Calendar

We have developed an annual calendar for anyone managing a restoration garden within the Braamfontein Spruit Ecological Corridor. This calendar is based on the local weather and corresponding seasonality in gardening activity. We use this calendar for our own gardens and suggest that individuals and groups that manage a community garden apply a similar schedule. If you manage a private / corporate garden, not all categories might apply, but you can easily tailor this to suit your own needs.

We illustrate the intensity of each month using color-codes for each cell in the table. The total intensity for each month is added up at the bottom and this should help you mobilise resources and plan for your annual activities with the right focus to match the work to be done. Feedback is always welcome and we wish you all the best in your gardening journey!

Activity	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rain
Growth
Flowering
Plant identification	Most, incl. Grass	Most, incl. Grass	Grass	Grass	Grass				Various, esp. bulbs	Most, esp. bulbs	Most, esp. bulbs	Most
Seed collection		Seeds must be dry and brown	Seeds must be dry and brown	Seeds must be dry and brown
Propagation	Cutting (dormant if T++)	Cutting (dormant if T++)	Seed (*for perennials (persist… Seed (*for perennials (persist for more than a year), that flower in later summer, seed in autumn​), Cutting, Division more	Seed (*for perennials (persist… Seed (*for perennials (persist for more than a year), that flower in later summer, seed in autumn​), Cutting, Division more	Seed (*for perennials (persist… Seed (*for perennials (persist for more than a year), that flower in later summer, seed in autumn​), Cutting, Division more	Hardy in greenhouse	Hardy in greenhouse	Hardy in greenhouse	Seed, Cutting, Division	Seed, Cutting, Division	Seed, Cutting, Division	Cutting (dormant if T++)
Weeding	Remove seed heads	Remove seed heads	Remove seed heads					Catch early growth	Catch early growth	Catch early growth	Catch flowers	Catch flowers
Soil prep								Weed, Compost, Mulch	Weed, Compost, Mulch
Planting
Watering
Mowing	Grass in seed - no mow!	Grass in seed - no mow!	Grass in seed - ensure grass s… Grass in seed - ensure grass seeds are ripe before mowing, ensure mow is high from 5 - 10 cm to prevent damaging grass. more	After seeding - mow!					Before rains - clear bulk
Burning
Training			Propagation and Seed collection	Propagation and Seed collection	Propagation and Seed collection				Propagation and Seed collection	Propagation and Seed collection	Propagation and Seed collection
Planning & Fundraising						Plan	Organise	Go Go GO! People love to plant!
Monthly intensity	19	22	19	18	13	10	12	16	22	22	25	22