April: Autumn is the Best Time of Year to Plant and Prepare

The slow shift towards the golden colours of autumn has begun.

This time of year has a way of pulling us back into the garden; hands in the soil, attention on the small, steady work of growing and tending. Warm days are still holding on, though autumn is beginning to creep in. Birds are returning to overwinter on the island, pademelons are retreating into the bush, and pumpkins… not quite ripening to plan this year. But there’s still plenty to sow and plant now for a late winter and early spring harvest.

Veggie patch

In Tasmania’s cool, often overcast winters, the garden slows right down, and so do we. Growth is quieter, less obvious. It’s easy to wander through the supermarket, see cabbages and Brussels sprouts on the shelves, and wonder why we’re not growing them ourselves. But the truth is, winter harvests are set in motion much earlier. What you’re picking in the colder months was planted in summer or autumn.

In early autumn, we plant heart-warming vegetables that we can add to stews and pies. Think brassicas and other cruciferous crops, along with carrots, parsnips, radishes, and cold-tolerant salad leaves like winter purslane and lamb’s lettuce. Given time to establish before winter sets in, many of these are surprisingly frost hardy.

Herbs come into their own now, too. Coriander, dill, and parsley all thrive in autumn conditions, with coriander standing out for its cold tolerance. Sow it every 3–4 weeks and you’ll have a steady supply well into winter. Fast growers like radish, rocket, and spinach are also well suited to this window, often ready to harvest in as little as 6–9 weeks.

Berries, such as strawberries and raspberries, can go in now, too. Selected strawberries and berries, such as raspberries, boysenberries and loganberries are on sale in store now. While we’re still a few months away from planting bare-rooted fruit trees, it’s a good idea to prepare the orchard for planting now. Lots of rich, organic manures and compost will go a long way to feeding the soil and ensuring your trees have all the nutrients they need to start spring growth on the right foot.

One of the simplest and most effective things you can do for the veggie patch in autumn is to top up beds with fresh compost. Spread it over the surface rather than digging it in. This acts as a mulch while feeding the soil below. Seedlings can be planted straight into it, and seeds are just as happy being sown directly into compost.

If your autumn crops are already underway, a little maintenance goes a long way. Removing the lower leaves from plants like savoy cabbages, Brussels sprouts, and beetroot improves airflow and helps deter snails and slugs from settling in.

One of our favourite ways to extend the season in the veggie patch is to use horticultural fleece, a technique we learnt from Charles Dowding. This can be placed directly on top of your veggies and held in place with rocks or other heavy objects. Horticultural fleece not only provides extra warmth for plantings to establish, but also provides young seedlings protection from exposure to wind, hungry insects, and pesky rabbits!

General maintenance

As the garden shifts into autumn, a little regular maintenance now sets everything up for the quieter months ahead. It’s a good time to tidy rather than overhaul—removing spent annuals, cutting back tired perennials, and clearing away any diseased or damaged growth. Not everything needs a hard prune, though. Many plants benefit from being left a little shaggy through winter, providing shelter for beneficial insects and protecting crowns from frost.

It’s also worth thinking about slow-release fertilisers for plants that are quietly preparing to flower through winter and early spring. Shrubs like daphnes, hellebores, and early camellias are already setting buds now, even if there’s little visible growth. A good application of a balanced, slow-release fertiliser in autumn gives them access to steady nutrients to support bud development.

Peonies benefit from good dose of peony-specific fertiliser now. While they’ll soon die back above ground, there’s still plenty happening below the surface. Feeding now helps build strong root systems and supports next season’s flowering. Choose a fertiliser that’s not too high in nitrogen, and consider pairing it with lime and a top-dressing of compost to improve soil structure over time.

Light pruning and shaping can still be done while conditions are mild. Hedges can be given a final trim to neaten them up before growth slows, and summer-flowering shrubs can be lightly shaped if needed. Avoid heavy pruning on frost-tender plants, and hold off on anything that flowers in late winter or early spring, as you may be cutting off developing buds. Roses can be deadheaded and lightly tidied, but save the main prune for winter.

Autumn is also an ideal time to feed the garden, focusing on building soil health rather than pushing soft new growth. A layer of Seagreens Organic Compost, Tassie Naturals Cow Manure or All-in-One Soil Conditioner, and a gentle organic fertiliser, such as Seamungus or Popul8, will support soil life and slowly release nutrients over the coming months. Around trees and shrubs, this kind of feeding encourages steady root development while the soil is still warm.

Finally, a layer of mulch ties everything together. Applied after feeding, it helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and protect roots as the weather cools. Top up where needed, keeping it clear of plant stems, and you’ll head into winter with a garden that’s tidy, protected, and quietly preparing for the season ahead.

Come in to the Nursery and talk to one of our friendly garden experts today!