Right now, the mornings are crisp, and the days are getting longer. With the clouds clearing (most of the time), it's a great time to prepare your garden for spring and plan which plants you want to grow.
Melbourne has a specific climate, and there are some plants which thrive more than others. That's why we've put together this comprehensive guide on how to prepare your garden for spring and the types of plants you can grow.
If you're one of those keen gardeners waking up from your winter hibernation, look no further than All Green Nursery and Garden. We're experts in what to plant, and when, in Melbourne.
Our nursery is home to a massive range of seasonal plant varieties including natives and exotics, fruit trees, roses and shrubs, and all our plants are carefully selected and bred to thrive in Victoria’s unique climate conditions.
How to prepare your garden
Kick off the new gardening season by pruning, clearing out weeds and debris. You'll need to replenish your soil by adding a healthy dose of nourishing organic compost and mulch to your garden beds.
Compost
At All Green, we recommend mushroom compost. This is a pasteurised, composted blend of wheaten straw, chicken manure and gypsum that is ideal for:
- Rejuvenating established gardens
- Improving soil structure in new gardens
- Conserving soil moisture
- Can be used as a mulch, especially for roses
Mulch
Mulching is essential in Melbourne's temperamental climate. It not only looks great and eliminates weeds, but it also:
- Insulates plant roots from frost
- Retains soil moisture during warm seasons
- Adds nutrients and improves soil health
- Reduces soil erosion
At All Green, we supply mushroom compost as well as a wide range of mulches by the tonne, the cubic metre or the bag. And you can collect, or we can deliver.
[tip_box]Hint: Before mulching, top off garden beds with a light sprinkling of slow-release fertiliser to keep your plants in top condition all season.[/tip_box]
What to plant
Need advice on a particular plant or part of your garden? Share your vision with our on-site horticulturalists, who can advise you on your unique situation and provide you with some great tips for keeping your plants healthy all year round.
Spring flowers
The flowers you plant in spring will reward you with beauty, colour and fragrance for many months to come.
September is a great time in Melbourne for planting favourites like
- Daisies
- Carnations
- Lavender
- Marigolds
- Snapdragons
- Pansies
- Foxgloves
- Dahlias
Geraniums and petunias are especially popular. They provide a splash of colour and you can plant them in your garden bed, pot plants or use hanging baskets.
Sunflowers are a super easy way to brighten up a sunny corner of your garden, but if you’re in a frost-prone area then hold off until the soil warms up.
Other flowers that can be planted out from September onward include:
- Alyssum: Coming in white or pastel shades, alyssums are the perfect flower to tuck into corners of flower beds
- Snapdragons: Named for it's resemblance to the face of dragon when you squeeze the flower head
- Asters: A daisy-like perennial with starry-shaped flower heads
- Begonias: Begonias makes lovely 'fillers' in shady, frost-free gardens
- Carnations: A popular, well-known flower which comes in a variety of colours and sizes
- Celosias: Flame-like flower, also know as the Cock's comb
- Chrysanthemums: Grow well in pots or garden beds and add great colour to your garden
- Cinerarias: Part of the sunflower family, this flower grows with a white centre and a coloured outer petal
- Cornflowers: Also known as bachelor's buttons, this is annual flower which grows upright so it's a great plant for tight spaces
- Gazanias: Similar to cinerarias in appearance, this plant is grows well in summer as it is drought resistant
- Impatiens: A bright and cheerful annual, you can use impatiens as bedding plants or border plants, or grow them in pot plants
Veggies
There is nothing like using home-grown veggies for freshness and flavour. There’s a vast range of produce you can grow yourself at home, and spring is the season to start planting many of your favourites for a steady crop until next winter.
Extra tip: Spring is also a great time to establish new garden beds in time for the growing season. No-dig veggie gardens beds are increasingly popular if you are time-poor, don’t like bending over a lot or have pets who love to dig.
From September on, Melbourne veggie gardeners can plant:
- Beetroot
- Broccoli
- Cabbages
- Capsicums
- Carrots
- Cauliflowers
- Celerys
- Cucumbers
- Eggplants
- Endives
- Leeks
- Lettuces
- Onion
- Parsnips
- Pak choi
- Peas
- Radishes
- Rocket
- Silverbeet
- Snow peas
- Spring onion
- Strawberries
- Sweet corn
- Tomatoes
Herbs
Few things step up your cooking quite like having fresh, seasonal herbs to hand.
Spring gardeners can begin planting out staples such as:
- Chives
- Dill
- Mint
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Sage
- Thyme
Coriander, in particular, enjoys the cooler spring weather and tends to bolt once temperatures rise, spoiling the taste of the leaves.
The ever-favoured basil, however, is sensitive to the cold and should be planted slightly later than most other herbs.
Fruits trees
Deciduous fruit trees, such as pears, apples, peaches and plums, can be planted in early spring, when they can be purchased bare rooted.
Evergreen fruit trees, like lemons, oranges and kumquats, should be planted slightly later, once the soil has warmed up.
Bear in mind that:
- Fruit trees require plenty of sun and good drainage
- Dwarf varieties are best if you have limited space
- Some fruit trees require cross-pollination, i.e. two apple trees
Native plants
Because they have evolved for local conditions, indigenous plants are well adapted to the soils and climate of the area and tend to require less maintenance than most exotics.
They also help to maintain local ecosystems, as native plants and animals depend upon one another for their survival.
In Melbourne, natives can be planted from autumn until the end of spring.
