The Garden Diaries: New South Wales in October

View the video

October is here, it’s brilliantly warm in New South Wales. It’s a really good time for getting into the garden.

Hero plant this month: Palms

October is a great time to be planting in the garden. This month it’s all about palms.

Palms offer a tropical look to any garden and are really versatile. They work well as a screening plant, are brilliant grown indoors, plant in a pot, or put some in around the pool for an excellent accent plant.

The good news is, there’s a palm for most regions of Australia. A favourite in NSW is the golden cane palm Dypsis lutescens a popular landscaping plant that has lush, dense foliage and is multi-stemmed.

Plant in well-drained soil in the garden. Or if you’re planting in a pot use a quality potting mix.

Water deeply when it’s warm and dry. As a general rule, fertilise in spring, summer and autumn. If you’re not sure what to use, pop into store and ask the garden experts.

What else to plant

Other great options for the garden are natives. Kangaroo paws are a perfect addition to the garden. Look out for the newer varieties such as ‘Bush Gems’. Known for their compact growth habit, their sensational long flowering season and drought tolerance. Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. Remember, they don’t like wet feet.

Spring is a great time to put in some summer vegetables. Prepare the patch with organic matter and rotted manure before planting lettuces, tomatoes, capsicum, and eggplant. Beetroot and basil are also good options for planting this month, as are cucumbers. Let them grow as a ground cover or they work well as a climber, but you’ll need to install a frame or some trellis.

Maintenance

With warm weather, comes spring growth. After natives have finished flowering, remove spent blooms and prune to shape.

Fertilise other plants in the garden, to encourage growth. Citrus are always hungry, so give then some food too. Use a specialised citrus fertiliser.

And remember, don’t fertilise on a really hot day.

It’s a great month to give indoor pot plants a spring clean. Repot any that are looking tired. Use a quality potting mix. Add some slow release fertiliser. Water in. Finally, remove dust off the leaves with a soft, damp cloth.

Harvest

Pick for the table, the last of the winter vegies. Celery, carrots, Asian greens and lettuces will be on your menu.

There you go, make the most of the wonderful October spring weather and get out into the garden.

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 the 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.

More D.I.Y. Advice

Planting & Growing How to grow and care for indoor plants For people unable to garden outdoors, growing indoor plants allows them to indulge in a hobby that gives great pleasure.

Planting & Growing How to grow your own pizza herbs View our guide on how to grow perfect pizza herbs at home. Create adaptable and different tasting pizzas by adding a sprinkle of your favourite home-grown herbs.

Planters 7 best pot plants for your garden and home A few pot plants can add life to your garden and home. We’ll take you through seven plants that love to live in pots, and give you a few tips to ensure that they thrive.

Lounge room decorated with various indoor plants

Planters How to create your own indoor garden Having an indoor garden not only looks amazing, but a few well-placed pot plants scattered about the house can do wonders for your overall wellbeing. We’ll show you which plants work best and where to place them.

00:22

Planning & Projects Brighten up your place with an instant hedge An artificial hedge or plant wall is not only an attractive feature in your garden, it can also add some much needed privacy. Bunnings Greenlife buyer Katie tells us how easy it is to add an instant hedge to your outdoor area.

Planning & Projects How to build a child-friendly edible garden Creating a child-friendly edible garden is an enjoyable way to get grubby with the kids as well as engaging them with the great outdoors

Composting Everything you ever needed to know about mulch Here’s everything you need to know to choose the right mulch for your garden.

Planting & Growing How to make a worm farm A worm farm can turn your organic waste into rich fertiliser to feed your garden. It’s also a fun and rewarding way to get the kids actively involved in the environment.

Planning & Projects Transform your backyard with a new garden bed Well-planned garden beds can give your backyard both structure and beauty, and solve all sorts of tricky problems, from screening out your neighbours to disguising an ugly fence. Here’s what you need to know to get started.

03:28

Planning & Projects How to plan and landscape a garden makeover If you’re thinking about creating a new garden, you can save a lot by doing the project yourself.

00:22

Planning & Projects Create an instant artificial garden Get an instant, hassle-free designer garden with Un-Real Artificial plants. Find out here how you can create a beautiful and instant private garden.

01:52

Planning & Projects D.I.Y. garden tool storage rack Garden tools can be tricky to store away neatly because of their size and shape. Find out how to create a garden tool storage rack with this guide from Bunnings.

Planning & Projects Nine plants for good luck around the home The Lunar New Year is a significant part of most Asian cultures. There are many customs and rituals that are celebrated at this time. As part of the customs, there are some plants traditionally associated with the Lunar New Year festival and thought...

02:54

Planning & Projects How to make a terrarium Learn how to make a terrarium with this handy guide.

01:04

Planning & Projects How to give your front garden a D.I.Y. makeover With some simple D.I.Y. skills, you can transform your front yard into something special that will improve your home’s street appeal.

01:04

Bedroom Refresh your master bedroom We’ll show you how easy is to transform your master bedroom into a contemporary masterpiece.

01:09

Outdoor Living How to build a D.I.Y. outdoor playground Transform an unused corner of your backyard into a fun children’s playground.

Paths & Landscaping Landscaping for any size backyard Here are some simple D.I.Y. landscaping ideas to make a great outdoor space.

Planting & Growing What to plant in spring Say goodbye to cold winter days and hello to the sun and warmth of spring. Now is the perfect time to get in the garden and start planting. But what to plant? Our spring planting guide has the answers.

01:30

Ideas & Makeovers How to renovate and modernise your kitchen Watch how we renovate an old 70s kitchen and give it a stylish D.I.Y. makeover that suits modern living.

Benchtops & Cabinets What to consider when installing an outdoor Kaboodle kitchen A kitchen is a great way to spruce up your outdoor living and entertaining areas. The team at Kaboodle share a few hints and tips on what to consider when designing your very own outdoor kitchen using their products.

02:32

Bedroom D.I.Y. copper clothes rail Create more space in your wardrobe with this easy-to-make industrial copper clothes rail.

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.