The Garden Diaries: Western Australia in November

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Western Australian gardens really come into their own in November. The weather is pleasant, it’s sunny and just a great time to be in the garden. This month, it’s all about prepping for summer.

Hero plant this month: Turf

November is a great time to plant turf. A patch of turf is cooling, and good for the kids to play on. Select the right one, and it’s likely to be fairly low maintenance too.

A good all-rounder is Matilda Buffalo. It’s tough, soft and good looking. Even better, it’s an Aussie bred turf that suits shade as well as sunny conditions. It’s drought tolerant and will also tolerate coastal conditions.

What else to plant

Plant some larger growing trees and shrubs as features that will make an impact in the garden.

Cottonwood hibiscus, an Australian native with showy, yellow flowers and evergreen heart-shaped leaves, will add a tropical look. This hardy plant tolerates high wind, salty soil and poor drainage.

Magnolia ‘Little Gem’ is another plant that is an excellent feature tree. Compact growing and evergreen, this small tree can be hedged. ‘Little Gem’ also grows well in a pot.

Another great choice for hedging is Viburnum tinus (Laurustinus). With its glossy, green leaves and pretty fragrant, white flowers, it’s a tough plant with a dense growth habit.

Get some edibles in too. If you’ve got some space, plant rock melon and watermelon seed. Spring onions, tomatoes, capsicums and cucumbers will grow well planted this month. Growing seedlings will give quicker results.

Kids love planting radishes because they are quick growing and tasty in summer salads. Plant lettuces every few weeks for successive crops

Maintenance

This month keep up with the maintenance.

Top up garden mulch before the summer heat hits. Lucerne or pea straw are great options. Before applying the mulch, add some wetting agent to the soil to help with water retention.

Regularly inspect citrus trees for pests and diseases.

Be firesafe, even in cities this is important. Clean up around the yard. Remove dead branches and leaf litter. Be aware of fire safety in your area. Check out your fire authority website for fire safety hints and regulations.

Harvest

The best part of having a vegie patch is picking produce for the table. The first stone fruit of the season is ripening and tastes delicious. Pick zucchini, potatoes, carrots and beans for the table.

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.

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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.