Autumn is a beautiful time in the garden, with its crisp air, golden light, and the promise of new growth. It's also the perfect time to prepare your garden for the cooler months ahead and ensure a vibrant spring. As they say, "Gardening is cheaper than therapy, and you get tomatoes!" (Though sometimes, after battling those pesky aphids, therapy seems cheaper...) Here's a guide to help you make the most of this season:

1. Clean Up and Clear Out

Start by giving your garden a good clean-up. Remove any dead or dying plants, fallen leaves, and debris. This will help prevent the spread of pests and diseases and create a clean canvas for your autumn gardening projects. Think of it as giving your garden a fresh start, like decluttering your house – only much more satisfying (and muddy).

2. Tend to the Soil

Autumn is the ideal time to enrich your soil. Add compost or well-rotted manure to your garden beds to improve soil fertility and drainage. This will give your plants a boost as they head into the cooler months. Healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving garden. It's like giving your plants a comfy bed to sleep in.

3. Plant Spring-Blooming Bulbs

Dreaming of a colourful spring garden? Now's the time to plant spring-flowering bulbs like tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses. These bulbs need time to develop their root systems before winter, so get them in the ground as soon as possible. Planting bulbs now is like burying little treasures that will burst into colour later.

4. Plant Autumn Vegetables

Take advantage of the cooler temperatures to plant autumn-loving vegetables like lettuce, spinach, kale, and broccoli. These crops thrive in the cooler weather and will provide you with fresh produce throughout the season. There's nothing quite like the taste of homegrown veggies, especially when you've nurtured them from seed to plate.

5. Prune and Shape

Autumn is a good time to prune many plants. Remove any dead, damaged, or diseased branches from trees and shrubs. You can also give your hedges and other plants a light trim to maintain their shape. A good prune is like a haircut for your plants – it helps them look their best and encourages new growth.

6. Fertilise and Mulch

Give your plants a final feed with a balanced fertiliser to help them through the winter. After fertilising, apply a layer of mulch around your plants to help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Mulch is like a cosy blanket for your plants' roots, keeping them warm and preventing those pesky weeds from popping up.

7. Protect Tender Plants

If you have any tender plants that are susceptible to frost, consider moving them indoors or providing them with some protection. You can use frost cloth or a greenhouse to keep them warm and safe. It's all about protecting your precious plants from the chill!

8. Care for Your Lawn

Keep your lawn healthy by raking up fallen leaves regularly. You can also give it a light feed with an autumn lawn fertiliser to strengthen it before winter. A healthy lawn is the perfect backdrop for your beautiful garden.

9. Prepare Your Tools

Clean and sharpen your gardening tools before storing them away for the winter. This will ensure they're ready to go when you need them in the spring. Taking care of your tools is like taking care of your best friends – they'll be there for you when you need them.

10. Reflect and Plan

Take some time to reflect on your garden's successes and failures from the past season. This will help you plan for next year and make any necessary changes. Gardening is a constant learning experience. Every season brings new challenges and opportunities.

What to Plant in Autumn:

Spring bulbs: Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses

Autumn vegetables: Lettuce, spinach, kale, broccoli, carrots, beetroot

Flowers: Pansies, violas, snapdragons, petunias

Herbs: Parsley, thyme, rosemary, sage

What to Prune in Autumn:

Deciduous trees and shrubs: Remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches.

Hedges: Give them a light trim to maintain their shape.

Roses: Prune them back to about half their size.

Fruit trees: Prune them after harvesting the fruit.

What to Fertilise in Autumn:

Spring bulbs: Use a bulb fertiliser at planting time.

Vegetables: Use a balanced fertiliser before planting.

Trees and shrubs: Give them a final feed with a balanced fertiliser.

Lawns: Use an autumn lawn fertiliser.

By following these tips, you can ensure your garden is ready for autumn and set the stage for a beautiful spring. Happy gardening!

Getting Your Garden Ready for Autumn: A Guide for Aussie Gardeners