Your April KZN gardening guide

As Autumn begins, your garden is undergoing a transition towards the cooler weather that approaches. If you nurture your garden properly, it will ensure that your garden is tidy and resilient throughout winter. Here are some essential gardening tasks to do this month!

1. Mulching for moisture retention
As temperatures cool down, it’s time to prepare your garden beds for the winter ahead. Apply a layer of organic mulch like straw, shredded leaves, or compost around your plants to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.

2. Composting fallen leaves
Utilise the abundance of fallen leaves by incorporating them into your compost pile. This enriches your compost with valuable organic matter, contributing to healthier soil structure and fertility.

3. Dividing and transplanting perennials
April is an excellent month to divide and transplant perennial plants. This helps rejuvenate crowded plants, encourages better growth, and allows you to propagate new additions for your garden.

4. Planting cool-season flowers
Enhance the visual appeal of your garden by introducing cool-season flowers. Consider planting winter-flowering annuals like pansies, violas, and calendulas. These resilient beauties add vibrant splashes of colour to your landscape.

5. Preparing for winter vegetables
April marks the beginning of preparations for winter vegetable planting. Start sowing seeds or transplanting seedlings of cold-tolerant crops like broccoli, cauliflower, and winter lettuces. Ensure they have sufficient time to establish before colder temperatures set in.

6. Weeding and pest control
With the garden winding down from the summer frenzy, take the time to weed and inspect plants for pests. Implement natural pest control methods, such as introducing beneficial insects or using neem oil, to keep your garden thriving without harmful chemicals.

7. Pruning and trimming
Prune back summer-flowering shrubs and trees that have finished blooming. This promotes healthy growth and prepares the garden for the dormant winter months.

8. Mowing routine
Adjust your mower height to leave the grass slightly longer than usual. This helps in retaining moisture, providing shade to the soil, and encourages deeper root growth. Aim to mow regularly to maintain an even height and prevent shock to the grass blades.

9. Patch repair
April is an excellent time to fill in bare spots and rejuvenate thinning areas with grass trays. You can get yours here.

10. Fertilizing for winter resilience
Apply a chicken-litter fertilizer to fortify your lawn against winter stresses.

11. Aeration for improved drainage
Consider aerating your lawn with a garden fork or consider hiring a soil aerator to alleviate soil compaction and improve water and nutrient penetration. This ensures that the grassroots can access essential elements for robust growth.

12. Watering adjustments
As the temperatures decrease, adjust your watering schedule accordingly. Aim for deeper, less frequent watering to encourage the development of a resilient root system. Be mindful of the natural rainfall patterns and supplement accordingly.

13. Garden edging
Define the borders of your lawn by giving it a clean edge. Neat edges not only enhance the overall appearance of your lawn but also prevent grass from encroaching into flower beds or walkways.

Need grass, grass trays, compost or topsoil? Get in touch with us on (031) 785 1388 or on office@evangrass.co.za.