Four week winter planting and gardening guide

Weekend 1: Jobs to start in the garden during winter

Winter is the ideal time to plant roses. First, soak the roots in a bucket of diluted seaweed solution, then dig a hole and enrich the soil with compost. Set the bud union just above soil level, backfill and water in well. Mulch lightly and keep the soil moist. Choose from varieties such as ‘Iceberg’, ‘Mr Lincoln’ or softer tones such as ‘Just Joey’.

Install a raised garden bed

It’s the perfect time to start a vegie patch – great for renters or small spaces. Fill with a garden mix and fork in compost. In frost-free climates, grow broad beans, snow peas, Asian greens, spring onions, carrots and kale. In tropical and subtropical zones, plant seedlings of snake beans, corn, okra, rosella and tomato.

Brighten your garden

Add pansies, primula, polyanthus, hellebores and calendula – mass plant for full effect and use them in hanging baskets, pots or to fill bare spots throughout the landscape. Deadhead regularly and feed with a liquid fertiliser high in potassium to encourage abundant flowering.

Make a simple compost bin

It’s time to turn kitchen scraps and garden waste into rich soil. Layer greens and browns, keep it lightly moist and turn regularly. Apply a handful of blood and bone occasionally to speed up the decomposition.

Weekend 2: Control and cut back weeds

Tackle winter trimming jobs

Sharpen secateurs and dust off your pruning saw to prune roses, hydrangeas and other deciduous plants, including climbers, fruit and ornamental trees, removing dead, damaged or crossing branches to open up the canopy and improve airflow. For taller trees, a telescopic pruner can help you safely reach higher branches without a ladder. Gather clippings as you go and add them to your compost.

How to stop weeds in winter

Bindii, dandelion, lambs’ tongue, fleabane, cudweed and winter grass are common culprits. Manually remove or use a selective herbicide suitable for your lawn type.

How to protect your plants from frost in winter

In frost-prone areas cover tender plants overnight with frost cloth or similar and move pots to sheltered spots. If indoors gets particularly cold, move house plants away from windows and off cold floors. Wrap pots in bubble wrap or plastic film to help insulate the roots.

Weekend 3: Shape and grow your garden in winter

Add order to your garden

You can do this by installing garden edging between lawns and garden beds. Cut a simple spade edge for a quick fix or use steel, timber or stone edging for a more defined, long-lasting finish.

The best herbs to grow in winter for cooking

Plant parsley, coriander, dill, winter savory and chives – all well suited to cooler conditions – in pots by the back door or on a sunny ledge. If you have the space, include a hardy evergreen bay tree for fresh leaves year-round.

Plant strawberries in winter in time for spring

Plant runners or potted plants in a sunny spot in the garden or in containers filled with quality potting mix. Apply a layer of organic mulch over. Put wildlife-safe netting or supports in place early to protect ripening fruit from birds and other would-be thieves.

How to attract birds, bees and wildlife to your garden

Keep birds, bees and wildlife well-nourished throughout the cooler months. Provide fresh water and plant nectar-rich flowers such as grevillea, correa and lavender to keep the garden lively during winter.

Weekend 4: How to get your garden ready for spring

Feed your garden soil

Top up beds with compost or aged manure to improve structure and retain moisture, setting plants up for healthy growth as the season warms.

Get a head start on your spring vegetable patch

In temperate climates, sow warm-season crops such as tomatoes, capsicum, chilli and eggplant indoors using a mini greenhouse or heat pad. While they grow, prepare beds by clearing weeds and enriching the soil with compost. In cooler climates, start seeds indoors a few weeks later, once conditions warm up.

Refresh perennials

Plants as agastache, echinacea, rudbeckia, salvia and sedum by cutting back old or untidy growth and dividing overcrowded clumps. Replant into compost-enriched soil to give plants a fresh start.

Stay ahead of pests

Inspect new growth on roses, citrus and leafy plants for aphids and other sap-suckers, especially on soft tips and under leaves. Remove by hand or treat early to prevent spread.

Service your mower

Do this now to keep it running smoothly. Clean the deck, sharpen blades and check the oil or battery. For petrol mowers, check or replace the spark plug.

Keep in mind...

• Wear gloves and a mask when handling mulch, compost and potting mix and when pruning, along with long sleeves, as the leaves and sap of some plants can be a skin irritant and/or cause allergic reactions.
• Planting seasons vary according to region. Check with your local store.
• Take care when selecting your plants as some can be poisonous to children and pets, and check their suitability for your region, as some may be classified as weeds in certain states and territories.
• After applying fertiliser around edible plants, delay harvesting for a few days and rinse well before cooking and eating.
• Store garden chemicals and products out of reach of children and pets.

Tired of muddy routes down the side of the house?

Read our article on how to lay a stepping stone pathway.

Photo credit: Adobe Stock, Tuscan Path. 

*Some photographs feature products from suppliers other than Bunnings. Some advertised services and products are not available at some Bunnings stores, but products can be ordered.