Winter Gardening Tips

Date posted: 07 June 2019

Winter has come!

A new season has officially arrived, along with some glorious and much-needed rain. And while it’s cold outside, work in the garden will give you a warm glow in both body and mind. Here are some winter gardening tips from Botanic Gardens of South Australia curators to get you started.

Singing in the rain

We all know it was a hot, dry summer and autumn, but rain has finally arrived giving our thirsty land a good drink. If your soil has been dry for an extended period it can become water repellent (hydrophobic) even after heavy rains. Look for water pooling on the surface, which can be fixed with a good soil wetting agent and/or seaweed-based additives.

Remove heavy layers of autumn leaves which can stop the rain getting to the soil. Use these excess leaves to make nutrient-rich compost. But avoid composting Plane Tree leaves – pop those ones in your green bin instead.

Weed Control

With the recent rain has come weeds. Make sure you remove weeds before they mature and set seed. Weeding by hand can give an effective result. Be careful to remove roots and all, and use garden hoes or tillers for larger areas.

Get on top of those jobs

This is the perfect time to get on top of ‘those jobs’. The ones that have been niggling in the back of your mind. Do you need to relocate underperforming plants to a more suitable spot, or replace them with something else? Do you need to attend to a garden path or fix some irrigation? Life is busy but once these chores are ticked off your list, you will have time to focus on the more satisfying activities.

Veggie patch-up

Winter’s the time to prune your existing fruit trees or buy new ones to put in the ground. Winter’s also great for planting brassicas (such as brussels sprouts and cauliflower), lettuce and Chinese vegetables. Take the time to tidy up your garden, enrich the soil with compost and start thinking about what you’re going to plant next season. Check with your local nursery to see if they have any new veggies you’d like to try growing.

Time to prune

Winter is a good time to prune for structure on young deciduous trees. Because these trees are without leaves, the form of the tree can be seen easily. Crossing wood, double leaders and a plethora of other problems can be picked up early. Hydrangea pruning can also be done now the flower buds have set. The old wood can be pruned out and the shrubs pruned back to those healthy fat flower buds for a good display next year.

Rose pruning is a winter must; any time from July onwards is fine. When you’ve finished, apply a seaweed based product to condition the soil, which will help the plant with drought tolerance, resistance to frost and attack from pests and disease.

Start of something new…

Put the kettle on and get cosy indoors as you make gardening plans. Think about whether you would like a new design or theme for your garden. Is it time to add more shade, or native plants to encourage native wildlife into your outdoor space? Birds, bees, butterflies and other little creatures will do wonders for your garden by helping to pollinate veggies and gobble up pest insects. Native bee hotel, anyone?

So when the rain pours and the wind howls, get online to do some research, plan your project and you’ll be ready for action when there’s a break in the clouds.

Never stop learning

We have a range of workshops taking place throughout winter and into spring that are a fun and inspiring way to gain news skills and knowledge.

Expert-led masterclasses are held at stunning Mount Lofty Botanic Garden in the horticulturalist’s nursery. Take your plant propagation skills to the next level with our Plant propagation or Advanced plant propagation classes. Find out everything you need to know about orchids at Demystifying orchids, or learn the ancient art of bonsai or topiary.

For the first time, we are collaborating with experts from Footprint Ink to deliver a range of workshops at Adelaide Botanic Garden. Find out how plant choices are crucial when designing your garden, learn about growing green walls, creating a Japanese or Chinese-inspired garden, permaculture and more.