The official start of spring may be on September 1, but it appears that many plants have jumped the gun, reports Eric Burgess, whose nursery is in Barham Road, off Essex Terrace in Durban.
“No one has told the plants that spring hasn’t officially sprung, and many have already started to grow and flower,” he declares, pointing to trees in bud, shrubs starting to bloom and pansies, poppies and petunias in full bloom.
“Birds are singing and the rains have arrived. Spring has arrived early, so get into your garden. There is so much happening,” he says.
All plants can already sense that daylight hours are getting longer by minutes each day, says Burgess, who goes on to say that with the warmer weather (some days) and good rains, it is now “all systems go”.
“The cold winter we have just experienced - the coldest in many years - means the difference in temperatures between winter and spring will be more pronounced this season, and your garden will respond positively.”
Burgess advises gardeners to take advantage of growth spurts by fertilising, composting and mulching. He also suggests planting spring-flowering and summer-flowering seedlings now, for a blaze of colour later.
His favourites include alyssum, begonias, marigolds, pansies and petunias, but also consider lobelia (which is indigenous) and torenia (which has tiny “wishbones” in the flowers).
Burgess suggests planting seedlings in beds for masses of colour. Another good idea is to dot them in rockeries, or plant them in window boxes, pots or tubs.
“I am amazed we don’t make more use of hanging baskets to brighten our homes. They take up very little space, so are ideal for smaller gardens,” he adds.
“They are very colourful and rewarding - just look in any overseas gardening magazine. The secret to their success is to feed and water hanging baskets well.”
Azaleas and camellias are also again back in vogue and in full bloom.
“There are many newer varieties that do fantastically well in our climate, and they are very useful in shadier parts of the garden, where they provide splashes of colour. But they do not only grow in shade. They do well in sun, and in pots and tubs.
“They really appreciate a good mulching at this time of year.”
Another good tip Burgess offers for azaleas and camellias is to prune them, if necessary, soon after flowering, to shape them.
“Feed them just after flowering, but do not feed them after January as you might encourage leaves at the expense of flowers next season.”
Lawns are also starting to grow now, as are weeds. The trouble is that weeds grow quicker than grass at this time of year, especially if the grass was not growing strongly before winter.
Burgess points out that there are some “clever” weedkiller sprays available that will not harm your grass but will kill the growing weeds.
“Short grass is for golfers and bowlers - homeowners want a strong, lush, green lawn that stifles weeds and needs less mowing. Of course, regular feeding also helps.
“There are modern, slow-release fertilisers available, which do not ‘burn’ and do not need watering in. Ask your nurseryman for advice.”
Burgess advises that you don’t mow grass too short. He suggests you set your mower as high as possible.
In general, he concludes, it is worth remembering it is the leaves on plants that are the food factory… “the more green, the more food, the better the growth, the stronger the plant”.
Burgess adds: “There is a direct correlation between the length of leaf and the length of root – the more leaves there are, and the longer the leaf, the bigger the root system, and the less water and food required.
* For further advice from Burgess visit him at his nursery in Westville, which offers a lovely view from a deck overlooking a large lake that attracts a wide variety of birds.
The nursery’s Bloomsberries Garden Café serves breakfasts and lunches every day, and is noted for its imaginative salads and lazy weekend brunches.
Burgess Nursery has been serving Durban and environs for almost 100 years, having started in Sycamore Road, Umbilo, around 1913.
It is now run by the third generation of Burgesses. Eric runs the Westville branch, while Tony Burgess looks after the production nurseries in Richmond and Pietermaritzburg, where they are known as Jesmond Dene Nursery and Garden Centre.
They grow almost all the plants they sell, except fruit trees and pot plants, which are bought from specialist growers, and they offer a wide range of plants.
It’s worth noting that Tuesday is Gardeners’ Day, when there is a 10 percent cash discount on plants. A “loyalty card” that rewards regular customers is also available.
Note, too, that the nursery is known for its exclusive potting mix, made to a secret formula of slow-release fertiliser, lime stabiliser, phosphate and trace elements. - The Independent on Saturday
The phone number for Burgess Nursery is 031 266 8918.