When to plant in Swan Hill.
Autumn for roots, spring for colour, and a careful approach in summer. A season-by-season guide to planting in the Mallee.
Two main planting seasons
Swan Hill has hot, dry summers and frosty winters. That leaves two windows when new plants settle in best.
Autumn: the best time for most plants
Warm soil and cooling air mean roots grow quickly before winter. Natives, hedges, trees and strappy plants all do best planted now.
Spring: flowers, summer colour and heat lovers
Once frosts finish in early September, it is time for perennials, crepe myrtles, citrus and summer veggies.
Summer: plant only with care
Heat stress is the main risk. If you have to plant, do it in the evening, water deeply and shade new plants for the first week.
What to plant and when
This is also when our new stock arrives: our biggest deliveries come in March and April, then again in September and October.
Natives, hedges and trees
- Grevilleas, kangaroo paws, banksias and emu bush
- Hedging: euonymus, westringia, pittosporum, rhaphiolepis
- Lomandra, dianella and other strappy plants
- Shade and screening trees
- Winter veggies and seed potatoes
Bare-root plants and pruning
- Roses and deciduous fruit trees
- Prune roses, crepe myrtles and fruit trees
- Plant frost-hardy natives on mild days
- Cut back salvias and strappy plants at the end of winter
Colour and heat lovers
- Lavender, salvias, gaillardia and other perennials
- Crepe myrtles, hibiscus and bougainvillea
- Citrus and other evergreen fruit trees
- Summer veggie seedlings once the soil warms
Water, mulch and plan
- Top up mulch to 75 mm before January
- Deep-water new plantings weekly
- Indoor plants and pots on a shaded verandah
- Plan your autumn planting
Planting tips for the Mallee
Watch the frost dates
Frosts usually run from mid-May to early September around Swan Hill. Hold frost-tender plants until spring.
Soak before planting
Water the plant in its pot an hour before planting, and fill the hole with water and let it drain before the plant goes in.
Mulch at least 75 mm deep
Mulch keeps roots cool and cuts water loss. Keep it a few centimetres clear of stems.
Water deep, not often
A long soak once or twice a week is better than a daily sprinkle. It trains roots to grow down where the soil stays cooler.
Related plant ranges
Ready to plant?
Come in and see what's arrived this season. We'll help you choose plants that suit the time of year.