Winter brings its own stress to your garden with cooler conditions and the risk of frost. Shorter daylight hours and rainy days can hinder your garden’s growth.

Despite these challenges, you can maintain a healthy and vibrant green space by following our 7 Steps to a Happy, Healthy Winter Garden.

You can prepare your garden for a beautiful spring with some care and simple tips.

Step 1 – Get to know your winter plant needs.

Some plants will make your green space sparkle, while others will become dormant (known as deciduous – without leaves), and some will slow their growth rate. By understanding your plant’s winter needs, you can give them some special care with a few tips:

• Certain plants thrive in cooler conditions displaying striking foliage and stunning blooms. However, some struggle during this time and are known as frost-sensitive plants.
• To protect frost-sensitive plants, cover them with shade cloth or an old blanket at night to keep them warm and stop damage. Be sure to remove the covers in the morning so your plants can function properly. For pots move them to a warm sheltered position such as under a deck or tree, away from cold winds.
• Plants still blooming will appreciate a liquid feed with  PowerFeed All Purpose including Natives to keep them growing strong. Apply it to the soil around them after the frost has cleared in the morning.
• Prune deciduous trees and shrubs such as roses and fruit trees to remove any diseased or damaged foliage. This will encourage healthy growth in the spring.
• Regularly apply liquid Seasol every two weeks to enhance overall plant health and help them better withstand cold and frosty weather.

Step 2 – Winter soil warmth and rejuvenation

The soil is the backbone of the garden. When your soil is fertile and healthy, your plants grow, flower and fruit. While some plants are sleeping and the garden is less productive, winter is the perfect opportunity to prepare your soil with three simple tips for a vibrant garden and healthy plant growth.

1. Monitor your soil during winter to keep an eye on soil moisture, especially during dry periods. While plants need less water in the cooler months, they still require consistent moisture for healthy growth. Regularly check your irrigation systems and adjust the watering frequency to prevent waterlogging and root rot.
   Water in the morning after the frost has gone to ensure that plant foliage is dry by nightfall, which helps avoid fungal diseases. If you notice water running off the soil or pooling on top of a pot, apply a soil wetter such as Seasol Super Soil Wetter & Conditioner to help maintain soil moisture.
2. Rejuvenate your soil health by adding organic matter, homemade compost, and/or Seasol Super Soil Improver. This helps improve soil structure and increase nutrient availability, supporting new plant life and growth. If you have an area of soil not being used in winter, consider planting a green crop, such as legumes or peas, to boost soil health and nutrient content.
3. Remove any weeds or debris and apply organic mulch such as sugarcane mulch, lucerne, or pea straw. This helps keep the soil warm, retains moisture, and prevents further weed growth.

For more soil tips, check out our winter soil guide.

Step 3 – Winter lawn care is all about preparation and maintenance

In cooler climates, many lawn varieties may become dormant. This is the ideal time to maintain your lawn, ensuring it stays healthy in preparation for spring growth.

If you haven’t had the chance to aerate your lawn, don’t worry; there’s still time. For smaller lawns, use a garden fork, and for larger areas, consider using an aerating machine. This opens up the soil, allowing water, nutrients, and air to reach the roots.

Apply Seasol Lawn + Soil Booster to revitalise both your soil and lawn health.

Limit foot traffic on frosty lawns to prevent damaging grass blades. A well-hydrated and nutrient-rich lawn is better equipped to withstand frost. Regularly apply Seasol hose-on throughout winter to strengthen your lawn from the inside out to help it cope with cold conditions.

Mowing and irrigation will be less frequent as grass growth slows down. Be sure to raise your mower blades and check the soil moisture, especially during dry periods.

If you live in a warmer climate and your lawn is still growing, apply Seasol for Lush Green Lawns hose-on every month to maintain a healthy, lush green lawn.

Check out our winter lawn guide for more information.

Step 4 – A tasty productive winter vegie patch or pots

Enjoy delicious homegrown vegetables with family and friends by easily adapting to the cooler season with these simple tasks:

• Cooler weather and reduced light mean your vegie patch or pots should be positioned to receive maximum sunlight. Ideally, they should get at least six hours of sunlight each day. Move pots to the sunniest position in the garden and prune back overhanging branches to let the light in.
• Plant frost-tolerant crops such as broccoli, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, carrots, parsnips, onions, lettuce, and spinach. When planting new crops, water them in with Seasol to help them establish.
• Satisfy hungry soils by adding Seasol Organic* Worm Fertiliser to improve soil health. Mix it into the topsoil and water it in to promote healthy, productive vegies.
• Harvest crops as soon as they are ripe for maximum flavour. Remove any diseased or damaged foliage, and watch for pests such as slugs, snails, caterpillars, and aphids.
• Regularly check soil moisture and water when the soil is dry. Water in the morning to ensure the foliage is dry by nightfall, which helps prevent fungal diseases.
• Vegies require a lot of nutrients to grow and produce crops, so apply a fast-acting liquid fertiliser such as PowerFeed PRO SERIES for Tomatoes & Vegetables regularly every week to keep them looking good.
• Remove weeds and replenish mulch to keep the soil warm and free from weeds.

For more vegie tips, check out our autumn-winter vegie guide.

Step 5 – Winter citrus and fruit tree maintenance for tasty juice crops.

Some fruit trees, like citrus, will be in full fruit production while others, such as apples or apricots are deciduous (without leaves) and dormant. These trees will require maintenance to prepare them for future summer and autumn crops.

Citrus

For a bumper crop of tasty, juicy citrus check your plants with regular maintenance for good fruit formation.

• Ensure regular deep watering, especially during dry weather. Liquid feed with PowerFeed PRO SERIES for Fruit & Citrus, every two to four weeks to promote healthy growth, flowering, and fruiting.
• Check for pests, such as citrus gall wasps. Prune any affected branches and stems that show swelling to prevent future damage. Also, watch for fruit flies, which create small puncture marks on the fruit as they lay their eggs by piercing the skin.
• In late winter, after the fruiting season has ended, prune to remove diseased and dead foliage. This will help encourage new growth for the upcoming seasons.

Fruit trees

• Most backyard fruit trees will lose their leaves and be deciduous during winter, making it the ideal time for pruning to encourage healthy new growth in spring. Start by removing any dead or diseased branches, as well as those that grow inward.
• Prune the tree to shape to allow for good air circulation and to keep it at a size that makes it easy to harvest fruit. Always use clean secateurs and pruning tools, and be sure to clean them between trees to prevent the spread of disease.
• After pruning, apply a copper fungicide or lime sulphur to the tree to control fungal diseases like leaf curl, as well as to control the eggs of pests and mites.

For all citrus and fruiting trees, assess soil health by removing weeds and rejuvenating soil with Seasol Plant + Soil Booster. Mix it into the topsoil or potting mix; it’s suitable for all trees, whether they’re in the garden or in pots. Don’t forget to replenish the mulch.

In late winter, as the trees begin to show signs of green growth and new foliage, apply Seasol plus Nutrients Fruit & Citrus to the soil beneath the tree’s canopy. This will help revitalise soil health and promote healthy growth, budding, flowering, and fruiting.

Check out our citrus and fruit tree tips for more ideas.

Step 6 – Indoor and Outdoor pot maintenance for winter foliage and colour

Achieve a stunning winter display of lush foliage and vibrant blooms, both indoors and out, by ensuring your potted plants have the right conditions they need to flourish.

Move outdoor pots to a warm, sheltered location, such as under a deck or pergola, to shield them from the cold. For indoor plants, position them away from cold drafts or windows at night, and consider closing curtains for extra warmth.

To check your potting mix’s moisture level, simply insert your finger about two knuckles deep. If it feels dry, it’s time to water. If it still feels moist, hold off on watering for now.

Elevate outdoor pots using bricks or pot feet to lift them off cold surfaces, which helps protect roots from the chill. For an extra layer of insulation, apply a generous layer of mulch to the soil surface to help retain warmth.

When it comes to your indoor plants, steer clear of direct heat sources like heaters that can dry them out. Instead, place them in spots that receive natural, indirect sunlight.

Potted plants may slow their growth during cooler weather. Only fertilise if the plant is actively growing. Use a liquid fertiliser like PowerFeed Indoor & Potted Plants trigger spray, applying it to the potting mix soil every two to four weeks.

Dust the leaves, remove spent flowers, and discard any diseased or dead foliage. Regularly check for pests such as aphids, scale, spider mites, mealybugs, fungus gnats, snails and slugs. You can control these pests by hand (wearing gloves), wiping them off with a damp cloth, or spraying them with a hose. For fungus gnats, use yellow sticky traps, or apply an organic spray like EarthCare White Oil insect spray.

For more tips, check out our winter indoor plant guide.

Step 7 – Easy Winter gardening tasks to keep your garden looking good.

A winter garden can be vibrant and colourful with just a few simple gardening tasks, whether you have only a few minutes or an entire afternoon to spare. Here’s a list of jobs to get your garden ready for spring:

• Install a rainwater tank early in winter to capture as much rain as possible for the upcoming seasons. Visit your local hardware store for advice on the ideal position and size for your green space.
• Add a bare-root tree or rose to your garden or pot to enhance the colour and texture of your garden. When planting, water it in with Seasol GOLD to help it adapt to its new home.
• Clean up your garden shed or cupboard. It is amazing what you may find, it could be seeds or bulbs you have forgotten about.
• Deadhead spent flowers and select some beautiful blooms for a vase display. To keep your plants blooming, liquid feed every two to four weeks with PowerFeed PRO SERIES for Roses & Flowers.
• Check the compost heap to see that it is not getting too wet or drying out. If it’s dry, add water or leave the lid off for future rain. If it’s wet, cover it with the lid or an old tarp to keep it dry.
• In late winter apply Seasol plus Nutrients All Purpose including Natives to the entire garden including pots to give them a boost for spring growth.