Plant Now or Forever Hold Your Peace! New Seedlings & Shrubs Are Here
Spring is starting to make itself known. The days are getting longer, gardens are beginning to stir, and those empty beds and tired pots we’ve successfully ignored through winter are suddenly looking very noticeable.
Our advice? Plant now or forever hold your peace!
With fresh seedlings, shrubs and other exciting new arrivals at Plant Paradise, now is a great time to start preparing your garden for the season ahead. If you’re planning a complete garden refresh or simply adding a splash of colour to a few containers, there’s nothing quite like new plants to signal that spring is on its way.
In This Article
- Spring Is Coming – Is Your Garden Ready?
- New Seedlings Have Arrived
- Impatiens – Bring Colour to the Shade
- Begonias – Small Plants with Big Impact
- More Spring Colour to Plant
- Don’t Forget the Shrubs
- How to Choose the Right Shrub
- Prepare Your Garden for Spring
- Sun or Shade? Put the Right Plant in the Right Place
- What Can I Plant in Pots for Spring?
- Seedlings + Shrubs = The Best of Both Worlds
- Visit Plant Paradise and See What’s New
- Frequently Asked Questions
Spring Is Coming – Is Your Garden Ready?
August marks an exciting transition in South African gardens. Exactly what you can plant will depend on where you live. Coastal and frost-free areas can often get started earlier, while gardeners in colder inland regions may still need to protect tender plants from late frost.
But wherever you garden, this is a valuable time to start preparing. Improve the soil. Refresh tired containers. Add compost where appropriate. Plan new planting areas. And, of course, start choosing the plants that will bring your spring and summer garden to life.
As temperatures become more reliably spring-like, the planting possibilities expand rapidly. So don’t wait until everybody else suddenly remembers they own a garden. Get growing.
New Seedlings Have Arrived at Plant Paradise
Few things give a garden an instant transformation quite like flowering seedlings. They’re perfect for bringing colour back after winter.
• Fill empty flower beds.
• Create bright borders.
• Refresh containers and pots.
• Add colour around established shrubs.
• Brighten entrances and patios.
• Fill awkward gaps.
• Create eye-catching mass displays.
Among the fresh seasonal favourites, Impatiens and Begonias deserve a little extra attention.
Impatiens – Bring Colour to the Shade
Got a shady corner that needs cheering up? Impatiens could be just what you’re looking for. These much-loved flowering plants are famous for producing generous displays of colour in suitable shady and semi-shaded positions.
Where Should You Plant Impatiens?
Traditional Impatiens generally prefer shade to semi-shade, good drainage and regular moisture. They look especially impressive planted in groups, where the flowers create a carpet of colour.
• Beneath suitable trees.
• In shady flower beds.
• Along sheltered pathways.
• In containers or hanging baskets.
• Around covered patios.
• In mass plantings.
Different Impatiens types have different light requirements, so check the specific variety before planting. In colder, frost-prone areas, tender Impatiens may need protection until conditions have warmed sufficiently.
Begonias – Small Plants with Big Impact
Colourful, versatile and wonderfully useful, Begonias can bring instant personality to a garden. They’re particularly effective in borders, beds and containers where you want masses of flowers without needing a huge amount of space.
Many bedding Begonias are well suited to semi-shaded positions, although some varieties tolerate more sun than others.
How Can You Use Begonias in Your Garden?
• Along the front of garden beds.
• In colourful groups.
• Around shrubs.
• In containers.
• Near entrances.
• On sheltered patios.
• In semi-shaded areas.
Combine them with foliage plants for texture or use several flower colours for a cheerful spring display. As always, choose according to your garden’s conditions rather than simply grabbing whichever plant has the prettiest flowers.
Although we understand the temptation.
And That’s Not All the Colour You Can Plant
Spring opens the door to a fantastic variety of flowering seedlings across South Africa. Depending on your region, local conditions and timing, popular seasonal choices may include Petunias, Dianthus, Lobelia, Marigolds, Gazanias, Alyssum, Salvias, Impatiens, Begonias and more.
The key is to match each plant to the conditions in your garden. Some thrive in full sun. Others prefer shade or filtered light. Some cope beautifully with heat. Others appreciate more protected conditions.
Don’t Forget the Shrubs
Seedlings might provide the instant colour, but shrubs give a garden structure. They create the backbone around which everything else can be planted.
• Height.
• Screening and privacy.
• Attractive foliage.
• Flowers and texture.
• A permanent focal point.
• Shelter.
• A backdrop for seasonal seedlings.
• Long-term garden interest.
So while you’re admiring trays of colourful seedlings, don’t forget to explore the new shrubs too. You may have arrived for one tray of flowers. You might leave planning an entirely new garden bed. Such is gardening.
How to Choose the Right Shrub
How Big Will It Grow?
That small nursery plant may eventually become considerably larger. Always allow for its mature size.
Does It Need Sun or Shade?
Light conditions have a major effect on plant performance.
How Much Water Will It Need?
Different parts of South Africa experience very different rainfall patterns, so choose plants suited to your local conditions and your ability to water them.
Can It Handle Your Winter?
A shrub that thrives in a mild coastal garden may behave very differently in a frost-prone inland garden. Likewise, plants suited to colder areas may not enjoy extreme humidity or subtropical conditions.
Is It Right for the Space?
A plant can be beautiful and still be completely wrong for where you want to put it. Right plant, right place remains one of the best gardening rules to follow.
Prepare Your Garden for Spring
Start with the Soil
Healthy plants begin below ground. Remove weeds, loosen compacted soil and incorporate suitable compost or organic matter where needed. Different plants have different soil requirements, so avoid assuming that one soil treatment suits everything.
Add Mulch
Mulching can help conserve soil moisture, suppress weeds and moderate soil temperature. Avoid piling mulch directly against plant stems or shrub trunks.
Water New Plants Carefully
Newly planted seedlings and shrubs need consistent attention while establishing. Water according to your climate, soil and the needs of the individual plant. South Africa’s gardening conditions vary enormously, so a watering routine that works in one province may be unsuitable in another.
Sun or Shade? Put the Right Plant in the Right Place
Before planting, take a proper look at your garden. Where does the morning sun fall? Which beds receive hot afternoon sun? Which areas remain shaded? Where is there filtered light through trees? Understanding your light conditions can dramatically improve your success.
What Can I Plant in Shade?
Impatiens and many Begonias are popular starting points for introducing flowering colour into suitable shady and semi-shaded garden areas. Other options will depend on your local climate and exactly how much light the area receives.
Deep shade. Filtered shade. Morning sun. Semi-shade. If you’re unsure, tell the Plant Paradise team what your planting position is like and we can help you choose something more suitable.
What Can I Plant in the Sun?
Sunny South African gardens offer plenty of spring colour. Depending on your region and conditions, popular choices can include Petunias, Marigolds, Dianthus, Gazanias and other sun-loving seasonal flowers.
Combining these with permanent shrubs and perennials can help create a garden that still has structure after seasonal flowers have finished.
What Can I Plant in Pots for Spring?
You don’t need a huge garden to enjoy spring. Containers can transform patios, balconies, courtyards, entrances, entertainment areas, small gardens and townhouse gardens.
Impatiens can create beautiful displays in suitable shaded containers, while Begonias are equally useful for adding colour to pots in the right conditions. Choose containers with good drainage and remember that pots can dry out more quickly than garden beds.
Seedlings + Shrubs = The Best of Both Worlds
One of the easiest ways to create a garden that looks good now and continues developing over time is to combine seasonal seedlings with permanent shrubs. Think of shrubs as the framework. Then use colourful seedlings around them to change the personality of the garden from season to season.
When one display finishes, refresh the colour while the permanent structure remains. Simple. Effective. And dangerously good at creating an excuse for another trip to Plant Paradise.
What Should I Plant This Spring in South Africa?
There’s no single plant list that works perfectly everywhere in South Africa. Our climate varies too much. The better question is: What should I plant in my garden this spring?
Before choosing, consider sunlight, shade, soil, water, frost, heat, wind, available space and mature plant size. Then match your plants accordingly. This approach gives you a much better chance of creating a garden that continues performing as the season progresses.
A Little Planting Now Can Make a Big Difference Later
The beautiful gardens we enjoy in spring and summer usually begin with someone making the decision to plant.
Maybe you start with one tray of Impatiens. Perhaps it’s a group of Begonias around the patio. Maybe you finally tackle that empty section with several new shrubs.
Start with one area. Prepare it properly. Choose the right plants. Then get planting. That’s how gardens grow — one plant at a time.
Visit Plant Paradise and See What’s New
Fresh seasons mean fresh arrivals at Plant Paradise. Come and explore our new seedlings, Impatiens, Begonias, shrubs and other seasonal plants and find something that deserves a place in your garden.
If you need colourful flowers for a shady corner, new plants for a sunny bed, something special for a pot or a shrub to give your garden structure, there’s plenty of inspiration waiting.
Ask us questions. Tell us about your garden conditions. Show us the problem area you’re trying to solve. And let’s find the plants that are right for your space.
Because spring is here. Plant now or forever hold your peace!
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I plant in South Africa in September?
September is a useful month for preparing South African gardens for spring and planting suitable seasonal flowers. Depending on your region and climate, options can include Petunias, Lobelia, Dianthus, Begonias, Gazanias, Marigolds and other seasonal seedlings.
Can I plant Impatiens in spring in South Africa?
Yes. Impatiens are popular spring and summer flowering plants for suitable shady and semi-shaded areas. Gardeners in frost-prone regions should pay attention to late cold conditions before establishing tender plants outdoors.
When can I plant Begonias in South Africa?
Begonias can be planted during the transition into spring where conditions are suitable. In colder areas, tender plants may require protection from late frost, while gardeners in milder regions can often begin planting sooner.
Are Impatiens good for shade?
Yes. Traditional Impatiens are well known for performing in shady and semi-shaded positions. Specific varieties may have different light requirements, so always check the plant label or ask for advice.
What flowering seedlings can I plant for spring?
Depending on your location and conditions, spring flowering options can include Impatiens, Begonias, Petunias, Dianthus, Lobelia, Marigolds, Gazanias, Alyssum, Salvias and other seasonal seedlings.
Is spring a good time to plant shrubs?
Spring is an excellent time to establish many suitable shrubs as active growth begins. Choose plants appropriate to your region, prepare the soil properly and pay careful attention to watering while they establish.
What can I plant in pots for spring colour?
Impatiens, Begonias and many other seasonal flowering plants can perform beautifully in containers when matched to appropriate light conditions. Use good drainage, suitable growing medium and monitor watering carefully.