Greenfingers Garden Club: Tips for the February garden
Members were reminded to preserve indigenous foliage to help protect against the wind.
THE January meeting of Greenfingers Garden Club took place in Elmerie Brown’s lovely lush garden in Sezela.
Elmarie gave a lot of tips for the following month and reminded us that as we live on the coast and our gardens are affected by the wind, we should preserve the indigenous foliage as it helps to protect from the coastal sand-ridden winds.
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February is the hot and humid month and can be rather an effort for us gardeners.
Don’t forget to mulch as we can get a lot of leaves with the wind we are having and they are useful to spread around and on the compost.
It helps to keep the weeds down but don’t put them too close to the base of the plants.
Water roses well and either water early or late in the day as water on the leaves can burn like a magnifying glass and also encourages fungi.
Cut lawns high as it reduces stress and allows the roots to grow deep.
Prune throughout the summer as it stops the shrubs getting overgrown and untidy and keeps the garden looking neater.
At the same time cut out the dead, the dying as well as branches that look prone to fungus.
Weed around shrubs as the weeds compete for nutrients and sun.
Try to water delicate plants because if they start to dry out and get under stress, it can be difficult for them to recover.
If we get heavy rains, try to fertilise soon after the downpour as the rain washes the nutrients away. Make sure your tubs, hanging baskets and pot plants don’t dry out in the strong winds.
We were shown some ingenious ways of turning plastic containers into plant holders and toys for the children – very clever ways.
Guest speaker, Henry Archer who worked at Sezela mill from 1962 until 2017 and was there during the first 75 years of the mill’s existence, from 1915 to 1970, shared some fascinating anecdotes.
He has seen many changes, from the mill foreman going round on horseback to men who had become rather inebriated at the local pub also going home on their horses.
According to Henry, there were very few houses and the workers lived in dormitories, but once the profits increased more houses were built leading to a settlement called New Delhi.
Sezela was operating under the name Reynold Brothers, later renamed C.G.Smith and is now part of the Barlow Rand group.
In 1915 Sezela produced sugar and could handle 1000 to 15000 tons of cane per day, increasing in 1922 as the supply of cane increased.
In 1956 it switched to only refined sugar as it eliminated using overseas raw material.
In 1970 narrow gauge tramlines were introduced which could be picked up and moved elsewhere, becoming the first mill in the country to use this method.
The first bagasse diffuser was installed in 1975 and the recreation club opened in 1922.
What an interesting talk, and thanks is extended to Henry.
Competition winners are:
Indigenous – first, Rina Mason and Chris Makepeace; second, Elmerie Brown and Des Cuffe.
Best bloom – first, Dion Pienaar, Rina Mason, Steph Howell and Des Cuffe.
One stem, not indigenous – first, Annetjie Lottering and Chris Makepeace.
Best fruit – first, Elmerie Brown.
Best veg – first, Annetjie Lottering, Des Cuffe, and Elmerie Brown.
Best herb – first, Elmerie Brown; second Des Cuffe and Steph Howell.
The competitions for February are one stem hibiscus flower or one stem anthirium, one stem indigenous foliage without flowers or berries.
The herbs are sage or garlic chives.
The February meeting is also the AGM, and takes place at the TC Robertson Reserve on the 20th.
Please remember hats, chairs and crockery.
Hope to see you all there and new faces are most welcome.
SHIRLEY BRITTAIN
HAVE YOUR SAY
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