Preparing For The Holidays

Whether you’re going away over the festive season or staying at home, there are a few garden tasks you can do now so you can relax and enjoy the break.

- Marianne Alexander

IF YOU’RE STAYING AT HOME

- Complete the planting of annuals and bedding plants by the 1st December so they’ll be in flower by Christmas. Focus on areas near your pool, patio and braai area. Select colours that will give a festive look or choose more relaxing cool colours. Portulaca, petunias, dianthus, lobelia, verbenas, marigolds and begonias are good choices. See more on page 102.

- This is also a good time to tackle projects you keep putting off like installing a water feature, repainting fences, laying new paths, or realigning beds and borders. Make sure you have all you need before you start as many businesses close over the festive period. Green up your lawn with a high-nitrogen fertiliser like Granular 4:1:1 or 5:1:5, which give quick results. Water it in. Mow it a few days before visitors are due so it doesn’t have that shaved look; raising the mower blades can also help prevent this.

- After watering, give the garden a fresh look by mulching it with an organic product like bark chips or rough mushroom compost that preserves moisture in the soil and smothers weeds.

- To bring a festive feel to the garden and patio, intoduce fairy lights and lanterns; remember to select those suitable for outdoor use.