Gauteng guides Archives - Stodels

October Planting Guide: Veg to Start Now

DMN Creative — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 10:46:24 +0000

Spring is officially in full swing, and there’s no better time to start or add to your vegetable garden than in the season of growth, sunshine and possibility.

So, what October vegetables should go into the ground right now? Read this spring planting guide to find out, and grow your own vegetables to enjoy a lovely variety of home-grown produce for delicious spring and summer dishes.

Kitchen garden veg to start in spring

Whether you’re new to vegetable gardening, or are looking for fresh ideas to experiment with seasonal veg you haven’t grown before, spring is the ideal time to add to your kitchen garden.

Use our guide to starting a vegetable garden if you need tips to get it right, and remember that you always have our expert in-store staff to lean on if you have any questions or need to find out how to meet your vegetable garden’s needs for a bountiful harvest.

Leafy greens to plant in October

Now is a good time to sow the seeds of those leafy greens that will add crunch (and iron!) to your spring salads.

We’re talking staples like lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard and celery. These October vegetables grow quickly, and are great options for vegetable garden novices.

Use these guides below to learn the ins and outs of growing some of these popular leafy greens:

These are easy to grow both from seed or seedlings. At your local Stodels garden centre, you can browse seedlings for spinach, lettuce and a range of other leafy greens, as well as seeds for a host of vegetables and herbs to brighten and add dimension to your sunny season meals.

Root vegetables that thrive in spring

We know spring as the season when our gardens and patios burst into a riot of colour, with flowers opening and showing off their beautiful blooms. But not all ‘fruits’ of your gardening efforts bear themselves so obviously, especially when it comes to root vegetables.

During October, growing root vegetables like radishes, carrots and beetroot from seed will reward you with all that home-grown plant-to-plate goodness within four to eight weeks, depending on the vegetable – perfectly in time for those colourful summer salads you’ve been planning.

Use these guides to learn more about growing these vegetables just right:

Herbs that thrive in spring

Basil, chives and parsley will thrive if planted this month.

For basil, choose an area of your garden that receives morning sun and where the soil drains well. Water plants regularly, about twice a week, and allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.

For chives, you’ll grow them at their best in a sunny spot with regular watering. Feed them with liquid fertiliser every 6 weeks and they’ll really flourish.

Giving parsley a go? This herb takes a long time to grow from seed, so it’s best to buy seedlings and plant these directly into your garden. Enrich the soil with compost to ensure that it is rich and drains well. Pots should be filled with good-quality potting soil.

Want more tips on herbs to plant right now for a flourish of aromas and flavours come summer? Read this guide.

Companion planting ideas for October

Give your vegetables the right neighbours, and they’ll thrive and reward you with delicious produce throughout the season.

Tomatoes are one of the easiest and most versatile vegetable plants to grow during spring. Grow yours alongside parsley, and you’ll have the makings of a tasty Italian pasta sauce.
Marigolds are an all-rounder. Plant yours close to tomatoes, brinjal and sweet chillies to help keep soil diseases in check and repel pesky bugs.
Growing celery? Keep it around when planting your winter vegetables like leeks, cauliflower or beans. This soup and salad superhero will help the other vegetables to grow better.

Seeds, seedlings and support

Growing your own spring vegetables is an exciting and fun project, and is made that much easier when you have the right plants, the right tools, and expert advice.

You can access all three in one spot at your local Stodels garden centre. Here’s to an October of memories and rewards in your vegetable garden.

The post October Planting Guide: Veg to Start Now appeared first on Stodels.

January

DMN Creative — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 06:55:34 +0000

JANUARY GARDENING IN GAUTENG

Bask in the glory of your garden in high summer with our Gauteng gardening guide for January. This month we have some seasonal gardening tips and water-saving suggestions to help your garden flourish.

Spotlight on: Watering responsibly

Since Gauteng is typically dry during the high summer season, it’s crucial that you adopt some water-saving techniques. These are our water-wise tips:

Only water your garden between 6pm and 6am to prevent any water wastage.
Ensure you keep most of the watering to the root zone of plants, or install a drip irrigation system to feed water directly where it’s needed.
Collect and harvest rainwater. Water tanks, inflatable pools and rain chains are all great tools for doing this.
Replace lawn with pebbles, gravel or low water-usage groundcovers.
Gradually replace thirsty plants with water-wise varieties, such as dianthus, vinca, petunia and gazania.

ON YOUR TO-DO LIST FOR JANUARY

Plant & Sow

Fill empty pockets with colour by planting marigolds and vinca (both heat-loving, water-wise plants).
Plant shade plants such as begonia, impatiens, lobelia and coleus varieties.
Summer is a good time to refresh the vegetable garden. Plant new crops of radishes, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and sweet basil, coriander and other herbs. (Pro tip: Remember to rotate your crops, as this improves soil fertility.)
Cape gooseberry can be sown in trays this month.

Feed

Feed roses with Atlantic Fertilisers Flower & Fruit to encourage new summer growth.
Add compost to roses to improve the condition of the soil and retain water and food.
Water full-sun pot plants daily and feed weekly with Multifeed Classic.
Shaded and semi-shaded pot plants should be watered every 2–3 days, and fed weekly with Multifeed Classic. (Note: Water requirements may differ depending on the temperature of the area.)

Prune & Trim

Lightly trim fuchsias, roses and hibiscus plants to ensure renewed growth for the next half of summer.
Once salvias have finished flowering, cut them back to encourage new growth in autumn.
Add compost to roses after a light pruning to encourage new flowers. Snap off any suckers (light green, thornless shoots) growing from the base of the bushes.
If your lawn is old, feels sponge-like and is difficult to mow without ‘scalping’, cut it as low as possible by crosscutting and lowering the blade after each cut. This will get rid of the layer of dead thatch hiding between the soil surface and the green top.

OTHER FRESH IDEAS

Become a Stodels Garden Club member

Is gardening more one of your New Year’s resolutions? Then sign up to be a Garden Club member. Members benefit from points on each purchase, exclusive savings on plants and garden accessories, café specials, a free gift every month with a purchase, and a birthday voucher in the month of your birthday.

The post January appeared first on Stodels.

February

DMN Creative — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 06:50:26 +0000

FEBRUARY GARDENING IN GAUTENG

February in Gauteng is a hot month! Read our guide to what you need to know to make sure your late-summer garden flourishes.

Spotlight on: Succulents

Succulents are the perfect plants for both novice gardeners and gardening aficionados. They require very little water, which makes them a great choice for both indoor and outdoor spaces, especially during times of restricted water usage.
While there are many different types of succulent plants, some species are easier to care for and more versatile than others. Our favourite easy-maintenance varieties include the echeveria, jade plant (Crassula ovata), pig’s ears (Cotyledon orbiculata), aloe and sedum (or stonecrop).

ON YOUR TO-DO LIST FOR FEBRUARY

Plant & Sow

Plant fresh crops of carrots, parsley, rocket, beans, cabbage, leeks, Swiss chard and turnips to harvest in late summer.

Feed

Feed your herbs and vegetables with Atlantic Fertilisers Bio Ganic All Purpose to maintain strong, healthy crops.
Continue feeding roses monthly until April.
Use a chemical fertiliser such as Wonder Lawn & Leaf 7:1:3 or the organic Atlantic Fertilisers Bio Ganic Lawns if watering your lawn three or more times a week.
Wonder All Purpose 3:2:1, a chemical fertiliser, and Atlantic Fertilisers Bio Ganic Lawns can be used if you water your lawn less than three times a week. Pro tip: Mow your lawn regularly (at least fortnightly), cutting at medium-to-high height to help the lawn cope with soaring late-summer temperatures.
Treat yellowing leaves on azaleas and camellias with iron chelate and feed each bush with a tablespoon of magnesium sulphate. Keep well mulched.

Pests
You may spot some unwelcome pests this month. Here’s how to deal with them:

Mole crickets: Apply Makhro Lawn Protector or Wonder 4:1:1 Fertiliser + Insecticide
Ants: Use Protek Nip-It Ant Control Granules
Termites: Protect your lawn with Protek Termite Stop for termites’ nests
Snails: Use organic snail bait such as Biogrow Ferramol
Red spider: Treat with Kirchhoff’s Margaret Roberts Organic Insecticide
Spray roses with Efekto Rosecare to protect it from diseases and pests

OTHER FRESH IDEAS

Give a growing gift
Skip the classic bouquet of roses this Valentine’s Day and go the extra mile by giving a personalised gift – it will live much longer than flowers! Browse our online shop for some beautiful plants and pots, delivered for free straight to your door, or go in-store to browse our wide variety of plants and accessories to make your love’s heart flutter.

The post February appeared first on Stodels.

March

DMN Creative — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 06:45:22 +0000

MARCH GARDENING IN GAUTENG

March is a prime month for sowing autumn and winter crops and setting yourself up for an abundance of tasty winter veggies. This month, we also celebrate National Water Week – the perfect time to start implementing some water-saving gardening habits.

Read our guidelines for what to sow, water-saving tips, and advice on protecting your plants and trees from pests and keeping your garden in shape come winter.

Spotlight on: Plectranthus
The plectranthus species is known for its aromatic foliage and its mass of mauve, purple or lilac flowers from February to November, bringing beautiful colour to a winter garden. They require very minimal attention and, once established, are hardy during periods of drought. To grow these perennials, follow our guidelines:

Plectranthus thrives in cool areas, so choose a site that’s shaded by overhanging trees.
It grows well in well-composted soil and requires water only every few days.
After flowering, feed every two weeks with an all-purpose, water-soluble fertiliser that is low in phosphorus.

ON YOUR TO-DO LIST FOR MARCH
Sow

Sow sweet peas, hollyhocks, primulas, poppies, pansies, Namaqualand daisies and snapdragons.
Begin your winter veggie garden by sowing leafy greens such as kale, lettuce, spinach and cool-season herbs such as chives, rocket and calendula.
Grow easy root crops like carrots, broad beans, beetroot and radishes.
Try your hand at brassicas by sowing broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and kale.
The time for spring bulb planting has started, as the soil has cooled down sufficiently by this time. This month, plant anemones, ranunculus, freesias, tritonias, Ixias, sparaxis and Babianas. Read our simple guide to planting bulbs for spring.

Feed

Feed your lawn with Atlantic Bio Lawn to keep it green and lush going into winter.
Replace lost nutrients with organic Atlantic Fertilisers Bio Ganic Lawn (also a water-wise option).
Feed your garden with organic-based Atlantic Fertilisers Fruit & Flower or Atlantic Fertilisers Bio Ocean.

Pests
Certain pests, such as red scale and whitefly, are more active during the cooler months of the year. Protect your plants with these solutions:

Use Protek Complete 350 SC for sucking and biting insects such as red scale and whitefly.
Check for scale along the stems and on the leaves of citrus trees, and treat using Efekto Oleum or Efekto Malasol.
Dust bulbs with Ludwig’s Organic Insecticide Spray to protect them from worms.

OTHER FRESH IDEAS
Clean up your garden for winter

Lightly trim plants that may be out of shape or overgrown. This will give them time to harden up before the cooler weather arrives.
Compost areas cordoned off for new planting and where soil needs added nutrients.
Mulch around azaleas, hydrangeas and camellias with an acidic compost to keep the roots cool and moist. This will also help to fight back weed growth. Note that pink hydrangeas require normal compost.

Implement water-saving gardening habits
To celebrate National Water Week, start using these savvy water-saving practices:

Design a water-wise garden. With the right garden design and hardy, drought-resistant plant varieties, your water needs in the garden will decrease drastically. If you’re not sure where to start, book an on-site consultation with one of our garden experts.
Water during cooler times. Watering during early morning will minimise evaporation and allow your plants to absorb the water before the sun dries them out.
Use more containers in the garden. Pot plants have a smaller surface area for water loss and evaporation, making container gardening one of the best ways to save water in the garden. It’s especially effective when you use water-retention granules.
Build a rainwater harvesting system. If you have space, install a rainwater tank. Depending on the requirements and installation, initial setup can be costly but will pay off in the long run. Other water-saving methods include using household containers, rain chains, rain barrels and ponds. Top tip: rainwater is better than tap water for gardening because it contains no chemicals.

The post March appeared first on Stodels.

April

DMN Creative — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 06:40:44 +0000

APRIL GARDENING IN GAUTENG

Prep for a flourish of colour in autumn by planting winter- and spring-flowering bulbs. Pruning hedges, deadheading roses and recycling garden waste is also at the top of the gardening agenda. Read our guide for what to tick off your task list this month.

Spotlight on: Indigenous spring-flowering bulbs

Plant a quilt of colours this season by opting for indigenous bulbs such as chincherinchee, Lachenalia, Ixias, watsonias, tritonia and sparaxis. Follow our comprehensive spring-flowering bulb guide, or use these tips:

Plant in a sunny spot to ensure your bulbs receive sufficient sunlight.
Soil should be well-drained and kept moist at root level.
Plant all bulbs, except anemones, with the pointed side facing up. Bulbs with claws, like ranunculus, are planted with the claws facing downwards.
Feed with bulb food every two weeks for maximum flowering.

ON YOUR TO-DO LIST FOR APRIL

Plant & Sow

Plant easy-to-grow beauties such as calendulas, primulas, Iceland poppies, pansies and violas, and Namaqualand daisies.
Sow sweet peas and vegetables such as broad beans, peas, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, onionsand turnips.
Harvest root vegetables such as potatoes, beetroot and carrots. Dry them out over a few days and then store them.
Now’s the time to prepare your bed for sowing sweet peas so you can look forward to filling your home with these fragrant blooms come spring. Read our guide to growing your own sweet peas and keep your eyes open for the seeds, which should be coming into Stodels Garden Centre soon.

Feed

Use magnesium sulphate to support the health of lemon trees.
Feed aloes and succulents with Atlantic Fertilisers Bio Ocean.
Feed your lawn with a fertiliser rich in potassium, such as Atlantic Bio Lawn, to build hardiness ahead of the cooler season.
Apply acid compost and feed Colourburst to acid-loving plants such as camellia, azalea and gardenia.

Neaten up

Prune hedges into shape.
Deadhead roses to encourage more flowering into the cooler season.
Spike lawn areas where the soil is compacting to allow time to recover before the cold season begins.

Pests

Check for psylla on citrus trees and treat with Biogrow Neem Oil.
Spray scales on roses, aloe and citrus trees with Efekto Malasol.
Use organic Biogrow Ferramol for snails in vegetable gardens and on plants such as arum lilies and agapanthus.

OTHER FRESH IDEAS

Plant shrubs and trees

Now is the best time to add shrubs and trees to your garden landscape. Trees that work well in small gardens include the false olive and lavender trees.
Try your hand at indigenous, bird-attracting shrubs such as Cape honeysuckle, cross-berry and lion’s ear.

Recycle garden waste

Start a compost bin by mixing garden waste with fruit and vegetable peelings, weeds, grass cuttings, leaves and prune cuttings.
Use a chipper or shredder machine to process woody stems and branches from shrubbery leaves.
A Bokashi Digester is a great alternative for recycling kitchen waste in small, indoor spaces.
If you are still unable to compost the waste at home, take it to your local garden waste recycling collection point.

The post April appeared first on Stodels.

May

DMN Creative — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 06:35:50 +0000

MAY GARDENING IN GAUTENG

As the cold, crisp weather sets in, now is the time to prepare your garden for the winter months ahead. Follow our guide on which bulbs and vegetables are suitable for May, and what plant varieties to plant now for a vibrant spring garden.

Spotlight on: Maintaining a healthy winter lawn

Water your lawn twice a week to keep it healthy and maintain its green colour. Water after sunrise to avoid frost.
Buffalo lawn becomes dormant as winter arrives, so you can mow it less frequently. Kikuyu lawn should be mowed every two weeks.
Use a fertiliser high in phosphate, such as 3:2:1 or 3:1:5, to encourage root development.

ON YOUR TO-DO LIST FOR MAY

Plant & sow

Attract birds by planting Strelitzia reginae, salvia, succulents such as echeveria and Crassulavarieties, grass varieties such as carex, pincushions, ericas and aloe varieties.
Plant Iceland poppies, foxglove, dianthus, delphiniums, primulas, violas, pansies, tulips and cyclamens.

Tip: Plant tulips 10–15cm apart and 8cm deep.

Plant bulbs such as daffodils, hyacinth and snowdrops.
Plant your own spinach, peas, broad beans, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage varieties, kale and lettuce seedlings.
Plant self-sufficient perennials such as agapanthus and yellow wild iris.
Sow rows of carrot, leek and beetroot seeds.

Prune

Keep conifers in shape by pruning gently.
To regulate fruit production and encourage rejuvenation of evergreen fruit trees, prune their branches and young tips.

Tip: Invest in a pair of elbow-length gloves if you’ll be pruning thorny and spiky shrubs.

Neaten up

Tidy flowerbeds and perennials such as cannas.
Stake trees and shrubs in wind-prone areas.
Clean up under hedges and loosen the soil to get rid of pests that may be sheltering underneath.

Feed

Feed existing plants with a high-nitrogen fertiliser like Atlantic All-Purpose Fertiliser.
Feed your lawn before rainfall with a handful of 3:2:1 or 3:1:5 per square metre.
Water and feed indoor plants such as cinerarias, cyclamen and daffodils every two weeks with a liquid fertiliser like Multifeed Classic.

OTHER FRESH IDEAS

Prepare your garden for winter frosts

First frosts are usually expected around the third week of May. Protect your plants by covering them with a frost guard, protect roots with a thick mulch and move pots into a sheltered spot.

Buy a gardening gift for Mother’s Day

Spoil your mom this Mother’s Day with a thoughtful green gift to let her know how much she means to you. Here are a few gardening gift ideas:

A trendy terrarium for her living room
The popular Scindapsus aureus for her bookshelf
If you’re struggling to decide on the perfect gift, indulge her with a Stodels Gift Card and let her choose her favourite.

The post May appeared first on Stodels.

June

DMN Creative — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 06:30:03 +0000

JUNE GARDENING IN GAUTENG

Downtime may seem like a good idea, but creating an abundant winter garden is even more rewarding. Planting an indigenous garden, attracting birds and other wildlife, and neatening up your garden should be at the top of your list this month.

Spotlight on: Creating an indigenous garden

Low-maintenance and water-wise, aloes and other indigenous shrubs and trees come to life this season with spectacular flowers and dramatic foliage. This is why you should invest in an indigenous garden:

Because indigenous plants are grown in their preferred conditions, they are generally hardy and practical plants that require little maintenance.
Although not all indigenous plants are water-wise, many of them are. As gardeners, we need to be more aware of environmental responsibilities and recognise the value of water conservation.
Indigenous trees and shrubs are known to attract birds to your garden that help to manage insect infestations naturally. Ensure you have a bird feeder and water station to encourage visits from feathery friends.

ON YOUR TO-DO LIST FOR JUNE

Plant & Sow

Add colour to your garden with winter-flowering plants such as pansies, stocks, dianthus, petunia and daffodils.
Plant lobelia, primula and foxgloves in shady areas of your garden.
Now’s the time to harvest winter veggies such as leeks, carrots, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, cabbage and peas. Tip: When harvesting Brussels sprouts, remove the lower sprouts first while you wait for the top sprouts to mature.
Once you’ve harvested, refresh your garden by planting cabbage, cauliflower, leeks, onions, celery and globe artichokes in your vegetable garden.
Plant fruit trees such as flowering peaches, plums and crab apples. They will settle their roots in the ground ahead of the spring growing season.
Add fynbos to your indigenous garden. Popular varieties include Leucospermum (pincushion), ericas and Leucadendrons.
Plant camellia varieties, cymbidium orchids and gardenia in semi-shaded areas.

Prune & Trim

Prune vines, plum, peach, apple, pear and apricot trees at the end of June and spray with Efekto Oleum. Use only on plants that have become completely dormant.
Remove old flower stalks and stringy stems from focal plants such as flax (phormium), cordylines, penstemons and aloes.

Neaten up

Clean and repair garden tools, especially pruning tools such as secateurs, hedging shears, clippers, saws and mowing blades.
Neaten up pathways and paving.
Refurbish old pots and water features.
Fix wooden garden furniture such as benches, bridges and trellises.
Check staking of plants and ensure their ties are not too tight.
Mulch garden beds with compost or mulch.

Feed

Feed citrus trees with Atlantic Fertilisers Fruit & Flower.
Feed garden beds with Atlantic Fertilisers Bio Ocean.
Evergreen lawns require a 5:1:5 feeding of Kirchhoffs Ludwig’s Vigorosa.

Pests

Treat cypress aphids on conifer varieties every four weeks with Efekto insecticide granules.
Look out for mealy bugs in sheltered areas of the garden and treat with Efekto Malasol insecticide.
Keep an eye out for Australian bugs in sheltered areas of the garden and treat with Efekto Malasol.
Treat aphids with Kirchhoffs Ludwig’s Insect Spray+ Organic Insecticide.

OTHER FRESH IDEAS

Plant hanging baskets

Add colour to your patio or balcony by planting a hanging basket with mixed winter annuals such as pansies, violas, petunia and dianthus. These are our top tips:

Add water-retention granules to your potting soil or break up floral foam and mix with your potting medium to prevent your hanging basket from drying out too fast.
Since hanging baskets are watered regularly, they lose nutrients in the soil faster than usual. Add a slow-release fertiliser such as Atlantic All-Purpose to the soil when you plant, and feed plants with a liquid fertiliser such as Multifeed Flower Grow once a week.

The post June appeared first on Stodels.

July

DMN Creative — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 06:25:06 +0000

JULY GARDENING IN GAUTENG

It may be the heart of winter, but that shouldn’t keep you out of the garden. July is a busy month of pruning roses, cutting back trees and sowing late plantings of your favourite winter veggies. Find more planting tips, as well as ideas to attract feathery friends to your winter garden in this July gardening guide.

Spotlight on: Attracting wildlife to your garden

The benefits of birds are twofold: they manage pests naturally and their melodic chirps are soothing sounds in a garden. There’s a short supply of food during the winter months, so make an extra effort this season to attract birds and other wildlife with these tips:

Plant an indigenous aloe – its nectar attracts birds and insects beneficial to your garden.

Grow vygies and rock roses as a source of food and water. Vygies also attract various insects with their small pollen deposits. Rock roses attract insects when their flowers are in bloom, which is beneficial to both your garden and birds.

Encourage butterflies and bees to the garden with a selection of flowering fynbos plants such as pincushion, buchu, wax flower and erica varieties.

Buy a bird feeder and a birdbath, and place them in a sheltered place in the garden to welcome feathered friends.

Make a DIY bird snack by stringing pieces of dried fruit on a long piece of twine with a large needle, knotting the twine at intervals to keep the dried fruit in place – it’s incredibly simple and the birds will love it.

Here’s a DIY bird feeder even the kids can help make: mix peanut butter and bird seed and spoon into the small cracks of a pinecone. Tie the pine cone with string and hang in a tree.

ON YOUR TO-DO LIST FOR JULY

Plant & Sow

Ferns are not only trendy but have great air-purifying benefits too. Plant some easy-to-grow species, such as the dainty maidenhair, striking yellow sword fern, tough holly fern and evergreen leatherleaf fern varieties, in your garden or in pots.

Plant colourful flowers in the garden, such as pansies, violas, snapdragons, calendula, primulasand gazanias.

There’s still time to sow late plantings of green peas, lettuce, spinach, cabbage and carrots. Avoid planting oriental vegetables, as they tend to bolt as the days get progressively longer leading up to spring.

Prune & Trim

July is a great time to remove any deadwood, leaves and diseased branches.

Pinch off faded flowers from winter-flowering annuals such as pansies, violas and poppies.

When pruning hydrangeas, remove all damaged, diseased or dead growth. Cut back the stems above thick, round, green buds.

Pruning roses encourages bigger, better blooms. Mid-July to mid-August is a good time to prune hybrid roses, tea roses and miniature roses. Water once a week now to allow them to rest. Seal cuts thicker than a pencil with Efekto Steriseal and spray with Efekto Oleum.

Cut back trees that are getting too big.

Feed

Feed winter-flowering annuals with foliar fertiliser, like Dr Fisher’s Multifeed Flowergro, every two weeks.

Feed cymbidium orchids every two weeks with Pokon Orchid Plant Food.

Citrus trees need to be fed with Wonder Fruit & Flower 3:1:5 slow-release fertiliser, then watered well. Dig fertiliser into the soil for best effect. Add mulch with acid compost to improve the soil’s pH levels.

Feed cool-season lawns like All Seasons Evergreen with 3:1:5 or Kirchhoffs Ludwig’s Vigorosa 5:1:5 fertiliser to give them a boost, particularly during extreme weather conditions.

Pests

Treat aphids on vegetable plants such as cabbage and cauliflower with Kirchhoffs Ludwig’s Insect Spray+.

Treat aphids on shrubs, roses and succulents with Efekto Malasol. Use the same pesticide to get rid of scale and mites on aloes.

Use Ludwig’s Copper Count N (an organic insecticide) to treat black spots on aloes.

Use either Efekto Malasol or Efekto Oleum to get rid of scale on citrus trees.

Expert Tips

To encourage continued flowering throughout winter and into spring, plant stocks and Iceland poppies.

To keep your vegetable garden healthy and strong, continue to water deeply once a week.

OTHER FRESH IDEAS

Take the garden indoors
As winter settles in, don’t give up gardening completely. Invest in some lush, air-purifying plants to fill your indoor space and keep your green fingers busy. We have a wonderful range on our online shop – you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your warm bed as they are delivered (for free!) to your home.

The post July appeared first on Stodels.

August

DMN Creative — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 06:20:54 +0000

AUGUST GARDENING IN GAUTENG

We might not be done with winter quite yet, but signs of spring abound. Now is the month to plan your spring garden, prepare your tools for some hard work and get ready for a busy season ahead.

Spotlight on: Reviving your winter lawn

August is the month for lawn care, so revive yours with a spring treatment:

Mow lawn short and low.
Rake your lawn, removing any thatch and winter debris.
Spike for aeration.
Feed lawn with a foliage fertiliser, such as slow-releasing Wonder 3:2:1, sustained-release Wonder 7:1:3 or organic, water-wise varieties such as Atlantic Fertilisers Bio Lawn.
Top-dress with a lawn dressing, and use a layer of topsoil to even out the lawn and fill in any holes.
In the case of All Seasons Evergreen lawn, a lawn dressing is not recommended. Rather trim lawn as normal and feed with Atlantic Fertilisers Bio Lawn.

ON YOUR TO-DO LIST FOR AUGUST

Plant & Sow

Sow the seeds for edible varieties such as nasturtiums, flat-leaf parsley, spinach, Swiss chard, lettuce, rocket, carrots, beetroot, radishes, beans, sweet peppers, tomatoes and celery.
Plant spring-flowering seedlings such as primulas, calendulas, poppies, snapdragons and stocks.
Cold-loving alyssum will flourish in spring, so sow these seeds in any bare spots in the garden now.
Lavender of all types should be planted now for vivid pink-purple colour in summer.

Feed

Fertilise clematis and fuchsias once every two weeks with Seagro Organic Plant Food, Nitrosol or Multifeed. Pinch out the growing tips to encourage bushier growth and more flowers in summer.
Feed peach, apricot, plum, nectarine, apple and pear trees with 3:1:5 as they come into flower this month. We recommend 100g for younger trees, and 200g for more established trees.
Ensure deep pink- or blue-hued hydrangeas by feeding them with Wonder Shake ‘n Grow Pink Hydrangea Plant Food or Wonder Shake ‘n Grow Blue Hydrangea Plant Food (note that the products are different for different colours) once every two weeks.
Feed winter-flowering bulbs, such as daffodils, with bulb food to supply nutrients for next year’s blooms. Don’t remove the yellowing foliage, as this also helps to feed the bulbs that will create next year’s flower buds.
Azaleas are beginning to bud, so ensure you are feeding them with Wonder Colourburst to ensure a healthy, full blooming season.

Prune & Trim

Make sure you prune your roses before the middle of August, if you haven’t already done so.
Prune cassias, euryops daisies, lion’s ears, plumbagos and poinsettias (if not in flower), mulching afterwards with a thick layer of compost.

The post August appeared first on Stodels.

September

DMN Creative — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 06:15:22 +0000

A SEPTEMBER GUIDE TO GARDENING IN GAUTENG

Now that spring is upon us, it’s time to coax your garden back to life with colour and variety. Lawn care is also top of the agenda. Follow our spring-ready gardening guide to find out how to get straight back into gardening.

SPOTLIGHT ON: ARBOUR WEEK

South Africans celebrate Arbour Week in the first month of September – a perfect opportunity to come together as a community and help green our neighbourhoods. Every year we run a ‘buy one, get one free tree’ promotion throughout the week.

ON YOUR TO-DO LIST FOR SEPTEMBER

PLANT & SOW

Plant an indigenous tree for Arbour Week, or sponsor a tree to be planted by an organisation such as Greenpop or Food & Trees for Africa. Our favourites include the yellowwood, leopard tree, liquid amber, tree wisteria, fever and riverbush willow trees.
If you want to plant a tree that gifts you with fruit and food every year, now is a good time to plant apricot, fig, nectarine, plum, olive, peach, lemon, mango, curry leaf and moringa.
Plant eggplant, tomatoes, basil, beans, carrots, radishes, pepper, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, beetroot and chillies now for a summer harvest.
Asparagus crowns can be planted this month.
Plant summer-flowering bulbs and rhizomes such as cannas, dahlias, gladiolus, golden arum, nerines, spider lilies, tigridia, liatris and watsonias.
Plant some of spring’s glorious colourful flowers and bring the garden to life. This month is a good time for petunia, impatiens, begonia, gazania, dianthus, delphiniums, alyssum, salvia varieties and marigolds.

FEED

Use Wonder Lawn & Leaf 7:1:3 to get your grass ready for the summer heat, and remember to water three times a week or more. Alternatively, use Atlantic Fertilisers Bio Lawn (an organic fertiliser) and water lawn once or more a week. Urge regrowth in bare patches by spiking and top-dressing with fine compost.
Feed trees with 3:1:5 fertiliser.
Fruit trees could do with some Nitrosol and 3:1:5 fertiliser.
Feed plants with Wonder Fruit & Flower 3:1:5, which has a high potassium content to help harden plants for the summer heat and encourage them to flower. Water once or twice a week after feeding. Atlantic Fertilisers Fruit & Flower is a good organic-based alternative.
Feed your roses with 8:1:5 to have a lush colour in abundance when roses start to flower in October.

PRUNE & TRIM

Frost-damaged bedding begonias don’t need to be replaced – simply cut back to remove the parts that were damaged during winter. With a healthy dose of water-soluble fertiliser, the begonias will be back on their feet in no time.
Prune back overgrown shrubs to create better aeration in the garden and prevent disease and pest infestations.
Prune back spring-flowering shrubs as soon as they are done flowering.
Prune topiaries to maintain their compact shape.
Deadhead pansies and violas to keep them flowering well into November.
The beginning of a growth period is a good time to give your pot plants some more space. Read our step-by-step guide to repotting root-bound plants.
While winter might be past us, remember that we can still receive late frost – so keep your frost guard on until the middle of September.

PESTS

New vegetable gardens will need special attention. To control insects, spray with Kirchhoffs Ludwig’s Insect Spray+ or Margaret Roberts Organic Insecticide. Both are Ecocert-approved for use by organic gardeners.
Roses will need protection against disease and fungus this time of year. To ensure their health, spray roses with a mix of one part Rosecare, one part Trelmix, one part Seagro, one tablespoon of vinegar and one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid.
Once 75% of the blossoms of fruit trees have dropped off, you can start spraying against fruit flies with Efekto Cypermethrin once a month.

OTHER FRESH IDEAS

PLANT SUMMER BULBS

Bulb season is here again! Some summer bulb varieties to keep an eye out for include tigridia, tiger lilies, flame lilies, watsonia and liatris. Here are our top tips for growing summer bulbs:

Each bulb has its own light requirements, so chat to one of our in-store garden experts when purchasing your desired bulb for recommendations.
Note that bulbs do best in well-draining soil. Prepare your beds or containers at least a week before planting by digging in a generous amount of compost, fertiliser and bone meal.
Avoid using fresh manure or planting directly after adding fertiliser, as both may burn the bulbs.

Remember to allow the foliage of winter bulbs, such as daffodils and narcissus, to turn yellow and brown as they die down after flowering. Water and feed as normal during this time. Once the foliage has died down, lift the bulbs out of the soil and trim back roots and loose outer layers. Allow healthy bulbs to dry out in a cool place for 24 hours before storing in labelled paper bags or nets in a cool, dry place – ready to plant next year!

The post September appeared first on Stodels.

October

DMN Creative — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 06:10:53 +0000

OCTOBER GARDENING IN GAUTENG

There’s no better month than October to get stuck into your spring garden and prepare it for the harsh heat of summer. Here are some gardening ideas and tips to use this month.

SPOTLIGHT ON: GROWING WATERWISE ROSES

October may be the month for roses, but roses are incredibly heavy on our most precious natural resource: water. These are our top tips for taking care of them while remaining waterwise:

To prevent moisture from evaporating too fast, fill the soil around the roses with rich mulch.
Use grey water to keep your garden looking lush – just be careful to use grey and not black water.
Remove weeds from your rose garden regularly to prevent them from soaking up water.

ON YOUR TO-DO LIST FOR OCTOBER

Plant & Sow

Plant summer-flowering bulbs such as amaryllis, dahlias, Galtonia, gladioli and tuberoses.
Plant summer-flowering seedlings in sun-exposed areas, such as celosias, gazanias, penstemons, petunias, sweet alyssum and SunPatiens.
Sow the seeds of summer flowers such as candytuft, alyssum, Californian poppy, cornflower, cosmos, dianthus, phlox, verbena, zinnia, marigold, cineraria and lobelia.
Grow summer veggies from seed, such as beetroot, broccoli, carrots, celery, cucumber s, eggplant s, lettuce, parsnips, peppers, pumpkin, radish es, spinach, Swiss chard and tomatoes.
Focus on planting a drought-resistant garden that’s sculptural in form. We’re loving cacti and succulents because of their waterwise properties and low-maintenance upkeep.

Feed

Give indoor and outdoor plants extra sustenance with a liquid fertiliser such as Multifeed or Seagro.
Fuchsias, bulbs and other spring annuals should be fed with a 3:1:5 fertiliser every 2 weeks.
Established lawns could do with 4:1:1 fertiliser. We recommend a handful for every square metre.
Apricots, peaches, plums and quinces would all thrive with a 3:1:5 fertiliser.

Prune & Trim

Tidy up bottlebrush, butterfly bush, confetti bush, conifer s, hibiscus, plumbagos, poinsettia s, potato bush, protea s and tea bush.
Cut back flowering apricots, peaches, plums and quinces to encourage stockier, sturdier growth and enhance light exposure.
Deadhead pansies and violas regularly to keep them flowering for longer.
Remove faded flowers from spring annuals and bulbs.

OTHER FRESH IDEAS Grow your own: Aloe vera

Aloe vera (also known as Aloe barbadensis) is the most commonly used medicinal plant in the world: there are over 250 species of aloe, most of them native to Africa. This short-stemmed succulent grows best in dry conditions, making it the perfect plant to grow in a drought. Aloe plants should be grown in full sun or light shade and should not be overwatered.

Set up a Stodels Online Shop account

As spring kicks in, you may find you have less and less time to head to the nursery. Keep your garden renewal going by browsing your favourite plants, seeds and garden accessories on our online shop. We’re especially loving the 6-packs of flower seedlings and tree saplings to fill out the garden.

The post October appeared first on Stodels.

November

DMN Creative — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 06:05:44 +0000

NOVEMBER GARDENING IN GAUTENG

The holiday season is quickly approaching and whether you’re planning a trip to the coast or staying inland, don’t let your garden suffer while you’re away. Prepare your holiday garden by weeding flowerbeds, using a general fertiliser, watering the garden well and mulching. Staying home for the season? Here are our top gardening tips to help you spruce up your summer garden.

Spotlight on: Acid-loving hydrangeas

November is the best month for hydrangeas, or ‘Christmas roses’, to bloom. If your hydrangeas are not in bloom, use an acidic foliar feed and mulch around the plant with bark chips. Hydrangeas are considered the ‘mood ring’ of the garden, and the colour (or mood) is determined by the soil in which they grow. Read more about the hydrangea colour code to find out how the hydrangea changes colour. If you want to plant some hydrangeas in pots to celebrate our annual Going Potty promotion, follow these top tips:

Potted hydrangeas should be well-watered, as the potting mix in which they’re planted can dry out quickly. To keep them hydrated, place the whole container in water for a few hours. Implement these handy water-saving ideas for pot plants if you live in a water-sparse area.
Place your hydrangeas in bright but not direct light.
Feed every two weeks with a pot-plant mix.
Once the flowers fade, place in a flower-bed or large container in a shady area on your patio.

ON YOUR TO-DO LIST FOR NOVEMBER

Plant & Sow

Plant summer bulbs such as begonias, liatris, Zantadizia, crocosmias, dahlias, nerines, Polianthes, sprekelia and Daubenyas.
Plant landscape grasses that are hardy and low-maintenance, and which add to the texture of your garden.
Sow vegetables such as beans, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cucumber, lettuce, pumpkin, radishes, spinach, sweetcorn and turnips.
Grow a herb garden. Add celery, coriander, dill, lavender, linseed, various mint varieties, origanum, rocket, sage, parsley and thyme to the list.

Feed

Flowering plants should be fed with a flower and fruit fertiliser or a 3:1:5 fertiliser.
Lawns require a 5:1:5 fertiliser.
Fruit and veg require a 3:1:5 fertiliser.
Herbs should be fed with a gentle, organic fertiliser such as Seagro.

Prune & Trim

Deadhead rose bushes and inspect for aphids.
Mow lawns regularly and fertilise and water well.
Use a layer of compost as a slow-release fertiliser and mulch for your garden. This will retain moisture in the soil and allow you to water less frequently.

OTHER FRESH IDEAS

Become a Garden Club member

The upcoming summer is a busy gardening season! Sign up to be a Stodels Garden club member to save on all your purchases, and to get season-appropriate tips and advice from our garden experts delivered to your inbox. These are the benefits members receive:

Exclusive monthly discounts on selected products and plants
A free gift with a purchase once a month
A birthday voucher
5% cashback on selected purchases
Exclusive monthly specials at any Stodels café

The post November appeared first on Stodels.