegetables regularly.
Continue feeding and watering your Kikuyu and Buffalo lawns and try to water in the morning. Do not cut your lawn too short during hot and dry weather; and especially Buffalo lawn, as it prefers to be thick. Watch out for Lawn Caterpillars that make bare patches in the lawn.
When your Blueberries, boysenberries, youngberries and raspberries have finished cropping, cut out the old fruiting canes right down to the ground and tie the new canes up on supports.
Vegetables can still be sown, but check your days to harvest, as slower maturing types may not have sufficient time produce much of a harvest before the end of the season.
Summer rainfall (Temperate or Highveld Regions)
December days can be very hot and most gardeners prefer to do light garden chores during this month, and when the spring and early summer displays fade, heat-loving flower varieties like Cosmos, Petunias, Gazania, Marigolds, Phlox, Salvia and Zinnias come into their own. Continue to deadhead your flowering annuals and perennials regularly, and if you wish you can also still plant out Ageratum, Aquilegia, Begonia, Coleus, Dianthus, Lobelia and Nasturtium.
In the very hot areas of this region seed sown this month will struggle to survive the intense heat, but if you want to add some colour to your garden beds for Christmas plant instant colour seedlings of Portulaca - they can take the heat and if planted out now they will provide colour over December and late summer. Petunias and Vincas are also great for instant colour - they thrive in the heat and despise too much water. In cooler regions you can plant any of the 'instant colour' seedlings recommended above for all regions.
The beautiful Butterfly Bush (Gaura) is a good garden candidate for these regions as it is a hardy perennial which thrives on poor soils, and is also wind and drought resistant. It flowers all summer and looks lovely planted singly or in groups. Daisy Bushes are also useful for filling in gaps in the garden at this time of the year and are still reasonably inexpensive. The indigenous daisy Euryops pectinatus with its masses of golden yellow flowers and attractive grey-green leaves is also highly recommended.
Mulch your garden beds to keep the soil moist and cool, and do this before the weather becomes very hot and dry in January and February. Water regularly during hot weather and continue feeding your flowers, bulbs and vegetables regularly.
Rain quickly leaches out nutrients from the soil, so continue to feed your garden beds and lawn regularly with a balanced organic fertiliser. Rainy weather also encourages fungal growth, so watch out for mildew, rust etc. and implement a preventative spraying programme for susceptible plants like roses and tomatoes. Click here to find my spraying programme for tomatoes.
Continue feeding and watering your lawn and try to water in the morning. Do not mow too short during hot and dry weather, and watch out for Lawn Caterpillars that make bare patches in the lawn.
In cold frosty regions, slow-maturing winter flowering annuals are sown in December or January. Sow Fairy Primroses (primula malacoides), Iceland Poppies, and Pansies and Violas. It is also time to sow slow maturing perennials and biennials like Foxgloves and Columbine (Aquilegia) to flower next spring and summer.
Summer vegetables can still be sown, but check your days to harvest, as slower maturing types may not have sufficient time produce much of a harvest before the end of the season. In cold frosty regions, slow-maturing winter vegetable crops like Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, Cabbage, and Cauliflower are sown in December or January.
Subtropical summer rainfall regions
In these regions you can still sow or plant flowering seedlings like Ageratum, Aster, Balsam, Celosia, Coleus, New Guinea Impatiens, Marigold, Salvia, Sunflower, Torenia, Vinca and Zinnia.
In the edible range you can plant herbs like Basil, Chives, Coriander, Fennel, Lemongrass, Mint, Parsley, Tarragon, Winter Savoury. Its too hot for all but tropical vegetables like Jerusalem Artichokes, Peppers and Chilli Peppers, Eggplant, Okra, Sweet Corn, and Sweet Potato.
Gardens in these regions are renowned for their colourful tropical gardens, but sometimes less is more, especially concerning colour. Cooler shades of green, white, pale yellow and grey will add balance to any garden, be it bright or pastel shades. These cooler colours are also most soothing in hot climates, so remember to include them in your design.
Eye-catching foliage plants with interesting and unusual markings will add year round interest to the subtropical garden and provide a beautiful backdrop for tropical flowers.
The foliage of Begonia 'Gryphon' makes it a wonderful contrast plant for the tropical shade garden, combining well with other shade lovers like, Coleus, Dragon Wing Begonias, and New Guinea Impatiens. Be creative and group it with shrubs and perennials like the Mirror Bush (Coprosma), Arum Lily (Zantedeschia), Fuchsia and Hydrangea, or ornamental grasses like Liriope, and small trees like Camellia japonica and Gardenia.
The Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) is another good contrast plant worth growing for its lush, foliage, and in its natural environment it flourishes beneath the shade of tropical trees. Some varieties have solid green leaves, but most cultivars have interesting variegation in shades of silver, grey, or light green. They range in size from compact 20 to 25cm tall plants to larger varieties that will grow 45 to 60cm tall
Do not cut your lawn too short, and during dry spells set your sprinkler system to water at 4am in the morning. Rain quickly leaches out nutrients from the soil, so continue to feed your garden beds and lawn regularly with a balanced organic fertiliser. Don’t forget to water and feed your orchids regularly.
Rainy weather encourages fungal growth, so watch out for diseases like Powdery Mildew, Black Spot etc. and implement a preventative spraying programme for susceptible plants. Check all your shrubs and trees regularly for scale insects and spray in the late afternoon with a white oil like Oleum, or make your own. Spray damp, wet areas with Margaret Roberts biological mosquito spray and make sure your gutters are clean and that there are no stagnant pools of water where larvae can breed.
In sub-tropical regions you can sow Paw-paw seed this month. Sow them directly into the soil (5 seeds per hole) and once they have flowered, remove all male plants; leaving only one male plant for every 6 to 8 females. Male flowers hang on long stems and female flowers are tight against the stem. Feed and water your Avocados and Litchis regularly.