Seasonal Gardening Calendar for Brisbane: What to Plant and When
Brisbane’s subtropical climate provides gardeners with year-round growing opportunities, but understanding the best times to plant, prune, and maintain your garden is key to ensuring its health and vibrancy. To help you stay on top of your garden care, we’ve created a month-by-month guide tailored to Brisbane’s seasons. This calendar highlights what to plant, when to prune, and the essential tasks for keeping your garden thriving all year.
January – Summer Heat
What to Plant:
Vegetables: Okra, eggplant, sweet corn, cucumbers
Flowers: Zinnias, marigolds, and sunflowers
Herbs: Basil, coriander, lemongrass
Maintenance Tasks:
Keep up with watering, especially in the morning to reduce evaporation.
Mulch garden beds to conserve moisture and keep the roots cool.
Keep an eye out for pests like aphids, whiteflies, and caterpillars.
Harvest summer fruits like tomatoes and cucumbers regularly.
February – Late Summer
What to Plant:
Vegetables: Lettuce, rocket, and silverbeet
Flowers: Begonias, dahlias, and salvias
Herbs: Mint, oregano, and thyme
Maintenance Tasks:
Continue mulching and watering.
Trim back overgrown summer perennials and tidy up flower beds.
Fertilize your garden beds with a slow-release fertilizer to prepare for autumn.
Monitor plants for fungal diseases due to humidity.
March – Transition to Autumn
What to Plant:
Vegetables: Broccoli, cabbage, and carrots
Flowers: Pansies, violas, and snapdragons
Herbs: Parsley, rosemary, and sage
Maintenance Tasks:
Start planting cooler-weather crops as the temperature drops.
Remove spent summer crops and prepare soil for autumn planting.
Prune roses and flowering shrubs.
Reduce the frequency of watering as the days become cooler.
April – Early Autumn
What to Plant:
Vegetables: Cauliflower, spinach, and peas
Flowers: Primulas, poppies, and sweet peas
Herbs: Coriander, dill, and chives
Maintenance Tasks:
Apply compost or organic matter to garden beds to enrich the soil.
Divide perennials like daylilies and agapanthus to encourage new growth.
Deadhead summer flowers to promote autumn blooming.
Keep an eye out for snails and slugs as cooler, wetter weather increases their activity.
May – Mid-Autumn
What to Plant:
Vegetables: Broad beans, onions, and parsnips
Flowers: Cyclamen, pansies, and calendulas
Herbs: Garlic, chervil, and fennel
Maintenance Tasks:
Continue planting winter crops and prepare for cooler months ahead.
Prune hedges and shape evergreen shrubs.
Rake fallen leaves and add them to your compost pile.
Water less frequently, as growth slows with cooler weather.
June – Winter Preparation
What to Plant:
Vegetables: Leeks, radishes, and spinach
Flowers: Pansies, violets, and alyssum
Herbs: Tarragon, rosemary, and sage
Maintenance Tasks:
Protect tender plants from frost with mulch or covers.
Reduce watering even further as the cooler temperatures reduce evaporation.
Continue pruning deciduous trees and shrubs.
Fertilize winter vegetables to support growth in the cooler months.
July – Deep Winter
What to Plant:
Vegetables: Garlic, turnips, and lettuce
Flowers: Primroses, pansies, and poppies
Herbs: Chervil, marjoram, and thyme
Maintenance Tasks:
Prepare your garden beds for spring planting by digging in compost or aged manure.
Prune dormant fruit trees like apples and pears.
Inspect for pests hiding in mulch and remove them.
Use frost blankets or covers for sensitive plants on cold nights.
August – Late Winter / Early Spring
What to Plant:
Vegetables: Tomatoes, capsicum, and zucchini (start seeds indoors)
Flowers: Petunias, daisies, and cosmos
Herbs: Basil, mint, and lemon balm
Maintenance Tasks:
Begin planning and prepping for spring planting.
Apply organic fertilizers to boost soil fertility.
Prune citrus trees to encourage new spring growth.
Check irrigation systems to ensure they’re working efficiently before warmer weather returns.
September – Spring Has Arrived
What to Plant:
Vegetables: Beans, cucumbers, and pumpkin
Flowers: Geraniums, marigolds, and impatiens
Herbs: Oregano, chives, and parsley
Maintenance Tasks:
Sow seeds for summer crops.
Increase watering as the weather warms, but maintain mulching to conserve moisture.
Fertilize roses and other flowering plants to encourage blooms.
Prune back any winter-flowering plants that have finished their season.
October – Spring Growth Surge
What to Plant:
Vegetables: Corn, squash, and melons
Flowers: Sunflowers, nasturtiums, and zinnias
Herbs: Coriander, dill, and basil
Maintenance Tasks:
Keep up with regular watering as the heat returns.
Mulch garden beds to protect roots from the increasing heat.
Deadhead spring flowers to encourage more blooms.
Keep an eye on fast-growing weeds and remove them before they spread.
November – Early Summer Heat
What to Plant:
Vegetables: Eggplant, capsicum, and cucumbers
Flowers: Salvias, petunias, and marigolds
Herbs: Lemongrass, mint, and thyme
Maintenance Tasks:
Watch for signs of heat stress and water plants in the early morning or late evening.
Apply liquid fertilizers to support rapid growth.
Protect young plants from the harsh midday sun.
Keep an eye out for pests like caterpillars and whiteflies, which become more active in the heat.
December – Full Summer Swing
What to Plant:
Vegetables: Sweet corn, zucchini, and tomatoes
Flowers: Zinnias, portulaca, and cosmos
Herbs: Basil, oregano, and mint
Maintenance Tasks:
Water regularly, focusing on deep, infrequent waterings to promote strong root growth.
Harvest summer crops as they ripen.
Apply mulch generously to conserve moisture and reduce soil temperature.
Prune back overgrown plants and remove spent flowers.
By following this seasonal gardening calendar, Brisbane gardeners can optimize planting times, maintain healthy gardens, and enjoy a year-round display of beautiful plants. Remember, the subtropical climate requires adjusting your gardening practices to the changing seasons, and with the right timing, your garden will flourish.
Need a helping hand with your garden? Grass Dragon Gardening Services offers expert advice and maintenance tailored to Brisbane’s unique climate, so you can enjoy a thriving garden without the hard work!
