Maegan-Leigh JacobsThe warmer days have arrived, and with summer just around the corner, our gardens are bursting with colour, new growth, and endless possibilities.
November is a busy but rewarding month for gardeners across South Africa – whether you’re in the lush Western Cape or the sunny Highveld, there’s plenty to plant, feed and prune to keep your garden looking its best.
Western Cape: A blooming start to summer
The Cape’s gardens are alive with blooms this month, and with the dry season ahead, water-wise gardening is key. Focus on maintaining lush greenery while being mindful of water use.
Read more: Pro’s and cons of a garden sun room
Spotlight: Planting in pots
Container gardening is having a real moment – it’s practical, beautiful, and helps conserve water. Whether you’re brightening up a patio or creating a mini veggie garden, potted plants offer endless possibilities. Remember to use a good quality potting mix, add mulch to lock in moisture, and group pots together to create a little microclimate.
Plant and sow
Add colour and life by planting summer-flowering bulbs like amaryllis, dahlias, gladioli, and Zantedeschia (arums). For heat-hardy blooms that last, try red salvias and vincas.
If you’re sowing seeds, look to Namaqualand daisies, Shirley poppies, and felicias for a cheerful display.
In the veggie patch, sow beans, beetroot, cabbage, lettuce, pumpkin, corn, and cucumbers — all summer staples. Add herbs like basil, thyme, rosemary, and origanum for easy, aromatic cooking companions.
Feed
Encourage strong growth with an all-purpose or organic fertiliser. A 3:1:5 mix works wonders for flowering plants, keeping blooms bright and healthy.
Prune and trim
After their flush of flowers, fynbos varieties such as buchus, ericas, and proteas will benefit from a light pruning. Trim back confetti bushes, and deadhead roses to encourage a second round of blooms.
Grow your own herbs
A small herb garden is both beautiful and practical. Arrange pots on a sunny windowsill, group them in your courtyard, or mix them in with vegetables to save space (and water!).
Tip: Chives are great pest repellents.
Herb of the month: Lemon Thyme
This citrus-scented herb is as pretty as it is practical. Use it to add zest to chicken dishes, or plant it between pavers for a fragrant walkway. Its delicate flowers attract bees, helping pollinate the rest of your garden.
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Gauteng: Summer prep and holiday readiness
As the festive season nears, now’s the time to prepare your garden for the holidays — whether you’re staying home or heading to the coast. Weed, feed, and mulch thoroughly so your garden can handle a little neglect if you’re away.
Spotlight: Hydrangeas in full bloom
Hydrangeas (or “Christmas roses”) love November’s warmth. If yours are slow to flower, give them an acidic foliar feed and mulch with bark chips. Their blooms respond to soil pH — more acid gives bluer flowers, while alkaline soil produces pink. For potted hydrangeas, keep the soil moist, feed every two weeks, and keep them in bright, indirect light.
Plant and sow
Fill your garden with summer bulbs like begonias, liatris, nerines, and crocosmias. Add ornamental grasses for texture and movement.
In the veggie patch, plant spinach, beans, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, radishes, pumpkins, and sweetcorn. Herbs such as parsley, sage, dill, mint, and coriander are easy to grow and thrive in warm conditions.
Feed
Use a 3:1:5 fertiliser for fruiting and flowering plants, a 5:1:5 for lawns, and an organic fertiliser like Seagro for herbs and veggies.
Prune and trim
Deadhead roses to keep them blooming, mow lawns regularly, and give them a good feed. A layer of compost will act as both mulch and slow-release fertiliser – it’s one of the easiest ways to keep your garden hydrated and happy.
November is all about growth, colour, and preparation. With a little care – and some smart watering habits – your garden will reward you with long, vibrant days of summer beauty. So grab your hat, your gloves, and a watering can, and enjoy the rhythm of a garden coming into full swing.
ALSO SEE: LAST MINUTE SUMMER GARDEN CHECKLIST
