Spring (Sep–Nov)
The main growing and planting season. Feed plants as new growth starts. Plant summer colour and vegetables once frosts have passed. Top up mulch before the weather warms. Watch new growth for aphids and other early pests.
Through the year
Seasonal gardening
Know what to do in the garden each season, from the best times to plant to pruning, watering and protecting your plants.
← Back to Planting & CareStart with these checks
- Plant in autumn or spring where you can.
- Prune flowering shrubs after they flower.
- Top up mulch before summer.
Start with your Southern Plants™ care label
Southern Plants™ puts care into its labels to help you choose a suitable home for each plant.
Check your Southern Plants label for flowering time and any pruning notes. Timing jobs to the plant, as well as the season, gives the best results.
Find your plant’s growing information →
Through the year
Seasonal gardening
Every season brings its own jobs in the garden. Working with the seasons — planting when conditions are kind, pruning at the right time, preparing for heat and cold — gives plants the best chance and saves you effort. Timing varies with your local climate, so use these as a guide and adjust to the weather you see.
What to do each season
Seasons below follow the southern hemisphere calendar.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
Focus on water and protection. Water deeply in the early morning, keep mulch topped up and give new plantings temporary shade on very hot days. Deadhead spent flowers to keep plants blooming.
Autumn (Mar–May)
One of the best times to plant. Soil is still warm, the air is cooler and rain is more reliable, so new roots establish well. A great season for natives, hedges and shrubs. Divide crowded clumping plants.
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Prune deciduous shrubs and roses while they are dormant. Protect frost-tender plants on cold nights. Check drainage after heavy rain, plan spring plantings and plant bare-root roses and fruit trees.
Plant when conditions are kind
Autumn and spring are generally the easiest times to plant, because roots can establish before the stress of summer heat or winter cold. Plants can still go in during summer, but they will need closer attention to watering until they settle.
Prune at the right time
Many flowering shrubs are best pruned straight after flowering, so they have time to grow next season's flowers. Deciduous plants are easiest to prune in winter, when their structure is clear. Check the plant's own guide if you are unsure.
Watch the weather, not just the calendar
A late frost, an early heatwave or a dry autumn can change what your garden needs. Check the soil and the forecast before watering or planting. Let what you observe guide your timing.
A simple seasonal routine
- At the start of each season, walk the garden and note what needs attention.
- Plant in autumn or spring where you can. Water new plants in well.
- Top up mulch before summer and keep it clear of stems.
- Prune flowering shrubs after flowering and deciduous plants in winter.
- Feed during active growth in spring, following the fertiliser label.
Keeping a simple garden diary of what flowered, what struggled and when helps you plan an even better year next time.
In flower in October
Plants that flower this month, currently available from Southern Plants™. Choose a plant to see its full growing guide.
Tufted Alpine Saxifraga
Saxifraga caespitosa Assorted
Bush Coral Kangaroo Paw
Anigozanthos hybrid 'Bush Coral'
Waxflower Flower Girl
Philotheca 'Flower Girl'
Westringia Grey Box™
Westringia fruticosa 'WES04' 'Grey Box™'
New Zealand Rock Lily
Arthropodium cirratum
Blue-eyed Grass
Sisyrinchium angustifolium 'Devon Skies'
Boronia Magenta Stars
Boronia heterophylla 'Moonglow' x pulchella 'Magenta Stars'
Dwarf Pink Diosma
Coleonema pulchrum compactum
Your next step towards growing with confidence
You do not need to know everything at once. Start with your plant’s growing requirements, try the steps that suit your garden, and build confidence as you see what works.
Open Plant Finder