Autumn is the perfect time for planting

By Deryn Thorpe

Autumn is the busiest time for planting in the Mediterranean garden as the soil is warm but after the excessive heat of summer the days are starting to cool.

Now the temperature as dropped its a great time for establishing everything except tropical plants as they will have three seasons to develop a strong root system before the temperature climbs. Tropical fruits should have been planted in late spring. Autumn is the time to put in cool weather vegetable crops and add colour and structure to the garden with new shrubs and plant bulbs and annuals to give a fantastic spring show. It is a very pleasant time to be in the garden and enjoy the outdoors.

Head out to the nursery to discover a wide range of deciduous trees and check the ones on show at the Perth Garden Festival.

You may be able to buy some with their autumn foliage – so you can see if the hue is what you are looking for.

Many deciduous plants will arrive in nurseries early winter, some available as bare rooted stock, which are slightly cheaper, so place an order now if you know what you want.

Buy spring flowering bulbs now while there are a good range available. These waterwise packages are dormant during the hot weather and most varieties burst into life with the autumn rains.