Wake up the garden

Get your garden ready for summer entertaining and bring back some green.

Even though the garden has not slowed down as much this past winter, it’s time to wake it up and get it ready.

Over the next week sort out the lawn, feed the beds and to add a generous layer of compost all round.

Plants grow right through the year and even though some may seem to be standing still, their roots are always growing.

It is important to feed all plants – even indigenous ones need to be fed to perform at their best.

Plants need various nutrients to give their best, some more nitrogen for leaves and others more potassium for better flowering or fruiting.

Which fertiliser should you be using on the lawns or the beds?

Sorting out the lawn

A green lawn is the one thing everybody loves.

Most lawns in our local area are Kikuyu with evergreen lawns such as Shade-Over and All Seasons Evergreen as options for small spaces and problem areas.

LM Grass as a runner lawn in semi-shade is an indigenous alternative which establishes fast and is water wise.

 Spring treatment for Kikuyu and LM Grass

Scarify to remove the dead mat. This can be done with a rotary lawnmower set low.

Rake with a metal rake or hand broom to remove any long shoots and mow again.

By removing the dead mat you will find that the lawn is generally healthier and easier to mow through the coming summer.

Aerate with a garden fork, especially in compacted high-traffic areas.

Top dress with Lawn Dressing and rake level.

This will help the condition of the soil under the lawn and help with moisture retention in early summer. One bag of Lawn Dressing will cover around four square meters.

If you have uneven lawn or holes you are trying to get filled, first use topsoil or river sand to get the level right and then dress with lawn dressing over it.

If you are raising lawn over four or five centimetres be aware that the lawn underneath might not come through and will have to re-grow from the sides.

 Feeding

Well-irrigated lawns are fertilised with Vitaliser 7:1:3 Lawn and Leaf fertiliser, repeated every six to eight weeks.

Alternatively feed with Organic BioGanic Lawns every four to six weeks.

Organic fertiliser is slow release and can be used safely with any irrigation methods.

Lawns that are watered less regularly can be watered with the slow release fertiliser 3:2:1 SR until the rainy season starts. Then we recommend changing to a quick-release fertiliser Vitaliser 7:1:3 Lawn and Leaf.

Fertiliser quick guide

If you are a new gardener or an experienced hand there is always something to learn or find useful with the Eckards fertiliser quick guide.

If you are still using the same fertilisers you were using 10 years ago then this is a must-read.

Technology and information changes the way we garden and armed with this new information you will be well on your way to improved performance of your whole garden.

Organic fertilisers bind with the soil and by nature are slow release.

Binding with the soil, they do not leach out, finding their way into underground water and rivers. Feeding with an organic fertiliser is an on-going process and regular applications give the best results.

Organic fertilisers are all ideal as general fertiliser.

Plants grow with stronger structure when fed organically instead of being forced with a chemical fertiliser which results in plants that are hardier to the elements such as cold or water extremes.

Modern chemical fertilisers are kinder to the environment and better suited to our soils than their traditional counterparts.

Chemical fertilisers give quick results but at a price.

The leaves are forced, so one finds that they are not as strong, making the plant more susceptible to insects and disease.

It is important to always use fertilisers sparingly and according to directions to avoid fertiliser burn, whether you are using a slow-release, quick-release or organic fertiliser.

Healthy plants consist of roots, leaves and flowers.

With this quick guide we have listed the most common fertilisers needed to grow the best and most healthy garden.

General Garden Fertiliser

Sometimes you need to feed the whole garden in one go and not focus on specific plants.

We recommend using the following two fertilisers for all-purpose feeding.

Being organic, these fertilisers are safe for the environment and can be used safely throughout the garden.

•  BioGanic All Purpose: Bounce Back has been rebranded in SA to BioGanic. A 100% organic and environmentally friendly fertiliser. Safely used throughout the garden. Apply across the bed or as a boost per shrub. Reapply every four to six weeks. For veggies or herbs the higher nitrogen levels promote good growth and as an organic using BioGanic will lead to better-tasting edibles.
•  BioOcean: An organic fertiliser containing seaweed which helps plants absorb the nutrients and will also help with moisture retention in the soil. BioOcean can be safely used throughout the garden to improve general growth, flowering and plant strength. Apply across the beds or use as a boost per shrub, even suitable for containers. Reapply every four to six weeks. BioOcean is the replacement for Seamungus in SA.

Lush Leaves

Nothing looks better than bright-green healthy leaves and the only way to ensure that is to feed with a fertiliser that is higher in nitrogen.

Healthy leaves are what we need to improve the air quality we breathe every day as plant leaves absorb the carbon out of the air and provide fresh oxygen for us.

It is leaves and plenty of them that we need to offset our carbon footprint.

•  Vitaliser Lawn and Leaf: A 7:1:3 fertiliser with bio-carbon to boost leaf growth. Perfect for getting shrubs that have lost their lustre healthy again and the best lawn fertiliser for use on lawns that are well irrigated. As a quick release it has faster results but should be applied every six to eight weeks to keep lawns looking great. The bio-carbon helps the plant absorb the nutrients easier. One of the most economical fertilisers with 10kg feeding around 200m2.
•  Wonder 3:2:1 SR: A sustained or slow-release fertiliser to boost root and general growth on lawns and shrubs. As a slow-release fertiliser it will not damage your lawn if you water less frequently. Do not use on lawns that are well irrigated as it leaches out before all the nutrients are available. Apply every six to eight weeks for best results.
•  BioGanic for Lawns: New this season is BioGanic for lawns which is the crumble form of the old Neutrog which is easy to apply and as an organic fertiliser that will not leach out when watered regularly. This fertiliser will boost growth on application and feed over a longer period as a slow- release fertiliser. Safely used on lawns with irrigation or that are watered less frequently. Apply every six to eight weeks for best results. 5kg feeds 100m2.

Flower power

Everybody loves flowers. The potassium-rich fertilisers stimulate flowering and will also maintain a prolonged flowering season.

•  BioOcean: Being 100% organic, this fertiliser is safe for the environment and is easy to use, ideal for roses and all flowering shrubs. Reapply BioOcean every four to six weeks. Regular use ensures strong roses which are less susceptible to disease and insect attack. Safely used throughout the garden even in containers.
•  Ludwig’s Vigorosa: A premium brand of fertiliser for roses and flowering shrubs. This quick release fertiliser contains additional elements to give the best results and is endorsed by Ludwig Taschner, South Africa’s rose guru. Reapply every six to eight weeks. Use sparingly and water well as the additional elements can easily burn your plants.
•  Multifeed Flowergro and Classic: Suitable for all plants and especially recommended for bedding plants. A water-soluble fertiliser, Multifeed is ideal for use in containers and for foliar feeding throughout the garden. Apply every two to three weeks throughout the year. This is the fertiliser we use in the garden centre to keep our container plants looking fabulous.
•  Wonder 3:1:5 SR: A slow-release fertiliser to boost flower growth. An alternative fertiliser for fruit trees as well as roses and any flowering shrub. As a slow release it is ideal for gardens that do not get watered regularly. It needs to be applied every six to eight weeks. Apply a closed handful per plant and reapply every four weeks.

Strong Roots

Always plant using a fertiliser that will give you strong development of roots in the early life of your plants. Roots are the foundation that carry the rest of the plant for its lifetime, so even though you don’t see them you see the results of strong roots.

•  Bone Meal: Bone meal is an organic phosphate that won’t get into underground water, staying close to the roots of newly planted plants. Use about one handful per shrub into the hole as you plant. Roots grow slower but stronger with Bone Meal but be careful as dogs often dig looking for the bones you buried! If you have dogs rather use an alternative fertiliser for planting.