Plant these now for a splendid spring garden

Plant hardy flower seedlings now

For quick colour, established nursery seedlings are the easiest starting point. Pansies, violas, primulas, marigolds, dianthus, alyssum, petunias and poppies can quickly begin filling an empty bed, container or hanging basket.

Place them where they receive enough winter sun and where the soil drains well. Plant a group of the same colour together rather than scattering one of every colour throughout the garden. Groups of five or seven plants create a calmer, stronger display.

Remove spent flowers regularly and make sure new plantings do not dry out while their roots are still establishing. Cold soil remains moist for longer, so the bed should be moist but never waterlogged.

Use pansies, violas, dianthus and alyssum as the foundation

Pansies and violas are hardy little workhorses for path edges, shallow containers and the front of a sunny bed. Their bright flower faces give immediate colour while the rest of the garden still looks wintry.

Dianthus forms neat, compact clumps and works well along borders or in smaller containers. Alyssum grows lower and forms a soft carpet between larger plants. Use it along container edges, between pansies or in front of taller flowers to visually tie bare soil together.

Choose two or three main colours and repeat them. White alyssum with purple violas and pale-pink dianthus creates a gentle scheme, while yellow pansies and orange marigolds make a more cheerful bed.

Add petunias and lobelia for a fuller display

Petunias bring large, clear areas of colour to beds, containers and hanging baskets. Give them enough sun and a loose growing mix that drains quickly. One colour in a row, or two colours repeated, usually looks neater than a random mixture.

Lobelia’s smaller blue, purple or white flowers soften hard edges and fill gaps between larger flowers. It works well in morning sun, light shade and along the edge of a container where it can trail slightly.

Combine white or pale-pink petunias with purple lobelia, or use yellow pansies with blue lobelia for a bright spring contrast.

Plant impatiens only in a sheltered position

Impatiens provides colour in light shade, but it is not the plant for the coldest, most exposed corner of a Potchefstroom garden. Place it under a veranda, against a warmer wall, beneath a light tree canopy or in a container that can be moved at night.

Keep frost cloth ready and do not remove winter protection merely because a few afternoons feel warm. Late frost can still damage young growth. Wait before unprotected planting until the cold risk in your own garden has clearly declined.

Plant a dormant rose for colour that returns

Late winter is a good time to plant a dormant rose. Choose the position before buying: the rose needs enough direct sun, good air movement, soil that does not remain waterlogged and enough room for its mature size.

Read the variety’s growth habit. A bedding rose, shrub rose and climbing rose need different spaces. One well-positioned rose becomes a strong focal point; too many roses that later press against one another make care more difficult.

Water the planting hole thoroughly after the rose has been planted and keep the surrounding soil free of competing weeds while the roots establish.

Start summer flowers in seed trays now

Not every flower started now should go straight into the open garden. Sow marigolds, cosmos, sunflowers, phlox, salvias and other tender summer flowers in seed trays and keep them in a warm, bright, sheltered place.

Fill a clean tray with a light seed-sowing mix, sow small quantities, label every row with the plant name and date, and water with a gentle spray. Turn the tray regularly so that the seedlings do not all lean towards one source of light.

Sow two smaller batches about two weeks apart rather than using the entire packet on one day. This spreads the risk and can extend the flowering period later.

Prepare space now for late-August summer bulbs

Towards late August, summer-flowering bulbs such as gladioli, arum lilies, cannas, crocosmias, eucomis, liatris and spider lilies can be planted. They carry the garden’s colour from spring into the warmer months.

Use the waiting time to prepare the planting areas. Remove weeds, loosen compacted soil carefully and work in mature compost where needed. Plan the groups beforehand so that taller plants stand behind lower ones.

Plant each bulb according to the depth and spacing instructions on its packet. Do not treat every bulb in exactly the same way merely because it is planted in the same month.

Choose colour with a simple plan

A beautiful garden often comes from repetition rather than the greatest possible variety. Choose two or three main colours and use them again in a bed, container and hanging basket.

For a gentle garden picture, combine white alyssum, pale-pink dianthus, purple lobelia and white petunias. For a brighter display, yellow pansies, orange marigolds and purple petunias work well. A calm scheme can consist of white violas, soft-blue lobelia, cream petunias and one pink rose.

Place the plants in their nursery containers on top of the soil before digging holes. Step back and look at the rhythm, height and colour. Small adjustments before planting save a great deal of lifting later.

Plant without overloading the garden or your body

Begin with one small area. A single container or square metre can already make a noticeable difference. Wet rock-hard soil beforehand, work for short periods and use a stool or kneeling pad.

Ask for help with heavy compost bags and large containers. Keep plants and tools within easy reach, and water new plantings thoroughly as soon as they are in the soil.

Compost helps prepare the soil for the warmer months, but cold conditions still require careful watering. Check the soil with a finger rather than watering according to a fixed calendar.