It’s the middle of Spring and there is loads to be done in your Perth garden to boost it’s growth, improve it’s look and get it healthy and happy and ready for Summer!
October is an exciting time for gardening in Perth as spring is in full swing and things are growing, the weather is lovely and it’s a very inviting season to spend time in your garden. The warmer weather and longer days are perfect for getting all the garden tasks complete, ready for the summer months.
If the idea of doing the work doesn’t excite you, but you want a lovely and healthy garden, just get in touch with our gardening team and we would love to help take some of the load off your plate!
Must-Do October Garden Maintenance Tasks
Spring in Perth means growth and increased heat! This month, you’ll want to do everything possible to protect, prevent and improve the health of your plants so they can withstand the Perth summer that is coming for us.
Here are some of our top tips for the garden maintenance tasks you should be tackling this month:
1. Water Efficiently.
As temperatures rise, proper watering becomes essential. Water deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth. Early morning is the best time to water to minimise evaporation. Make sure to run your system maually to check coverage; are there plants, grass or branches that need trimming back to ensure the water gets where it needs to go? Call a reticulation company for a health check and service if you want a professional to do this for you.
2. Fertilise for Growth.
Your plants need nutrients to thrive, especially as they enter their active growing phase. Apply a balanced fertiliser or compost to give your plants and lawns a boost. Use slow-release fertilisers for longer-lasting effects. Tip: Add liquid seaweed or fish emulsion to improve plant health and soil structure. This is especially beneficial for flowering plants and vegetables.
3. Prune Spring Flowering Shrubs.
Once spring-flowering shrubs like wisteria, camellias, and azaleas have finished blooming, it’s time to prune them. This encourages healthy growth and prepares them for next year’s blooms. Tip: Use sharp pruning shears and focus on removing dead, diseased, or crossing branches to open up the plant for better airflow and sunlight.
4. Control Pests and Diseases
Warmer weather brings pests like aphids, whiteflies, and caterpillars. Keep an eye on your plants and act early. Use eco-friendly pest control options like neem oil or insecticidal soap to combat infestations. Grubs feed on roots and can eventually kill plants and are most active in Spring.
5. Lawn Care
Your lawn will start growing faster in October. It’s a good time to mow regularly again, but don’t cut it too short. Fertilise your lawn with a high-nitrogen fertiliser to encourage healthy growth and thick coverage. Make sure to tidy the edges and prevent any extra growth spreading into your garden beds.
6. Mulch for Water Retention
We always talk about mulching as it’s so important for garden health! Mulching is especially critical in Perth’s dry climate. It helps conserve soil moisture, prevent water run-off and evaporation and keeps roots cool as the temperatures rise. Apply a thick layer of organic mulch around the base of your plants. Tip: Keep mulch away from the stems of plants to prevent rot and pests.
What to Plant in Perth in October
Native Australian plants like kangaroo paw, grevillea, and banksia thrive in Perth’s climate and require less water.
Tomatoes: Plant seedlings in well-drained soil with plenty of sun. They’ll need staking as they grow.
Capsicum (Bell Peppers): These thrive in the heat and should be planted in a sunny spot with rich soil.
Zucchini: Easy to grow and perfect for a sunny garden bed.
Cucumbers: Plant in full sun and provide a trellis for them to climb.
Pumpkins: These sprawling plants need space and love the heat, so plant in a large area with plenty of room to spread.
Beans (French & Climbing): Plant directly into the ground or in pots, giving climbing varieties a trellis for support.
Herbs: Basil, Parsley and Mint all love a bit of sun.
Oregano & Thyme: Both are hardy herbs that can be planted in sunny spots and tolerate dry conditions.
Zinnias: Hardy and drought-tolerant, these flowers will thrive in Perth’s climate.
Lavender: A fragrant addition to any garden, lavender loves full sun and well-drained soil.
Agapanthus: A hardy perennial that will flower beautifully in summer. Plant in full sun or part shade in early Spring.
Strawberries, Citrus and Melons can also be planted in Spring.
Tips for Planting in October
Mulch: As temperatures rise, adding mulch around your plants helps to retain moisture and keep roots cool.
Watering: Water early in the morning to minimise evaporation and give plants a good start to the day.
Fertilising: Apply slow-release fertiliser or compost to give new plants a nutrient boost.
If you need help with your yard this October just contact our team to find out how we can help your garden get the best start to Spring and beyond – garden maintenance is what we do!
The temperature has dropped and the colder months are coming – here are some autumn lawn care tips for Perth that you can use to make sure your lawn comes out on the other side of winter happy, healthy and ready for you and your family to enjoy!
Fertilising Tips for Autumn:
If you have chosen to fertilise your lawn once a year, the best time to apply fertiliser is in spring – but as landscape gardeners, we recommend fertilising your lawn twice a year, and spring and autumn are the best seasons.
Giving your lawn a boost in autumn is a great way to prepare it for the colder, harsher months of winter, keeping it in the best condition to resist damage due to frost, cold and sudden temperature changes.
Choose a liquid fertiliser that contains seaweed, fish, organic compounds and amino acids – it might not smell great but your lawn will love it!
Mowing Tips for Autumn:
The colder months mean you don’t have to mow your lawns as frequently, as the growth rate slows down significantly – less work for you or your gardener!
Mow your lawn every 3-5 weeks during autumn and winter, and do not cut the grass lower than 2.5 cm. If you cut it too short in the colder months, you can damage your lawns, resulting in browning and ‘scalping’. Repeatedly cutting your lawns too short can weaken your grass and leave it open to disease and weeds. If you aren’t sure how often to mow your lawn, just mow whenever your grass is longer than 6cm.
While leaving leaves and grass clippings on your lawns during summer can help provide nutrients, we recommend removing them during colder months to allow your grass to get as much access to sunlight and air as possible. If you have trees that are blocking all the sun, you may also want to prune them more in the colder months for the sake of your lawn.
Watering Tips for Autumn:
Turn off your sprinklers! Keep an eye on the rainfall, but unless your grass looks and feels very dry and it hasn’t rained in a while, you do not need to water it in late autumn or winter. And if you do water it – only do so in the early morning so it has all day to absorb the water it needs and let the rest evaporate. If your lawn is too wet, it can become vulnerable to fungi or disease.
Don’t Neglect Your Lawn Care in Autumn
Perth has such hot, dry summers that autumn and winter are great opportunities for your lawns to regenerate, soaking up the extra water and growing stronger, healthier root systems that will keep them in better shape when the temperatures rise again.
In our goal to provide exceptional Gardening, Landscaping, and Reticulation services for our customers in Perth, we at Perth Landscaping Group have always exerted efforts to contribute in nurturing our environment.
Perth Gardening Experts has recently been recognized for its efforts to offset our carbon emissions and plant trees to support the Australian Native Reforestation. Perth Landscaping Group has successfully offset more than 46 tonnes of carbon emissions.
With the temperature dropping, many plants are now slowing their growth rates and eventually will become dormant but this is not the case for every plant. Weeds will be growing more than ever!
Winter is also a great time to prune your trees and shrubs and plant annual bulbs, but also is good for planning for the next season, and checking your reticulation system is in good shape.
Read more to find out what should be done in your Perth garden this Winter.
Extremely high temperatures are a reality during summers in Australia, and it isn’t just people who face the risk of dehydration. Your garden’s plants are especially vulnerable during this time and you can lose all the hard work you did back in spring in a day if you aren’t careful.
Keeping your plants healthy during the long summer months may prove troublesome, but it isn’t impossible to do. Read on below for some ways you can ensure your garden’s health during summer.
Watering and keeping your soil moist
Make sure you give your plants an extra dose of water when the heat starts to climb. The important thing here is to make sure the soil is moist at all times so that the plants don’t dehydrate under the heat. Make sure your reticulation system is the right one for your garden and installed and optimised properly to keep your garden at its best even in hot seasons.
If you have potted plants, make sure to give them extra water. Plants like these generally have shorter roots and they are often the first to wither away during summer since they can’t get that much water from the soil. You may want to move them somewhere shady when you water them so that the soil doesn’t dry out quickly.
Speaking of soil, take special care handling plants that have generally sandy soil. These tend to dry out really fast, which can prove fatal if you don’t water them regularly. To help improve sandy soil keep it moisturized, mix it with some clay or add a wetting agent to help retain moisture better.
Weeds tend to proliferate during the summer, and this can prove troublesome to your garden’s plants if they start popping out. Unlike your choice plants and flowers, they thrive in the heat as they are able to consume water more efficiently. The downside is that these weeds will start consuming all the water in the soil, leaving your plants parched and at risk of wilting and withering away.
You need to get rid of weeds as soon as possible after you see them growing in your lawn or garden them as soon as possible. Use a spade to remove the entire weed as it can regrow even if just a small part of its root remains in the soil. If there’s a persistent root, then you may want to get help from a professional to remove the weed thoroughly. Head here for methods of weed control you can use in your garden.
At Perth Gardening, we know that hydrating your plants and soil isn’t the only thing that you need to do to ensure your garden survives the harsh summer months. We provide extensive gardening services, from organic gardening, mulching, to weed control services.
Do you need help with your garden or lawn? Contact us today and let’s discuss how we can help.
