March in the Macedon Ranges is the perfect time to dig in (literally!) and get your garden autumn-ready! With summer’s heat winding down, the soil is still nice and warm—just what new plants love. So, grab your gloves, embrace the dirt, and let’s give your garden the best start for the cooler months ahead.
1.What should you be planting:
In Autumn you want to give your garden the best chance at success, so first making sure you’re picking the right plants is essential.
Veggies
Try Planting Bok Choy and Pak Choy, Broad Beans and Lettuce.
Trees:
In autumn lets plant Birch, Magnolia and Oak trees.
Flowers:
Its hard to know what to plant in the cooler months but try marigolds- which are amazing companion plants for most veggies, pansies or perennials.
2. How to plant
Getting ready to plant? A little prep goes a long way! A few weeks before planting, give the area some love—pull out any weeds and give the soil a good soak if rain has been scarce. It can also be a good time to think about creating some compost from any garden scraps you can find, as this is great organic matter that will help when planting!
To boost the nutrients in your soil, mix through manure or compost to give it the best chance at success. At the nursery we have sheep, poultry or cow manure to assist with drainage in heavy soils ensuring a slow release of nutrients. Additionally, if you have clay or problem soil, you can think about using a soil improver like garden mate. Or if you have aqua phobic soil you may be able to use rapid soak to help your soil retain moisture.
Trust us, a little bit of work before you plant will make all the difference in the future!
Now we get to the best part!! Once your site is prepped and your plants are ready, there are a few simple tips to help them thrive.
First, make sure your plant is well hydrated before it even touches the soil. Sometimes leaving it in a bucket of water for up to an hour, depending on the size of the pot, can be a great way to avoid any dry soil and keep your plants root system nice and hydrated. Through adding either a seaweed solution, a dose of plant starter or a vitamin mix to the bucket of water, the stress on the plant will reduce and the roots will be activated.
Then when digging your hole, it should be at least 2 times as big as the pot of your plant. There’s some debate about square vs. round holes—some say square holes can help with compacted soil—but if in doubt, any shape hole will do just fine! Mix a little compost with the soil that is returning to the hole for a little extra nutrients.
As you remove the plant from its pot, try to loosen the roots slightly. If any roots are tightly knotted or strangled, gently separate them to give your plant the best chance to grow strong. Then gently place your plant in the hole so the top sits above the surface and shape the soil to look like a volcano. Particularly in the Macedon Ranges with our clay soil, elevating your plant slightly will prevent root rot in the future!
Finally, fill in the hole, top it off with some mulch, and that’s it—you’re done!
Now depending on the type of plant, you may have to fertilize your soil differently as each plant likes different nutrients, but if you stick to the basics, you’ll have a thriving garden in no time!
3.How to keep your plants nurtured in the following weeks
This autumn, make sure your soil drains well, and your plants get the nutrients they need after being planted. March is a great time to keep an eye on how much water they’re getting—too little, and they’ll struggle to grow; too much, and you might run into root rot. If the soil isn’t draining well, a bit of aeration can help. The best trick? Water deeply but less often, giving the soil time to dry slightly between waterings. With just a little attention, your garden will flourish all season long!
The harsh but beautiful conditions of the Macedon ranges can be daunting when planting but if done right your garden will flourish when springtime comes around and it will all be worth it. Stick to these tips on what to plant, how to plant and how to nurture and your garden will never look better.
Follow us on our social media pages for more tips and tricks and remember to tag us in any of your autumn planting. Good luck!!
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