Spring into summer action

NATURE'S REMEDY: USE PLANTS TO ATTRACT, REPEL INSECTS

- Alice Coetzee

Everything is sprouting and budding thanks to the hot days, so what better time to plant some new spring flowers to zoosh up the garden?

If the coming summer is anything like last year it will be unpredictable. Who knows whether it will continue on a hot and dry note and end in floods as well.

Whichever way, you can heat and weatherproof your plants with good soil preparation. Loosen the soil to a depth of 30cm, work in generous amounts of compost and some fertiliser, like Vigorosa (25) 5:1:5 and water well afterwards to settle the soil.

The soil should be spongy and aerated, with compost acting as a soil conditioner that holds the water but at the same time allows the excess to drain away so that the roots don’t stand in water.

That way plants will absorb the maximum water in hot weather but also cope with plenty of rain.

Plants with flowers that act as a magnet for butterflies and bees are a must, not only for biodiversity but for the delight of watching beautiful butterflies flitting from flower to flower.