Cooler autumn nights and shorter days are a signal to many plants to begin flowering – Camellia sasanqua is one of Sydney’s favourites, but don’t neglect other beauties like Camellia’s cousin Gordonia axillaris, the Fried-Egg Plant, as well as banksias, salvias and Japanese windflowers. For us, a well-considered autumn floral display is like the reward for making it to the end of a long, hot summer, and perhaps the equal to a showy spring perennial border.
- Propagate, divide and replant: if you want to make more out of your plants, autumn is a key time for propagation. Many perennials, such as clumping salvias and Japanese windflowers, can be dug up and split at the end of their autumn flowering and replanted. Make sure to keep the soil moist over the following winter, but avoid overwatering as the soil will not dry out as quickly as in summer.
- Trim your hedges a final time to keep them looking tidy over winter – if they are already looking fresh and fuzzy, they might not bounce back fully from a trim until the following spring, so go lightly. Avoid pruning autumn and winter-flowering shrubs until after they have flowered, however.
- Get your winter veggies in! In small spaces, plant leafy greens like spinach and silverbeet to take advantage of their repeat harvests for maximum yield. Climbing plants like peas are another great space-saver, because they can be trained up a sunny fence or trellis for a massive crop in late winter.
If you love the idea of an autumn flower display, but you’re not sure where to start, OUTHOUSE offers in-person consultations in your garden with qualified and experienced designers and horticulturalists to help you get the most value out of your landscape. We can provide verbal advice, planting plans or a full landscape design. Get in touch with us to discuss your needs.
View past tips for April here!
