December in the Garden 

The pace speeds up as we wind down towards summer holidays and the festive season. Most of you might be going away, while some will opt to stay and work or just enjoy their homes and gardens with family and friends. Either way, there are tasks aplenty to ensure a stunning garden in December.

Top December Gardening Tips to prepare your Summer Garden

• Be sure to weed regularly before weeds go to seed. A thick layer of mulch will help to suppress weeds.
• Spread a layer of compost throughout your garden to condition your soil and create a mulch. This will help keep the plants’ roots cool and retain moisture – especially useful for when you are going away and won’t be able to water regularly.
• Continue dead heading rose bushes and fertilise them with 3:1:5 or a balanced rose fertiliser of your choice. Depending on rainfall, water your roses deeply 3 times per week (±15L per week). Spray fortnightly against fungal infestations and aphids and check for redspidermite.

• Set your lawnmower on a higher setting. Keeping the grass blades slightly longer will protect the roots against heat and dry winds. Feed with a fertiliser high in nitrogen or a specially balanced lawn fertiliser of your choice and water very well before and after. Continue watering the lawn twice a week, unless it rains.
• Birdbaths will need to be cleaned and topped up more regularly during the hot months to provide a drink and a quick dip for our feathered friends.
• It’s Christmas and with it comes the Christmas beetle or chafer beetle – the hard-bodied, sneaky little reason behind the lacy appearance of your rose and other leaves. Because they are nocturnal, chafer beetles are hard to control manually. During the daytime they burrow into the soil around the plants, so a good control measure would be to spray the soil with an organic insecticide.

Looking for expert advise? Visit our Plant Doctor department in-store, ask for assistance at our inside information desk or get in touch at info@lifestyle.co.za

Summer Watering Tips: Keep your Garden Thriving in the Heat

Days are piping hot and rain is not always a sure thing. If you’re going away ensure that someone waters your garden and pots or that the timer on your irrigation system is set and in good working order. Group potted plants together in a semi-shaded spot or on the east side of the house to make watering easier.

As it heats up it is important to water your plants in pots and containers more regularly. Mix a water retention product of your choice into the potting soil of containers and hanging baskets to improve water retention.

Pay special attention to areas of the garden that receive less rain, e.g. under eaves and against high walls.

If the down pipes from your gutter run into a bed, ensure the drainage in the bed is sufficient.

Consider installing a drip irrigation system to more efficiently water your garden. Ensure your irrigation system is summer-ready – find the right tools and products at Mica Lifestyle.

Now is also the perfect time to take advantage of summer rainfall and invest in a rainwater tank to harvest our precious rainwater to be used throughout your home and garden, and to help save on your water bill!

Try to water early in the morning during the hot summer months to prevent fungal infestations in the garden and rather water deeply less often.

Remember to familiarise yourself with and adhere to the water restrictions relevant to your area.

Best Plants for a Summer Show

Play with summer annual colours

• Pinch out dead flowers from annuals and fertilise with an organic 3:1:5 or a liquid fertiliser.
• Fill gaps in beds and hanging baskets with annuals and water very well.
• Annuals in colour bags are the perfect way to quickly spruce up your beds in time for Christmas entertainment.
• In shady areas and on patios add a dash of colour with Impatiens, New Guinea Impatiens, Coleus, Begonias and Hypoestes.
• The choice for sunny areas is more varied – choose your favourite from Dianthus, Lobelias, Petunias, Salvias, Celosias, Marigolds, Gazanias, Zinnias, Alyssum and many more.

Plant bougainvillea to add beautiful masses of summer colour to your garden –available in various sizes and colours, they can withstand intense heat and will survive infrequent watering. Other popular choices for colour all summer long are Hemerocallis, Mandevilla, Agapanthus and Hibiscus.

Plant Hydrangeas now – they are a hot summer fave! Pick their billowy blooms to fill vases for your entertainment area.

Plant ground covers to act as mulch during the hot season – ground covers assist in holding moisture and decreasing evaporation which in turn helps to retain the nutrients in the soil.

Freshly grown produce for Festive Feasts

• Plant loose-leafed lettuces at weekly intervals for summer salads – plant these in the shade of taller plants, like Swiss chard or in beds and pots that only receive morning sun.
• Find all the herbs you need right here at Lifestyle Home Garden for your festive dishes, dips and sauces like mint, basil, rocket and dill to name a few.

• A variety of convenient, ready to use vegetables and herbs, including some scrumptious tomatoes and peppers, in various combinations are available in our herb section.
• Support vine tomatoes against stakes or obelisks and fix with soft plant ties to prevent the stems from breaking. Ensure good air flow between the vines.
• Water veg and herbs early in the morning to prevent blight, powdery mildew and other fungal diseases on leaves. Larger plants can be watered twice a week, while younger plants and those with a shallow root system might need a daily watering.
• Fertilise veg and herbs fortnightly with an organic liquid fertiliser.
• Fertilise all citrus trees with an organic 8:1:5 or 5:1:5 fertiliser along the driplines of the trees and water in well. Top up mulch around the trees, keeping it well away from the stem.  Be careful not to overwater during the rainy season.
• Start harvesting potatoes planted in September. Do a second planting of seed potatoes in late December or early January for harvesting in April.

Get that Christmas Spirit

Buy poinsettias or other flowering indoor plants for decor and table enhancements during the festive season. They will beautify your home and give you loads of pleasure long after the guests have gone.

If you’re opting for a real live Christmas tree, why not try one of our indigenous Yellowwoods?  It will add a ‘feel good’, organic touch to your festivities and a bonus is that you can plant it in your garden or a container to reuse next year. Additionally we have a wide range of artificial Christmas trees in various sizes and colours if you want something that you can re-use each year.

Give a living gift that will last long after the silly season is over… consider pots or baskets planted up with cheerful colour, a trendy indoor plant or orchid in an attractive potholder, a rose bush for someone special, a window box filled with favourite herbs, a bonsai or a berry bush or a range of fashionable succulents. The possibilities are endless when it comes to living gifts!

Compulsory during this time is to put your feet up, have a little siesta in the cool shade of your favourite tree and enjoy time out in the garden. You have earned every moment of it!

A joyous Christmas to all our customers who celebrate from all of us at Lifestyle Home Garden. Thank you for your support, have yourself a merry festive season and happy gardening into the New Year!