For those of us who enjoy spending time gardening, August can be an exciting month. Winter is beginning to loosen its grip, the days are getting longer, and there are already signs that spring is on its way.
But August is not necessarily the month to rush out and plant everything in sight.
According to Chrisné Myburg of Mustardtree Landscapes in Pretoria, it is better viewed as a preparation month, particularly in Gauteng.
“August is really about getting the garden ready for spring rather than simply planting because the calendar says spring is around the corner,” she says.
That means preparing soil, repairing irrigation, dealing with weeds, pruning where necessary, dividing established perennials and deciding what you want the garden to look like over the coming months.
“Spring officially starts on 1 September, but gardens don't work according to the calendar, so you need to look at your particular climate and microclimate.”
A sheltered Pretoria garden can be very different from an exposed garden at a higher altitude, while coastal KwaZulu-Natal may already be enjoying conditions that are still weeks away in the Highveld.
Start with the soil
If there is one important job before the spring planting begins, it is improving the soil.
“Healthy soil is the foundation of a healthy garden,” says Myburg. “You can buy the most beautiful plants, but if you put them into poor soil, they are never going to perform at their best.”
Good soil needs to hold moisture without becoming waterlogged, allow air to reach the roots and provide plants with the nutrients they need.
A simple way to assess your soil is to look at how it behaves. Hard, compacted soil that is difficult to penetrate with a spade may need improving. Very sandy soil can lose water and nutrients quickly, while heavy clay can become sticky when wet and rock-hard when dry.
Poor plant growth, pale foliage and standing water after rain can also point to problems.
For most gardens, well-matured compost is one of the best places to start.
“Compost improves the structure of the soil and helps it retain moisture and nutrients. But compost and fertiliser aren't the same thing. Compost improves the soil, while fertiliser provides specific nutrients,” Myburg says.
She advises against simply adding large quantities of fertiliser to a struggling garden. If there is a serious soil or drainage problem, more fertiliser is unlikely to solve it.
Where necessary, a soil test can provide a much clearer picture of pH and nutrient levels.
Don’t be too quick with pruning
August can also be a tempting time to tidy up plants that have suffered during winter; however, Myburg advises gardeners to be cautious about pruning frost-damaged growth too early.
“Sometimes the damaged foliage is actually protecting the living parts of the plant underneath,” she says.
“If you prune too early and we get another cold spell, you can encourage soft new growth that is much more vulnerable.”
Rather than trying to make everything look neat immediately, wait until the danger of frost has passed before doing major pruning on frost-sensitive plants.
Think about water
Check sprinklers, pipes, timers and drip systems now, before the garden's water requirements increase dramatically.
August is often windy and dry in Gauteng, which means moisture can be lost quickly from exposed soil. Once beds have been prepared, adding a layer of organic mulch can help reduce evaporation and moderate soil temperatures.
Compost, shredded leaves and suitable bark can all be used as mulch. Keep it slightly away from the stems of plants to prevent rot.
What can you plant
The answer depends largely on where you live.
In Gauteng, frost remains the biggest consideration. Hardy plants such as agapanthus, Dietes, Tulbaghia, gazanias, pelargoniums and salvias are good choices for sunny positions.
For seasonal colour, pansies, violas, dianthus, alyssum, calendula, snapdragons and osteospermum can provide colour while the garden is still transitioning from winter.
August is also the time to start thinking about summer. Cosmos, marigolds, cleomes and phlox can be started in seed trays and protected until the danger of frost has passed.
Towards the end of the month, gardeners can also prepare for summer-flowering bulbs such as dahlias, gladioli and cannas.
“My advice is always to choose plants for the conditions you actually have. Don't choose something simply because you've seen it looking beautiful in somebody else's garden,” she says.
Look beyond flowers
August is also a good time to establish the permanent structure of a garden by planting trees and shrubs.
In Gauteng, options include indigenous species such as Greyia sutherlandii, Schotia brachypetala and Halleria lucida, as well as suitable Searsia and Dombeya species.
Buddlejas, plumbago, tecomaria, carissa and indigenous grasses can also add structure and provide value for birds and pollinating insects.
Newly planted trees may need staking, particularly during Gauteng's notoriously strong August winds.
Different regions, different rules
The same gardening calendar can’t be applied across South Africa.
In warmer, frost-free parts of KwaZulu-Natal, August is already a useful planting month. Vegetables such as beans, cucumbers, baby marrows, squash and Swiss chard can be started, while ornamental plants including cannas, salvias, begonias, coleus and impatiens can be considered according to the local conditions.
Coastal gardens have a much longer frost-free growing season than the Highveld, while gardens in the Midlands need to remain more cautious.
The Western Cape follows a different rhythm again because of its winter-rainfall climate. August can still feel like winter, but it is an excellent time for many indigenous plants and flowers, including pincushions, Geraldton wax, felicia, osteospermums and various fynbos species.
Keep it simple if you’re starting out
For anyone new to gardening, Myburg recommends resisting the temptation to buy one of everything.
“Start small and choose plants that are suited to your garden. A few healthy plants in good soil will always be better than a huge collection of plants struggling in poor conditions.”
Planting groups of the same plant rather than individual specimens can also make a garden look more considered.
For a beginner in Gauteng, agapanthus, Dietes, gazanias, Tulbaghia, pelargoniums, salvias and rosemary are good starting points for sunny areas. Clivias and plectranthus can work well in partial shade, while carissa and suitable indigenous shrubs can provide low-maintenance structure.
And don't forget that overwatering can be just as damaging as underwatering.
Prepare now, plant with purpose
Perhaps the best way to approach August is to ask “Is my garden ready for spring?”
Improve the soil, fix the irrigation, deal with weeds, check trees and stakes, mulch the beds and plan what you want to plant.
Most importantly, don't confuse August with spring itself.
“Plant for your climate, not for the calendar,” Myburg stresses.
By the time September arrives and temperatures begin to rise, the garden that was carefully prepared in August will be ready to respond.
willem.vdputte@nationalmg.co.za