Gardening rules for South African winters

With winter pushing strongly in the country, gardeners are expected to stay idle indoors, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Winter shouldn’t mean you should hang up your gardening tools. Most of South Africa is still fortunate to have clear and sunny days during the coldest season of the year, making winter gardening perfectly possible.

Although South Africa has relatively temperate winters, climate conditions do vary between regions. The winters are quite pleasant along the north-east coast of the KwaZulu-Natal province, and they can be especially intense inland in areas such as the Drakensberg and Great Karoo. So, when gardening, take these into account before choosing which plants to grow in your winter garden.

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So, what should you know about gardening in winter?

Generally, most plants should receive six hours of sun per day, so be sure to place your plants in a suitable spot where they can get as much sun as possible during the day.

In winter, gardens don’t need as much water as their summer counterparts; most lawns can be watered once every two to three weeks.
Most low water-use plants should only be watered once every two months, while moderate water-use plants need only be watered once a month.
The harsh winter conditions will take their toll on your garden’s soil. Spreading mulch in your garden will help protect the soil from damage caused by wind, cold or frost.
Mulches also protect the ground from soil erosion and compaction from heavy rains in the Western provinces.
Winter-flowering plants should be planted in early autumn to bloom in time for winter.

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What plants are perfect for the South African Winters?

Aloes – These bold beauties flower in winter and bring colour and structure to your garden while feeding the birds.
Fynbos– Indigenous and water-wise, these plants love the wet and will thrive with little fuss.
Herbs (ie, parsley or thyme) – These love cool weather and will reward you with fresh flavours in the kitchen.
Pansies – For a pop of colour and a daily dose of cheer in these depressing winter days. Their vibrant colours and intricate patterns are like nature’s artwork that brightening even the greyest winters day.