Garden projects

Autumn, especially Easter weekend, is the perfect time to garden with day time temperatures still mild. The soil will still be warm which, together with rain, encourage rootsto grow.But gardening doesn’tneed to stop over winter as thereisplenty to do. Just rug up and put on apair of wellies and enjoy yourself in the fresh air

Vegetables

With the price of storebought fresh and frozen vegetables rising at an alarming rate might convince some to start growing their own. There areplenty of vegetables that can be grown during winter such as broad beans, cabbage, silverbeet, cauliflower,spinach, peas, onions and Brussel sprouts. For beginners it’seasier to buy seedlings to plant out although growing from seed is another option.

Flowers

Easter’sagoodtime to deadhead and divide perennials. Consider planting colourful winter annuals like pansies, cornflower,snapdragon and polyanthus.

It’sjust about time to plant spring bulb such as daffodils, Dutch iris, hyacinth, freesias and tulips. They can be planted directly in the garden or in pots to make alovely display for spring. Bulbs such as tulips and hyacinths should be kept cold in the fridge for eight weeks beforeplanting. Hyacinths can also be grown indoors in special glass containers.

Late winter is the best time to plant roses and nurseries will have plenty of stock to choose from. Meanwhile prune established roses.

Fruit

Autumn and winter is agood time to plant new deciduous fruit trees, pears, apples, nectarines, peaches and plums, and prune vines like kiwifruit and raspberries. Strawberries can be planted in winter and should yield morecrops as aresult.