CLIMATE change means autumn has become the new spring.
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Which provides planting opportunities for most Australian gardeners.
Gone are the days when experts advised to "only plant in spring".
As warmer weather extends beyond February, enthusiasts are taking to their front (and back) yards and fertilising and planting up flower beds and vegetable patches.
A word of caution: autumn is also the worst time for garden pests, due in part to a traditionally high moisture content in the air (think rolling mists, whether it be from the ocean or off the land).
Rats and mice start looking for food and shelter; female adult fleas are on the prowl for fresh blood before laying their eggs, while native wasps (such as paper wasps) choose autumn to nest close to homes.
It's important to seek specialised advice when seeking to eradicate these pests that will chew up your plants and vegies if you're not careful.
Once they have been eliminated (or kept under control) it's time to slip on your gardening shoes, slap on a hat and head for the garden for some serious digging.
Year-round vegetables that will provide a bumper crop if planted in early autumn include spinach, silverbeet, baby beetroot, onions, broad beans, spring onions, kale, lettuce and cauliflower.
A bit of Dynamic Lifter will work wonders if you don't have compost. This will enrich the soil and hold nutrients, as well as feed earthworms and micro organisms.
If you have any Dynamic Lifter left over, throw it to the lemon tree and any other citrus plant you have growing in your garden.
A common saying among gardeners is to plant your bulbs before Anzac Day.
This may vary depending on where you live in Australia, so make sure you plant bulbs during cooler months, when the soil is still warm but relatively cool.
Before planting bulbs, loosen the soil and add fertiliser.
Tulips like to be tucked in tight, so plant to a depth of 20 centimetres, measuring from the base of the bulb.
Bulbs vary in size, so jonquils and dahlia, for example, need more shallow cover.
Try planting young lobelia plants in autumn for late, rich colour.
Lobelia will be at home just about anywhere, even in pots on verandas.
Water frequently during hot spells, otherwise, this hardy flowering plant will produce masses of blue, red, pink and white flowers.
For a fragrant garden, plant boronia.
This native shrub throws out sweet-smelling flowers in a blaze of colours including mauve, yellow, white and pink.
Autumn gardens also battle a range of airborne diseases after the build up of moisture from mists. Powdery mildew is common at this time of year and affects roses, hydrangeas, azaleas and apples, among other plants.
PestOil or milk solution can help prevent and cure the problem, however, jump on it quick. Once this mildew is established, it's very hard to kill.
Spores of black-leaf spot are also borne at this time of year.
Keeping leaves dry will help keep this disease under control; water roses in the morning to ensure evaporation throughout the day. At worst, apply a copper fungicide to treat this unwanted visitor in your garden.