🍂 Autumn Garden Prep: Getting Ready for NZ's Cooler Months

As the heat of summer begins to ease and the days start shortening, it's time to think ahead. Autumn in New Zealand (March through May) is one of the most important seasons for your garden — it's your chance to set up success for winter and the glorious spring that follows.

Whether you're preparing your lawn, putting your veggie garden to bed, or getting perennials ready for dormancy, a little effort now pays huge dividends later. Here's your complete guide to autumn garden prep, with tips and product picks from Green Fingers NZ to help you get it right.

🌱 1. Feed Before the Slowdown

As temperatures drop, plant growth naturally slows — but that doesn't mean they stop needing nutrients. In fact, feeding in early autumn helps plants build strong root systems and store energy for winter.

What to do:

• Lawns: Apply a slow-release fertiliser in March to strengthen roots before winter dormancy. This helps your lawn bounce back faster in spring.

  👉 Try Lawn Plus Granular Fertiliser — it releases nutrients over time and builds resilience against winter stress.

• Garden beds: Give perennials, shrubs, and fruit trees a final feed. Focus on formulas with higher potassium (K) to promote root development and hardiness.

  👉 General Garden Foliar Fertiliser delivers essential micronutrients quickly through the leaves.

• Root vegetables: If you're still growing carrots, beetroot, or parsnips, a light feed will help them bulk up before the first frosts.

🍃 2. Mulch, Mulch, Mulch

Mulching is one of the best things you can do in autumn. A good layer of organic mulch protects soil, suppresses weeds, retains moisture, and slowly breaks down to improve soil structure.

What to do:

• Spread 5-10cm of mulch around trees, shrubs, and garden beds.

• Use well-rotted compost, bark chips, pea straw, or leaf mold.

• Keep mulch a few centimeters away from plant stems and tree trunks to prevent rot.

Bonus: Autumn leaves make excellent free mulch — shred them with your mower and spread them over beds. They'll decompose over winter and feed your soil.

🥕 3. Plant Autumn Crops

Autumn isn't just about winding down — it's prime planting time for cool-season crops and spring bulbs.

What to plant now:

• Veges: Garlic cloves (April is perfect), broad beans, peas, spinach, lettuce, rocket, and Asian greens.

• Bulbs: Daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, and crocuses — plant them in April/May for spectacular spring blooms.

  👉 Bulb Granular Fertiliser gives bulbs the nutrients they need to establish strong roots and brilliant flowers.

• Perennials: Autumn is ideal for planting and dividing perennials like hostas, daylilies, and irises while the soil is still warm.

✂️ 4. Prune and Tidy (But Don't Go Overboard)

Light pruning and tidying in autumn keeps your garden healthy and prevents disease over winter.

What to do:

• Deadhead spent blooms on roses, dahlias, and other flowering plants to encourage late-season flowers.

• Cut back perennials that have finished flowering — but leave ornamental grasses and seed heads for winter interest and wildlife.

• Remove diseased or damaged foliage to prevent issues spreading over winter.

• Don't prune spring-flowering shrubs like camellias or rhododendrons — they've already set next year's buds.

💡 Tip: Avoid heavy pruning until late winter — autumn cuts can stimulate new growth that gets damaged by frost.

🍂 5. Collect and Compost Leaves

Fallen leaves are garden gold. Instead of bagging them up for the council, put them to work in your garden.

What to do:

• Compost them: Add leaves to your compost bin in layers with green material (grass clippings, kitchen scraps) for balanced decomposition.

• Make leaf mold: Stuff leaves into black plastic bags with a few holes, dampen them, and leave for 12-18 months. The result is a fantastic soil conditioner.

• Mulch directly: Shredded leaves spread around garden beds protect soil and feed earthworms.

🌾 6. Give Your Lawn Some Love

Autumn lawn care is crucial for winter survival and spring recovery.

What to do:

• Mow regularly but raise the blade height as temperatures drop — longer grass protects roots.

• Aerate compacted areas using a garden fork or aerator to improve drainage and root growth.

• Overseed bare patches so new grass establishes before winter.

  👉 Lawn Rejuvenate Granular Fertiliser helps repair damaged areas and boost overall lawn health.

• Apply lime if your soil is acidic (common in NZ). Lime helps balance pH and improves nutrient uptake.

💡 Tip: Keep mowing until grass stops growing (usually late May/June), but don't scalp it before winter.

💧 7. Adjust Your Watering

As temperatures cool and rainfall increases, your garden needs less supplemental watering — but don't switch off completely.

What to do:

• Reduce frequency but water deeply when you do — this encourages deep root growth.

• Watch new plantings — they still need consistent moisture to establish.

• Check soil moisture before watering. Stick your finger 5cm into the soil — if it's dry, water. If it's damp, wait.

🐛 8. Protect From Pests and Disease

Cooler, damper autumn weather creates ideal conditions for fungal diseases and some persistent pests.

What to do:

• Remove fallen fruit and diseased leaves promptly — they harbour pests and diseases over winter.

• Inspect for slugs and snails, especially around young seedlings and hostas. Use traps or eco-friendly pellets.

• Watch for powdery mildew and black spot on roses. Treat early if you spot signs.

• Clear debris from around plants to reduce hiding spots for pests.

🌿 9. Boost Soil Health for Spring

Autumn is the perfect time to improve your soil while it's still workable and before winter sets in.

What to do:

• Add compost or well-rotted manure to garden beds. Dig it in lightly or spread it on top as mulch.

• Plant green manure crops like mustard, lupins, or clover on empty veggie beds. They'll fix nitrogen and prevent erosion, then get dug in before spring planting.

• Use soil conditioners to unlock nutrients and improve structure.

  👉 Humic & Fulvic Acid enhances nutrient uptake, improves water retention, and supports beneficial soil microbes.

💡 Tip: Healthy soil = healthy plants. Invest in your soil now and you'll see the rewards next season.

🌸 10. Plan Ahead for Spring

While you're doing autumn tasks, take time to plan your spring garden.

What to do:

• Take notes on what worked this year and what didn't.

• Order seeds and plants early so you're ready when spring arrives.

• Design new beds or plan crop rotations for your veggie garden.

• Clean and sharpen tools so they're ready to go when you need them.

🍁 Make Autumn Count

Autumn might feel like the end of the growing season, but it's really a transition — a time to prepare, protect, and plan. The work you put in now sets the foundation for a thriving winter and an incredible spring.

With regular feeding, smart mulching, thoughtful planting, and a little extra care, your garden will thank you when the warmer months return.

👉 Explore the full range of Green Fingers products and find the right fertilisers and garden care solutions for your autumn garden prep.

Happy gardening from Green Fingers NZ! 🍂