Slowed growth during winter provides an opportunity to tackle major landscaping projects like making new garden beds, paving, constructing pergolas or building retaining walls. Frost plagues inland gardeners, but elsewhere attention should be paid to making optimum use of scarce water resources.

nSeasonal Tasks
=Plant roses, deciduous trees, shrubs and frangipani cuttings.
=Prune roses, deciduous plants and swollen gall wasp stems on citrus.
=Relocate poorly positioned trees and shrubs to new areas.
=Control carrot-like bindii weed in lawns to avoid painful burrs during summer.
=Fertilise citrus, passionfruit, native plants and emerging bulbs, then water well.

nIn Bloom
=Camellia, colvillea, grevillea, ipomoea vine, poinsettia & tabebuia
nFlowers to Plant
=All Zones – alyssum, petunia, marigold
=Tropical - amaranthus, begonia, cosmos, celosia, gomphrena, phlox, portulaca, salvia, sunflower, torenia & zinnia
=Subtropical - calendula, cornflower, dianthus, kale, lobelia, nemesia, pansy, phlox, statice, strawflower  & viola
=Cool Temperate – as for subtropical plus candytuft, cineraria, clarkia, delphinium, English daisy, godetia, hollyhock, larkspur, linaria, lupin, nigella, polyanthus, poppy, primula, schizanthus, snapdragon, stock, sweet pea, sweet William & wallflower

nVegetables to Plant
=All Zones – carrot, cauliflower, kohl rabi, lettuce, radish, spring onion & turnip
=Tropical  - beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, French beans, garlic, leeks, potatoes, pumpkin, silver beet, squash, swede, sweet potato & tomato
=Subtropical - beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, celery, endive, French beans, garlic, leeks, onions, parsnip, peas, potatoes, silver beet, spinach, swede, sweet potato & tomato
=Cool Temperate – parsnip & peas

nIn Bloom
=Wattle, shower orchid (Congea) dombeya, coral tree (Erythrina), orange trumpet vine (Pyrostegia)
nFlowers to Plant
=All Zones – alyssum, marigold & petunia
=Tropical - amaranthus, begonia, cosmos, celosia, gomphrena, phlox, portulaca, salvia, sunflower, torenia & zinnia
=Subtropical - amaranthus, cosmos, gomphrena, phlox, portulaca, salvia, sunflower, torenia and zinnias
=Cool Temperate - calendula, candytuft, dianthus, kale, lobelia, nemesia, pansy, phlox, primula, statice, strawflower, verbena, viola
nVegetables to Plant
=All Zones – carrot, kohl rabi, lettuce, radish, spring onion & turnip
=Tropical  - beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, French beans, garlic, leeks, potatoes, pumpkin, silver beet, squash, swede, sweet potato & tomato
=Subtropical - beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, celery, endive, French bean, garlic, leeks, peas, potatoes, silver beet, swede, sweet potato & tomato
=Cool temperate – cauliflower, garlic, parsnip & peas

nIn Bloom
=Azalea, Geraldton wax, jasmine, magnolia & tabebuia
nFlowers to Plant
=All Zones -  alyssum, marigold, petunia
=Tropical - amaranthus, begonia, celosia, cosmos, gomphrena, phlox, portulaca, salvia, sunflower, torenia & zinnia
=Subtropical - amaranthus, begonia, celosia, cosmos, gomphrena, salvia, sunflower & zinnia
=Cool Temperate - calendula, lobelia, nemesia, pansy, phlox, statice, strawflower, verbena & viola
nVegetables to Plant
=All Zones – kohl rabi, lettuce & radish
=Tropical & Subtropical - beetroot, carrot, capsicum, celery, cucumber, eggplant, French beans, okra, potatoes, pumpkin, silver beet, spring onion, squash, sweet potato, tomato & zucchini
=Cool Temperate – cabbage, cauliflower, celery & silver beet

It is easy to be inspired by the colour and perfume of annuals and bulbs in flower in temperate and subtropical regions during spring. Even as the build up to the wet season begins, flower and vegetable gardens in the tropics continue to soldier on. Visit your local nursery to check out new release plants and the latest gardening trends.

nSeasonal Tasks
=Fertilise bulbs, pawpaws, citrus and roses and water well.
=Protect seedlings from snails and slugs with non-toxic, iron based baits.
=Prune hibiscus now and azaleas, poinsettias and snowflake bush after flowering.
=Repot and fertilize indoor plants.
=Control azalea lace bug, aphids, scale, leaf miner and bronze orange bugs.

nIn Bloom
=Deciduous trees, azaleas, cymbidium orchids, hippeastrum, bombax tree, & Marguerite daisy
nFlowers to Plant
=All Zones – alyssum, begonia, cosmos, marigold & petunia
=Tropical - amaranthus, celosia, gomphrena, phlox, portulaca, salvia, sunflower, torenia & zinnia
=Subtropical & Cool Temperate - aster, amaranthus, celosia, cleome, gomphrena, phlox, portulaca, salvia, sunflower, torenia & zinnia
nVegetables to Plant
=All Zones – carrot, choko, cucumber, eggplant, French beans, lettuce, radish, spring onion, squash & tomato
=Tropical  - capsicum, kohl rabi, okra, pumpkin, rockmelon, rosella, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon & zucchini
=Subtropical - beetroot, capsicum, kohl rabi, okra, pumpkin, rockmelon, rosella, silver beet, sweet corn, sweet potato, watermelon & zucchini
=Cool Temperate – beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, silver beet & sweet corn

nIn Bloom
=Callistemon, jacaranda, tree waratah (Alloxylon) May bush, native frangipani (Hymenosporum) & star jasmine
nFlowers to Plant
=All Zones – alyssum, amaranthus, begonia, cosmos, marigold, petunia, portulaca, salvia, torenia & zinnia
=Tropical – gomphrena & phlox
=Subtropical & Cool Temperate – as for Tropics plus aster, celosia, cleome & sunflower
nVegetables to Plant
=All Zones –capsicum, choko, cucumber, eggplant, French beans, lettuce, okra, pumpkin, radish, spring onion, tomato & zucchini
=Tropical  - rockmelon, rosella, squash, sweet potato & watermelon
=Subtropical – as for tropical plus sweet corn
=Cool Temperate – beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celery, onion, parsnip, potato, silver beet, squash & sweet corn  

nIn Bloom
=Gardenia, November lily, port wine magnolia, poinciana, NZ Christmas tree
nFlowers to Plant
=All Zones – alyssum, amaranthus, celosia, cosmos, marigold, petunia, portulaca, salvia & zinnia
=Subtropical  & Cool Temperate – begonia, gomphrena, sunflower, torenia & verbena
nVegetables to Plant
=All Zones – capsicum, choko, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, squash, sweet corn, sweet potato, radish, snake beans, tomato, zucchini
=Tropical  - okra, pumpkin, rockmelon, rosella, & watermelon
=Subtropical - okra, pumpkin, rockmelon, rosella, spring onion, & watermelon
=Cool Temperate – beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, onion, parsnip & potato

Plants grow like triffids so expect to spend more time trimming, weeding and mowing.  Heat, humidity, seasonal festivities and holidays can make it difficult to keep on top of things in this season of hectic growth.

nSeasonal Tasks
=Prune poinsettias, azaleas, camellias, gardenias and trim dead heads from roses.
=Look for dead patches in lawns caused by lawn grubs.
=Prune fruit trees in the tropics in preparation for the wet season.
=Fertilise the entire garden with an organically based fertiliser.
=Watch out for caterpillars on citrus, impatiens and white cedar.

nIn Bloom
=Brunfelsia, jacaranda, lilly pilly, racehorse tree (Schizolobium) & sandpaper vine (Petrea)
nFlowers to Plant
=All Zones – alyssum, cosmos, marigold, petunia, portulaca, salvia & zinnia
=Tropical – amaranthus & celosia
=Subtropical & Cool Temperate - begonia, celosia, gomphrena, sunflower & torenia
nVegetables to Plant
=All Zones - capsicum, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, radish, snake bean, sweet potato, tomato & zucchini
=Tropical - choko, okra, rockmelon, rosella & watermelon
=Subtropical - choko, okra, pumpkin, rockmelon, rosella, sweet corn & watermelon
=Cool Temperate – beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celery, French bean, onion, potato, pumpkin, silver beet, squash & sweet corn

nIn Bloom
=Allamanda, buckinghamia, frangipani, Rangoon creeper (Quisqualis) & summer crocus
nFlowers to Plant
=All Zones – alyssum, celosia, cosmos, marigold, petunia, portulaca, salvia & zinnia
=Tropical – amaranthus
=Subtropical & Cool Temperate - begonia, gomphrena, sunflower & torenia
nVegetables to Plant
=All Zones -  capsicum, cucumber, lettuce, radish, tomato & zucchini
=Tropical - choko, eggplant, rockmelon, snake bean, sweet potato & watermelon
=Subtropical - choko, eggplant, rockmelon, snake bean, sweet corn, sweet potato & watermelon
=Cool Temperate – beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, French bean, kohl rabi, onion, parsnip, potato, pumpkin, silver beet, sweet corn, squash & turnip

nIn Bloom
=Bird of paradise, crepe myrtle, daylily, hibiscus & mussaenda
nFlowers to Plant
=All Zones – alyssum, celosia, cosmos, marigold, petunia, portulaca, salvia & zinnia
=Tropical – amaranthus
=Subtropical - begonia, celosia, gomphrena, sunflower & torenia
=Cool Temperate - celosia, gomphrena, sunflower & torenia
nVegetables to Plant
=All Zones -  capsicum, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, radish, sweet corn & zucchini
=Tropical & Subtropical – choko, pumpkin, snake beans, squash, sweet potato & tomato
=Cool Temperate – Beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, French bean, kohl rabi, onion, parsnip & turnip

Cooler temperatures and lower humidity make gardening more pleasant. Just as well - it is a busy season, ideal for establishing new plants and bringing excessive  growth under control. Leaves and prunings make great compost.  

nSeasonal Tasks
=Fertilise roses, fruit trees and lawns.
=Plant sweet peas, strawberry runners, seedlings, bulbs, trees and shrubs.
=Trim plants that have become too rampant over summer.
=Raise the cutting height of your mower in preparation for winter.
=Lift, divide, propagate and replant herbaceous perennials. 

nIn Bloom
=Leopard tree, oleander, ixora, pentas & tibouchina
nFlowers to Plant
=All Zones – alyssum, marigolds & petunia
=Tropical – amaranthus, begonia, celosia, cosmos, dianthus, portulaca, salvia & zinnia
=Subtropical - candytuft, cineraria, clarkia, cornflower, nemesia, pansy, phlox, statice, stock & viola
=Cool Temperate – as for subtropical areas plus delphinium, godetia, hollyhock, larkspur, linaria, lupin, nigella, poppy, primula, schizanthus, sweet pea & wallflower
nVegetables to Plant
=All Zones – carrot, cauliflower, French beans, leeks, lettuce, silver beet, spring onion & radish
=Tropical –capsicum, cucumber, eggplant, potatoes, pumpkin, squash, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomatoes & zucchini
=Subtropical – capsicum, cucumber, eggplant, potatoes, sweet corn, sweet potato & tomato
=Cool Temperate – beetroot, broccoli, broad beans, Brussels sprout, celery, kohl rabi, parsnip & turnip 

nIn Bloom
=Camellia, abutilon, gordonia, golden rain tree (Koelreuteria) & barleria
nFlowers to Plant
=All Zones – alyssum, marigold & petunia
=Tropical – amaranthus, begonia, celosia, cosmos, dianthus, portulaca, salvia & zinnia
=Subtropical - calendula, candytuft, cineraria, clarkia, cornflower, dianthus, English daisy, hollyhock, kale, larkspur, lobelia, nemesia, pansy, phlox, poppy, primula, snapdragon, statice, stock, strawflower, sweet pea, sweet William & viola
=Cool Temperate – as for subtropical plus delphinium, godetia, linaria,  lupin, nigella, polyanthus, schizanthus & wallflower
nVegetables to Plant
=All Zones – beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, lettuce, radish & spring onion
=Tropical  - capsicum, cucumber, eggplant, French beans, garlic, kohl rabi, leeks, lettuce, potatoes, pumpkin, silver beet, spring onion, squash, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, zucchini
=Subtropical - Brussels sprout, capsicum, endive, French beans, garlic, kohl rabi, leeks, onions, potatoes, silver beet, spinach, sweet potato & tomato
=Cool Temperate –broad beans, kohl rabi, parsnip, silverbeet & turnip

nIn Bloom
=Barklya, Queensland umbrella, native sarsaparilla (Hardenbergia), snow flake bush, tree daisy (Montanoea)
nFlowers to Plant
=All Zones - alyssum, marigold & petunia
=Tropical - amaranthus, begonia, cosmos, celosia, gomphrena, phlox, portulaca, salvia, sunflower, torenia & zinnia
=Subtropical - calendula, candytuft, cineraria, clarkia, cornflower, dianthus, English daisy, hollyhock, kale, larkspur, lobelia, nemesia, pansy, phlox, poppy, primula, snapdragon, statice, stock, strawflower, sweet pea, sweet William & viola
=Cool Temperate – as for subtropical plus delphinium, linaria, lupin, nigella, polyanthus, schizanthus, sweet pea & wallflower
nVegetables to Plant
=All Zones – broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, kohl rabi, lettuce, radish, silver beet, spring onion & turnip
=Tropical  - beetroot, French beans, garlic, leeks, potatoes, pumpkin, squash, swede, sweet corn, sweet potato & tomato
=Subtropical - beetroot, broad beans, Brussels sprout, capsicum, celery, chicory, endive, French beans, garlic, leeks, onions, parsnip, peas, potatoes, spinach, swede, sweet potato& tomato
=Cool temperate - Broad beans, celery, lettuce, parsnip, peas & spinach