FEATURE PLANT

Gazania

These little beauties are superbly bright. Haling from wild flowers in South Africa, gazanias are one of those flowers you can just plant and forget.

Where to plant: Gazanias are drought tolerant and can grow in any soil type including poor, dry and sandy soil. Being drought hardy, these beauties can handle a sunny position. Gazanias grow in clumps around 30-45cm round of shiny green or silvery leaves. Blooms can come in a variety of delightful colours, white, yellow, orange, pink, stripy and two-toned.

Gazania are able to be grown from seeds, planted out as seedlings, grown from cuttings or from dividing older plants. Seeds can be sown directly into the soil where the plants are to grow. It is best to keep them moist until they are about 10cm or so high, before cutting back the water.

Watering: When planting young plants the soil should be consistently moist. As the plant grows they prefer regular small amounts and in some areas can survive on rainfall alone. Being a tough species with the tendency to last in drought conditions as well as poor soil, this shrub is suitable for low maintenance gardens.

Fertilising: When planting out either seedlings or young plants a dose of diluted Katek Neptune Seaweed Concentrate will help with transplant shock and root establishment. A regular regime of Neptune every 6 to 8 weeks can help overall plant health. A balanced fertiliser like Katek’s Super Growth or Blood & Bone Pellets will slowly release the nutrients as they break down into the soil, encouraging blooms and healthy growth.

Pruning: Regular deheading of old blooms will mean continual flowers. You can cut the plant back if it starts to look spindly, usually around mid-summer.

Propagating: To divide your gazania plant, dig up a clump taking care to not damage the roots. Divide the plant into smaller sections and then plant into your prepared bed.

As a favourite with landscapers for their hardiness and bursts of colour, you won’t be dissapointed with gazanias in your garden!

MARCH

Tasks in the Garden

Bulbs: Now is the time to start planting out your bulbs for beautiful blooms come Spring! Some favourites are daffodils, freesias, bluebells & hyacinths.

Mulching: Re-mulch the garden if the mulch has broken down over summer. Mulch is an easy way to keep on top of weeds and keep moisture in the soil, cutting down on watering.

Seaweed for overall plant health: Fruit trees, vegetables, ornamental plants will all benefit from a dose of seaweed concentrate to ensure healthy plant growth and build up resistance to pests and disease.

Deadheading Flowers: Going through the garden and removing spent flowers encourages the growth of new flowers. The bonus is that the plants will look much tidier as well.

Fertilising: March is good timing to fertilise throughout the garden. An organic all purpose fertiliser like Super Growth Pellets is perfect for giving the entire garden a lift.

Repotting: Re-pot plants that have outgrown their pots. A good quality Potting mix can make all the difference when it comes to healthy plants. You can place your plant in a larger pot or remove some of the root ball and re-pot with fresh potting mix.

Herbs & Vegetables

Cool Climate/Temperate Climate Chives, coriander, garlic, lemongrass, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, shallots, tarragon and thyme. broad bean, beetroot, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, Chinese broccoli, Chinese cabbage, English spinach, leek, lettuce, onion, parsnip, potatoes, silver beet, swede and turnip.

Sub-Tropical Climate Chervil, chicory, coriander, fennel, garlic bulbs, lavender, marjoram, oregano, parsley, rocket, sage, sorrel, rosemary, thyme, winter tarragon, yarrow. Plant broad beans, broccoli, lettuce, onion, peas, radish, shallots, spinach, spring onion and turnip.

Tropical Climate Beans, beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, melons, mustard, okra, onion, parsnip, potato, pumpkin, radish, rosella, silver beet, squash, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato and zucchini.basil, coriander, garlic, garlic chives, marjoram, oregano, parsley, thyme and winter tarragon.