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Turn your garden into a true ‘rainbow nation’ this Spring

Spring is an exciting time and Floradale Nurseries has everything you need to get the most out of your garden.  Here are our top 3 things to do in your garden this Spring: 

Awesome annuals: An annual is a plant that completes its life cycle, from germination to the production of seeds, within one growing season, and then dies. 

Annuals are a great way to take gardening one year at a time and experiment with new plants and color schemes without making a long-term commitment.

Trays of dazzling snapdragon seedlings, both the tall and dwarf varieties, are available in seedling trays. Also remember that you can still plant pansies and violas, (which will flower till late summer) if set out in cooler areas of the garden with morning sun and afternoon shade.  Other Spring favourites include dianthus and petunias, lobelias, begonias, gazanias, and marigolds.

Petunias, whether purchased in trays, hanging baskets or small pots, are always a winner at this time of year. They’re not fussy and simply require a sunny spot with regular removal of the spent flowers. Feed them regularly with a liquid plant food and they will  provide splashes of colour to your garden for months. 

Perfect perennials: Simply put, a perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. 

Plant all your lavenders in Spring and use different varieties together for a breath-taking wave of purple-pink.

Consider planting miniature spring daisies like Argyranthemum frutescens ‘Madeira’, or a Brachyscome ‘Pacific’. These versatile varieties can be used as a groundcover, a gap filler in the garden, or to flower gloriously in hanging baskets or patio containers. Also, don’t forget about our indigenous Cape daises, the Osteospermum, as there are many beautiful ranges that have been bred from our indigenous Cape daisy, with new arrivals every year. They’re great for rock gardens and containers, or wherever bright splashes of colour are needed. 

Chase away the last of the winter blues with indigenous Nemesia hybrids. Most are compact and sweetly scented and will flower repeatedly after a light trim.  Carnations, such as the voluptuous Dianthus caryophyllus ‘Sunflor’ will also bring a wealth of pinks to your garden. 

Lastly, South Africans are blessed with many different types of vygies and succulent groundcovers that burst with a dazzling display of color in spring. Pelargoniums are at their best at this time of the year, and there are lots of species and hybrids to choose from. They are great in the garden and lovely for pots, especially hanging baskets, and can supply colour all summer long.

Pro Tips:  

Plants in containers: Rejuvenate your containers that house feature plants (and which don’t need repotting yet) by removing the top layer of old potting soil and replacing it with a mix of fresh potting soil and compost. Feed them with a slow-release general fertiliser, water well afterwards and add a layer of mulch. 

Pruning jobs: Prune poinsettias, plumbagoes, tecomas, hypericums, heliotropes, solanums, canary creepers, golden showers and buddlejas. This pruning encourages strong, lush spring growth. Don’t forget to mulch after pruning with a thick layer of compost.

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