Every homeowner wants to have a year round blooming garden, which is not a difficult task in Australia. Our guide will help you have an all-season garden that is vibrant, lively, and bursting with colour. By doing a little bit of research, you will learn that there are so many different plants, shrubs, and flowers perfect for each season.

The key to having a beautiful garden regardless of the season is knowing exactly what and when to plant. By being informed, you ensure that your garden will be blossoming throughout every season.

We know that you are eager to roll up your sleeves and start working on your garden, but first, read our guide for expert tips on how to handle each season. If you are looking to sell or rent your property, you should know that a beautiful garden will boost your house’s curb appeal.

1. Summer

Summer is the perfect time to start working on your garden. The plants that you can grow during summer will generally depend on the Australian region that you live in.

• In subtropical Australia, more precisely in northern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland, you can opt for plants like torenia, sunflower, zinnia, impatiens, or ageratum.
• If you live in the wet and dry tropical areas of Australia such as the Northern Territory, Western Australia, or northern Queensland, then you can go for sunflower, balsam, salvia, or petunia.
• In the temperate areas, including coastal New South Wales, coastal Sydney, or Victoria, consider planting cyclamen, alyssum, Malope, wallflower, pansy, or Iceland poppy.
• Homeowners who live in the cooler areas of Australia, like Tasmania and Melbourne, should consider planting blooms like lobelia, wallflower, petunia, cleome, and forget-me-not.
• If you own a property in the Mediterranean parts of Australia, such as Perth or Adelaide, you can just prune the shrubs that flower during spring and cut back the flowers that bloom annually in order to keep them flowering all year round. Additionally, you can also plant flowers that thrive in the Australian climate such as gomphrena, vinca, marigold, cockscomb, or coleus.

If you are simply looking to have a garden that looks summery throughout the year, you can play with colour and aesthetics and go for the following quintessential Summer plants:

• Lavender - this plant will thrive in climates that have dry winters and hot summers and is best grown in pots, in neatly cut hedges, or in courtyards. Lavender can also be extremely useful as it can reduce stress and anxiety, it can treat insomnias and sleep apnea, and it has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.
• Bougainvillea - this pink flower will also thrive in pots and in other confined spaces. Additionally, the bougainvillea thrives during the hot season as it has a high tolerance to drought. It’s tolerance to salt makes it a good choice for coastal regions, where it can be seen along the fencelines, hanging on walls, planted hanging baskets or in containers, or as a hedge or an accent flower. This flower comes in a wide range of colours such as pink, white, orange, burgundy, and purple. It is important to mention that this flower’s sap is quite toxic and it can cause skin irritations.
• Gardenias - these flowers are not only beautiful but also have a nice fragrance that is refreshing and unique. Gardenias are generally grown as ornamental shrubs in hot regions or as patio plants that are moved indoors during the cold seasons. If you are considering growing gardenias, you should pay close attention to their growing requirements. If you succeed, the flowers will reward you with their beautiful flowers and fragrant bloom.
• Frangipanis or plumeria - these tropical plants will thrive from December to April if they are planted in a soil that is well-drained, if they get a good amount of sun, and if they are close to the beach. Did you know that there are around 300 different colours of frangipani in Australia alone? These amazing flowers will suit any garden and can grow to 6m in height.
• Dahlias - these beautiful flowers will generally need quite a lot of sun and you can also find miniature Dahlias that can be grown in small pots. It is important to mention that dahlias will generally struggle in cold soil, as they need a ground temperature of at least 15°C.

2. Autumn

Autumn is the perfect time of year to think about growing edible plants. You can either start working on a veggie patch, plant fruit trees, or simply go for an herb garden. Whatever you choose, you will be extremely happy with it throughout the year.

If you live in Perth or in Adelaide, you can consider yourself lucky because in Autumn you can plant olive trees, citrus trees, or avocado. The great climate in the Mediterranean parts of Australia gives homeowners more planting options such as herbs, vegetables, fruits, or other plants. So if you happen to live in these parts of Australia, take advantage of this extremely wide range of gardening options. Planting a vegetable garden can also be a great way to spruce up your home for sale.

For Australians who live outside of Perth and Adelaide, we recommend herbs like parsley, tarragon, coriander, garlic, marjoram, thyme, or oregano. They can also plant different vegetables like peas, spinach, broccoli, or beans.

If you reside in the wet and dry tropical parts of Australia, like the Northern Territory, Western Australia, or North Queensland, you also have a wide range of options when it comes to plants. You can grow fruits and vegetables such as carrots, eggplants, cucumbers, cauliflower, beetroot, lettuce, okra, onion, mustard, parsnip, radish, pumpkins, squash, sweet potato, melon, and tomatoes.

Be careful about planting cucurbits, as they are susceptible to thecucumber green mottle mosaic virus. If you live in an area that is affected by this pest, you should avoid planting cucumbers, zucchinis or squashes.

3. Winter

It is generally thought that flowers and plants cannot thrive in Winter, but that is not true at all. There are certain types of plants that thrive in Winter that you can plant for a beautiful garden during the cold season. The secret is knowing exactly what plants will thrive during the cooler months while also understanding what they need in order to prosper. Keep in mind that most flowers that thrive in winter are extremely delicate and their growth can be slower.

These are some of the most popular plants that thrive in Winter:

• Paper daisies - these small and white flowers will normally thrive in well-drained soil. They are perfect for covering exposed walls or parts of the ground that you need covering. Paper daisies can be found in a wide range of colours such as bronze, gold, pink, white, red, and orange.
• Winter roses - these roses, also known as Christmas roses, Lenten roses, or Snow roses, are not exactly part of the rose family, as they are ground covering plants with papery texture and small flowers. You can blanket the terrain with winter roses for a garden that has a classic Winter look. Winter roses are popular for their evergreen foliage and ornamental diversity. They look amazing as ground covers and are suitable for dry shady areas. If you are thinking about planting Winter roses you must know that there is an amazing colour palette that you can choose from: pinks, vibrant yellows, dark plum shades, and even intricate patterns.
• Hardenbergia - this plant is also known as the happy wanderer and it thrives in partial shade and well-drained soil. Hardenbergia is a climbing plant commonly found in many parts of Australia. There have been many varieties developed specially for gardens including Carpet Royale and Flat White. These flowers will grow fast, require little maintenance, and offer heavy flowering.
• Daphne - being native to the woody hillsides of Japan and China, these plants are extremely popular for their strong fragrance. Growing Winter daphne will be extremely satisfying as their fragrant blossoms will bloom in late Winter.
• Lily of the valley - this flower is perfect for the cooler parts of Australia and will bloom successfully in shaded areas and under bigger trees. The lily of the valley is a fragrant and delicate bell-shaped flower that prefers moist soil and cool conditions.
• Snowdrops - these wintery flowers even have a wintery name that indicates the environment that they thrive in. These flowers prefer to grow in the shade, which makes them the perfect choice for balcony gardens. Did you know that snowdrops do not attract any type of common pest? That makes them perfect for gardens that have been affected by different pests in the past. If you suspect that your garden might be affected by a common pest, make sure you contact a professional gardener or a pest control specialist.

4. Spring

In Australia, Spring brings a newfound warmth and is the season when fruits, vegetables, and flowers have already sprung. Spring is also the perfect time to enjoy and admire the richness of foliage that is adorning your bountiful garden. For homeowners, this is the optimal season for bringing additional colour and life into the garden and also for selling the house, as spring is the best time to sell a property in Australia.

It may be difficult to choose what to plant, considering the endless amount of options and that majority of plants thrive in Spring.

Depending on what your space allows, you can grow a mix of flowers, plants, fruits, vegetables, and herbs and create an amazingly diverse garden, or you can go for uniformity and choose to have a flower garden, a vegetable garden, or an herb garden.

If your space is somewhat limited but you still want to enjoy the liberty that the Australian Spring has to offer, you can go for plants that thrive in small spaces, such as capsicum, spring onions, beans, basil, chilli, or tomatoes. If you only have a plot of soil to work with you canc hoose to grow potatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, pumkins or climbing beans.

If you are a flower lover, it would be wise to opt for native plants, as they are more acclimated and will not need as much attention as non-native flowers. However, if want to have a garden that is beautiful throughout the year, consider planting flowers like azalea, tulips, hyacinth, lilac, pansies, and daffodils.

What flowers should you plant in Spring?

• In the Southern States (New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia): Geranium, Marigold, Snapdragon, and Petunias.
• In Queensland: Petunias, Marigolds, Cosmos, Alyssum, Gardenias, and Begonias.
• In Western Australia: Portulacas, Marigolds, Zinnias, Kangaroo Paw, and Impatiens.
• In Tasmania: Nerines, Giant Sunflowers, Hippeastrums, and Belladonna Lilies.

Herbs, veges and fruits to plant in Spring

• In warm areas: avocado, citrus, passionfruit, pawpaw, bananas, macadamia, silverbeet, lettuce, spring onions, cucurbits, leeks, capsicum, eggplants, tomatoes, dill, parsley, mint, basil, coriander, marjoram, thyme, and catnip.
• In cool areas: strawberries, sweet corn, tomatoes, beetroot, peas, silverbeet, radishes, onions, leeks, spinach, peas, lettuce, turnips, cucumbers, swedes, chives, basil, coriander, mint, oregano, dill, thyme, sage, parsley
• In temperate areas: blueberries, pawpaw, bananas, passionfruit, citrus, olives, artichoke, spring onions, silverbeet, celery, leeks, lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, carrots, climbing beans, parsley, sage, rosemary, marjoram, parsley, catnip, oregano, and marjoram.

For a garden that will look perfect year round, consider planting shrubs, flowers and trees that are specific to your area and that are low maintenance. Additionally, you can hire a gardener or landscaper who can offer additional advice about year-round gardening and do it for you. 

Are you looking for a professsional gardener to help you have a perfect garden all year round? Find local experts on Bricks+Agent by simply posting a job or project and start getting quotes. For more homeowner hints delivered straight to your inbox sign up to our monthly newsletter below!