<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>341060</docID> <postdate>2025-03-27 11:25:28</postdate> <headline>Native plant specialists prepare for busy autumn </headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-341193" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Team-photo-closer-resized-e1743034927291.jpg" alt="" width="843" height="562" /></p> <caption>Owner Karen Brien, left, and her Cool Country Natives team... she says i<span style="font-weight: 400;">mparting knowledge about the growing process for native plants in Canberra’s difficult soils is a passion for the well-rounded team built from horticulturalists, field naturalists and dedicated gardeners. </span></caption> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Canberra’s only retail nursery dedicated to selling just Australian native plants is ready for a busy autumn.</strong> </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cool Country Natives propagates local specials and holds licences to propagate and sell different threatened species. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As a result, the nursery holds many plants that aren’t available in other nurseries, either locally or interstate. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Autumn is a fabulous time for planting in Canberra,†says owner Karen Brien. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The soil is warm, the days are milder but not cold and the new plants require less ongoing watering for establishment from the gardener.â€Â </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Featuring a huge range of plants, the team has supplied more than a million Australian native plants to Canberra and surrounds.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We love that we are helping the 'Bush Capital’ exist as that," she says.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Canberra is a special city with many public and open spaces and many dedicated gardeners.â€</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Heading into cooler months, the nursery is stocked with frost-hardy plants as well as a limited range of less frost-hardy plants for special locations, balconies, courtyards and protective locations.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Early autumn gardening activities should include planting new plants, pruning spent flowers and hedges, tidying plants before winter sets in as well as fertilising for growth before winter cooling,†is her advice.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Later autumn activities include tidying up, identifying any areas that may be susceptible from frost and preparing frost damage prevention measures such as frostcloth, tree guards, moving pots to more protected areas.â€</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Imparting knowledge about the growing process for native plants in Canberra’s difficult soils is a passion for the well-rounded team built from horticulturalists, field naturalists and dedicated gardeners. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Our team propagates more than 1000 different species and cultivars of native plants,†says Karen. “Every day is a learning day.â€Â  </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Open seven days a week and on most public holidays, the team encourages new gardeners to “give it a go!â€</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Australian native plants are beautiful, different to exotic plants, excellent for low water use and low-maintenance gardens, all of our stock are evergreen – except for one species of tree – and grow well in Canberra’s tough climate,†says Karen. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The choice is vast and the application varied, from a bush-friendly garden to a more formal garden, Australian native plants can provide a unique beauty to every garden.â€</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Understanding soil types and the climate requirements for plants is an important step in becoming a seasoned gardener and Karen says they have some great books on hand that teaches just this. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nursery updates, time changes, market events, activities and deliveries of special plants can be found on their social media pages.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Subject to availability, the team can also source specific plants upon request. </span></p> <p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cool Country Natives, 5A Beltana Road, Pialligo. Call 6257 6666 or 0402 307275, email retail@coolcountrynatives.com.au or visit </span></i><a href="http://coolcountrynatives.com.au/"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">coolcountrynatives.com.au</span></i></a></p> </body>