The strawberry patch can have a good tidy up by gathering and destroying old leaves because many will carry overwintering fungal diseases on them.
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Fertilise the bed before growth begins in early spring.
A complete fertiliser at the rate of about 60gms per plant should suffice.
Remove any runners as they appear to ensure the plants remain in full fruit production.
New season spuds
Certified seed potatoes are available now from nurseries and plant centres ready for planting when the soil dries out and warms up a bit.
THE ROOT CAUSE
Most flowering fruit trees in nurseries may have had their roots considerably reduced and if so their branches should be reduced in proportion to the root system.
If this is not done, the tree will remain almost stationary for a season until nature regulates itself.
ROCKING THE GARDEN
The careful placement of large rocks into the landscape will add a natural charm and can be very effective if you set the rocks deep in the ground so they look like the exposed face of natural rock.
Position the weathered sides so they are visible and rebury the faces that were previously in the ground.
The rock colour is important too for soft brown or grey basalt or granite with moss and lichen looks natural whereas stronger colours of rock appear out of place.
GRASS CLIPPINGS
The subtle colours and hues in ornamental grasses provide a pleasing contrast to the many brightly coloured flowering plants in the garden.
Grasses also have an added value in that they create movement in the garden with the slightest breeze, many making a soothing, rustling sound.
super succulents
Succulents and cacti make wonderful potted plants being so easy to grow with very little attention needed.
Avoid giving them too much sun as this scorches the leaves.
Use a specific potting mix for best results.
These fleshy plants can go for long periods without water in their natural habitat, but when grown in pots they should be watered when the potting mixture is dry to touch.
Haworthias are small succulent houseplants ideally suited for indoor dish gardens but keep out of direct sunlight.
Their charm and elegant forms makes a collection of them very appealing and they can also be grown outside.
DOWNSIZING
When choosing plants for a dish or saucer garden make sure the plants are in scale with the container and turn the container around from time to time as the plants tend to turn and lean towards light.
