What to do in your garden during December
In dry continental and highveld summer-rainfall regions do the following the garden.
Plant and Sow
Annuals
Sow all summer-flowering annuals like:
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Salvia officinalis (Sage)
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Tagetes erecta (Marigold, african marigold)
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Centaurea cyanus (Cornflower)
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Amaranthus tricolor (Joseph’s coat)
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Begonia Species (Begonia)
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Impatiens (Balsam, Busy lizzie, Water Fuchsia)
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Hemerocallis species (Daylily)
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Canna Species (Indian shot)
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Leucanthemum Daisy Mae (Shasta daisies)
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Delphinium x elatum (Delphinium)
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Pycnostachys urticifolia (Blue boys, Hedgehog sage)
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Stachys byzantina (S. lanata) (Lamb’s ears, Stachys)
Vegetables
Sow vegetables like:
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Petroselinum species (Parsley)
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Phaseolus coccineus (Runner bean)
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Phaseolus vulgaris (Beans (dwarf/green), French beans)
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Lactuca sativa (Lettuce)
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Brassica oleracea var. capitata (Cabbages)
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Beta vulgaris var. esculenta (Beetroot)
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Ipomoea batatas (Sweet potatoes)
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Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera (Brussels sprouts)
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Brassica oleracea var. italica (Broccoli)
General garden maintenance
- Spray apples, pears and quinces against codling moth, and peaches against fruit fly.
- Water citrus trees well every three weeks and spray against citrus psylla; water other fruit trees thoroughly every second week.
- Deadhead daisy bushes regularly to prolong their flowering period; remember to disbud dahlias at regular intervals.
- Keep the soil well mulched.
- Consider installing a rainwater tank.
- grown plants do best if watered with rainwater.
- Stake dahlias and water and fertilize them regularly.
- Mulch roses well.
- Cut back chrysanthemums.
- Deadhead roses regularly.
- Sow lawn seed.