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GARDENING CALENDAR

MONTH BY MONTH

WHAT TO PLANT, FEED, MAINTAIN AND HARVEST EACH MONTH

No green fingers? No problem! With this handy month-by-month gardening calendar, we will teach you when to plant what in South Africa. Follow simple steps to grow the garden of your dreams – healthy and beautiful. Our expert hints and tips will help you eliminate and prevent many basic garden problems before you even begin planting.

No matter how big or small your garden is, you’re sure to find helpful advice in our gardening calendar. Each month we provide a comprehensive action plan for when to feed, harvest, and plant – covering everything from flowers, trees and shrubs through to vegetables, herbs, and fruit. Start exploring the latest practical remedies as well as the most sustainable, earth-friendly solutions for your garden needs.

DOWNLOAD THE CALENDAR

JANUARY

Perhaps you’re a beginner gardener and your New Year’s resolution is to get out into the garden. Or maybe you’re a seasoned gardener looking for some advice and inspiration for the month ahead. Whatever you’re looking for, we have everything you’ll need to start the new year with a bit of garden therapy!

This is the warmest and sunniest month of the year; a time to really enjoy all of the hard work that was put in during winter and spring. Keep on top of your plant waterings during hot spells – especially new tender plants, newly planted trees and shrubs. And stay vigilant with pests –  the warm and moist temperatures encourage insects to multiply, causing pests such as aphids to wage war on your plants. But most of all, make sure you enjoy the garden you have worked so hard to create all those months ago. Spend some well-deserved time amongst the nature and greenery of your outdoor paradise.

Take a look at our list of gardening jobs to do in January below:

  • Pick strawberries regularly and make sure the plants are watered well during dry periods. Feed with Wonder Plant Booster All Purpose to encourage more berries to form.
  • Harvest beans and other summer veggies regularly so the plants produce more crops.
  • Are you composting your lawn clippings and leaves? Be sure to collect this refuge and add it to your heap. Turn some Wonder Organic Vita-Boost into the layers to encourage microbial activity. Then add Wonder Organic Compost Activator to help the compost break down.
  • Pinch out the growing tips of poinsettias. The plants will be bushier and produce more blooms in winter.
  • No matter how experienced you are as a gardener, pests and plant diseases can attack plants at any time. The key is to remain vigilant and act quickly if you spot something.
  • Woody weeds got you frustrated? Tackle the problem quickly and easily with Efekto Garlon 4 brush and tree killer.
  • Are your plant leaves yellowing with stunted growth and low fruit yield? These are all symptoms of nutrient deficiency. If your soil is too acidic, your plants won’t be able to absorb the nutrients they need. Use Wonder Dolomitic Lime to push the pH up.
  • Does it feel like every time you pull a weed, another pops up beside it? Treat paved and gravel areas with Efekto Clear Up or Efekto No Weed Paving RTU.

Fruit tree garden

  • Nectarines, passion fruit, cherries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, apricots, peaches, and plums.
  • Unless you’re committed to keeping your soil moist over the summer months, it is ideal to plant larger fruit trees in midsummer with some Wonder Waterwise Crystals.
  • New batches of strawberries can be planted. Remember, fruit requires full sun and shelter from wind.
  • Remove or ‘thin’ excess apples from apple trees. In some cases, apples produce too much fruit, and if left on the tree, will limit the size and quality of ripening fruit. Thin multiple clusters down to two or three apples per group.
  • Trim any long runners back to the centre of the strawberry plants. This will force the plant to produce more flowers, encouraging another batch of fruit. Feed with Wondersol All Purpose.
  • During dry periods, keep berries, lemons, citrus, and grapes watered. Summer is the time when the fruit is forming.
  • Water all fruit trees during dry spells.
  • Add Wonder Waterwise Crystals when planting to help the soil retain water.
  • Feed all fruiting trees with a side dressing of Wonder Fruit & Flower for a bumper crop. 
  • Feed mangoes with Wonder Fruit & Flower, over the root area.
  • To prevent birds from eating fruit as it ripens, cover it with a Wonder Plant Protection Barrier where possible.
  • When you have a minute, go and have a closer look at your citrus trees. Inspect them for black, brown, white, or pink bumps along their stems and leaves, as these would indicate the presence of scale. Treat with Efekto Malasol.
  • If the leaves on your citrus tree have bumps on them, it most probably has a psylla infestation. Treat with Efekto Aphicide immediately.
  • Is there a powdery substance on your grapes and leaves? If so, now is the time to treat the vines with Efekto Kumulus WG.
  • If necessary, spray late-ripening fruit tree varieties with Efekto Cypermethrin 200 EC for codling moth.
  • Fruit flies might start invading apricots, nectarines, cherries, peaches, and plums at this time. Spray preventatively with Efekto Malasol mixed with sugar as bait.

FLOWER GARDEN

  • Roses, aquilegia, hydrangeas, fuchsias, cornflowers, carnations, dianthus, delphiniums, lilies, gladiolus, sweet peas, gypsophila, agapanthus, sunflowers, geraniums, cosmos, and sunflowers.
  • Violas, primulas, pansies, snapdragons, ornamental kale, poppies, wildflowers, sunflowers, gazanias, and dianthus.
  • Petunias, impatiens, calendula, dahlias, verbena, alyssum, cosmos, marigolds, nemesias, and dahlias.
  • Have you seen tiny white insects on your flowers that fly up when disturbed? Treat whiteflies with Efekto Cypermethrin 200EC mixed with Efekto G49 Wetter as soon as they appear.
  • Snails and slugs can wreak havoc on your plants. Use Efekto Snailban with an Efekto Eco Snail & Slug Trap every few weeks to keep slugs and snails at bay.
  • Aphids tend to make a dramatic appearance at this time.  They can become a big problem very quickly, so control them with Efekto Aphicide or Efekto Garden Gun. 
  • It’s good practice to keep an eye out for blackspot on your roses as black spot can defoliate your roses. Prevention is better than cure, use Efekto Rosecare 3 or Efekto Rosecare RTU.
  • Chafer beetles feast on your plants, trees and flowers. The worst part? A feeding chafer beetle gives off a pheromone that attracts more beetles. Chafer beetles can skeletonize your flowers before you realise they’re there. Protect your plants with an application of Efekto Karbaspray or Efekto Garden Gun.
  • If you’ve ever handled a stinkbug, you know why they got their name! A direct treatment with Efekto Garden Gun can help keep them under control.
  • Are your new roses being attacked by aphids? Protect them with Efekto Insecticide Granules Plus for eight weeks.
  • Be on the lookout for lily borers attacking bulbous plants in the garden. Treat with Efekto Eco Insect Control.
  • Ants could be troublesome this month. Dust or spray all runs and entrances with Efekto Everdeath or Efekto Ant. Remember that ants tend to bring aphids and scales into your garden – so treat accordingly.
  • Moles can do a great deal of damage in the garden. Use Efekto Mole Repellent as required.

INDOOR PROTECTION

  • Getting rid of bed bugs is easy with Efekto No Insect Indoors NF Fleas & Bedbugs RTU. Reach behind, under, and around anywhere where bed bugs are hiding.
  • More than 3,000 Mosquito species live throughout the world. No matter where you live, summer fun can quickly turn into a swat-fest when buzzing, biting Mosquitoes attack. Spray Efekto Fendona 6 SC on walls. Hungry mosquitoes entering a house may bite first and then be killed when resting on a treated wall. Spraying should achieve uniform coverage of the target area without excessive wetting or liquid run-off. The lower surfaces of large items like furniture should be sprayed too. Mosquitoes typically rest only on the lower wall surfaces (below 1.5 m), so spray only up to that height. If you are looking for a contact spray, we recommend that you use our Efekto No Insect Indoors NF Flying Insects.
  • You don’t want cockroaches coming to visit you. You can protect your home from cockroaches with Efekto Eco Trap A Roach or Efekto Zero Roach Bait Station. Or try Efekto No Insect Indoors NF Cockroaches RTU – it not only kills cockroaches on contact, but also leaves behind lasting protection for up to four weeks.
  • During the heat of the summer, you might spot ants trying to move into your home as they forage for food, shelter or moisture. Use Bio Kill Extra GT RTU to create a protective barrier that kills ants, plus cockroaches, crickets, spiders, and other listed insects.
  • Efekto’s easy-to-use home protection range is for all homes great and small, no matter the insect, and can be used all 12 months of the year.

VEGETABLE GARDEN

  • Dwarf beans, beetroot, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflowers, celery, lettuces, leeks, radishes, rocket, spinach, Swiss chard, Brussels sprouts, celery, eggplants, peas, potatoes, and pumpkins.
  • Beans, beetroot, capsicums, chillies, courgettes, cucumbers, eggplants, garlic, lettuces, onions, and tomatoes.
  • Adding Wonder Waterwise Crystals to your veggie garden will cut water usage by up to 50 % by drawing water into the soil and directly to the root zone, reducing run-off and waste.
  • Feed established plants monthly with Wonder Kelp. Some fast-growing crops such as pumpkins and melons can be fed every two weeks.
  • Feed green vegetables like cabbages, spinach, and lettuce with Wonder Organic Vita-Boost.
  • Keep on feeding your tomatoes, pumpkin, squashes, beans, and peppers with Wonder Fruit & Flower.
  • Maize and sweet corn are hungry plants and should be fed monthly with Wonder Organic Vita-Boost to encourage healthy leaf and stem growth and cob development.
  • Once the seedlings are established, each week apply Wondersol All Purpose to help promote healthy leaf growth as well as lots of flowers that will turn into delicious, juicy fruit.
  • Watch out for snails and slugs, which like to devour the leaves. Use Efekto Snailban and Efekto Eco Snail & Slug Trap to control slugs and snails. 
  • Are red spider mites infecting your vegetables? Use Efekto Kumulus WG before they become too numerous.
  • Control whiteflies with Efekto Cypermethrin 200 EC mixed with Efekto G49 Wetter, either in the early morning or late afternoon if they are still a problem on tomatoes.
  • Greater cabbage moths are about at this time, so check your cabbages for eggs on the underside of the leaves or young caterpillars. You can use Efekto Eco Insect Control to target these pests.
  • Did you know powdery mildew thrives in dry conditions? Most fungi prefer cool, damp conditions. Treat your vegetables with Efekto Kumulus WG.
  • Growing your own vegetables is fun and rewarding. Efekto Malasol controls aphids, thrips, fruit flies, and beetles on your vegetables.
  • Are you preparing a new vegetable garden? Use Wonder Organic Vita-Boost Vermicompost and Wonder Plant Starter All Purpose to prepare the soil – your vegetables will love you for this!
  • Maize and sweet corn can be susceptible to attack by stalk borer caterpillars, which can chew into the developing corn cob. Treat with Efekto Stalkborer Plus Granules.
  • Protect young seedlings from cutworms with Efekto Cutworm Bait.
  • Seeing a light brown or tan discolouration in lesions on tomato leaves? Treat early and late blight with Efekto Virikop.

Lawns

  • Caterpillar infestations are likely to continue this month, wreaking havoc on lawns. Their feeding will not stop until winter, and by then the damage will be done. Feed your lawn with Wonder Lawn Pest & Green – a fertiliser and insecticide. Use Efekto Eco Insect Control concentrate as a spray onto the lawn.
  • Do you want your grass green, thick and looking great without any weeds? Use one of our selective weedkillers e.g. Efekto Banweed MCPA, Efekto Hormoban APM, Turfweeder 457.5 SL, or Efekto No Weed Paving RTU.
  • Aerate lawns after heavy rains using a garden fork. If necessary, treat acidic soils with Wonder Dolomitic Lime.
  • Are moles giving you an uphill battle? Start treating the mole heaps early in the morning with Efekto Mole Repellent.
  • Rain, heat and humidity can cause brown patch, dollar spot and other ugly diseases to take over your lawn. Get ahead of them now. Try Efekto Lawn Fungicide – it cures and prevents listed lawn diseases.
  • Are ants and crickets infecting your lawn? Use Efekto Everdeath dusting powder over the area and water in.

INDOOR PLANTS

  • Water your plant thoroughly with Wonder Kelp a day or two before you plan to repot. This will make it easier to get your plant out of its pot and ensure it is hydrated, reducing the risk of shock.
  • Do your indoor plants need some TLC? Give them a lift by applying Wonder Plant Food Stix. They are easy to use – no mess, no fuss.
  • Be on the lookout for red spider mites and mealybugs on indoor plants. Control them with Efekto Garden Gun spray.

FEBRUARY

Glorious February –  a time for many moments spent in the garden, enjoying the fruits of your labours. Good thing the temperatures are generally consistent and warm! This month it’s worth getting ahead of maintenance jobs, such as weeding, watering and deadheading. Keep an eye on any trees, shrubs or plants in pots and hanging baskets – they are likely to be the most thirsty and in need of watering. There are lots of varied jobs to do in the garden this month, from giving the lawn a good feed to pruning and harvesting. Stay vigilant with checking for garden pests and disease, especially during hot weather, but also during any damp days when slugs and snails are likely to be out looking to snack on leafy greens.

Take a look at our list of jobs to do in the garden in February below:

  • Buy and pot a perfumed rose bush to make a long-lasting Valentine’s Day gift. Use good-quality potting mix and Wonder Colourburst Rose Food.
  • Store cold-climate bulbs such as tulips and daffodils in the fridge. Chill them for at least six weeks.
  • Water garden beds deeply during dry periods. Deep watering trains roots to grow down, making plants less vulnerable to heat and drought. Mix Wonder Colourburst Rose Food into the soil before planting to aid in water retention.
  • You know when you cut down a tree and the next thing you know, new branches have started regrowing around the trunk? Efekto has a solution for that called Efekto Garlon 4.
  • Tired of battling with weeds in paved areas? Use Efekto Clear Up or Efekto No Weed Paving RTU to control weeds on hard surfaces.
  • Keep fishponds free of algae with Wonder Pond Aqua Pro.

Fruit tree garden

  • Passion fruit, strawberries, raspberries, apricots, peaches, plums, and apples.
  • Trim any long runners back to the centre of strawberry plants. This will force the plants to produce more flowers, which means more fruit!
  • Once nectarines, peaches and plums have finished fruiting, prune the plants to shape, remove any dead or disease-infected branches and apply Efekto Virikop.
  • During dry periods, keep berries, lemons, citrus, and grapes watered, as summer is the time when the fruit is forming – and they need adequate water to form properly. Add Wonder Waterwise Crystals to the soil when planting to help it retain water.
  • Feed pawpaws with Wonder Deep Green. Scatter over the root area.
  • After the fruit has been harvested from your litchi trees, give each tree a dose of Wonder Fruit & Flower.
  • Feed citrus with Wonder Fruit & Flower and reapply mulch to cover the root systems, keeping clear of the trunks.
  • Fruit flies will be looking for peaches, pears, apples, and prune trees. Spray preventatively with Efekto Fruitfly Bait GF 120.
  • Powdery mildew can be present on grapes. Look out for a white powdery substance on the leaves and fruit. Treat with Efekto Kumulus WG.
  • Spray late-ripening varieties of apples, pears and quinces with Efekto Cypermethrin 200 EC for the control of codling moths.
  • Are you seeing black sooty mould on your citrus tree? It could be mealybugs or scale. Treat with Efekto Malasol.
  • Seeing brown beetles on your grapes? They could be snout beetles. Treat with Efekto Cypermethrin 200 EC.
  • Have you citrus leaves got bumps on them? The trees probably have citrus psylla. Control with Efekto Aphicide, and make sure there’s thorough coverage on the leaves. Use Efekto G49 Wetter as a wetting agent to enhance adherence of the spray to the leaves.

FLOWER GARDEN

  • Roses, cornflowers, hydrangeas, carnations, delphiniums, lilies, gladiolus, sweet peas, cosmos, gypsophila, agapanthus, sunflowers, and geraniums.
  • Calendula, cosmos, daisies, violas, primula, pansies, snapdragons, ornamental kale, gazanias, poppies, wildflowers, Bellis, dianthus, and marigolds.
  • If your roses, impatiens or hydrangeas have bronzed or yellowish leaves, many of which are dropping off, you might have red spider mites. Get rid of these destructive pests with Efekto Rosecare RTU.
  • Protect roses from pests and diseases with Efekto Rosecare 3 or Efekto Rosecare RTU.
  • Apply Efekto Snailban every few weeks in an Efekto Eco Snail & Slug Trap to keep slugs and snails at bay over the summer months.
  • If you have Stinkbugs, you already know they release a foul odour when threatened or crushed. The smell can linger on plants and even your skin. Use Efekto Garden Gun or Efekto Cypermethrin 200 EC to treat around the outside of your home to discourage these invaders from entering this winter. Here are some other tips to keep the smell away.
  • If you see brown spots on your gladioli and bulbous plant leaves, treat with Efekto Funginex.
  • If you see brown or black and yellow beetles on your flowering plants, protect your flowers with Efekto Karbaspray or Efekto Everdeath.
  • Are the leaves on your gladioli and schizostylis silvered with speckles? If so, you have a thrip problem. Protect your plants with Efekto Eco Insect Control.
  • Are your hydrangea leaves spotty with brown marks and a white powdery substance? If so, it’s probably leaf spot and powdery mildew. Treat with Efekto Funginex.
  • Spray other plants like roses and begonias for powdery mildew with Efekto Funginex or Efekto Kumulus WG.
  • Remove dead flowers from dahlia plants to keep them blooming, and apply Wondersol All Purpose. Use Efekto Rosecare RTU to control powdery mildew, rust and black spot.
  • Buy flower bulbs for the new season, but don’t plant them just yet. Wait for the weather to cool down, and in the meantime, prepare the soil with well-aged organic matter and Wonder Organic Vita-Boost.

INDOOR Protection

  • Because houseflies are common, they are often overlooked as a danger. Houseflies can, however, be carriers of dysentery, salmonella and more. Take action with Efekto No Insect Indoors RTU Flying Insects.
  • Prevent damage to your favourite outfits by spraying with Efekto Fendona 6 SC in cupboards and drawers to keep fish moths at bay.
  • In addition to raiding your pantry and causing a general nuisance, rodents can carry several diseases that can be passed on to humans. Use Efekto Eco Rat or Supa Kill Rat & Mouse Granular pre-baited bait stations – making rat and mice control simple (also available in refills).
  • During the heat of the summer, you might spot ants trying to move into your home as they forage for food, shelter or moisture. Use Bio Kill Extra GT to create a protective barrier that kills ants, plus cockroaches, crickets, spiders, and other listed insects.

VEGETABLE GARDEN

  • Beetroot, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflowers, celery, kale, leeks, lettuces, radishes, rocket, spinach, Swiss chard, coriander, parsley, Brussel sprouts, peas, rosemary, sage, and thyme.

Lawns

INDOOR PLANTS

  • Seeing white fluffy insects and bumps on indoor plant stems? Cheer your pants up by controlling mealybugs and scale with Efekto Garden Gun.
  • Changing light conditions, dry heat and blowing air conditioners can make summer a tough time for houseplants. Keep them happy by feeding them with Wonder Plant Food Stix every eight weeks and a dose of Wonder Kelp every month.
  • Agaves, peace lilies, and spider plants are some of the many indoor plants that thrive while growing in water – no soil required! To propagate one you have already, simply place it in a clean glass filled with water, and feed by spraying the leaves with Wondersol All Purpose.
  • Remove any old or yellow foliage and stems, and dust the leaves regularly. Add a few drops of Efekto Oleum to the leaves and wipe with a damp cloth to promote a glossy appearance.

MARCH

A glorious month in the garden and a time for harvesting, March can be varied in terms of temperature and rain. Summer bedding and hardy perennials will start to die back this month, so keep the garden clean and tidy. Remove any dead growth and check for signs of disease.

Take a look at our list of jobs to do in the garden in March below:

  • Harvest pumpkins and leave them in an open sunny position to dry before storing.
  • Prune hedge plants such as Buxus, coast rosemary (westringia) and murrayas.
  • Prune peaches, apples and other deciduous summer fruit trees after harvest.
    Efekto Garlon 4 kills tough brush, roots and all. It can handle aggressive trees and invasive plants that drive you crazy.
  • Any vegan growers out there? Wonder Organic Vita-Boost is a balanced fertiliser free from animal products! It contains a blend of natural minerals that gently feed your plants. It has a low odour too, so can be used on all indoor plants when planting and outdoor plants when planting and feeding.

Fruit tree garden

  • Apples, pears, grapes, guavas, passion fruit, blueberries, strawberries, apricots, and peaches.
  • Remove runners from strawberry plants and establish them in potting soil with a bit of Wonder Organic Vita-Boost, ready for planting out in winter.
  • Birds will spot ripening grapes. Use a Wonder Plant Protection Barrier to protect your harvest.
  • Carry on protecting fruit trees that are producing fruit by applying Efekto Malasol mixed with sugar as bait.
  • Spray late-ripening fruit tree varieties with Efekto Cypermethrin 200 EC for codling moth.
  • Bunches of grapes will begin to ripen. Prune back excessive leaves to allow more sunlight into the crop and seal with Efekto Steriseal.
  • Once nectarines, peaches and plums have finished fruiting, prune the plants to shape, remove any dead or diseased branches, and spray with Efekto Virikop.
  • Aphids, mealybugs and scale insects are about. Keep them under control with Efekto Malasol.

FLOWER GARDEN

  • Scabious, roses, dahlias, lilies, gladiolus, sweet peas, gypsophila, cosmos, zinnia, cleome, agapanthus, and hydrangeas.
  • Violas, primula, pansies, ornamental kale, poppies, wildflowers, gazania, and dianthus.
  • Whiteflies are around, particularly when the weather is very warm. Be vigilant and spray with Efekto Garden Gun as soon as they appear, either early in the morning or in the late afternoon when they are resting.
  • A conifer aphid attack can devastate your conifers. Signs include growth of sooty mould, yellowing, mottled leaves, stunted growth, browning, low yields, and plant death. Act at the first signs of cooler weather and apply Efekto Insecticide Granules Plus every eight weeks.
  • Autumn hanging baskets: gerbera, lobelia, ornamental kale, primula, violas, snapdragons, wildflowers, and Sweet William.

INDOOR PROTECTION

VEGETABLE GARDEN

  • Beetroot, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflowers, celery, lettuces, parsley, radishes, rocket, spinach, and coriander.
  • Beans, beetroot, broccoli, cabbages, capsicums, cauliflowers, celery, chillies, courgettes, cucumbers, eggplants, lettuces, marrows, peas, potatoes, sweetcorn, and tomatoes.

Lawns

INDOOR PLANTS

  • Are your houseplants hungry? Wonder Plant Food Stix makes it easy to feed your houseplants without any fuss for eight weeks.
  • If you’re after show-stopping blooms, give your orchids a boost with Wondersol All Purpose.
  • Remove any old or yellow foliage and stems and dust the leaves regularly. Add a few drops of Efekto Oleum to the leaves and wipe with a damp cloth to promote a glossy appearance.

APRIL

With the dark nights getting longer and temperatures starting to take a turn, this is the month you will notice the leaves changing from green to orange in preparation for autumn. A great time to add your garden waste to the compost heap! To plant new trees and shrubs, start by removing all traces of weeds, then prepare the soil with Wonder Organic Vita-Boost.

Take a look at our list of jobs to do in the garden in April below:

  • Prune and tidy daylilies, daisies, lavender, phlox, and other perennials that have finished flowering.
  • Remove pre-chilled bulbs from the fridge and plant them in pots or garden beds.
  • Plant the rest of your spring-flowering bulbs.
  • Select and plant trees for autumn colour while you can see them at their best.
  • Is your soil heavy and acidic? Treat with Wonder Dolomitic Lime. Mixing in some Wonder Organic Vita-Boost will also help restore soil structure.
  • If you see yellowing of mature leaves and pale green upper leaves, your plant may be begging you for a boost of nitrogen. Use Wonder Organic Vita-Boost.
  • April is a fantastic time to plant vegetables and flowers. Having nutrient-rich soil is key to healthy, productive plants and this is where Wonder Organic Vita-Boost can help.
  • Start making your own compost using fallen autumn leaves. Mix leaves, plus kitchen scraps and Wonder Organic Compost Activator together with some Wonder Organic Vita-Boost in a compost bin or heap, keep moist and let the beneficial composting microorganisms get to work.

Fruit tree garden

  • Grapes, apples, guava, pears, walnuts, passion fruit, and late cultivar peaches.
  • When planting new fruit trees in the ground, mix Wonder Root Builder Bone Meal and Wonder Organic Vita-Boost into the bottom of the planting hole.
  • Feeding citrus trees regularly is the key to promoting juicy fruit. Citruses are very hungry plants, and a lack of nutrients can lead to a decline in fruit quality. Wonder Fruit & Flower is a complete fertiliser that has been specially formulated to provide fruit trees with the nutrients they need.
  • Stone fruit like apricots, peaches, plums and nectarines. Continue applying Efekto Eco Fruitfly Bait each week to the trunk or lower foliage to prevent fruit from being infested with fruit fly maggots. Weekly application is vital to protect the fruit until it’s ready to harvest.
  • Are green, brown or black insects causing young leaves to twist and curl under? Treat aphids with Efekto Aphicide.
  • Seeing small white, brown, pink or black raised bumps on leaves, stems and fruit? Scale can be treated with Efekto Malasol mixed with Efekto G49 Wetter.
  • Spray late-ripening fruit tree varieties with Efekto Cypermethrin 200 EC for codling moth.
  • Poorly drained soil or prolonged wet weather can lead to the development of root rot diseases. Citrus and avocado trees can be particularly susceptible. Efekto Virikop can be applied onto the stems of trees and soil when the diseases appear.
  • Once nectarines, peaches and plums have finished fruiting, prune the plants to shape, remove any dead or diseased branches and treat with Efekto Virikop, followed up a few days later with Efekto Kumulus WG.

FLOWER GARDEN

  • Scabious, poppies, statice, roses, dahlias, lilies, sweet peas, gypsophila, cosmos, zinnia, agapanthus, and hydrangeas.
  • Bellis, violas, primula, pansies, ornamental kale, poppies, wildflowers, gazania, and dianthus.

INDOOR PROTECTION

INDOOR PLANTS

  • Do your orchids need a feed? Use Wondersol All Purpose every two weeks.
  • Indoor plants make a home a more welcoming and happy place. Remove any old or yellow foliage and stems and dust the leaves regularly. Add a few drops of Efekto Oleum to the leaves and wipe with a damp cloth to promote a glossy appearance.
  • To encourage lush, healthy green growth, feed your plants with Wonder Plant Food Stix. It will last for eight weeks.
  • After repotting, give the plant a gentle but thorough watering with Wonder Kelp. This will settle all the new potting mix around the roots, helping reduce transplant shock while stimulating new root growth. Keep the plant moist as it establishes itself in the soil.

VEGETABLE GARDEN

  • Beetroot, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflowers, kale, celery, lettuces, radishes, rocket, Swiss chard, spring onions, spinach, coriander, parsley, rosemary, sage, and thyme.
  • Beans, beetroot, broccoli, cabbages, capsicums, carrots, cauliflowers, celery, chillies, courgettes, cucumbers, lettuces, marrows, peas, potatoes, sweetcorn, and tomatoes.
  • To give the seedlings a great start, dig some Wonder Plant Starter All Purpose into the soil before transplanting seedlings.
  • Once the seedlings are established, each week apply a complete plant food like Wondersol All Purpose liquid plant food to help promote healthy plant growth and a great harvest.
  • Wonder Kelp is a plant building block; it conditions the plant and improves root formation.
  • Feed evergreen vegetables and herbs every four weeks with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser like Wonder Organic Vita-Boost to promote fast and healthy growth.

Lawns

  • Lawns need feeding during autumn to recover from a long, hot summer and the additional wear and tear from weeks of fun and games. Feeding now also helps the lawn prepare for the cooler months ahead and encourages the grass to stay greener for longer. Wonder Organic Vita-Boost has the additional benefit of supplying the soil with valuable organic matter, promoting improved soil health and structure.
  • If broadleaf weeds start to emerge across the lawn, early control will limit their establishment and spread. A quick and easy treatment is to spot-spray with Wonder Organic Vita-Boost. It controls the most common broadleaf weeds in lawns.
  • Seeing circular brown or dying patches of grass? Moist and cool weather can lead to lawn diseases such as brown patch and dollar spot. Treat the area with Efekto Lawn Fungicide 500 EC.
  • Lawn caterpillars of night-flying moths, which chew through grass foliage and stems, cause rapidly expanding dying and dead patches of lawn. You may also see birds pecking at the lawn. They’re after the caterpillars. Apply Efekto Eco Insect Control as soon as symptoms are noticed.
  • Is your lawn browning and then being carried away? If so, you have harvester termites – apply Efekto Kamikaze from the mid-morning onwards as harvester termites emerge to feed.
  • Expert tip! One week after germination of lawn seeds, apply Wonder Kelp over the new lawn to stimulate healthy root and plant growth.

MAY

May is typically damp and windy, but occasionally mild with a few days of autumn sunshine. Take full advantage of any bright, sunny days now so you can get ahead with preparing for winter. Use this month as an opportunity to plant bare-root trees, shrubs and roses. Most of all, do not forget to stop and enjoy the autumn colours at the moment as the foliage can be truly spectacular!

Take a look at our list of jobs to do in the garden in May below:

  • A pot filled with garden goodies makes a great Mother’s Day gift. Start with a beautiful pot and fill it with your favourite Wonder and Efekto products.
  • Another great Mother’s Day gift is an orchid in flower. Give Mum an orchid with a pretty pot, an Efekto Garden Gun and Wonder Plant Food Stix so she has all her orchid needs covered.
  • In cool climates, move heat-sensitive container plants into a more sheltered position.
  • In cold areas, build structures that will support frost protection on plants that cannot be moved (such as wooden stakes wrapped with a Wonder Plant Protection Barrier).
  • Collect fallen autumn leaves as they’re ideal for composting, using Wonder Organic Compost Activator to get your compost heap going.
  • This is the last month to plant spring bulbs.
  • Transplant runners (sideways-growing pieces with some roots) from Cynodon, Kikuyu or LM Berea grass lawns to fill bare patches in ground prepared with Wonder Root Builder Bone Meal and Wonder Organic Vita-Boost.
  • Protect emerging orchid flower spikes with a sprinkling of Efekto Snailban.
  • Plant sweet peas in warm climates, as there’s still plenty of time for them to grow.

Fruit tree garden

  • Quince, apples, pears, rhubarb, and passion fruit.
  • Collect any rotting fruit from under fruit trees and compost.
  • Rot can spread throughout a whole harvest within a week or two. Check harvested fruit to make sure nothing is rotting and remove fruit as soon as it starts to decay.
  • Feed winter bearing trees with Wonder Fruit & Flower, for a bumper and delicious crop.
  • Help saplings survive by feeding them weekly with Wonder Kelp. They’ll appreciate the love!
  • Winter ripening fruits are often attacked by fruit flies. Spray Efekto Malasol with sugar to form a bait.
  • Look out for large and small bumps on your branches and leaves, as scale insects are still about. Spray with Efekto Oleum.
  • Give deciduous fruit trees a clean-up spray with Efekto Kumulus WG after their leaves fall.

FLOWER GARDEN

  • Ornamental kale, dianthus, roses, poppies, and statice.
  • Bellis, violas, primula, pansies, ornamental kale, poppies, wildflowers, gazania, dianthus, and lupins.
  • Cover up delicate plants and apply a Wonder Plant Protection Barrier.
  • Move tender plants in containers up against the house to provide protection from cold temperatures.
  • Prune summer-flowering shrubs, trees, perennials, and bulbs that have finished flowering.
    Lift and divide flowering perennials that have finished blooming.
  • Lift dahlia and gladiolus bulbs, and store them in a dry, dark place over winter.
  • Save and dry seeds of summer flowers for sowing in spring.
  • Collect fallen leaves and add them to your compost heap.
  • Are you giving your conifer trees and shrubs the best protection possible? Get ahead of aphids with Efekto Insecticide Granules Plus.
  • Is there a dusting of powder on the leaves? Powdery mildew can be controlled with regular sprayings of Efekto Funginex. It contains a systemic fungicide that moves around the plant’s system to control common diseases like powdery mildew.
  • Seeing raised bumps along stems and leaves. Efekto Oleum or Efekto Malasol can be used to control scale. Ensure all sides of scale affected stems and leaves are covered.
  • Have you noticed silvery trails over the soil or plants, and holes in the leaves? Apply Efekto Snailban with an Efekto Eco Snail & Slug Trap.
  • Are your seedlings chewed off at the base? Treat with Efekto Cutworm Bait or Efekto Everdeath.

INDOOR PROTECTION

  • Did you hear scratching in the ceiling last night? Prevent a rat and mouse takeover by placing Efekto Eco Rat or Supa-Kill in tamper-proof bait stations.
  • Are you feeling itchy while lying in bed at night? Bedbugs are possibly the last thing you want to share a bed with. So if you suspect they’re around, it’s time to act with Efekto Fendona 6 SC or Efekto No Insect Indoors Fleas and Bedbugs.
  • Crisp mornings and cosy evenings by the fire are welcome signs of autumn, but they also signal the start of home insect invasions. Prevent these attacks by using Bio Kill Extra GT RTU so you can spend less time worrying about insects and more time enjoying your home.
  • Are you having trouble with cockroaches around your home? It’s important to control cockroaches as soon as they are noticed with Efekto Eco Trap A Roach or Efekto Fendona 6 SC.

VEGETABLE GARDEN

  • Beetroot, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflowers, rocket, spring onions, celery, kale, Swiss chard, spinach, coriander, parsley, rosemary, sage, and thyme.
  • Beans, beetroot, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflowers, celery, courgettes, lettuces, marrows, parsnips, peas, pumpkins, and tomatoes.

Lawns

INDOOR PLANTS

  • Winter is probably the easiest time of year to kill a houseplant. Gruelling growing conditions like lower light levels, dry air, shorter days, and chilly temperatures put houseplants through the paces. The secret to helping plants survive winter is to adjust their care routines to suit seasonal growing conditions, and feed them with Wondersol All Purpose every two weeks.
  • Have you been using a heater in your lounge or bedroom? If so, keep an eye on your indoor plants for signs of stress. Feed them every two to three weeks with Wonder Kelp.
  • Keeping your indoor plants happy and healthy has never been easier than with Wonder Plant Food Stix – our easy-to-use plant food spikes.
  • Expert tip: Indoor plants can be affected by red spider mites – tiny sap-feeding pests that create spidery webbing when in colonies and can cause leaves to yellow and mottle. Control them by spraying plants each week with Efekto Garden Gun.
  • To keep moth orchids well nourished and promote repeated flowering, feed them every two weeks with Wondersol All Purpose – a plant food specially designed to promote beautiful flowers and healthy green leaves.
  • Remove any old or yellow foliage and stems and dust the leaves regularly. Add a few drops of Efekto Oleum to the leaves and wipe with a damp cloth to promote a glossy appearance.

JUNE

June is a good month in the garden for maintenance. There can be some beautiful clear and crisp days, so make the most of them when they are here! There may not be as many daylight hours, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy being out in the garden when the weather is lovely. Make sure to protect any plants that are susceptible to frost.

Take a look at our list of jobs to do in the garden in June below.

  • Give Dad a great plant for Father’s Day or an Efekto hamper.
  • Cover frost-sensitive plants with a Wonder Plant Protection Barrier before the sun reaches their leaves in the morning to prevent frost burn. 
  • Start making your own compost using fallen autumn leaves. Mix leaves, plus kitchen scraps and some Wonder Organic Vita-Boost together in a compost bin or heap. Add Wonder Organic Compost Activator, keep moist and let the beneficial composting microorganisms get to work.
  • Split up established daylilies and spread to other parts of the garden.
  • Prolonged wet weather can lead to root rot diseases particularly in areas with poorly drained soil. Apply Efekto Virikop to the soil to prevent and control root rot diseases.
  • Wonder Organic Vita-Boost is good for the environment and even better for your plants, tomatoes and veggies. Each bag is packed with organic and sustainable goodness. Have you made the switch yet?
  • Wax scale is making its rounds at this time. These sap-sucking insects form a protective shell over their bodies. If left untreated, they can eventually kill your plants. To treat, spray with Efekto Oleum. Depending on how bad the infestation is, you may need to reapply a few times to get the pests under control.

Fruit tree garden

  • Apples, pears, lemons, limes, mandarins, oranges, and kumquats.
  • Strawberries can be planted now. Research shows that planting strawberries in winter rainfall areas will produce a higher yield in summer. The delicate flowers can’t handle really frosty conditions, so in frost-prone areas, it is best to protect plants from the elements or wait until a little later to plant.
  • Collect and compost any rotting fruit from under fruit trees.
  • Check harvested fruit to make sure nothing is rotting. Remove fruit as soon as it starts to decay. Rot can spread throughout a whole harvest within a week or two.
  • Are your citrus trees still bearing? They have a great appetite for water and food. Feed them now with Wonder Fruit & Flower.
  • As winter progresses, start treating trees for fruit flies. Spray Efekto Eco Fruitfly Bait under the lower foliage, or in a band around the trunk, each week, until all fruits are harvested. 
  • Does it look like plants are wilting? If you notice bumps on the leaves and branches, treat scale insects with Efekto Oleum.

FLOWER GARDEN

  • Camellias, winter roses, dianthus, violets, snapdragons, and ornamental kale.
  • Poppies, sweet peas, wildflowers, calendula, violas, and pansies.
  • Deadhead or pinch out old flowers of snapdragons, stocks and pansies to encourage a new flush of flowers.
  • Begin pruning in mild areas and hold off pruning in cold areas until July or August.
  • Lift and divide perennials such as dahlias and delphiniums.

INDOOR PROTECTION

  • While you anticipate spending the coming season snug, warm and dry indoors, insects are also eyeing your home as a potential winter haven. Spray Bio Kill Extra GT RTU as a barrier spray around the entrances and windows of the house.
  • Your roof void offers a fantastic retreat for rodents like rats and mice to spend their winter. It gives them shelter and warmth, and places them fairly close to a food source – your kitchen. Take control by placing Efekto Eco Rat or Supa-Kill in tamper-proof bait stations.
  • Cockroaches are attracted to moisture, excess water, dark hiding places, and food, so they will naturally gravitate towards the kitchen. Treat the area with Efekto Fendona 6 SC or Bio Kill Extra GT RTU, and place either an Efekto Eco Trap A Roach or Efekto Zero Roach Bait Station in cupboards and hard-to-reach places.

VEGETABLE GARDEN

  • Broad beans, beetroot, broccoli, peas, cabbages, cauliflowers, celery, garlic, lettuces, radishes, rocket, onions, spinach, coriander, and parsley.
  • Protect young seedlings from hungry snails and slugs with a light sprinkling of Efekto Snailban.
  • Aphids are a common pest on beans, tomatoes and peas. They feast on sugary plant sap and cause leaves to curl and distort. To control aphids, spray plants every ten days with Efekto Malasol.
  • Protect young seedlings against cutworms with Efekto Cutworm bait or Efekto Everdeath.
  • Keep an eye out for blossom end rot, where the base of tomato fruit develops a sunken black patch. Applications of Wonder Dolomitic Lime or Wonder Root Builder Bone Meal can help reduce blossom end rot.
  • Watch out for powdery mildew on pumpkins, cucumbers and squashes. Initial symptoms are small powdery white spots on leaves, which can multiply and lead to leaves yellowing and dying. Control with regular sprays of Efekto Kumulus WG.
  • Expert tip: Caterpillars can decimate veggies during winter, particularly brassicas like broccoli, cabbage, kale and cauliflowers.
  • To control caterpillars on veggies, spray the plants every seven to ten days with Efekto Eco Insect Control.

Lawns

  • Harvester termites pose a big problem. They’re aggressive and can decimate a lawn. If you have harvester termites, try Efekto Kamikaze or Efekto Plant protector.
  • Fertilising your lawn over winter keeps it strong and green. In warmer parts of South Africa, lawn grass does not go into full ‘hibernation’ and will continue to grow but at a slower rate. Feed your lawn with Wonder Organic Vita-Boost.
  • Broadleaf lawn weeds can grow at a rapid pace during winter and weed plants will be maturing and starting to flower and set seed. You can control the most common broadleaf weeds in lawns with Efekto Banweed MCPA, Efekto Hormoban APM, Turfweeder 457.5 SL or Efekto No Weed Lawn RTU before they take over.

INDOOR PLANTS

  • If your indoor plants are looking wilted and lacklustre, give them a good drink with Wondersol All Purpose every two weeks.
  • Repot overcrowded indoor plants into slightly bigger pots using fresh potting mix and Wonder Organic Vita-Boost – this product acts as the perfect foundation for new root growth and nourishes the plant too.
  • Are your indoor plants healthy? Feed them every eight weeks with Wonder Plant Food Stix.
  • While the garden’s out in full bloom, don’t forget about the great indoors too! Regular use of Wonder Kelp will help indoor plants withstand environmental stress, pests and disease attacks.
  • Orchids that flower during the cooler months will appreciate a feed at this time. After all, it takes a lot of energy to put on a fabulous flower show! Use Wondersol All Purpose for the job.

JULY

July can be a hard time for plants, especially in cold areas. And even in the warmer parts, plants can find the winter months hard going. Growth slows right down, and problems become more evident when a plant is in a cold-weakened state. There are lots of things to keep you wonderfully busy during winter.

Take a look at our list of jobs to do in the garden in July below:

  • Plant or transplant deciduous trees now while they’re at their most dormant.
  • Tidy dead flowering stems from cymbidium orchids.
  • Control snails and slugs that are encouraged by moist weather by sprinkling Efekto Snailban pellets among clumps of foliage.
  • Reduce frost injury by gently hosing over plant material first thing in the morning.
  • When you have a few minutes to spare, head outside and give your garden a good dose of Wonder Organic Vita-Boost. This product contains a unique blend of ingredients that feeds soil microbes and other small micro-organisms, helps improve soil drainage, and gently fertilises your plants. The garden will love you for this! 
  • One of the best ways to protect your plants from frost is by wrapping them in Wonder Plant Protection Barrier.
  • Still seeing weeds pop up in paved areas and driveways? Treat them with Efekto Clear Up or Efekto No Weed Paving RTU.

Fruit tree garden

  • Lemons, limes, mandarins, grapefruit, oranges, and kumquats are all ripe and ready for harvest. Avocados will begin to ripen in some areas.
  • All deciduous fruit trees can be planted in July, August and September while the plants are still dormant. The widest selection will be available in garden stores and nurseries now. When planting, remember to add some Wonder Root Builder Bone Meal and Wonder Organic Vita-Boost, Fruit trees require a position in full sun, and shelter from strong prevailing winds is preferable.
  • Raspberries, currants, gooseberries, blueberries, boysenberries, and blackberries can all be planted.
  • It’s also strawberry planting time! To ensure a good produce, the plants need to have a period of winter chilling. The cold temperatures help to stimulate flower buds, which produce the fruit.
  • In frost-prone areas, protect tender fruit trees with Wonder Plant Protection Barrier.
  • Move tender fruiting crops growing in containers somewhere warmer for the winter.
  • Spray deciduous fruit trees with a winter clean-up spray (Efekto Kumulus WG and Efekto Oleum) to remove any lingering pests and diseases.
  • Leaf curl disease spores lurk in bark crevices and around leaf buds during winter, waiting to infect the newly emerging foliage in late winter and early spring on stone fruit. Treat with Efekto Virikop. Damage done by leaf curl is irreversible.
  • Spray Efekto Oleum to control overwintering eggs of sap-sucking pests such as aphids, woolly aphids and scale, as well as overwintering fungus spores that spread disease.
  • Grapes, apples, pears and apricots.
  • Before you start pruning plants, sharpen secateurs, saws and loppers.

FLOWER GARDEN

  • Winter roses, dianthus, violets, snapdragons, and ornamental kale.
  • Poppies, lupins, sweet peas, wildflowers, and calendula. In warm areas, petunias and impatiens can be sown too.
  • Blend a layer of Wonder Organic Vita-Boost into spring flower beds and allow it to settle for a month or so prior to planting.
  • When planting a new plant, mix Wonder Organic Vita-Boost and Wonder Root Builder Bone Meal into the soil at the bottom of the planting hole.
  • To plant rose bushes, dig a hole around 30cm wide and deep. Mix Wonder Organic Vita-Boost and Wonder Root Builder Bone Meal into the soil dug from the hole. It will improve the structure and quality of the soil when reapplied to the hole, and provide the rose bush with gentle slow-release organic nutrients as it establishes.
  • Pansies and violas do best in a sunny garden bed or are also perfect for growing in pots and hanging baskets. To promote healthy growth and lots of blooms, feed them every one to two weeks with Wonder Colourburst Rose Food, which is rich in flower-promoting potassium. In addition to keeping the plants looking tidy, removing spent blooms will encourage further flowering.
  • Protect young seedlings against cutworms with Efekto Cutworm bait or Efekto Everdeath.
  • Camellias will brighten up darker corners in the winter garden. While camellias are flowering or growing new foliage, feed them every six weeks with Wonder Rose & Flower. It’s rich in flower-promoting potassium as well as nitrogen for healthy green leaf growth.
  • Feed plants like camellias, dianthus, calendula, cornflower, daisies, and spring-flowering bulbs like hyacinths and daffodils with Wondersol All Purpose every one to two weeks.
  • When pruning plants, remember to seal the pruning wounds with Efekto Steriseal.
  • Use Efekto Kumulus WG instead of lime sulphur as it lasts longer and can be used during the warmer months for controlling powdery mildew and thrips.
  • Don’t leave your roses to fend for themselves, simply feed them with Wonder Colourburst Rose Food.
  • There is a range of common rose pests and diseases, such as powdery mildew, scale and mites that are lying in wait on rose stems during winter, ready to infect new spring foliage, stems and flower buds. Use Efekto Kumulus WG..
  • Did you know that Efekto Kumulus WG can also be used to control rust, red spider mites, thrips, and powdery mildew on plants from spring to winter? Just apply at the lower rate indicated on the pack.
  • Pansies and violas can be vulnerable to two key pests – aphids and caterpillars. Aphids can infest stems, causing plants to yellow and grow poorly. Caterpillars can chew through leaves and ruin flower buds. Both aphids and caterpillars can be easily controlled with Efekto Garden Gun RTU.
  • One of the insect pests that plague many succulents is mealybugs. These sap-sucking menaces appear as powdery mounds on stems and leaf bases, and can lead to leaves yellowing and distorting, poor plant health, and sooty mould disease. Control with Efekto Garden Gun RTU.

INDOOR PROTECTION

VEGETABLE GARDEN

  • Broad beans, beetroot, broccoli, peas, cabbages, cauliflowers, celery, garlic, lettuces, radishes, rocket, onions, spinach, coriander, and parsley.
  • Beetroot, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, celery, horseradish, kale, leeks, winter lettuces, and parsnips.
  • Blend Wonder Plant Starter All Purpose into garden beds prior to planting garlic, onions and seed potatoes.
  • As soon as vegetable seedlings are established, start feeding them each week with Wondersol All Purpose to encourage a great harvest. This product is boosted with extra potassium that promotes flowering and pod development.
  • Once seedlings start to form, encourage lots of healthy and strong growth by feeding them each week with Wonder Kelp.
  • Feeding established evergreen vegetables with Wonder Organic Vita-Boost is easy, just apply it every four weeks.
  • Keep watch for caterpillars, which can rapidly devour winter vegetable leaves. Spray spinach plants every seven to ten days with Efekto Eco Insect Control SC to control caterpillars.
  • Are your seedlings being cut overnight? We know who’s to blame. Control cutworms with Efekto Cutworm bait or Efekto Everdeath.
  • Peas and beans can be susceptible to attack by aphids, which feed on the sugary plant sap. Control aphids by spraying Efekto Malasol.
  • Winter vegetables can be prone to diseases like powdery mildew. Control it with Efekto Kumulus WG.

Lawns

  • Winter weeding – it’s got to be done! Use Efekto Banweed MCPA, Efekto Hormoban APM or Turfweeder 457.5 SL for patches of weeds, or spot spray with Efekto No Weed Lawn.
  • Expert tip: A strong root system helps promote a healthy lawn, even during periods of drought and stress. Wonder Kelp assists nutrient uptake and stimulates deeper lawn root development.
  • Efekto Cypermethrin 200 EC controls harvester termites, ants, and grasshoppers in lawns. Use preventatively before these insects become pests.
  • Fertilising your lawn over winter keeps it strong and green. In warmer parts of South Africa, lawn grass does not go into full ‘hibernation’ and will continue to grow just at a slower rate. Feed your lawn with Wonder Organic Vita-Boost.
  • Rainfall and humidity, together with mild temperatures, can promote the growth of lawn diseases such as brown patch, dollar spot and anthracnose. Lawn diseases can be hard to diagnose as signs can be similar to other lawn problems. Common lawn disease symptoms include areas of small discoloured brown, dead or dying patches in the lawn. Lawn diseases can spread and also reoccur year after year, so it’s important to get them under control with Efekto Lawn fungicide 500 EC to keep your lawn looking fantastic.

INDOOR PLANTS

  • Do your indoor plants need a feed? Simply insert Wonder Plant Food Stix into the soil mix and water in. No mess, no fuss – and it lasts for eight weeks.
  • Feed orchids with Wonder Plant Food Stix during their busy flowering season. It’s as easy as pushing a spike into the potting soil midway between the pot edge and the stem every eight weeks.
  • Only the best for your blooming beautiful hanging baskets! Use a good quality potting mix with Wonder Waterwise Crystals to help the soil retain moisture, and the flowers with Wondersol All Purpose.
  • Remove any old or yellow foliage and stems and dust the leaves regularly. Add a few drops of Efekto Oleum to the leaves and wipe with a damp cloth to promote a glossy appearance.

AUGUST

August is an exciting month; spring is almost here and you will start seeing the first signs of the garden coming to life. Generally, there is more sunshine this month than in July, but be sure to keep an eye on the forecast, there could be some surprise winter turns to come.

Take a look at our list of jobs to do in the garden in August below:

  • Cut or pluck dead flowers from bulbs but allow their leaves to die down naturally. Feed plants every week with Wondersol All Purpose until the leaves yellow.
  • Plan and prepare a new veggie bed.
  • Transplant deciduous trees and shrubs while they’re still dormant.
  • New dahlia tubers can go into well-prepared, sunny garden beds.
  • Wonder Organic Vita-Boost can be used all year round, on all plants in the garden.
  • Improves soil water and nutrient-holding capacity
  • Improves soil structure
  • Encourages earthworms and soil microorganisms
  • Provides gentle, slow-release organic nutrients
  • Feed camellias and azaleas after flowering to encourage new growth with Wonder Colourburst Azalea.
  • Use a soil improver and fertiliser, Wonder Organic Vita-Boost ahead of the next growing season. Your harvest will thank you!
  • When planting new plants, mix some hydrated Wonder Waterwise Crystals into the soil or potting mix. These crystals can store up to 400 times their weight in water and release moisture back to the plants over time, making them very handy during the drier months. It’s a good idea to pre-wet the crystals before using them.

Fruit tree garden

  • Lemons, limes, mandarins, kumquats, and avocados.
  • All deciduous fruit trees can be planted in July, August and September while the plants are still dormant. The widest selection will be available in garden stores now.
  • All fruit trees require full sun. Shelter from wind is preferable.
  • Raspberries, currants, gooseberries, blueberries, boysenberries, and blackberries can all be planted now.
  • It’s strawberry planting time. To ensure a good strawberry crop, the plants need to have a period of winter chilling. The cold temperatures help stimulate the flower buds, which produce the fruit.
  • Spray Efekto Virikop onto peach and nectarine trees when their new buds start to swell.
  • In frost-prone areas, protect tender fruit trees with a Wonder Plant Protection Barrier.
  • Move tender fruiting produce growing in containers to a warmer spot for the winter.
  • Spray deciduous fruit trees with a winter clean-up spray (Efekto Kumulus WG and Efekto Oleum) to remove any overwintering pests and diseases.
  • Drape a frost or shade cloth over sensitive plants with Wonder Plant Protection Barrier. It forms a protective barrier over leaves which helps reduce frost damage.
  • It is an ideal time to break the life cycle of a range of common pests and diseases lying in wait on deciduous plant stems during winter, ready to infect new spring foliage and flower buds. Spray leafless stone fruit and apple trees, grapevines, roses, and other deciduous shrubs like hydrangeas with Efekto Kumulus WG.
  • Pruning promotes new growth and increases fruiting power and capacity. It also allows more light into the plant or tree. Always remove dead and diseased wood.
  • Prune grapevines before the sap starts to move. In warmer areas, this may be your last chance to prune, but in colder parts, it can be done over the next month or so.
  • Prune apples, pears and apricots.
  • Avoid pruning peaches, plums and almonds in winter because it can spread the silver leaf virus. These fruits should be pruned in summer to limit its spread.

FLOWER GARDEN

  • Proteas, azaleas, daffodils, tulips, camellias, viburnum, winter roses, dianthus, and ornamental kale.
  • Poppies, lupins, aquilegia, hollyhocks, larkspur, sweet peas, marigolds, calendula, petunias, and impatiens in warm areas only.
  • Apply Wonder Fruit & Flower to existing bulbs.
  • Apply a side dressing of Wonder Shake ‘n Grow Special Fertiliser to plants in pots and planters.
  • At the end of winter and early spring, roses will start to wake from their winter slumber and need to be fed with specialised rose food. Use Wonder Rose & Flower or Wonder Colourburst Rose Food – these products are specially formulated to provide roses with the nutrients they need to grow healthy foliage and lots of heavenly flowers.
  • Despite being hardy, succulents will be much healthier when they’re fed regularly. The feedings don’t have to be complicated. Wonder Plant Food Stix have been specially designed to provide a balanced blend of slow-release nutrients.
  • In warm areas, aphids may begin to appear on fresh new shoots. Control them with Efekto Aphicide.
  • Slugs and snails are still the main problem at this time as they munch through tender shoots and leaves of newly planted flowers. Control them with Efekto Snailban.
  • Prune to tidy up the garden before new growth appears in spring.
  • If you’re not sure what species your plants are, the general rule of thumb is to prune them back once they have flowered and seal the wounds with Efekto Steriseal.
  • Protect young seedlings against cutworms with Efekto Cutworm bait or Efekto Everdeath.
  • Keep on top of weeds to prevent major invasions in spring.
  • Protect azaleas from petal blight. In late winter, start spraying azaleas with Efekto Virikop.
  • Are you seeing leaf silvering or mottling on your leaves? Spray thrips with Efekto Eco Insect Control SC.
  • Monitor for tender leaf growth in late winter and protect plants from red spider mites, which causes leaves to bronze and mottle. To control, spray plants with Efekto Kumulus WG, including the undersides of leaves where insects often hide.

INDOOR PROTECTION

  • Be vigilant with rats and mice, which seek shelter and food indoors during cool weather. Use Efekto Eco Rat or Supa-Kill pre-baited bait stations to take back control.
  • Cockroaches can find their way into even the cleanest of homes. And the last thing you want is a cockroach scurrying around before dinner. But don’t worry, Efekto Eco Trap A Roach has you covered.

VEGETABLE GARDEN

  • Beans (dwarf, runner), broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflowers, celery, chervil, lettuces, leeks, radishes, rocket, and spinach.
  • Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflowers, celery, kale, leeks, winter lettuces, rocket, and spinach.
  • Protect young seedlings from hungry snails and slugs with a light sprinkling of Efekto Snailban.
  • Aphids are a common pest on beans, tomatoes and peas, which feast on sugary plant sap and cause leaves to curl and distort. To control aphids, spray plants every ten days with Efekto Malasol.
  • Watch out for blossom end rot, where the base of tomato fruit develops a sunken black patch. Applications of Wonder Dolomitic Lime or Wonder Root Builder Bone Meal can help reduce blossom end rot.
  • Are your seedlings being cut overnight? We know who’s to blame. Control cutworms with Efekto Cutworm bait or Efekto Everdeath.
  • Watch out for powdery mildew on pumpkins, cucumbers and squashes. Initial symptoms are small powdery white spots on leaves, which can multiply and lead to leaves yellowing and dying. Control with regular sprays of Efekto Kumulus WG.
  • Expert tip: Caterpillars can decimate veggies during winter, particularly brassicas like broccoli, cabbage, kale, and cauliflower.
  • To control caterpillars on veggies, spray the plants each seven to ten days with Efekto Eco Insect Control SC.

Lawns

  • What goes on in the soil beneath your lawn is just as important as the leafy green growth we see on top. The health of the soil and lawn roots play a significant role in how well your lawn looks and performs. Prepare your soil with Wonder Super Phosphate and Wonder Organic Vita-Boost.
  • A strong root system promotes a healthier lawn, even during periods of drought and stress. Wonder Kelp improves soil, activates soil microbes, assists in nutrient uptake, and stimulates deeper lawn root development.
  • Expert tip: A best-kept secret if you are looking for a liquid lawn fertiliser – you can use Wondersol All Purpose weekly on your lawn. Suitable for all lawn types!
  • Don’t let weeds sneak up on you during the cooler weather. Get them under control with careful spot sprays of Efekto No Weed Lawn.
  • Spreading Wonder Organic Vita-Boost over your lawn in late winter provides essential nutrients and trace elements to encourage thick, lush green lawn growth. Wonder Organic Vita-Boost also contains rich organic ingredients that will nurture and improve the soil and encourage strong root development.

INDOOR PLANTS

  • Gnats are pesky little flies commonly found around plants in compost and potting soil. Treat with Efekto Malasol.
  • Pamper indoor plants with Wondersol All Purpose. It is made from 100% naturally derived ingredients and added kelp, and is applied to the growing medium or foliage to help plants flourish.
  • Expert tip: It’s important to regularly feed your indoor plants! It’s as simple as inserting Wonder Plant Food Stix into the potting mix. This plant food provides indoor plants with a complete and balanced blend of nutrients to promote lush, healthy growth for eight weeks.

SEPTEMBER

It’s spring! The garden is starting to come alive and bloom again after a long, dark winter. You can expect a mix of weather conditions through September. Some days you’ll find mild sunshine and others you’ll find rain and heavy winds. As always, use the optimum weather days to get any outside jobs done. Remember to keep on top of weeds, catching them while they are young is much easier than once they have established. Keep on top of any insects from September as they will begin to show an interest in your plants as the temperatures warm up.

Take a look at our list of jobs to do in the garden in September below:

  • Plant trees to bring birds into the garden.
  • Prune spring-flowering shrubs as soon as their flowering has finished.
  • Be careful this season as Aphids feast on new shoots and flower buds. They just love everything in the flower garden. Control them with Efekto Plant Protector.
  • With so many plants bursting to life, spring is the perfect time to nourish and improve your soil. That means you need some Wonder Organic Vita-Boost to improve and condition your soil as well as feed your plants.
  • Powdery mildew flourishes in spring. Apply Efekto Rosecare , Efekto Funginex or Efekto Kumulus WG to control powdery mildew on flowers and ornamentals.

Fruit tree garden

  • Avocados, persimmons. Finish picking the last of the citrus crops – lemons, limes, mandarins, and kumquats are all ripe and ready for harvest.
  • All deciduous fruit trees can be planted from July to September while the plants are still dormant. The widest selection will be available in garden stores and nurseries now.
  • It’s berry planting time. Plant strawberries, raspberries, currants, gooseberries, blueberries, boysenberries, and blackberries. Strawberries, blueberries and gooseberries are also happy to grow in pots and containers.
  • To ensure a good crop, prepare beds by working soil over with a garden fork, and add a blend of Wonder Plant Starter All Purpose prior to planting.
  • Feed figs, bananas and pawpaws with Wonder Super Phosphate.
  • An application of Wonder Kelp every two weeks will keep your fruit trees thriving – this seaweed-based plant tonic promotes strong root growth and increases fruiting and flowering capacity.
  • In mild areas where frost is not an issue, prune back citrus after harvest. Pruning opens up the framework of the plant to allow more light into the centre of the plant. Fertilise with Wonder Fruit & Flower around the drip line after pruning.
  • Prune apples, pears, and apricots. Wait for summer to prune peaches, plums and almonds.
  • Spray stone fruit trees after pruning with Efekto Virikop to protect from leaf curl disease.
  • Fruit can be ‘stung’ while they are still small and before they change colour. Apply Efekto Fruitfly Bait to the trunk or underside of the leaves of plants to protect the fruit.
  • Seeing small bumps on your citrus trees? Apply Efekto Aphicide to treat for citrus psylla.
  • Aphids can have up to eight babies a day, some of which are born pregnant themselves! That makes for an extremely fast-growing population – and a good reason to control them ASAP with Efekto Aphicide or Efekto Malasol.
  • Continue to prune to promote new growth.

FLOWER GARDEN

  • Camellias, daphne, daffodils, tulips, lavender, poppies, orchids, stock, aquilegia, and azaleas.
  • Alyssum, asters, begonias, chrysanthemums, Californian poppies, carnations, cosmos, dahlias, dianthus, gazanias, gypsophila, impatiens, marigolds, petunias, nasturtiums, phlox, salvia, snapdragons, statice, sunflowers, and verbena.
  • Spray pesky insects with Efekto Cypermethrin 200EC or Efekto Malasol as soon as they appear.
  • Spray roses with Efekto Rosecare RTU to control black spot, mildew and aphids.
  • Want beautiful blooming results? Use Wonder Colourburst Rose Food and Efekto Rosecare 3 for an abundance of flowers like never before.
  • See a black covering on your leaves? Sooty mould is a black, powdery fungus that is a secondary fungus caused by sucking insects. Treat flowering and evergreen plants with Efekto Insecticide Granules Plus.
  • Are your azalea leaves becoming thick, curled, fleshy, and pale green to white in colour? If some, you’re dealing with azalea leaf gall. Treat with Efekto Virikop as soon as possible.
  • Protect young seedlings from cutworms with Efekto Cutworm bait or Efekto Everdeath. Hibiscus plants can be prone to aphids. Control them with regular sprays of Efekto Garden Gun.
  • Common diseases in spring include powdery mildew, which appears as a dusting of white spots on leaves, stems and flower buds. Treat with Efekto Kumulus WG or Efekto Funginex.
  • Are you seeing small white insects that often congregate on the undersides of leaves and fly up in a cloud when disturbed?
  • Whiteflies can be controlled using Efekto Garden Gun RTU.
  • Seeing brown spots on the leaves of your geranium and hollyhock leaves? Treat rust with Efekto Virikop or Efekto Funginex.
  • Snails can be destructive when left to their own devices. Place Efekto Snailban every few weeks to keep slugs and snails at bay.
  • Spray hibiscus plants with Efekto Karbaspray to control hibiscus beetles.
  • Prune back camellias as soon as they finish flowering.
  • Plant hanging baskets with summer colour in mild areas, and blend in herbs or strawberries for some edible options. Add Wonder Rose & Flower to rose beds – this will give them a boost for the upcoming season.

INDOOR PROTECTION

VEGETABLE GARDEN

  • Beans, capsicums, courgettes, cucumbers, eggplants, sweetcorn, tomatoes, basil, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflowers, celery, lettuces, radishes, rocket, spinach, and Swiss chard.
  • Broccoli, cabbages, cauliflowers, celery, kale, leeks, early-season lettuces, parsnips, rocket, Swiss chard, spinach, and spring onions.
  • An application of Wonder Kelp every two weeks will keep your garden thriving – this seaweed-based plant tonic promotes strong root growth, reduces transplant shock, improves germination rates, and increases flowering and fruiting capacity.
  • Remember to feed tomatoes, peppers, beans and eggplants with Wonder Fruit & Flower.
  • Feed herbs and evergreen vegetables with Wondersol All Purpose every week.

Lawns

  • In spring, it’s important to stimulate root growth by improving the movement of oxygen, water and nutrients to the roots. Aerate your lawn and apply a good fertiliser like Wonder Plant Booster All Purpose and you are good to go!
  • If your lawn has seen better days or you’re starting from scratch, then it’s time for a lawn overhaul! Spring is an ideal time to get started. Feed your lawn with Wonder Deep Green for a wonderful lush green lawn.
  • Everyone wants a vibrant green lawn in time for summer. But if you notice that the leaves are brown, it is most probably a lawn fungus infection. Use Efekto Lawn Fungicide 500 EC to control the disease.
  • No one likes weeds on their lawn. Here’s how to get the best results from our weedkillers. Use either Efekto Turfweeder 457.5 SL, Efekto Hormoban APM or Efekto Banweed MCPA mixed with Efekto G49 Wetter. For smaller areas and spot spraying, use Efekto No Weed Lawn RTU. An application of a nitrogenous fertiliser like Wonder Lawn & Leaf, Wonder Deep Green or Wonder Organic Vita-Boost Vermicompost three weeks before treatment will help you keep control over the weeds. Remember to always follow instructions on product boxes for safety purposes.
  • Take control measures against crickets, ants and lawn caterpillars with Efekto Everdeath and water in.

INDOOR PLANTS

  • Forgetting to feed your indoor plants? Wonder has the perfect solution for you. Wonder Plant Food Stix feeds your indoor plants for eight weeks.
  • Are your indoor plants looking a little worse for wear? Start using Wondersol All Purpose to get them looking great again.
  • Just because they’re inside, doesn’t mean your houseplants are safe from pesky insects. Treat them with Efekto Garden Gun RTU.

OCTOBER

This exciting month is a mix of new growth and spring awakening, thanks to the showers in September and the ground starting to become warmer. You will notice a lot of plants starting to grow quite rapidly. Generally, there is a bit more sunshine this month, but there is still the chance of wind and showers. If the weather permits, start regularly mowing your lawn to keep on top of growth, but make sure your mower blades are at the highest point. We know you will be excited to get out in the garden after winter!

Take a look at our list of jobs to do in the garden in October below:

Fruit tree garden

  • In cold areas, the citrus harvest is about to end, and strawberries may be ripening in the warmest and most sheltered of areas.
  • Lemons, limes, mandarins, oranges, and grapefruit in warm areas where late frost is not a threat.
  • Strawberries, raspberries, currants, gooseberries, blueberries, boysenberries, and blackberries.
  • Passion fruit – a climbing fruit that needs support for its tendrils.
  • Remember fruits require full sun and shelter from wind is preferable.
  • Prune tired old trees, renew mulch and feed with Wonder Fruit & Flower. Remember, though, if cut back severely, the plant may not fruit again for a few seasons.
  • It’s time to prune back citrus, opening up the framework of the plant to allow more light into the centre. In cold areas, wait until November to prune. Fertilise with Wonder Rose & Flower around the drip line after pruning.
  • In frost-prone areas, keep tender plants covered with Wonder Plant Protection Barrier in case of a late frost.
  • Spray citrus at the pre-blossom stage with Efekto Virikop to control brown rot.
  • Are you noticing a black substance on your flower leaves? This is sooty mould – a secondary infection from sucking insects. Simply treat the insects with Efekto Malasol or Efekto Aphicide.
  • It’s time to prune back citrus, opening up the framework of the plant to allow more light into the centre. In cold areas, wait until November to prune. Fertilise with Wonder Fruit & Flower around the drip line after pruning.
  • Scale and mealybugs enjoy citrus fruits, and if allowed, will slowly suck the vigour from your trees. If you find these pests, treat them with Efekto Malasol.
  • Fruits can be ‘stung’ while they are still small and before they change colour. Eggs hatch and larvae tunnel into and ruin the fruit. Control with Efekto Fruitfly Bait.

FLOWER GARDEN

  • Iris, delphiniums, larkspur, stock, snapdragons, lavender, chrysanthemums, sweet peas, roses, and poppies.
  • Salvia, zinnia, alyssum, aster, chrysanthemums, Californian poppies, carnation, cosmos, dahlias, dianthus, gazanias, gypsophila, impatiens, marigolds, petunias, nasturtiums, phlox, salvia, snapdragons, statice, sunflowers, and verbena.
  • Prune back camellias, magnolias and azaleas as soon as they finish flowering to encourage new growth for next season’s flowers.
  • Spray with Efekto Rosecare 3 or Efekto Rosecare RTU to control black spot, powdery mildew and rust on roses.
  • Efekto Insecticide Granules Plus can be used when planting new roses and any time after new flower growth appears. Keep applying every eight weeks to control insect damage.
  • Are your seedlings being cut overnight? Control cutworm with Efekto Cutworm bait or Efekto Everdeath.
  • Are stink bugs making an unwelcome appearance on your flowers, especially gardenia? If so, use Efekto Garden Gun RTU to control them and other insects.
  • New foliage and flower buds can attract damaging insect pests like aphids. Regular sprays of Efekto Garden Gun RTU will help control common insect pests like aphids, scale, chafer beetles, as well as caterpillars.

INDOOR PROTECTION

VEGETABLE GARDEN

  • Beans, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, capsicums, cauliflowers, celery, chervil, chillies, courgettes, cucumbers, eggplants, leeks, lettuces, parsnips, radishes, rocket, Swiss chard, spinach, sweetcorn, tomatoes, and basil.
  • Asparagus, broad beans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflowers, lettuces, rocket, Swiss chard, spinach, and spring onions.
  • Do you like growing your own potatoes? Now is the perfect time to plant them. If you have an old Wonder fertiliser bag, simply remove the liner and you have a planting bag for your potatoes.
  • Sprinkle Wonder Organic Vita-Boost on the soil at planting time and around crops once a month in gardens with poor-quality, dry soil.
  • Apply Wonder Kelp twice a month to give plants a boost for the season.
  • Planting tomatoes? Keep an eye out for blossom end rot on fruit – its presence indicates that the plant needs some Wonder Root Builder Bone Meal.

Lawns

  • If your grass looks like it’s in need of a refresh, spring is the best time to get to work on it. Maintenance may involve dethatching, aerating, and feeding with Wonder Organic Vita-Boost or Wonder Lawn & Leaf. Your lawn will then be looking rejuvenated in a month’s time.
  • Are there brown patches on your lawn? Lawn caterpillars could be knowing away at your grass at night. Try placing an old damp towel or cloth over a brown patch in your lawn one evening, and then lift the towel or cloth early the next morning. If lawn caterpillars are eating your grass they will be attached to the underside of the towel or cloth. Treat the lawn area with Wonder Lawn Pest & Green to green up your lawn and control lawn caterpillars.
  • If you are spending time at home and outside on the lawn, make sure it is free of sticky bur clover. Treat areas with our Efekto range of selective broadleaf weedkillers. The products are formulated to selectively kill broadleaf weeds in lawns.
  • If you have had rain, your lawn is at risk of fungal diseases like dollar pot. Apply Efekto Lawn Fungicide 500 EC to cure and prevent this damage, along with that of other diseases like brown patch and rust.

INDOOR PLANTS

  • How are your indoor plants looking? Are their leaves droopy and yellowing? Feed them with Wonder Plant Food Stix every eight weeks or with Wondersol All Purpose every week or fortnight.
  • If you want to boost the roots of your pot plants, while making them more resilient against transplant shock, environmental conditions, pests and diseases, now is the time to use Wonder Kelp.
  • Sucking pests such as mealybugs and mites can infest indoor plants, causing leaf yellowing and poor plant health. Treat with Efekto Garden Gun RTU.

NOVEMBER

Now’s the time to get busy planting some colour, mulching garden beds and maintaining the lawn so the house looks great for the festive season. Your trees, shrubs, perennials, and seasonal annuals should all be flowering, your fruit trees and vegetables should be showing promise of crops to come, and your lawn should be lush and green. If you are planning on laying a new lawn, it’s best to do this before it gets too dry. Make sure you keep all newly planted trees, shrubs and plants well-watered during dry spells, especially when they are first planted, and add some Wonder Waterwise Crystals to help with water retention within the soil. Outdoors, plant summer annuals like petunias, sun-loving veggies and tropical plants that thrive in the heat. Keep on top of weeds too with Efekto Selective Weedkiller.

Fruit tree garden

  • Strawberries will be ripening in the very warmest and most sheltered of areas. In colder areas, pick the last of the citrus.
  • Passion fruit – just remember it needs something to climb up to support its tendrils.
  • Protect apples and pears from codling moths by spraying them with Efekto Cypermethrin 200 EC.
  • Use Efekto Malasol to control scale insects.
  • Following a fruit fly programme using Efekto Fruitfly Bait is essential for a good harvest. Infested fruit should be sealed in a plastic bag and left to ‘cook’ in the sun.
  • Gardeners with fruit trees now have to spray their apple and pear trees for codling moths with Efekto Cypermethrin 200 EC.
  • Leaves show black spots on the upper or lower leaf surface. Spots later turn olive green or black and velvety. Older spots on the upper surface give infected leaves a blistered, scabby appearance. Treat apple scab with Efekto Virikop.

FLOWER GARDEN

  • Roses, iris, delphiniums, larkspur, stock, snapdragons, lavender, chrysanthemums, gerbera, sweet peas, and poppies.
  • Cornflowers, zinnias, alyssum, asters, begonias, chrysanthemums, Californian poppies, carnations, cosmos, dahlias, dianthus, gazanias, geraniums, gypsophila, impatiens, marigolds, petunias, nasturtiums, phlox, salvia, snapdragons, statice, sunflowers, and verbena.
  • Apply Wonder Shake ‘n Grow Special Fertiliser to lilies and gladiolus to ensure good flower bud development for summer displays.
    Begin watering in dry areas, the best time being in the morning or early evening. Water the soil, not the plants. Incorporate compost and Wonder Waterwise Crystals to help the soil hold on to more moisture.
    Apply Wonder Rose & Flower to flower borders to give plants a much-needed boost for the upcoming season.

INDOOR PROTECTION

VEGETABLE GARDEN

  • Beans, beetroot, capsicums, carrots, celery, courgettes, cucumbers, eggplants, leeks, lettuces, radishes, rocket, Swiss chard, spinach, sweetcorn, and tomatoes.
  • Asparagus, broad beans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflowers, lettuces, rocket, spinach, and spring onions.

Lawns

INDOOR PLANTS

  • A common misconception is that orchids are difficult to grow, but with the right conditions and care, you can grow them quite easily.
  • Feed indoor plants and ferns regularly with a specially formulated plant food to promote healthy leaf growth and lots of flowers.

DECEMBER

Summer is officially here and there’s plenty to do in preparation for the festive season. All of your hard work in the garden over the previous months really starts to pay off. The transition from late spring to early summer is often blurred. Some parts of the country would have already experienced extreme heat – well before the official start of the new season. Keep on top of garden maintenance by deadheading plants regularly. This will encourage continuous blooms throughout the summer, and well into the autumn season. Take care of summer essentials by applying Wonder Waterwise Crystals when planting and Wonder Organic Vita-Boost when caring for your lawn. Don’t forget to take time to sit and enjoy your garden during the summer.

Take a look at our list of jobs to do in the garden in December below:

  • To promote lots of healthy growth and festive flowers, keep pot plants well-watered, and feed each week with Wondersol All Purpose. Regularly trim off any dead flowers to keep the plants looking tidy.
  • Watering in the morning will reduce the risk of fungal disease. Efekto Rosecare 3 and Efekto Rosecare RTU control disease in roses and other ornamentals.
  • Train plants to develop good water habits by watering deeply and infrequently.
  • Harvest strawberries regularly and make sure they’re protected from snails and slugs with Efekto Snailban pellets.
  • Raise the mower height during warm weather – longer grass means cooler soil at the root level.
  • Control whiteflies, which are a nuisance on tomato plants. Spray with Efekto Cypermethrin 200 EC.
  • Cut back and fertilise fuchsias with Wonder Shake ‘n Grow Special Fertiliser.
  • Feed mangos with Wonder Fruit & Flower to encourage the production of healthy fruit.
  • Control hibiscus flower beetles with Efekto Karbaspray.
  • During summer, black beetles emerge from holes in the lawn. Treat with Efekto Cypermethrin 200 EC.
  • Add Wonder Waterwise Crystals to pot plants before going on holiday.
  • Scale insects breed at this time of year. Inspect plants carefully, especially susceptible varieties such as gardenias, roses and citrus. Treat with Efekto Malasol.
  • Two-spotted mites (also known as red spiders) can be kept in check by regularly mist-watering over leaves. Efekto Kumulus WG also helps with their control on roses, ornamentals and vegetables.
  • Amaryllis lily borers start to make an appearance in summer. Control the caterpillars with Efekto Eco Insect Control SC or Efekto Cypermethrin 200 EC.
  • Chafer beetles are one of the most devastating and frustrating garden insect pests. They show up in droves and skeletonize the leaves and flowers. Treat your plants with Efekto Karbaspray or Efekto Garden Gun.
  • Give your lawn some thorough deep watering in the weeks leading up to the festive season and holidays. This will moisten the soil down into the root zone, encouraging lawn roots to grow deeper.
  • Do not be tempted to give your lawn a harsh low mowing just before the festive season. This can scalp the lawn and create bare patches, which are unattractive and will invite weeds. It’s better to mow little and often, removing no more than a third of the grass foliage each time.
  • Aggressive, unwanted trees and deep-rooted vines can be very challenging to control. Luckily there is Efekto Garlon 4, which works on invasive trees, vines, roots, and all.
  • Broadleaf weeds and grasses are a common problem on paths and driveways. Spray Efekto Clear Up or Efekto No Weed Paving RTU to kill existing weeds.
  • Fancy a little DIY? Add a soil conditioner like Wonder Organic Vita-Boost to the garden.

Fruit tree garden

  • Strawberries will be ripening in warm and sheltered areas. In colder areas, pick the last of the citrus.
  • Plant passion fruit – just remember the vines need something to climb up to support their tendrils. Treat fruit flies with Efekto Fruitfly Bait.
  • Start a programme of feeding fruiting plants every four to six weeks with Wonder Fruit & Flower throughout the growing season.
  • Protect apples and pears from codling moths by spraying them with Efekto Cypermethrin 200 EC.
  • Fruit can be struck by fruit flies – use Efekto Fruitfly Bait or Efekto Malasol mixed with sugar to control them.
  • Seeing bumps on leaves? Use Efekto Malasol to control scale insects.
  • Psyllids attack the foliage of citrus at this time of year causing tiny, raised lumps to pop up on young leaves. Efekto Aphicide is great for combatting these disfiguring pests.

FLOWER GARDEN

  • Roses, iris, delphiniums, larkspur, stock, snapdragons, lavender, chrysanthemums, gerbera, sweet peas, and poppies.
  • Cornflowers, zinnias, alyssum, asters, begonias, chrysanthemums, Californian poppies, carnations, cosmos, dahlias, dianthus, gazanias, geraniums, gypsophila, impatiens, marigolds, petunias, nasturtiums, phlox, salvia, snapdragons, statice, sunflowers, and verbena.
  • Begin watering in dry areas, the best time being in the morning or early evening. Water the soil, not the plants. Incorporate compost and Wonder Waterwise Crystals to help the soil hold on to more moisture.

INDOOR PROTECTION

  • The next time a fly is buzzing around the house, remember this: Houseflies lay their eggs on decomposing organic matter such as garbage and animal waste, gather various pathogens on their legs, feet, bodies and mouths, and then transfer these to their next landing spot, like your windowsill or countertop. Treat garbage bins with Efekto Everdeath and their landing sites with Efekto No Insect Indoors RTU Flying Insects spray.
  • Cockroaches are the most common type of crawling insect to infest homes. They cause particular problems because of their small size. Control cockroaches with Efekto Fendona 6 SC or Efekto Trap A Roach.
  • During the warm season, you and your animal companion will be outdoors a lot which could expose your furry friend to fleas. Fleas feed on all animal blood, including that of humans, which means that a flea infestation will be distressing to both you and your pet. Treat the lawn with Efekto Malasol or Bio Kill Equine Spray.
  • Rodents will also introduce other pests such as fleas to your property. Because they breed quickly, controlling an infestation once it starts can take quite a bit of effort. Use Efekto Eco Rat or Supa-Kill Pre-Baited bait Stations to make rat and mice control simple.

VEGETABLE GARDEN

  • Beans, beetroot, capsicums, carrots, celery, courgettes, cucumbers, eggplants, leeks, lettuces, parsnips, radishes, rocket, spinach, sweetcorn, and tomatoes.
  • Asparagus, broad beans, beetroot, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflowers, lettuces, rocket, spinach, and spring onions.
  • Sprinkle Wonder Organic Vita-Boost on the soil at planting time and around crops once a month in gardens with poor-quality, dry soil.
  • Apply Wonder Kelp every two weeks to give plants a boost for the season.
  • Sweet corn is a hungry plant and should be fed each week with Wondersol All Purpose to encourage healthy leaf and stem growth as well as cob development.
  • It’s important to water tomato plants regularly to ensure the soil (or potting mix) is consistently moist. Inadequate or irregular watering, which contributes to calcium deficiency, can cause tomato fruit to develop a condition called blossom end rot, which results in a dark, sunken area at the base of the tomato fruit. An application of Wonder Root Builder Bone Meal or Wonder Dolomite Lime can help reduce the incidence of blossom end rot by supplying plants with calcium.
  • Scatter Efekto Snailban granules for the control of slugs and snails.
  • Control cutworm with Efekto Cutworm Bait if they reappear once the weather warms.
  • Powdery mildew may begin to appear on courgettes, cucumbers, pumpkins, and grapes – spray plants with Efekto Kumulus WG to control it.
  • If aphids are attacking your garden, spray your plants with Efekto Malasol. It kills aphids on contact, along with other listed pests.
  • Sweet corn can be susceptible to attack by caterpillars, which can chew into the developing corn cob. Regularly monitor for caterpillars themselves or signs of their damage or droppings. Treat with Efekto Stalkborer Granules Plus.
  • Beans can be prone to infestations of red spider mites; you may start to notice leaves yellowing or mottling and spidery webbing developing between leaves and stems. Control mites by spraying the plants with Efekto Kumulus WG.
  • Watch out for snails and slugs, which like to devour the leaves. Control them by using Efekto Snailban in an Efekto Eco Snail & Slug Trap.

Lawns

  • A lush deep green lawn looks fantastic and creates a great space for entertaining. It’s easy to give your lawn a quick makeover with Wonder Deep Green.
  • Don’t come back from holidays to a lawn full of weeds! Before you head off on your summer holiday, control common broadleaf weeds with Efekto Hormoban APM or Turfweeder 457.5 SL. For smaller areas or spot spraying, use Efekto No Weed Lawn RTU.
  • Warm, wet weather provides the perfect conditions for fungal lawn diseases like brown patch and dollar spot. They can be difficult to diagnose and control. Keep lawn diseases under control with Efekto Lawn Fungicide 500 EC.
  • Now is the time when winged harvester termite queens and males emerge from existing nests for mating. Fertilised queens then begin looking for a new nesting site, which could be your home. If they show up, stop them dead with Efekto Cypermethrin 200 EC. It kills on contact and leaves long-lasting protection for a month.
  • Dead and dying patches in the lawn that feel spongy underfoot might mean mole crickets are lurking in the soil. Treat with Efekto Plant Protector to protect your lawn from damage.

INDOOR PLANTS

  • One of the challenges with indoor plants is an accumulation of dust on their foliage. Using gloves, wipe the leaves occasionally with a damp cloth mixed with a few drops of Efekto Oleum to keep them clean.
  • If you are going away over the festive season, add Wonder Plant Food Stix to your indoor pot plants. This product will feed your plants for eight weeks. Water all your potted plants thoroughly a day or so before leaving then move them all to the coolest part of the house. They will survive quite well for a couple of weeks without further water.
  • Feed indoor plants weekly with Wondersol All Purpose if you are staying at home.
  • Scale aphids, whiteflies, mites, and mealybugs: These are common pests that affect indoor plants, particularly if the plants are under stress. Indoor plants can be treated with Efekto Garden Gun RTU.
  • Powdery mildew and rust can also be found on houseplants. Treat by spraying with Efekto Rosecare 3 RTU or Efekto Funginex.

ECO GARDENING

If you want to give back to mother nature, then why not grow a sustainable garden? Get started on the right foot with these environmentally responsible gardening practices.

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