WINTER GARDEN

IS THIS FOR REAL?

10 tips for caring for your WINTER GARDEN

NEED SOME ADVICE ON WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR GARDEN DURING DURBAN’S CHILLIER MONTHS? WHO BETTER TO ASK THAN LANDSCAPE GARDENER JULIE SCRAGG, WRITES LEE CURRIE

“Winter in Durban is a particularly good time of the year for gardening, says Julie Scragg, owner of Hingham Nursery in Durban

North. “The sun is less harsh and plants less likely to bolt (grow too quickly). Over the years aloes and succulents have become extremely popular as they are not only water wise, but they also flower in winter and present a glorious display of colour. However, keeping our gardens looking good this time of year is not without its problems.”  Water sustenance. Bear in mind that winter is our dry season and because it is cool plants do not show stress quickly as they do in the hotter months. By the end of winter the water table can be very low and plants may be battling to source water. The occasional deep watering during the winter months will save the lawn and the garden from that all-toocommon “near-death experience” at the end of winter.  Sun and shade. The cool weather and low angle of the sun also creates excess shade in parts of the garden, for example the south side of the house that may never dry out if normal summer watering continues. Adjust your sprinklers accordingly. In some cases that zone should be turned off for winter, with only the occasional top up.  Growth slows down completely at this time of the year and one must be patient, allowing plants to sleep – ready for a burst of growth in spring.  Avoid smothering lawn with lawn dressing, especially in the shade.  Watch for weeds. It certainly helps to get your lawn strong and thick before winter to avoid becoming infested with weeds. If you feed and water regularly in summer you will have fewer problems. Having said that, keep some weed killer handy so that you can spot spray as soon as you see a patch developing. Avoid spraying more than necessary as it may damage your lawn.  Take time in winter to “lift” trees – prune the lower branches off to allow the sun to reach below. You can also shorten the higher side branches. Even shadeloving plants benefit from more light. The more you can get on to your lawn the less problems you will have.  Don’t be afraid of mulching with your autumn leaves. This reduces weeds in the beds and maintains moisture in the soil while raking damages plants.  Beware the winter fungus. When the conditions are just right you will notice all the aloes around suddenly getting ugly patches on the leaves. If you are determined to miss it this year, then you would need to spray preventatively, »

ideally on a weekly basis with a general fungicide like Supremo. It will also help the aloes if you don’t allow them to become bone dry in winter. While they can cope, it does make them susceptible to disease.  In our hot rainy months, plants tend to “bolt” (grow quickly) tall rather than bushy. This makes winter a fantastic time to grow flowers and veggies. Plants stay short and compact which amounts to more flowers on a plant and plants like lettuce will not go to seed too quickly.  For spectacular colour, take the opportunity to plant primulas, cinerarias, pansies, violas, poppies, petunias (great in Durban in winter), dianthus, lobelia, snapdragons and the like. And don’t forget sweetpeas, they are such a treat at the end of winter when you can cut them for the vase. Feed to get the most benefit. Soluble fertiliser like Multifeed is good but pellets such as Bio Ocean are really good and easy to apply. *

Julie’s list of winter flowering favourites:

Aloe vanbalenii Aloe thraskii

Aloe chabaudii Aloe ferox All the aloe hybrids that have been developed

The Crassula family – ovata, multicava, sarmentosa X

Leonotis leonurus Pincushions

Kleinia fulgens Strelitzia Foxgloves Geraniums Gazania Pointsettias

EXTRAORDINARY LIVING FOR THE BEST YEARS OF YOUR LIFE

Auria Senior Living’s latest development, Coral Cove, is a 21-hectare continuing-care retirement community, situated on the magnificent KZN North Coast within the safety, security and serenity of Zululami Luxury Coastal Estate. With sweeping ocean views, private beach access and Auria’s hallmark hospitality, care and support, Coral Cove is the first of its kind in KZN and a new gold standard for senior living.

2 & 3 BEDROOM GARDEN VILLAS FROM R3,6 m 1 & 2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS FROM R1,69 m

SALES ENQUIRIES: 087 537 0539 | coralcove@auria.co.za | www.auria.co.za

INTERNATIONALLY AWARDED

going SOLAR

NEEDING SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS FOR YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS? LET THULA MOYA SOLAR AND ELECTRICAL PARTNER WITH YOU FOR A BRIGHTER, MORE EFFICIENT FUTURE

As a leading solar power company in KZN, Thula Moya Solar and Electrical supplies turnkey solar energy installations and electrical contracting services, and delivers integrated sustainable energy production solutions to meet the needs of their clients – private and commercial users as well as the public sector.

Client relationships are important to Thula Moya Solar and Electrical, and right from the beginning of your journey with them – from the first introduction meeting to the final sign-off and through annual services – you are assured of excellent service and a solid partnership. A partnership they will honour along with their warranties on their products, which can last at least 10 years.

All Thula Moya systems come with an online client and a service portal, which allows both ourselves and the client the ability to track power consumption and production in real-time. This in turn allows us to constantly make data-driven decisions on the upgrades and optimisation of your solar system, and more importantly, also allows us to programme functions and push software updates remotely – without the client lifting a finger.

Why Thula Moya?

Our team consists of qualified and registered electricians. Our professional team of solar installers also train with industry bodies PQRS and Green Solar Academy. They are accredited Sunsynk Inverter and Revov Battery installers.

Thula Moya aim to secure the power supply chain at all times, in the most reliable way, making it simple and effortless for clients. We strive to deliver outstanding service, innovative products and customisable, robust and reliable solutions that meet the demands of today’s energy provision and to prepare for tomorrow’s challenges.

Thula Moya Solar and Electrical is uniquely positioned to benefit long term from an emerging demand for intelligent internal energy supply due to an aging utility grid, and the increasing demand for a reliable energy source. Our assurance is that you will instantly decrease your electricity bill, make substantial savings, and enjoy the benefits of clean, noise free energy while reducing the carbon footprint.

ABOVE: The Thula Moya team. From left: Xolani, Andile, Dylan, Darren, Ayanda and Devin.

3 STEPS TO GETTING STARTED

The relationship with Thula Moya Solar and Electrical starts with a phone call to discuss and determine your solar needs. We then provide an estimate cost. If the price falls within your budget, a technician meets with you at your home/business for a

formal site inspection. This allows us to determine the position of the installation and the cable routing. In some cases, we will install a power meter in order to determine what size system you would require. Once you give the go-ahead for the project, construction usually takes place within two to three weeks and is customised to your requirements. Our inverter products carry a fiveyear warranty, the batteries 10 years and the solar panels 12 years.