- 7 May 2025
As temperatures drop, it's the perfect time to prepare your garden for autumn. Seasonal maintenance ensures your outdoor space remains healthy and ready for the cooler months. Here are five essential gardening tasks:
Autumn Gardening Tips
1. Clear Out Leaves from Your Gutters
Falling leaves can clog your gutters, they can lead to water overflow, damage to your roofline, and even foundation issues. Clear gutters and downpipes regularly to ensure proper drainage throughout the wetter months. Tip: Use a gutter scoop or leaf blower for quicker cleanup.
2. Remove Old Crops and Replenish Soil
Spent summer veggies can harbor disease and pests. Pull them out, compost healthy plant matter, and dispose of any diseased material. Then, enrich your garden beds with compost, aged manure, or a quality soil improver to restore nutrients and prepare for the next planting season.
3. Plant New Seasonal Crops
Autumn is a great time to plant cool-season veggies like:
- Broccoli
- Carrot
- Onion
- Spinach
- Silverbeet
It’s also an ideal season for vibrant flowers like pansies, violas, and chrysanthemums, which will add colour right through the cooler months.
4. Prune Plants for Healthy Growth
Cut back perennials, trim hedges, and remove dead or diseased branches from shrubs and trees. Pruning in autumn promotes airflow and prevents fungal growth over winter. Check specific plants—some prefer a late-winter prune instead.
4. Remove Weeds Before They Spread
Weeds that go to seed in autumn will become a much bigger problem in spring. Remove them now by hand-pulling, hoeing, or using a targeted herbicide. Apply mulch to smother any remaining weed seeds and prevent regrowth.
