Free guide

Seasonal native garden care calendar

What to do in your native garden each month on Sydney's North Shore: planting, pruning, watering and feeding, plus what's flowering and how to look after wildlife. Tap a month to jump to it.

The golden rules (all year)

Plant mainly in autumn (March–May). The soil is still warm and winter rain helps roots grow before summer ^SWN ^ANPSA-FAQ. Early spring is the next-best time RF note. Avoid big plantings in summer unless you can water reliably: lots of young natives die in their first summer ^ANPSA-FAQ.
Watering rules (Sydney Water): you can water gardens with drinking water before 10am and after 4pm, by trigger hose, sprinkler or watering system. Drip and smart systems can run any time. New gardens can be watered any time for 28 days after planting, following the installer's instructions. No run-off onto paths. Rainwater from a tank that isn't topped up from the mains is exempt ^SW.
New plants: water deeply and less often for the first 12 months, especially the first summer ^ANPSA-FAQ RF note. A pot or tin with holes in it, sunk beside each plant, gets water straight to the roots ^ANPSA-FAQ.
Mulch is decided on site, not by the calendar. Whether to mulch, what to use and how deep is worked out on a visit, to avoid too much mulch, nitrogen being locked up, and soggy soil. Where mulch is used, RF Horticulture uses coarse mulch only (no fine mulch or fine layers underneath), typically 50–75 mm, kept clear of stems and trunks RF note ^APS-MULCH ^APS-MULCH2. There's no routine mulching or top-up in this calendar.
Feed lightly, and go easy on phosphorus. Many natives come from soils low in phosphorus. The banksia family (banksias, grevilleas, hakeas, waratahs and others) has special clustered roots that can soak up a toxic dose of it ^ANPSA-FAQ. Use a low-phosphorus native fertiliser (about N:P:K 10:3:6; those three numbers are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) ^ANPSA-FAQ, or one with much more N than P (e.g. 8:1:5) ^ANPSA-FERT. Slow-release is best; avoid chicken manure and mushroom compost ^ANPSA-FERT ^APSNSW-CLAY. Feed in spring just before growth starts, on wet soil, and water it in. Skip it if plants are growing well, and don't feed just before winter ^ANPSA-FAQ.
Prune after flowering: about a third of the new growth, always leaving green leaves. Don't prune while flower buds are forming, or in extreme heat, cold or wet ^APSVIC ^ANPSA-FAQ. Never cut a banksia back past its lowest green leaves ^APSVIC.
Weeds: remove them in stages and replant straight away, especially where birds shelter in them (e.g. lantana) ^BIB. NSW landholders have a general biosecurity duty (a legal duty) to manage weed risks ^WW. See weeds to worry about.
Wildlife: plant in layers, with some small dense or prickly shrubs, not just nectar plants (which can favour bossy noisy miners), and add a bird bath ^ANPSA-FAQ. Don't disturb the garden where native birds are nesting ^BIB.
Trees and fire: pruning or removing trees above your council's size limit needs council approval (Ku-ring-gai: 5 m tall, or a 150 mm trunk at ground level). In the bush fire danger period (generally 1 Oct–31 Mar), no burning without a permit ^RFS. Only clear under the 10/50 rule after checking the RFS online tool on the day ^RFS-1050.
How much water? It depends on your soil, which way the garden faces, and your plants: see watering natives: myths and soil.

Quick tip

Where's mulching? It isn't on this calendar on purpose. Whether a bed needs mulch, what kind and how deep is decided on a site check, not by the month. Where it's used: coarse mulch only, usually 50–75 mm deep, set for your site (no fine mulch or fine layers underneath), kept clear of stems. See mulch and your soil.

Did you know?

The RF note tags are my own practical tips from working in North Shore gardens. Small numbers like ^SW link to the published source at the bottom of the page.

January Summer · about 101.9 mm rain · mean max 27.6°C, min 16.1°C

Planting: Avoid major planting unless you can water deeply and often. Use the time to plan autumn plantings and line up tubestock (small young plants in narrow pots) RF note.
Pruning: Hold off on heavy pruning in hot spells; never prune when extreme heat could scorch new shoots ^APSVIC. Leave NSW Christmas bush until its red sepals (the coloured bits that look like petals) drop ^APSNSW-XB.
Watering: Critical month for anything planted in the last 12 months: many young plants are lost in their first summer ^ANPSA-FAQ. Water deeply before 10am or after 4pm (drip/smart systems any time; tank water exempt) ^SW. Watch a "warning" plant such as a mint bush (Prostanthera), which wilts early when dry ^ANPSA-FAQ.
Weeding: Summer weed growth is fast. Hand-pull after rain when soil is soft and get weeds out before they set seed; see weeds to worry about RF note ^WW.
Feeding (low phosphorus): None for most gardens RF note. ANPSA's main feeding window is spring ^ANPSA-FAQ.
What's flowering (local natives): Banksia serrata (Jan–Jun); Xanthorrhoea media (Aug–Mar); Leptospermum polygalifolium (Aug–Jan); Blandfordia nobilis, Christmas bells (late spring–summer); Grevillea buxifolia (chiefly spring–autumn) ^PN. NSW Christmas bush still red (sepals shed by Feb) ^APSNSW-XB.
Wildlife: Keep a bird bath clean and topped up ^ANPSA-FAQ. Check shrubs for active nests before any work: don't disturb nesting birds ^BIB.
Fire season and other jobs: Bush fire danger period generally runs 1 Oct–31 Mar and can be varied: no burning without a permit ^RFS. Re-check the RFS 10/50 tool on the day before any clearing ^RFS-1050.

February Summer · about 118.3 mm rain · mean max 27.3°C, min 16.1°C

Planting: Prepare beds for autumn. On clay: dig only when moderately moist, add organic matter (cow manure or compost; avoid mushroom compost), consider gypsum (a soil additive that helps break up clay) and raise beds at least 25 cm where drainage is poor ^APSNSW-CLAY. Book autumn installs RF note.
Pruning: Prune NSW Christmas bush once the red sepals have dropped, for shape and density ^APSNSW-XB. Bottlebrushes that flowered Nov–Dec: prune after flowering and remove old seed cases, except weeping Callistemon viminalis types ^ANPSA-FAQ ^APSVIC.
Watering: Still hot and humid: continue establishment watering for first-year plants ^ANPSA-FAQ ^SW.
Weeding: Peak growth: keep on top of seeding weeds; follow the weed guide RF note ^WW.
Feeding (low phosphorus): For shady beds under big trees, ANPSA suggests a late-summer dressing of a low-P fertiliser (e.g. N:P:K about 10:3:6) on wet soil, watered in ^ANPSA-FAQ. Otherwise skip.
What's flowering (local natives): Banksia serrata; Acacia terminalis, sunshine wattle (Feb–Oct); Xanthorrhoea media ^PN.
Wildlife: Retain leaf litter and dense shrubs as shelter ^BIB.
Fire season and other jobs: Fire danger period continues ^RFS.

March Autumn · about 126.2 mm rain · mean max 25.5°C, min 14.8°C

Planting: START OF THE BEST PLANTING SEASON. Warm soil plus winter rain gives strong root growth before summer ^SWN; under big trees plant in autumn, the earlier the better ^ANPSA-FAQ. Use small plants/tubestock (less root-bound, quicker to establish) ^ANPSA-FAQ. On clay dig wide, not deep ^APSNSW-CLAY.
Pruning: Light shaping only. Don't prune plants now forming buds for winter flowers, e.g. banksias and correas ^APSVIC.
Watering: Water new plantings in well; a perforated pot or tin set beside each plant directs water to the roots ^ANPSA-FAQ. New gardens may be watered at any time for 28 days after planting, per the installer's instructions ^SW.
Weeding: Clear beds before planting. Remove weeds in stages and replant straight away, especially where birds use them for cover ^BIB.
Feeding (low phosphorus): Mix slow-release fertiliser into the planting soil at the label rate; use a low-phosphorus formula for banksias, grevilleas, waratahs and other Proteaceae ^ANPSA-FAQ. Avoid fowl manure and mushroom compost around phosphorus-sensitive plants ^ANPSA-FERT.
What's flowering (local natives): Banksia serrata; Acacia terminalis ^PN.
Wildlife: Plan a mix of heights and include small, dense or prickly shrubs for small birds, not just nectar plants (which can favour noisy miners) ^ANPSA-FAQ.
Fire season and other jobs: Fire danger period generally ends 31 Mar (check for variations) ^RFS.

April Autumn · about 103.8 mm rain · mean max 22.2°C, min 11.8°C

Planting: Prime planting continues ^SWN.
Pruning: Minimal RF note.
Watering: Water new plants until rain takes over; deep and less often rather than little and often RF note.
Weeding: Autumn weed germination after rain: follow up every 2–4 weeks in new beds RF note.
Feeding (low phosphorus): Nothing beyond what went in at planting RF note ^ANPSA-FAQ.
What's flowering (local natives): Banksia ericifolia (Apr–Aug); Banksia spinulosa (Apr–Aug); Correa reflexa (Apr–Sep); Banksia serrata; Acacia terminalis ^PN.
Wildlife: Winter-flowering banksias and correas start: a key food source for small birds and bees ^SWN.
Fire season and other jobs: Good month for Native Garden Walks and Plans: clients can still plant this season RF note.

May Autumn · about 77.8 mm rain · mean max 19.1°C, min 8.6°C

Planting: Last of the main autumn window: get remaining plants in early ^SWN RF note.
Pruning: Minimal RF note.
Watering: Usually rain does the work; check sheltered and under-eave beds RF note.
Weeding: Keep new beds clean while plants establish RF note.
Feeding (low phosphorus): Don't fertilise just before winter (it pushes soft growth) ^ANPSA-FAQ.
What's flowering (local natives): Banksia ericifolia; B. spinulosa; Correa reflexa; Banksia serrata; Acacia terminalis ^PN.
Wildlife: Nectar season for honeyeaters on banksias and correas ^SWN ^ANPSA-FAQ.
Fire season and other jobs: —

June Winter · about 112.1 mm rain · mean max 16.3°C, min 6.3°C

Planting: Possible on free-draining sandy soils, but growth is slow RF note. Don't dig or plant in wet clay: it damages soil structure ^APSNSW-CLAY.
Pruning: Avoid pruning in cold, wet weather that can damage new shoots ^APSVIC.
Watering: Minimal; check pots and rain-shadow beds RF note.
Weeding: Hand-pull winter weeds while small RF note.
Feeding (low phosphorus): None ^ANPSA-FAQ.
What's flowering (local natives): Banksia ericifolia; B. spinulosa; Correa reflexa; Epacris longiflora (peak Jun–Oct); Hakea sericea (winter–early spring); Acacia terminalis ^PN.
Wildlife: Good time to install nest boxes before spring RF note.
Fire season and other jobs: Design season: draw up spring works and installation quotes RF note.

July Winter · about 78.0 mm rain · mean max 15.8°C, min 5.2°C

Planting: As for June RF note.
Pruning: Light structural work on mild days on plants that flowered in summer; leave anything carrying buds ^APSVIC.
Watering: Minimal RF note.
Weeding: Keep up hand weeding RF note.
Feeding (low phosphorus): None ^ANPSA-FAQ.
What's flowering (local natives): Boronia ledifolia (Jul–Oct); Woollsia pungens (peak Jul–Aug); Epacris longiflora; Banksia ericifolia; B. spinulosa; Correa reflexa; Hakea sericea; Acacia terminalis ^PN.
Wildlife: —
Fire season and other jobs: Coldest month on average ^BOM.

August Winter · about 65.6 mm rain · mean max 17.9°C, min 6.1°C

Planting: Prepare beds for spring planting RF note.
Pruning: As winter banksias finish, shape if needed. Never cut banksias below the lowest green foliage; they won't reshoot from bare stems ^APSVIC. Finish shrub work before birds start nesting RF note ^BIB.
Watering: Drying trend: Aug–Sep are the driest months on the record used here ^BOM. Watch new plants RF note.
Weeding: Spring weeds start: tackle before flowering RF note.
Feeding (low phosphorus): Hold until spring growth starts ^ANPSA-FAQ.
What's flowering (local natives): Leptospermum polygalifolium and Xanthorrhoea media begin; Boronia ledifolia; Woollsia pungens; Epacris longiflora; last banksias and correas; Hakea sericea ^PN.
Wildlife: —
Fire season and other jobs: —

September Spring · about 56.0 mm rain · mean max 20.9°C, min 8.1°C

Planting: Second planting window. Fine if watering is assured through the first summer ^ANPSA-FAQ RF note.
Pruning: Correas: prune after the main flowering as spring shoots appear, then tip-prune (pinch off the soft tips) ^APSVIC. Hard rejuvenation of grevillea hybrids such as 'Robyn Gordon' and 'Superb' in spring ^APSVIC ^ANPSA-FAQ. Check for nests first ^BIB.
Watering: Driest month on average ^BOM: water new plants deeply within the Water Wise rules ^SW.
Weeding: Spring flush: remove weeds before they set seed; see the weed guide RF note ^WW.
Feeding (low phosphorus): MAIN FEED. Spring, just before active growth, only if plants need it. Low-phosphorus (about 10:3:6) for Proteaceae, on wet soil, watered in ^ANPSA-FAQ.
What's flowering (local natives): Flannel flower, Actinotus helianthi (mainly Sep–Nov) ^PN; waratah, Telopea speciosissima (mid-spring to early summer) ^ANPSA-WAR; Boronia ledifolia; Epacris longiflora; Gymea lily, Doryanthes excelsa (spring); Lomandra longifolia (spring); Dianella caerulea (spring–summer); Acacia terminalis; Leptospermum polygalifolium ^PN.
Wildlife: Bird nesting: don't disturb shrubs in use ^BIB.
Fire season and other jobs: Peak enquiry season for advice visits RF note.

October Spring · about 71.1 mm rain · mean max 23.4°C, min 10.8°C

Planting: Early October is still fine; later plantings need more summer watering RF note.
Pruning: Boronia, Epacris and Acacia terminalis finish: prune after flowering (Epacris: erect types hard, pendulous types halfway along the new growth; wattles back about one-third to green wood if a bushier plant is wanted) ^APSVIC.
Watering: Test irrigation before summer. Drip/smart systems may run any time ^SW.
Weeding: Keep pulling before seed set RF note.
Feeding (low phosphorus): Waratahs: slow-release low-P fertiliser after flowering ^ANPSA-WAR.
What's flowering (local natives): Waratah; flannel flower; Turpentine, Syncarpia glomulifera (Oct–Dec); Themeda triandra (spring–summer); Dianella caerulea; Doryanthes excelsa; Leptospermum polygalifolium; Xanthorrhoea media ^PN ^ANPSA-WAR.
Wildlife: Nesting continues: check before hedge trimming ^BIB.
Fire season and other jobs: Bush fire danger period generally starts 1 Oct ^RFS. Check bushfire prone land and 10/50 status before any clearing ^RFS-BFPL ^RFS-1050.

November Spring · about 79.3 mm rain · mean max 25.1°C, min 13.1°C

Planting: Avoid big new plantings from late spring unless watering is assured ^ANPSA-FAQ RF note.
Pruning: Light tip-pruning (pinching off the soft tips) of spring growth to keep shrubs bushy ^APSVIC.
Watering: Deep-water first-year plants as heat builds ^ANPSA-FAQ ^SW.
Weeding: Keep on top of summer weeds RF note.
Feeding (low phosphorus): Waratahs after flowering, if not done ^ANPSA-WAR.
What's flowering (local natives): NSW Christmas bush flowers (white, Nov–Dec) ^APSNSW-XB; Callistemon citrinus (Nov–Dec); Blandfordia nobilis; Syncarpia glomulifera; Themeda triandra; flannel flower and waratah finishing ^PN ^ANPSA-WAR.
Wildlife: Nesting season: leave dense shrubs alone if in use ^BIB.
Fire season and other jobs: Fire danger period ^RFS.

December Summer · about 92.2 mm rain · mean max 27.0°C, min 15.0°C

Planting: Hold off; plan for autumn RF note.
Pruning: Bottlebrushes after flowering: remove spent brushes and seed cases (not weeping C. viminalis types) ^APSVIC ^ANPSA-FAQ.
Watering: Set up drip or a watering helper before going away; drip may run any time ^SW. First-summer plants are most at risk ^ANPSA-FAQ.
Weeding: Quick pass before holidays RF note.
Feeding (low phosphorus): None RF note.
What's flowering (local natives): NSW Christmas bush turns red as the sepals enlarge (shed in Feb) ^APSNSW-XB; Blandfordia nobilis; Callistemon citrinus; Syncarpia glomulifera; Leptospermum polygalifolium; Xanthorrhoea media; Grevillea buxifolia; Dianella caerulea ^PN.
Wildlife: Bird bath topped up in heat RF note.
Fire season and other jobs: Fire danger period ^RFS.

Climate snapshot

Pennant Hills climate means
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rain (mm)	101.9	118.3	126.2	103.8	77.8	112.1	78.0	65.6	56.0	71.1	79.3	92.2
Mean max (°C)	27.6	27.3	25.5	22.2	19.1	16.3	15.8	17.9	20.9	23.4	25.1	27.0
Mean min (°C)	16.1	16.1	14.8	11.8	8.6	6.3	5.2	6.1	8.1	10.8	13.1	15.0

Bureau of Meteorology, Pennant Hills (Yarrara Road) station 066047. Rainfall means 1900–2020; temperature means from an older 1907–1943 record, so treat them as a rough guide. Driest: August–September, just as spring growth starts.

Sources

BOM Bureau of Meteorology, climate statistics, Pennant Hills (Yarrara Road) station 066047, elevation 173 m. Rainfall means 1900–2020; temperature means 1907–1943 only (old record). Link
SWN Sydney Wildflower Nursery, 'Autumn – the perfect time to plant'. Link
ANPSA-FAQ Australian Native Plants Society (Australia), Frequently Asked Questions (pruning, fertilising, first-summer losses, fire, pipes, shade planting, birds). Link
ANPSA-FERT ANPSA, 'Using Fertilisers in the Native Garden' (Australian Plants online, Feb 2007). Link
ANPSA-WAR ANPSA, Telopea speciosissima and cultivars. Link
APSNSW-XB Australian Plants Society NSW, Ceratopetalum gummiferum (NSW Christmas bush). Link
APSNSW-CLAY Australian Plants Society NSW, Growing Native Plants in Clay Soils (rev. 2021). Link
APS-MULCH Australian Plants Society NSW, 'All about mulch' (fine mulch can absorb up to 20 mm of rain). Link
APSVIC Australian Plants Society Victoria, Pruning Australian Native Plants (Victorian timing; species notes apply generally). Link
APS-MULCH2 Australian Plants Society NSW, 'Mulch and native plants – a few thoughts' (no thicker than 75 mm; too thick can deoxygenate soil and stop moisture getting in). Link
BIB BirdLife Australia, Birds in Backyards, 'Getting your Garden Ready' (soil, mulch, staged weed removal, nesting). Link
SW Sydney Water, Water Wise Guidelines. Link
PN PlantNET (NSW Flora Online) species pages, flowering periods (wild populations). Pattern: Link
WW NSW WeedWise and the general biosecurity duty. · Link
RFS NSW RFS, Bush Fire Danger Period and Fire Permits (dates confirmed via search results only; page didn't load for me). Link
RFS-1050 NSW RFS, 10/50 vegetation clearing tool. Link
RFS-BFPL NSW RFS, Check if you're in bush fire prone land. Link
RF note RF Horticulture practice note: my professional judgement, not taken from a published source.

Flowering months are from PlantNET and APS/ANPSA records for wild plants; in gardens they shift a few weeks with aspect, season and cultivar. Printable version: Seasonal Care Calendar (PDF).

DIY it

What you'll need:

This month's jobs from the calendar
Secateurs, a rake and a slow-release, low-phosphorus native fertiliser
An hour or two each month

Get in touch for a quote

Rather have the seasonal jobs done on time? Regular care visits at $83.50/hour, planned ahead from this calendar.

Get a quote Call 0481 106 188

Quotes for garden care, weeding, planting and installation. No travel fee on the North Shore.