1. Healthcare

WHAT TO DO IN
FEBRUARY
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Give your roses a little tender loving care in February and you will be rewarded with a breath-taking flush
of blooms in autumn. As the weather cools down, bushes will produce long lasting blooms of the most intense
colours. During hot, dry spells watch out for red spider mite. It is important to take care of the red spider mite
infestation before the plant becomes permanently damaged. Contact us for advice on red spider mite control.
Replenish the mulch around the roots, keeping them cool and water deeply and regularly every two to three
days. Feed your roses with Wonder 8:1:5 or Starke Ayres Organic 3:1:5. Make sure to dead-head after the first
flush of flowers.
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If your lemon tree leaves are turning yellow, feed with Magnesium Sulphate and Starke Ayres Organic
3:1:5. A dose of Trelmix or Starke Ayres Nutrifeed with all the essential micro elements will also improve the
general condition of your lemon tree. Remember to water generously during warm spells, make sure that the
water penetrates the soil to reach the roots.
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Continue to feed summer vegetables still producing good crops. Scatter either Talborne 3:1:5, Kompel
3:1:5 or Talborne Veg 6:3:4 along the rows or apply a liquid fertilizer such as Sea Secret. Water before and after
applying any fertilizer. Continue to water vegetables regularly and pull up any which have finished bearing.
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Look out for lawn caterpillars which attack Kikuyu, Berea (LM), Cynodon (Kweek) lawns as well as evergreen grass mixes. Your lawn will show dead patches in spots. In severe cases, the patches will turn brown and
the grass will die down completely. If you are not sure whether you have lawn caterpillars or not, put a damp
towel on your lawn at night and check underneath the towel for them in the morning. The larvae are a pale
green, becoming darker with broken longitudinal stripes along their length as they mature. Specific insecticides
are available for lawn caterpillars. Visit us in-store at either our Rosebank or West Coast locations for help from
our knowledgeable horticulturists.
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Consider planting lettuce in a cooler spot in your garden as the weather becomes warmer towards the
latter part of February. Continue to plant Rocket, Parsley, Lettuces, Celery and Spinach amongst others.
Visit our bedding plants area for the latest offerings. Did you know or have inquired about our
organically grown vegetable seedlings?
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If your herbs are looking a bit scraggly, give them a light trim, using the pruned
branches to dry and store for Winter use. For culinary use, harvest the seeds of coriander,
dill and fennel to use during the winter months in those delicious winter soups,
curries and stews.
Starke Ayres Garden Centre Rosebank - Tel: 021 685 4120
& West Coast Village Shopping Centre - Tel: 021 554 0536