Your Sunshine Coast winter gardening guide

Compost care

Keeping your compost balanced in winter is key to maintaining healthy soil. Check it regularly to make sure your compost feels damp, not soggy or dry.

If the soil is too wet, try mixing in dry ‘brown’ materials like shredded paper or leaves. On the other hand, if it’s too dry, add a small amount of water along with fresh ‘green’ material such as vegetable scraps to keep it active and rich with nutrients.

Garden bed maintenance

Winter is the perfect time to refresh your garden beds. Start by removing any weeds, then apply a fresh layer of compost (products like Rocky Point Active Grow work well, and you can find it in-store). Finish with a generous layer of mulch to help suppress weeds and retain moisture while protecting the soil during the cooler months.

If you grow dahlias, now is the time to lift tubers from the ground. We recommend storing them in sawdust in a cool, dry place to prevent rotting and keep them healthy and ready to replant when it’s closer to spring.

Check out this video of STEPS Garden Centre Manager April, showing you how to make an environmentally-friendly weed mat!

Plant propagation

To rejuvenate your perennials in the winter, divide them and spread them around your garden space. Your best candidates are lemongrass, society garlic, and walking iris.

It’s also a great time to propagate with hardwood cuttings. Choose stems from lower parts of the plan that are firm and woody; these cuttings have a higher chance of establishing strong new growth.

Winter pruning

Deciduous trees are dormant in June, so it’s an ideal time for pruning. Focus on removing crossing branches, damaged growth and any suckers growing from the base to improve your plant’s health and structure.

If you have roses, it’s best to hold off until July, but pruning trees now will help you control their size and encourage better production, setting up your trees for vigorous growth come spring.

Feeding your plants

It’s never too chilly for a nutrient boost. Apply a liquid fertiliser to support the steady development of your vegetables and flower seedlings through the cold months.

Regular feeding will give your plants the best shot of staying strong and healthy, along with a great head start when the growing season ramps back up again in spring.

Planning a gardening project?

Our expert team of passionate gardeners can help you choose the perfect plant for your space, soil and garden goals.

Visit STEPS Garden Centre to explore our autumn feature plants and get expert advice on planting, care and placement.

Every purchase supports STEPS Pathways College, helping young adults living with a disability and autism develop independence skills for a brighter future.

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