5 Tweaks for your winter garden

Welcoming winter gardens 

Winter might seem like the off-season in the garden, but in much of Australia it’s when the show really starts, especially if you’ve got a native garden. Grevilleas, correas, banksias and more are flowering, making the garden look gorgeous and attracting in a host of different birds. With cooler air and softer soils, it’s also the perfect time to step back, make a few smart tweaks, and set your space up for an even more bird-friendly spring.

Here are five winter actions I will be taking to keep my garden a welcoming space for birds:

1. Fertilise native plants lightly but purposefully.

With soil moisture up and temperatures down, this is a great time to give native plants a gentle nutrient boost. Use a low-phosphorus, native-specific fertiliser on shrubs and small trees to encourage flowering and growth for spring. Think of it as fuelling the next wave of nectar, fruit and insects for birds.

2. Divide and conquer the clumping plants.

Kangaroo paws, dianellas and lomandras all benefit from being lifted and divided in winter. Be prepared to prune back their foliage by half and make sure each division has a few healthy shoots. Not only does this help maintain vigorous growth and better flowering, it’s also a great way to multiply your plants for free, ideal if you’re expanding habitat or sharing with neighbours.

3. Transplant with care, depending on your climate.

If you’re in a warmer zone, now’s a good time to relocate established native plants while soil’s soft and rainfall can help them re-establish. In colder regions, I hold off until early spring to avoid frost damage.

4. Observe, and maybe plant.

Autumn is prime planting time in much of Australia, but you can often sneak in a few new natives now too, especially tubestock. Just avoid planting during frosty periods or if your region regularly drops below 2 °C.

5. Prune with purpose (but don’t overdo it).

While some natives are flowering now, others are resting, making it a good time to tidy up leggy growth or shape woody shrubs that have finished blooming. I focus on pruning just enough to maintain structure and encourage bushier regrowth come spring.

Celebrate the winter flowers and don’t forget to enjoy them! Native plants put on a great show at this time of year, and they’re drawing in a host of great birds. I still pinch myself when the Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos hang out in my Coastal Banksias. Sit back, spot who’s visiting, and take note of what plants are doing the work. Don’t forget to do a Birds in Backyards survey as well.