The Garden Diaries: New South Wales in April

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Autumn is a fantastic time of year to get out into in the garden. Here are some great reasons to get out there and get digging this April in New South Wales.

Hero plant this month: Citrus

his is a good month to plant citrus and there are many different varieties. Think about mandarins, limes and oranges. Not only do they provide delicious fruit - they look fantastic and the blossom smells great too. Most citrus will grow well in a pot. Be sure to use a quality potting mix.

Position citrus in full sun and well-drained, fertile soil to reap the best rewards. For good results, protect from strong winds. Citrus are heavy feeders, so add some fertiliser at least every season. If you need advice on what to use, ask a team member and they’ll point you towards the best food for your fruit.

What else to plant

This season add some new shrubs to spice up your garden. Brightly coloured hibiscus, camellias and Australian natives such as banksias are ready for planting. These thrive in full sun and well-drained soil.

For a blaze of colour try perennials such as daisies, as well as annuals including pansies and lobelia. These are hardy and create a great show in the garden or also in pots.

Bulbs also make a great spring show, mass planted or in pots. Select from anemones, bluebells, Dutch iris, freesias and jonquils.

Consider growing some edibles too. Even a small space works and broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, onion, peas, rocket and spinach are great options.

Broad-beans are easy to grow, but they will need support on a fence or trellis.

Maintenance

There’s plenty to do in the garden in April. The leaves are falling so get raking, they make great compost, so add them to your heap or bin.

Cut back any shrubs or native grasses that need it. Remove dead wood and any spent flowers.

If you already have vegies growing, it’s a good time to give them a fertiliser boost. If you need advice on what to use, go into your local Bunnings and ask the garden experts.

Nourish shrubs and plants with a seaweed solution. This builds resilience against frosts over the coming months.

With autumn rains, also comes weeds. Deal with these right away and pull them out while they’re young and before they have a chance to set seed and spread.

Harvest

April is great time to reap what you’ve sown. Harvest tomatoes, chillies, cucumbers, zucchinis carrots, eggplants and lettuce.

Get out into the garden this weekend. All that fresh air and exercise will make you feel great and your garden will look fantastic.

Our Perfect Plant Promise

Remember the Perfect Plant Promise. All our plants (except seedlings) are guaranteed for 12 months. If you're not 100 percent happy, return your plant (with receipt or tax invoice) and we'll refund it.

Start planting today

Check out the wide range of plants online or visit your local Bunnings Warehouse to find out how you can bring your garden to life.

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Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page. You can also use a simple test kit from Bunnings to indicate the presence of lead-based paint.