Skip to content
Once summer is over, it's time to transition in your garden plans for a healthy and productive garden. From the Australian outback's heat to the cooler temperatures of Tasmania, the transition in late summer gardening will keep you moving towards a successful lawn. With well over two decades of Permaculture and Regenerative landholding experience, these are my top tips for late summer gardening.
– Annabel Schweiger (Food2Soil Co-Founder)
Late Summer Gardening Must-Haves
As summer progresses, the secret to maintaining a healthy and productive garden is in adapting gardening practices. Here's how you can take full advantage of late summer weather in various Australian climates.
Keep Up Your Watering Habits
With increased evaporation during summer, it's crucial to water plants in the morning. This gives water a chance to penetrate plant roots before the heat of the sun makes it evaporate. During semi-arid and arid weather, evening watering during heatwaves would help save water more efficiently. Soil boosters such as biofertiliser may also aid your soil in holding water for extended periods of time, which will keep your plants healthy.
When to Divide and Transplant Plants
Late summer is the ideal time for dividing and transplanting plants such as Jerusalem Cross, Yarrow, Peonies, Day Lilies, and Iris. Soaking roots first in a Food2Soil Original dilution reduces transplant shock and increases nutrient uptake. Adding organic fertiliser at this time can also promote healthy root development, which will make your plants stronger and less susceptible to weather stress.
Turn Clippings into Mulch
Use clippings from pruning and weeding in the garden as mulch to facilitate plant health. Dipping the bottom of plants in a layer of such clippings helps maintain moisture and suppress weeds. There can be weed seeds in the clippings, so ensure that they are cleaned out to avoid unwanted growth. Consider adding some biochar soil into your mulch for improved moisture retention and structure in the soil, especially during the warmer summer months.
Boost Your Compost for Better Results
Accelerate composting with Food2Soil CompostBOOST. The formula introduces beneficial bacteria that break down organic matter quickly, improving the quality of the compost and readied condition of the garden for autumn gardening. Adding a compost accelerator like Food2Soil products will significantly enhance the effectiveness of your composting venture, providing your plants with a clean environment to grow this autumn.
Regulate Growth and Weeds Appropriately
Weeds can also thrive on the extra watering and sunshine of late summer. Suppress them with hand-weeding or cardboard and mulch covering. Or experiment bringing chickens into garden beds to naturally suppress weeds. A mix of organic fertiliser and biofertiliser helps support plant health, giving a leg up over the weeds in your garden.
Let Nature Help Your Garden Replenish
Encourage self-seeding by allowing plants to drop seeds in your garden. It is a relaxed process encouraging prolonged growth with minimal exertion. Transplant seeding plants to a part where they can dry up and drop seeds for the next crops. Incorporate soil enhancers and biochar soil in these spots to strengthen the soil structure, making the new plants resilient while establishing themselves.
Why Use Food2Soil in Your Late Summer Garden
Food2Soil introduces essential nutrients and beneficial microbes into the soil, resulting in healthier and more resilient plants. Our biofertilisers promote pest, disease, and stress resistance so that your garden remains healthy and productive. The use of such soil conditioners as biochar helps retain moisture and creates an ideal niche where the plants' roots can develop.
Understanding Australian Climate Diversity
The different climates in Australia require special gardening techniques. Adjust your late summer gardening techniques according to the climatic conditions in your area for the optimal outcome.
Conclusion
It is essential to change your gardening routine during late summer for a healthy garden. With these professional tips and the help of Food2Soil's natural solutions, you will be able to maintain your garden healthy and fruitful while approaching the cold weather. By applying compost bin and biofertiliser, together with soil boosters and organic fertiliser, your garden will be resistant to, even extreme, weather.Australian Climate Guide
