WHEN we had our nursery in Yass, 25 years ago, the traditional time to plant was spring.

In the US, garden centres always recommended autumn planting and the more I looked into this the more sense it made. With further information from the American Nurseryman’s Association, I decided to promote autumn planting.

And still do. It’s an important and colourful time in the garden with Lagerstroemias (or Crepe Mytle) and many Hebe varieties flowering from late summer well into autumn.

Then we have a wonderful range of perennial plants including Asters or Michaelmas daisies with pink and purple flowers and Salvias with too many varieties and colours to mention. Echinacea or cone flowers in the deep pinkish/purple, used in many alternate medicines, stand bold in clumps half a metre tall.

One of the showiest perennials is Sedum “Autumn Joy”, which is so easy to propagate.

The list of autumn perennials is endless, so go and get carried away at the local garden centre.

Finally, let’s not forget the good old hydrangeas, which flower well into autumn.

IN our harsh climate, when we can have 30C temperatures in September, it seems like abuse to expose plants to the extremes of heat and even sudden late frosts into November.

The worst ordeal for plants is scorching hot winds. By planting in autumn, around late March/April, we avoid all that stress.

Even with low temperatures and frosts, in our climate the ground stays warm and the roots continue to grow, especially with the addition of the right organic plant nutrients.

As a trial, try planting in spring with some of the same in autumn. When I say plants, I am excluding annuals. Then in 12 months’ time, dig them up and you’ll be amazed at the difference in root growth.

Such trials were carried out by students at the old School of Horticulture in Weston as part of their training.

Of course, the other main planting time for all deciduous plants is winter.

ALTHOUGH a few weeks off, the Lanyon Plant Fair, the biggest event for real gardeners in the Canberra calendar, on March 12-13 will feature more than 40 stalls, many with rare plants and associated garden products, along with talks and demonstrations.

Jottings…

• Wait until bulbs arrive in your local garden centre so you can select the largest, healthiest ones.
• Dead head rhododendrons and lightly prune azaleas.
• Leave hydrangeas for the flowers to die off and use them in floral arrangements.
• Trim lavenders that have finished flowering, but not too deeply into the old wood.