Reaping what you sow

Our gardening guru Kim Odering from KO & Co, lends her advice on how to get the best results from your garden this season.

MULCH
Spreading mulch creates protection and warmth for the roots of your plants as we head into cooler months. Mulching gives a medium for micro-organisms to flourish. In turn they protect your plants from stress and also feed by converting and holding nutrients in the soil ready for spring growth.

HARVEST
Autumn is the time to harvest potatoes and pumpkins. Be sure to store them at a temperature of 1.7 to 12.8 degrees Celsius, in a dark room with moderate ventilation. Harvest any other crops that may be damaged by early frosts.

PRUNE
Sap flow is slowing down at this time of year, so bring out your secateurs.

• Deciduous trees - give a light prune each autumn to remove dead branches or branches that are crossing over each other.

• Roses - cut back by half in late autumn before their hard winter prune. Spray with copper and oil together later and spray the ground around the plants, too.

• Evergreens - decide on the desired shape and give a light prune. You can cut back a little harder in late winter, if needed.

PLANT
Now is the time to plant spring bulbs. Plant them in the ground at a depth of twice the size of the bulb. Generally, they like a well-draining, slightly peaty soil for the best result.

It’s also time to plant broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, silverbeet and spinach for very early spring flowering (the flower is the part you harvest and eat).

SOW
Vegetables such as carrots, swedes, beetroot and radish can be sown now. If you use cloches and prepare your vegetable garden properly, you’ll reap the rewards later on.

Autumn is an excellent time for sowing new lawns; there is good heat in the day and cooler night temperatures that leave dew on the ground by morning. Don’t forget, never let the seeds and seedlings dry out. Your existing lawn also needs feeding at this time. When you do feed, make sure you water well afterwards.

PROTECT
Guard any fruit on trees or grapes from birds by draping bird netting over the plant.

Protect the seedlings from cold and early spring infestations of aphids by making your own cloches from one-inch stakes, staples and Microklima cloth.