Right now we’re in a transition period as we move the garden from summer to autumn. Cutting back spent foliage, clearing weeds and trimming shrubs are ‘housework’ tasks. Planting the autumn vegetable garden, conditioning soil and feeding lawns are also key garden activities. And, most important, it's coming up to Nature’s best planting time, and yes, we have a top performing Premium Garden Mix to do the job!
At Central Landscape Supplies, we stock everything you need to get the best out of your garden as the seasons turn, from quality compost and planting mixes to decorative aggregates and lawn products.
Garden Housework
Cutting back after the summer abundance. Great performers suddenly look like lazy layabouts, and a snip (or a full haircut) can bring some shape back to the garden. Lavenders, daisies, and hebes are best trimmed now ahead of winter, so their growth can harden off, and their shape will add structure to the winter garden. Deadheading dahlias, hydrangeas, roses, and petunias will encourage them to have another bloom this autumn.
Clearing weeds gives space to desirable plants. A mixed bag of species is around now due to high rainfall this summer, now’s good to clear them out before their seeds disperse around the garden.
Trimming shrubs, topiary plants and hedges can begin. Use sharpened secateurs and hedge clippers, tidy away weeds at the base of the plants. Feed and Mulch them to keep the roots snug in winter.
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Condition Your Soil
Summer was a series of weather extremes – high rainfall, and heat, so garden soils are needing a re-stock of nutrients for existing and new plants to do their best from now on. Fork handfuls of Premium Compost around the plants, scatter some pelletised or granular fertiliser and water everything in. Prolawn All Purpose fertiliser is an excellent granular food to use – apply ahead of rain or water it in, then place mulch on top.
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The Autumn Vegetable Garden
Raised vegetable beds also need a re-boot. Start by removing summer vegetables that have gone to seed, those that aren’t producing anything much and anything with powdery mildew on the leaves. Top up the raised beds with Premium Garden Mix. Best secret for top autumn vegetable production? Biofert Mussel Meal Fertiliser Powder (exclusive to Central Landscape Supplies), it’s magic for veggies.
Plant out the autumn vegetables – brassicas – cauli, cabbage, broccoli, bok choy. Reliable winter veg include celery and silver beet. Add snail bait or take a torch out after dark and ‘vanish’ the slugs and snails, as they’re around and capable of demolishing a small seedling in one night!
Room for root vegetables? Add Premium Garden Mix or Premium Compost to the soil. Sow radishes, carrots, beetroot, celeriac and parsnip. Radishes will be ready in a month, carrots can be harvested from three months, but patience for the rest because they may take 5-6 months.
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Nature’s Best Planting Time
Autumn is the best time to plant out a garden, add a desirable tree or shrub, or plant a hedge to add some structure to the garden. The soil temperature is still warm, just ensure everything is watered every few days if there’s no rain.
Did you know? Central Landscape Supplies regularly tests its products to be assured that customers are getting the performance they expect. Our most recent growth trial that we began in early February has come up tops and we’re so pleased because that mix. Above is our Premium Garden Mix on the left, beside a competitor mix on the right. Our tomatoes are bushy, green and bigger, just what you’d want in your vegetable garden! We use tomatoes because they are such a sensitive plant, they quickly demonstrate how the mix is performing. (We’re putting in some lettuce, brassica and flower trials now, watch for the results in this column)!
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Lawn Time
Lawns have loved the frequent summer rain. To maintain a healthy lawn, as the weather cools, feed it with Prolawn Lawn Booster fertiliser now (ahead of rain).
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Free Plants
Free plants – Cuttings can be taken from plants such as hebes, westringias, salvias, rosemary and lavenders. A 50/50 mix of No.3 Pumice Sand and Premium Garden Mix is our recommended mix to start them off. Cut a non-flowering stalk 10-15cm long, make a cut below a leaf node and strip off the lower leaves. Dip in hormone rooting powder for best results. Water daily.
