Canberra gardening, season by season.

Spring · September to November

Start by deciding what you want to grow and what needs bringing back under control. Keep an eye on frost-sensitive plants while you prepare beds and make a planting list. A warm day does not settle the timing for every crop.

For planting dates, consult the Canberra Organic Growers Society’s seasonal guidance. Pair that local advice with the instructions for your chosen variety. Our spring planting guide shows how to turn the two into a useful plan.

A manageable spring session: clear the bed you intend to plant, label anything you want to keep and check the hose reaches it. If the garden is overgrown, finish the access route first.

Summer · December to February

Make checking the garden part of an existing routine, such as going outside in the morning. Look at the plants and soil before turning on the water. Check irrigation fittings and adjust anything watering the path instead of the planting.

ACT Climate Choices explains how a garden’s water needs change with its plants, soil, slope and microclimate. Use that information to assess separate areas rather than giving every bed the same treatment.

Summer is also a useful time to record which parts of the garden you enjoy and which need too much work. A short note about an exposed pot or awkward hose route is more useful than trying to remember it when you redesign a bed later.

A manageable summer session: check one irrigation zone, pull a few identified weeds and inspect the mulch around a garden bed. Work at a time that suits the weather.

Autumn · March to May

Write down what worked through summer before the details disappear. Which crops did you actually eat? Which plants suited the spot? Which jobs did you keep putting off? Use the answers to choose a smaller, more realistic plan for the next season.

Check local sowing and transplanting advice early if you want a winter crop. The job is not simply to put something in before winter arrives; timing needs to suit the particular vegetable and variety.

A manageable autumn session: clear a path of fallen material, organise garden-waste disposal and make a list of plants that may need frost protection. Keep useful leaf litter where it suits the planting, rather than treating every fallen leaf as rubbish.

If a lawn needs work, identify its grass type before choosing a renovation date. Our lawn-care guide explains the questions to answer first.

Winter · June to August

Keep the jobs modest and pay attention to cold conditions. Prepare protection for susceptible plants and look at how frost varies across your garden. Avoid assuming a sheltered courtyard and an open front bed need the same response.

For warm-season lawns, winter growth may slow markedly. Lawn Solutions Australia’s winter advice recommends matching mowing to the growth you can see. Identify the grass before applying guidance written for another type.

A manageable winter session: organise tools and plant labels, check access routes and sketch one change you would like to make in spring. If you arrange ongoing garden help, discuss which jobs still need attention when mowing slows.

Turn the calendar into three decisions

Keep the plan somewhere you will see it. A finished bed, a clear path or a lawn cut at the right time is a better starting point than a list that covers the entire property.

Plan a garden reset or ask about local garden help.