August and the first half of September are always a bit of a vasbyt time. There are clear signs that Spring and Summer are around the corner, but we also know that before the equinox on the 21st of September, you can be sure the Winter will rear its head and give us a good hiss before heading north. We may be lulled into a false sense of summer with warm days and blue skies but do not be tempted to plant out the first of the summer crops as you will probably loose them to a late frost or cold front.

That is not to say that there is not a lot to do. After the dry Highveld winter it is a good time to consider adding a water storage tank to your garden. Part of the problem with water tanks is that they often take up valuable space and are not that visually inspiring. I managed to get a taupe coloured (Kakhi Brown) plastic one and it does look just a little better (but not much) than the regular green (Jo-Jo Green). Perhaps Jo-Jo needs to get Stephen Falcke in to teach them a bit about some designer greens, taupe’s and greys! Have a look at their site at www.jojotanks.co.za

I met a clever architect who changed my thinking about water tanks. They are a problem in that they have to nestle up against the wall of a house in order to be close to the down pipe of the gutter. Most urban gardens can accommodate a single tank, but in a dry climate or where you may rely on more than one tank where do you put them so that your house doest look swamped in Jo-Jo Green? His suggestion was to run them at right angles to the house and use them in a practical way to make a wall, provide screening or even form a windbreak. Some gum poles sunk into the ground, with wire or latte strung between them will support a creeper ,that in a season or two will cover them over. Of course the tanks will need to be connected to each other and will fill and empty together, but it was such a simple idea and an excellent one if you are building or renovating a home.

We have also installed a solar panel to run our borehole pump. It chugs along during the day and is proving to be a real winner. Considering that many Gauteng gardens do have their own bore holes, imagine the difference it can make if all those pumps were run off solar power. Have a look at www.sustainableprojects.co.za for more information.

While you are at it give your gutters a good clean and check that they are properly secure, check outlets drains that exit your property and be especially vigilant if you have had building on your own site or more importantly on neighbouring properties. Soil levels can change, drains can get blocked and areas that were garden may be paved causing more run off. Keep an eye on these things and be proactive about getting your drainage sorted out before the rainy season arrives.

The veggie garden is filled with glorious Florence fennel bulbs at the moment. Closely related to the regular fennel this plant produce bulbous bases which at this time of the year make a wonderful addition to salads, potato dishes and roasted veggies. After picking the bulb (it needs a good tug) do not chuck away the leaves as they make a good tea which is especially useful to aid digestion after a heavy meal and I have even found the leaves useful in flower arrangements. Do not worry if they go limp to start off with, they do revive. Munching on a few fresh leaves will also freshen your breath, so grab a sprig before locking lips with someone!

The almonds are the first fruit/nut trees to start flowering and as I write this my own tree is a mass of flowers. Of course the flowers run the risk of getting smacked by frost, but it highlights how fruit trees can make wonderful garden trees for small properties such as town houses. Not only are they wonderful looking trees, providing shade in summer and then dropping their leaves in winter to let light into your home, but they also put on a fantastic floral show in late winter and then produce wonderful nuts in mid summer. What more could a person want. Unlike the soft fruits in the Prunus family, almonds are not prone to fruit fly.

The first rains will also bring along the first cycle of weeds. Look at weeds with new eyes, many have beneficial properties that are needed by the soil. It is not as if there are good or bad plants (that goes for insects as well) but rather weeds are a good sign of stress or imbalance in the soil and so these plants often have what the soil needs. I currently have a veggie garden smothered in stinging nettle and have been simply cutting it down and packing it onto the soil surface and allowing it to break down. Oddly my chickens do not eat it and it keeps them off the area so they are also excellent chicken repellents.