As we move into winter, it’s time to prepare your garden to ensure you get the best out of your flowers during the season. Our simple tips will help you promote new growth and maintain what you already have.
Autumn is the perfect time to deal with those pesky weeds. Removing invasive weeds completely from your garden will prevent those plants from sprouting all over again and disrupting the plants that will be wanting to grow in future seasons. Effective methods of weed removal include digging them up or smothering them underneath tarps if you’re not physically capable to remove them all anymore.
Autumn is a good time to trim your perennial plants to help promote future growth. Removing the dead upper growth and dried flowering stems helps to keep their growth under control and your garden healthy. Before you start pruning, clean your snips with vinegar or rubbing alcohol to sterilise the blades and prevent the spread of disease from plant to plant. Leave more foliage on your plant than you would in spring as it will give the centre of your plant a blanket of protection from frost damage if you live in colder climates.
Replenishing the nutrients in your soil is not just a spring activity. Autumn is a great time to add manure, compost or organic fertilisers to create rich and nourishing soil. Adding nutrients at this time of year means they have time to start breaking down to create a richer and biologically active soil for excellent spring growths later this year. Fertiliser is ideally laid down after pruning as this will give new energy to your plants to grow after they have been trimmed.
Mulching in winter has many of the same benefits as summer mulching. Adding a thick layer of mulch to the soil surface protects healthy roots as it helps regulate soil temperatures, which fluctuate as we go through winter. Mulching also reduces water loss and protects your garden’s soil from erosion. As the mulch breaks down, it incorporates fresh organic material into your soil which promotes healthy growth in the future.
Interflora has teamed up with Australian brand We the Wild to help you grow thriving plants. The We the Wild Kit includes plant food & tonic for fast growth, protect spray for healthy, shiny leaves and pellets for resilient roots. All products are safe for houseplants, safe for pets and as a bonus, a tree is planted with every purchase. Order a We the Wild kit today.
Are you preparing your garden for winter? Share with us your gardening images on Facebook or Instagram using the #InterfloraAU hashtag.