\u2022 Prepare your winter and spring\u00a0flower garden. Think pansies, violas,\u00a0primulas, poppies and spring\u00a0bulbs such as daffodils, freesia and\u00a0ranunculus.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Make a splash by sowing\u00a0Namaqualand daisies or scatter\u00a0packs of indigenous mixes or winter flowering\u00a0annuals.<\/p>
\u2022 Water deeply once a week.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Fertilise the lawn, perennials and\u00a0shrubs for the last time before winter.<\/p>
\u2022 Use a granular fertiliser such as\u00a0Vigorosa 5:1:5 that includes trace\u00a0elements. Water well afterwards.<\/p>\n
\u2022 This is the last month to fertilise the\u00a0roses with Vigorosa. Morning dew\u00a0can bring on black spot. Prevent it\u00a0by spraying with Chronos or Garden\u00a0Protector.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Protect conifers from conifer aphid\u00a0that becomes active in April. Spray\u00a0monthly with Ludwig\u2019s InsectSpray\u00a0or Pyrol. Put the spray nozzle against\u00a0the stem or branches and allow the
\nspray mixture to run down the stem\u00a0and branches. This will kill the aphids\u00a0but not the ladybirds.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Broad beans, beetroot, broccoli,\u00a0cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce,\u00a0peas, spinach and Swiss chard can all\u00a0be sown.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Use fallen leaves as mulch around\u00a0shrubs where they will eventually\u00a0decompose and enrich the soil. It\u00a0is only necessary to remove leaves\u00a0from lawns, paths, steps and around
\nseedlings, and they can be added to\u00a0the compost heap.<\/p>\n