What to do in your garden in November.

November is a really busy time for gardeners – everything in the garden and nature is flowering and growing and all your plants, trees, hanging baskets, pots and shrubs demanding your attention. With summer temperatures hotting up it is important  to conserve water in any small way you can. Keep up with the flowering and growing demand with consistent and regular fertilising programmes.

Flowers

• Pinch back Asters, Fuchsias and Chrysanthemums to encourage bushy growth and more flowers.
• Prune Azaleas neatly after they have finished flowering, then feed, mulch and water regularly.
• Spray Roses with RoseCare 3 to control black spot, mildew and aphids.
• Deadhead Roses and feed regularly with Wonder Vitaliser Rose and Flower 8:1:5 (17) SR fertiliser.
• Keep deadheading perennials to encourage a second flush of flowers.
• Stake Dahlias properly and remove the first flower buds to encourage more side growth.

Lawns

• Raise the mower setting to cut the lawn higher so it can withstand hot, dry weather at the height of summer.
• Fertilise your lawn every four to six weeks with Wonder Vitaliser Lawn & Leaf 7:1:3 (21), Talborne’s Vita Green 5:1:5 (16) or Atlantic’s Bio Ganic for Lawns.
• Water very well and often after feeding to prevent chemical burn.

Vegetables, Herbs & Fruit

• Plant and grow flavoursome ‘braai’ herbs like Marjoram, Thyme, Sage, Rosemary and Chives.
• Grow a variety of salad leaves that can be harvested throughout the summer.
• Strawberry runners can be pegged down into soil or pots.
• Pick Raspberries regularly.
• Feed all vegetable and herbs with an organic fertiliser Talborne’s Vita Veg 6:3:4 (16).

General Tasks

• Keep on top of the weeding. Luckily weeds don’t grow as quickly in mid-summer.
• Stake young plants and standard roses well to prevent summer storm damage.
• Don’t forget to water your trees and shrubs, as they need adequate moisture to weather the heat. This is especially important for any new trees and shrubs you have just planted this season.
• Water hanging baskets and containers at least once a day and feed once a week.