Page 11 - 16 May 2025

THE REPORTER 16 MAY 2025 · PAGE 11

A Garden Through the Seasons

In South Africa, gardening is a full-time hobby.
Whether you are living in the Lowveld, the
Highveld, in the Cape or on the Platteland and are (Incorporating Lady Grey, Barkly East,
tending to seedlings and plants in your Sterkspruit, Rhodes, Rossouw and Environs)
greenhouse or under some sort of frost cover, if NOTICE 51/2025
you are a gardener in South Africa, chances are _________________
you are never actually taking that break that our APPLICATION FOR PERMANENT
Northern hemisphere counterparts talk about. DEPARTURE OF AND

For this reason, having a starting can begin as early as TEMPORARY DEPARTURE ON
seasonal checklist can be the end of July in the ERF 1399 HERSCHEL
extremely helpful. Lowveld, but generally ________________
gardeners start their
Not only can you refer to it, Notice is hereby given in terms of the Spatial
but having a place to keep summer crops early in the Planning and Land Use Management Act 16 of 2013
notes will help you stay on spring to avoid sudden cold for the following:
track with your planting, snaps. Plant summer bulbs
your garden chores and and tubers, as well as 1. Application for permanent departure of street
recording temperatures and annuals. Check the irrigation building line restrictions from 3m to 0m and side
rainfall. system to make sure that building line from 1m to 0m.
there are no holes or
Spring in South Africa is blockages. 2. Temporary departure to operate a tavern and a
technically from around the dahlias. dehydrating. spaza shop on erf 1399 Herschel.
end of August to the end of Summer in South Africa is a The application is made by IDG Planners on behalf of
November, but in some parts vibrant landscape of colours, Regularly weed the garden. If a veg plant or a flower has Ms. Busisiwe Chistinah Hlanjwa, the legal occupant
of the country, like in the evenings of warm breezes, Give flowering plants and been particularly abundant of the property. A copy of the application may be
Lowveld, spring comes as and early mornings spent in veg with fruits a watering of and beautiful, save as many inspected in the Town Planning and Land Use
suddenly as it leaves, often the garden. The season runs plant food every 2 weeks. seeds as you can. Let some Management Office, Senqu Municipality, 19 Murray
being just a brief interval of a from the end of November to Pull plants that aren’t doing plants self-seed. Street, Lady Grey, during normal office hours.
few weeks before the about the end of March and well. If it is a vegetable that is Clean up gardening tools
blistering heat and humidity each area of the country not healthy or producing, and wash seed containers. Members of the public are invited to submit written
settle in. In recent years, the experiences summer in a compost it. Peppers are perennials and if comments, objections or representations together
winters have lingered well different way. you want to keep your with the reasons thereof in respect of the application.
into October, making it In the Western Cape, the Deadhead flowers to peppers through winter, Submissions must be lodged with the Municipal
difficult to decide when Mediterranean climate encourage more blooms. make sure you keep them Manager by no later than the 16th of June 2025 to the
garden tasks should begin. encourages the blooming of Start planning for the year warm. They will survive in the following address:
flowers and herbs, while the ahead by making a list of
Spring in the Lowveld ground in the Lowveld, but
heralds the return of the Highveld experiences hot what you want to plant and preferably have them in pots. The Municipal Manager
much-needed rains, and the d a y s w i t h t h e m o s t make notes of any seeds to Winter: In the Western Cape, Senqu Local Municipality
landscape soon transforms magnificent afternoon buy. winters are mild, and it’s an Private Bag X03
back into a lush, green thunderstorms, providing Autumn should be from excellent time for pruning Lady Grey,
paradise. In the Western much-needed relief for the around the end of March to and preparing the garden for 9755
Cape, spring arrives with a garden. For the Lowveld and the end of May. the upcoming spring. The OR via email on macalay@senqu.gov.za and
g e n t l e e m b r a c e , KwaZulu-Natal, summer can In the Western Cape, the Highveld experiences colder info@idgplanners.co.za.
encouraging a stunning be particularly intense, cooler weather is perfect for temperatures, frost and
array of indigenous flora to which means gardeners planting winter crops, while sometimes even snow, Please contact Acting Manager: Housing and Town
bloom. In Gauteng, the need to be ready, balancing the Highveld experiences a making gardening a bit of a Planning, Ms Yolisa Macala on 051 603 1400 for any
Highveld region, delicate watering with leaving the gentle transition with crisp challenge, while the Lowveld further queries.
blossoms greet gardeners as gardens to be nourished by m o r n i n g s a n d m i l d enjoys warm winters, _________________________________________________________________________________
they prepare for the warmer the storms. afternoons, with the promise making it an ideal time for
months. Summer Checklist
of winter planting just on the planting hardy winter
Spring Checklist This time of year can be horizon. In the Lowveld, vegetables.
With temperatures rising, especially taxing on the autumn brings relief from Winter Checklist
focus on hydrating plants body, and plants. the heat, allowing for a · Transplant winter seed-
and soil. Try to protect the plants from renewed focus on getting lings into beds that have
Mulch garden beds and add the scorching sun by back into the garden during rested for a little while.
the day, and by the end of the
some compost. Mulching strategically placing shade autumn, Lowvelders can · Add some extra (straw)
prevents water loss and it netting and mulching where start winter crops. mulch around some
can slow down weeds, while there might now be gaps. plants to keep them warm
composting will give the Try having a spray irrigation Autumn Checklist and to also conserve
garden beds a nutrient system attached to rainwater Autumn is a busy time of water.
boost. tanks, though drip irrigation harvesting, preserving and · Irrigate around 3 times a
Clear out the winter annuals is far better as it reduces clearing, as well as seed week for 10 to 15 minutes.
and veg. Even though many evaporation loss. This time starting and planning. This keeps the ground wet
of them still look okay or are of year, you must regularly Depending on the forecast, for longer.
still producing one or two check your soil to prevent start winter veg (broccoli, · Plant winter flowers such
vegetables, start fresh and plants drying out and to spinach, tomatoes, carrots, as sweet alyssum and
give the garden some time to prevent over watering. beets, etc.) sweet peas.
revive between plantings. Place bamboo support Start clearing out summer · Prune roses, fruit trees and
S t a r t m o r e s e e d s . structures for beans, beaten veggie crops and shrubs.
S p r i n g / s u m m e r s e e d tomatoes, zucchini and annual flowers that are · Plan and make any
starting to look really worn changes to the landscape
down. Give garden beds that need to be made.
some new compost and a Every garden is unique, so
deep watering and cover the you should adapt the
beds with mulch.
checklist to suit your specific
Tend to seedlings. The seeds needs and preferences. If
that have sprouted during you’re looking for inspiration
this time need to be carefully and gardens that are simply
watched, and kept well- spectacular, be sure to visit
watered, as daytime Granny Mouse Country
temperatures can still be House & Spa.

"When the sun is shining I can do
anything; no mountain is too high,
no trouble too difficult to

overcome.”
Wilma Rudolph