Latest News5 steps to get your Garden ready for AutumnWednesday, 17 February 2021
Summer has drawn to a close, just like that. Now's the time to look ahead and get your garden ready for autumn. If you do the work now, you'll enjoy a healthier garden through the autumn and winter months and have a healthier garden all year round.
The best thing you can do for your lawn right now is to aerate the soil. You can do this in a variety of ways. You can use a pitchfork or purchase aeration sandals. For a large lawn, look for a lawn aerator at your local equipment hire shop. Autumn is also a good time to fertilise your lawn. A slow-release fertiliser is ideal. As the sun gets lower, raise the blades on your mower to keep it longer so the leaves can absorb more sunlight.
As the weather cools down in March, it's a good time to weed and mulch your garden. Pay special attention to your veggie patch, herbs and ornamentals. Mulching will help the soil retain water and discourage weeds from growing. Mulch will also help prevent erosion when the winter rains come.
In most parts of Australia, you don't have to wait until spring to plant veggies and flowers. You just need to know what to plant. Some veggies that grow well include: Spring onions, Pumpkin, Beetroot, Broccoli, and Leeks. Pansies add colour to your garden. If you plant them in March, they will flower in late autumn through to spring in many parts of Australia.
If you haven't done so already, autumn is a perfect time to start a compost heap. Why waste all those fallen leaves when you can compost them and create nourishment for your garden? Don't overdo it, though. A good compost heap should have a mixture of leaves, grass cuttings, vegetable scraps and water. Once you get the compost heap started, all you have to do is turn it occasionally to help the compost decompose evenly.
Pruning encourages new growth and allows light in during the winter months when the sun is lower. It can also encourage late autumn flowering and stimulate growth. If you need advice about what to plant in autumn, ask your local nursery or hire a garden designer to help you design a garden you'll love in every season. Their local knowledge will ensure you add the right plants for your local climate.
