Window Onto Nature's September Issue Welcoming Rainfall - To Swing Into Spring

Once again we are blessed with bounteous Spring Rainfall! Time to forget the daily dismal news, discard negative thoughts and give attention to the Home and Garden. First a "walkabout" to List Key Concerns and formulate an Action Program. During Winter the unwanted weeds and Aliens may have arrived, the boundaries being a good host. The Triffid Weed - Chromolaena odorata is a high seeding menace, also the thorny Lantana with pink or yellow flowers and berries for birds. Thirdly, the Castor Oil bush with toothed leaves and heads with burrs. In borders clean out Bides Pilosa, or "Black-Jacks" with barbed seeds which spread abundantly. Always be sure to remove these plants to the roots to prevent re-growth.

After clearing the Aliens, and removal of other "Tired" plants or sections there will be spaces or surface gaps which will offer a new planting opportunity. At this point attention to Soil Quality Improvement should be addressed. Professional Soil Fertility tests at Cedara College Laboratory has indicated that our tired coastal soils require TLC. Results from degraded soils indicate the need for 20 tons per hectare of good quality organic compost, together with dolomitic lime, plus additives to restore the natural balance.

For hedgerow replacement the Cape Honeysuckle, (Tecoma capensis) with nectar laden, bright orange flower clusters, and burnished colours will attract the Sun-birds, or the scrambling Plumbago with terminal blue flowering bunches for our buttertlies. For security select Carissa macrocarpa or Martigulu, with evergreen thorny branches, white star flowers, and edible fruits.

Starting with the Front Gate, this should offer a "Welcoming appearance" on arrival. Feature clumps of our Crane Flower (Strelitzia reginae), with striking orange and blue heads. Dune Aloes a Coastal species with succulent leaves, and architectural form. The low-growing Vygie, Delosperma linaere, with daisy flowers in pastel shades offers a pleasing ground cover. The Driveway, with perhaps a line of trees for shade may need slight pruning of the lower branches to permit safe vehicle entry. Carefully cut­back offending limbs and always seal the cut surface with tree sealant. This essential step to reduce termite damage and borer invasion, particularly the new curse, the "Shot-hole" Borer Beetle from the east.

A Durban Guideline Brochure published in 2000 encouraged minimal use of "Exotic" species which are often not compatible with our Coastal climatic conditions. Along the Coastal Zone incorporate the Gazania species, Barleria in blue or bold shades and inter-plant with succulents, such as Aptenia, Crassula and succulent species. Formal borders with seasonal flowering ambience may include Ribbon bush, (Hypoestes aristata), Wild dagga (Leonotis family), Wild Iris (Dietes Family) and Shell Bush, (Orthiosiphon labiatus). For low Maintenance utilize the wide range of succulent species suitable for borders, also plant containers and troughs. Within the Eco Estates, it is important to always include a selection of "Best Buck Plants" to ensure sustainability of the resident fauna.