- Resist the urge to prune frost-affected foliage. Frost-bitten leaves can protect others from damage, so hold off until all frosts have passed.
- For a stunning shrub that is really something special, have a look the Silk Tassel Bush (Garraya elliptica). Flowering now, the long, silver-grey catkins are an elegant addition to this tough, attractive plant.
- A delicious cross between Brussel Sprouts and kale, Brukale or Kalettes can still be planted now. The flower sprouts can be harvested regularly and have a nutty, sweet flavour when cooked or eaten raw.
- For a pop of colour in your warm temperate patch, why not plant out some primula? These winter-flowering winners come in a dazzling array of colours and are super easy to grow.
- Have some fun and knock up a pea teepee in your patch! Find a sunny spot, some nice straight branches or stakes, string and snow pea seeds, and let your imagination do the rest!
- Deciduous clematis is due a haircut this weekend and respond best when pruned down to a pair of plump buds about 30cm from the ground. They will reward you with a real show in spring!
- Get wet this weekend and install a drip-irrigation system in your edible garden. Even a simple set-up will save your seedlings come spring and summer.
- It’s time to prune roses! Bush varieties can be pruned back by a third to a half, hybrid tea roses should have damaged wood removed, and the stems pruned to outward facing buds.
- If you’re craving Kimchi, it’d not too late to whack in a wombok. This crunchy, compact Chinese Cabbage loves a bit of sun, and the occasional feed, but it’ll grow like a rocket at this time of year.
- In the tropics, try a Mexican Sour Gherkin, or Cucamelon. These cute-as climbers bear masses of grape-sized fruits that look like mini watermelons and taste like cucumbers with a hint of lime.
- These school holidays get the kids growing their own terrarium. All you need is a covered glass or plastic container, some potting mix, gravel, and a selection of small indoor or tropical plants. See the website for more info.
- Diospyros australis, the Black Plum, is a small Australian rainforest tree, perfect for home gardens. Able to be grown in pots or the ground, this shade-lover produces masses of sweet, delicious fruit for almost six months of the year.
- Warm up this winter and chip away at weeds weekly to keep them under control. Mulch or cover any bare areas to stop the spread and limit seed germination.
- It’s the perfect time of year to start off your summer vegie seeds, especially tomatoes. Keep them in a warm, sheltered position until the risk of frost has passed, and you’ll be ready to roll come spring.
- If your garden needs some colour over winter, consider planting a drift of Everlasting daisies (Rhodanthe chlorocephala) - the masses of pink and white flowers put on a real show.