Our final spring month is forecast to deliver less rain and slightly higher temperatures, which is great for the garden. And the wind may drop too! Time to enjoy the fresh growth, clear the weeds and a perfect opportunity to mulch ahead of summer warmth. Get the pre-Christmas gardening prep done and cultivate the herbs, vegetables and fruit for summer harvesting.
1. Companion Planting with Basil and Marigolds
Basil and marigolds are your garden’s best friends! Basil isn't just a great cooking companion with tomatoes; it helps deter pests as well. Marigolds are a natural insect repellent, keeping aphids and nematodes away from precious crops.
Right now, watering deeply and mulching after planting will give both plants a great start, and the marigolds, with their bright flowers, will make the vegetable bed sing!
Recommended Products:
Pea Straw Mulch | Forest Floor Mulch | Arborist Mulch | Premium Black Mulch
2. Support Climbing Crops
Fast-growing summer edibles like beans, cucumbers, zucchini, and tomatoes grow quickly from now on. There are lots of good stake and trellis options around to train the plants upwards for healthy growth. By supporting them as they grow the plants get good airflow, reducing disease and exposing the flowers to more sunlight and bees.
Regular feeding with liquid fertiliser encourages vigorous vines and abundant fruit. With strong supports in place now, your summer harvest will be cleaner, larger, and easier to pick.
Bonus Tip: Stakes with pointy ends can be topped with miniature terracotta plant pots (upside down). This reduces the risk of eye damage as you move amongst the plants to water and harvest.
Recommended Products:
Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster
3. Watering and Mulching for Summer
As temperatures rise, deep and consistent watering is essential. Water early in the morning so plants absorb moisture before the heat sets in. Follow up with a 50–100 mm layer of pea straw (vegetable beds), mulch or compost to insulate roots and slow evaporation. This helps reduce watering frequency and maintains soil structure.
Mulching also encourages beneficial earthworms and micro-organisms, building resilience for the hotter months ahead.
Recommended Products:
Pea Straw | Bark Mulch | Premium Compost
4. Planting Tender Summer Vegetables
Now’s the time to plant your warm-season crops! Beans, basil, corn, melons, and pumpkins thrive when soil temperatures rise. Use premium garden soil enriched with compost to establish strong roots. Group corn and beans together – the corn supports climbing beans while the beans enrich the soil with nitrogen. Plant pumpkins nearby to act as a natural mulch, shading out weeds and keeping the soil moist; they can be fun to cover a big area over summer. Keep the area well-fed with an organic fertiliser to sustain continuous growth through summer.
Bonus Tip: Growing pumpkins is easy. Once you have 6 or 7 pumpkins forming on a vine, snip off the end of it, so the growing energy goes into developing nice, big pumpkins!
Recommended Products:
Premium Garden Mix | Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster Liquid Fertiliser
5. Feeding and Pest Control for Fruit Trees
Young apple, pear, and citrus trees need extra attention in November. Hang sticky traps to prevent codling moth and use approved sprays to protect forming fruit. Apply an organic fertiliser or compost around the dripline, then cover with mulch to conserve moisture and feed soil microbes. Healthy soil equals healthier trees, capable of producing large, sweet fruit throughout summer.
Recommended Products:
Biofert Plus TE Fertiliser | Premium Compost | Mulch
6. Create Vibrant Hanging Baskets
Bring colour to patios and porches with hanging baskets packed full of petunias, impatiens, and lobelia. Use a high-quality potting mix that holds moisture yet drains freely, and add a saucer or liner to help retain water. Feed fortnightly with liquid fertiliser to keep the blooms coming. Hanging baskets benefit from a light topping of fine mulch to prevent quick drying on hot days – a small trick that makes a big difference for continuous colour.
Recommended Products:
Premium Potting Mix | Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster | Mulch
7. Shady and Dry Area Planting
Shady corners can still shine with the right plants. Hostas, clivias, rengarenga lilies, and astilbes add texture and colour beneath trees. Hydrangeas and fuchsias that are regularly watered and mulched are shade standouts. In drier spots, choose succulents, geraniums, and pelargoniums that thrive on less water. Protect tender foliage from slugs and snails with eco-friendly bait. If the soil is a bit compacted, dig some sand and compost through before planting and top with decorative pebbles for a tidy, moisture-conserving finish that keeps the weeds at bay.
Recommended Products:
Sand & Drainage | Premium Compost | Decorative Pebbles
8. Weed Control and Path Cleaning
November is prime time to reclaim paths and borders before summer visitors arrive! Use a water blaster to clean algae and mildew from paved areas and pull out persistent weeds like convolvulus or oxalis. Refresh pebbled areas and paths with a topping of decorative pebbles. Mulch should also be topped up to thicken the layer and improve the surface colour of the mulch. A tidy garden feels larger and more welcoming – perfect for outdoor entertaining during the festive season.
Bonus Tip: A layer of white lime chip on paths, garden beds and driveways, and fresh black wood chip mulch over faded black wood particles will sharpen the garden quickly and accentuate that black and white theme.
Recommended Products:
Decorative Pebbles & Stones | Bark & Mulch
9. Feed Lawns and Flowering Shrubs
After their spring bloom, feed camellias, rhododendrons, viburnums, and roses to help them recover and set buds for next year. Apply slow-release fertiliser and water it in thoroughly.
For lawns prone to drying, apply a granular wetting agent like Prolawn Aquaturf Max G to improve water penetration. Follow up with lawn soil mix to level low spots and encourage strong regrowth before summer.
Recommended Products:
Fertilisers | Premium Lawn Soil
10. Patio and Landscape Projects for Summer
Planning an outdoor area for Christmas gatherings? Now’s the perfect time to get started. Central Landscape Supplies has all your materials – from pavers and retaining products to GAP 20 and GAP 7 basecourse for solid foundations. Finish with a mulch or bark groundcover around garden beds to reduce watering and keep the space fresh all season long. A little preparation now means your garden will be party-ready by the time the holidays arrive.
Shop Central Landscape Supplies for all your November gardening essentials — Mulch & Bark | Pebbles & Stones | Garden & Lawn Soils | Fertilisers | Paving & Retaining | Sand, Metal & Drainage | Timber Sleepers.
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