Winter can look different from month to month across Australia and what you plant and how you garden can depend on where you call home. Regardless of whether you’re in the tropical north or the cooler south, here are some practical and universal tips that can help your garden thrive.
Climate-prepared Planting
If you live in a cooler area, now’s the perfect time to brighten your garden with pops of colour. Fill pots and garden beds with vibrant annuals like pansies, violas and cinerarias to help chase away the winter blues. There’s also a whole menu of cool season vegies ready to plant now, so fill your patch with Cabbages, Cauliflowers, Broccoli and Kale for hearty soups and stews. If you’re up north where it’s warm for most of the year, you can still be planting beauties like salvia, zinnias and portulaca to add bold colour to your garden.
Perfect Your Watering
Through autumn and winter plants still need a drink, although not as much as in the summer months. Water your garden and pots in the morning to give them time to soak up the moisture before night fall. Wet foliage, particularly overnight can encourage fungal disease. Be mindful not to overwater – soggy soil is no plant friend, particularly in winter when it’s already damp enough, and your plants have less light and warmth.
Much Mulch
Mulch is essential for keeping warmth and moisture in the soil, whilst suppressing weeds at the same time. Organic mulches like pea straw or lucerne are great choices for you, your plants, and the planet because over time they break down and in doing so nourish and improve your soils.
Prune to Thrive
Most fruit trees will benefit from a good prune when they are dormant in the winter time, to improve the quality and amount of fruit and create a strong framework of branches. With the exception of apricots which should be pruned in late autumn to reduce the risk of bacterial disease. Late winter is also the perfect time to prune your roses. If you live in a frosty area, you might like to wait until the risk of frost is over before pruning your roses, so new shoots don’t get damaged.
Nasty Patrol
Keep an eye out for pests and diseases. These may not be as active in winter, but they’re still around, waiting for an opportunity to wreak havoc on your garden. Stay vigilant and nip any problems in the bud before they get out of hand.
Weed watch
Don’t let winter weeds wreak havoc on your garden either. Weeds compete with our precious plants for water and nutrients, so don’t let them get out of control. It’s easier to pull weeds when they’re young because the roots are shallow. It’s also important to get on top of them before they flower and set seed. Try hand weeding after rain when it’s easier to pull the weeds out, roots and all.
Remember any work you do now will pay off in the long run and help to prepare your garden for a successful season ahead. So, with these tips in mind, you can keep your Aussie Garden looking fabulous all winter long no matter where you are in this beautiful country!
