Falling leaves, colour, cool mornings and shorter days… that is an Autumn garden.  If you are lucky to live in the cooler climates of Australia, then you will get to enjoy the colour of falling leaves over many months.  Streets lined with deciduous species that fill footpaths and gutters with the most spectacular foliage colour.

 

 

There are many species that provide this Autumn colour which we discuss more in our other article – “Autumn Foliage Colour” with the more popular being Ash, Birch (including Tropical Birch for warmer climates), Elm, Acer, Betula & Liquidambar but don’t underestimate the foliage colour of Acalypha, Loropetalum & Acmena.  Though these species may not be deciduous they will bring that Autumn colour to your garden & given they are shrubs not trees, sees them a worth consideration for the smaller garden.

Use the cooler days to prepare the garden for the Winter months that are just around the corner.  Naturally we don’t spend as much time in the garden through Winter, so consider tackling the following when time allows.

 

 

Don’t Forget The Maintenance.

A light prune to shrubs now will ensure they maintain their shape until Spring.  Plants such as Agapanthus, Dietes and others do well to have their dead flowers trimmed off to ensure seeds are not spread.

Now is a great time to give the compost bin some attention ensuring it is empty and ready to take on waste over the winter, ready for accelerated composting with the heat of the warmer months. Learn more about caring for your garden with our Complete Garden Guide great value at just $5.50!

Mulching garden beds is always best done during the cooler seasons, mainly for your own sake.  Remember it’s important not to apply an acidic mulch (pine products) directly to the soil.  Decomposing mulches like Forest or Hardwood mulch provide necessary nutrients to the soil as they break down, reducing your need to fertilize.  Though these mulches are not exactly attractive, a formal chip or pine bark can be applied like a blanket over the top of the mulch to stop any weeds germinating.

 

Bulbs.

Have you ever thought about planting bulbs out to create your Autumn garden?  They are divine and bring such beauty to any space you may have in the garden.

Bulbs do wonderfully in pots when good drainage is provided.  Cooler climates certainly have it easy when it comes to growing bulbs seeing Bluebells, Daffodil, Jonquil Erlicheer, Anemone, Ranunculus, Grape Hyacinth, Snowflake, Tulips, Gladioli and Dutch Iris all worthy contenders. If you’re in the Temperate and Subtropical regions then it’s certainly not out of the question, there’s just a little more involved.  Bulbs like Dutch Iris, Freesias & Gladioli can all be successfully grown.  Planting out should be delayed until the temperatures drop in April or May.  Once planted, in free draining soil in a protected but sunny section of your garden, ensure you water and mulch well to keep the soil temperatures low. If you want to try your hand at some of the others then once you have purchased your bulbs, keep them in the vegetable crisper of the fridge in a paper bag until you plant them out.  Again this shouldn’t be done until temperatures drop and the same planting process should be followed.

 

Time For Change

After spending so much time outside over the Summer months what alterations would you like to make to your garden.  The cooler seasons are a great time for garden renos and the perfect time in some regions of Australia, for transplanting species.  Fruit trees do best if transplanted during the colder months but other plantings within the garden are best left now until Spring.

Installing or extending on your entertainment area may see the need for new garden beds which often can propose some difficulty in choosing the right plants for that position. Consider the addition of shade trees or large shrubs that can be pruned to provide necessary shade to areas.  This allows airflow to be cooled, making your home more comfortable through the summer months.