Consider the garden as an inviting blank canvas, welcoming you to paint with a rainbow of winter blooms in June. For cool-season muse, we gathered a few vibrant flowers to plant-paint with, as well as some artsy edibles to inspire wholesome soups. Learn how to defend your plants against black frost.
Chilled thrills in the Western Cape
- Have faith in fynbos and checkout new protea hybrids. Leucospermums (pincushions) and leucadendrons are stunning choices you can go ‘bos’ with in the garden. Remember, proteas grow in pots too.
- A strong windy storm is always around the corner, so make sure all ties and stakes supporting young trees and roses are secure.
- Avoid flooding at home by clearing drains and gutters of old plant material.
Begin winter pruning on vines, peach, plum and apricot trees. Visit your local plant nursery for products to spray on dormant trees after pruning.
Sow flowers from Wonderland
- Pansies and violas: These annuals are perfect to plant as borders and edgings, in window boxes and containers. Position them where they receive full sun in winter but partial shade in spring and early summer, to give them a longer lifespan. They like fertile, composted soil with good drainage and regular watering.
- Snapdragons: These short-lived, yet beautiful perennials are ideal in mixed border gardens, flower boxes and as potted patio décor. Bright snapdragon flowers will bloom profusely all winter long in full sun to partial shade. Begin germinating seeds indoors and when they’re ready, pop them into nutrient-rich soil that drains well.
Blooming muses to plant: Primula, primrose, calendula, stocks, gazania, poppy, bellis, alyssum, conifers, hellebores, narcissi, Camellia, Erica, pincushion, and ornamental grasses.
Triumphant cold troupers to plant: Abelias, Elaeagnus pungens ‘Variegata’, Pittosporum tobira, P. tenuifolium, rosemary, confetti bushes, Melaleuca bracteata ‘Johannesburg Gold’ and holly.
Artsy-potsy plant pick: Lewisia is one tough plant and will handle pretty much everything winter has to throw at it. Lewisia likes sun or partial shade, good drainage, but not the richest of soil. Water it moderately and deadhead spent blooms. This plant reward you with gorgeous rosettes, slender stalks and pastel-pink flowers for patio pots and just about everywhere else.
Pruning particulars
- If you live in a frost-free area you can begin pruning roses in June.
- Very chilly and frost-prone areas should wait until the second week of July.
- Everyone can prune and cut back deciduous trees, conifers, vines, peach, plum and apricot trees now.
Black frost ‘se voet’
- What is it? Black frost happens when humidity is too low for frost to form, but the temperature drops so low that plant tissues freeze and die, becoming blackened.
- Where it affects: The leaves of plants are the most affected. Avoid pruning the burnt leaves as they will continue to protect the plant in case of another freeze invasion.
- How to protect: You can protect plants even more by using raised beds, mulching up (a lot), covering growing trees at night and changing to mid-morning watering to allow all water to evaporate before evening temperatures drop.
- What to do: Once a plant has succumbed to the black frost horseman, do not prune or feed it, simply send it love – this too shall pass. Once the temperature increases, some plants will shed dead leaves on their own, while others that have died back will begin to regrow.
Inspirational edibles to plant: Rocket, cabbage (red and baby), horseradish, asparagus, global artichokes and rhubarb, lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, beetroot, turnips, brussel sprouts, oriental vegetables, celery, parsley, peas, spinach and leeks.
Homegrown’s to harvest: Citrus and avocados, leeks, brussel sprouts (from the bottom upwards), carrots, parsnips and cabbages.
Mulch-up your canvas: Mulch the entire garden with lovely autumn leaves to protect plants from the cold and assist in water retention in dry areas. Cape gardeners, get on top of those rain-loving winter weeds with maximum mulch power.
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