Fresh Starts, Summer Care & What to Plant Now in Tasmania

Enjoy Summer – But Keep Growing

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Summer is a wonderful time to pause and admire the results of your earlier work. But while your garden may be thriving, there’s still plenty you can achieve to keep it healthy through the hotter months.

Water Smart & Mulch Well

Mulch and moisture management
Top up your mulch to help retain moisture, suppress weeds and protect roots from summer heat. Mulching also gives your garden a beautifully finished look.

Watering tips for summer efficiency
Water early in the morning so plants can absorb moisture before the heat sets in. Deep, infrequent watering encourages strong root growth and healthier plants.

Soil conditioners & water savers
Treat gardens, pots and hanging baskets with a plant and soil conditioner such as BioBoost or Seasol to help them cope with extreme summer conditions.

Applying a water retention product like Saturaid can reduce water use by up to 50% and make better use of summer rain.

What to Plant in January

Flowers

• Alyssum • Calendula • Nasturtium • Dwarf Marigolds • Stock • Pansy • Sweet Peas

• Poppies • Violas • Forget-Me-Nots

These blooms will add colour now and move beautifully into the cooler months.

Planting summer-friendly flowers in January helps keep your garden vibrant during the hottest part of the year. Many of these varieties are fast to establish and will handle Tasmanian conditions beautifully, providing continuous colour and attracting bees and beneficial insects. It’s also a great time to refresh tired borders or fill gaps with cheerful, heat-tolerant blooms that will carry your garden into autumn.

Edibles

It’s the perfect time to enjoy what’s growing while planning your next planting wave.

Plant now:

• Asian Greens • Broccoli • Brussel Sprouts • Cabbage • Capsicum • Cauliflower
• Celery • Cress • Cucumber • Chives • Eggplant • Leek • Lettuce • Mediterranean Herbs
• Oregano • Marjoram • Mint • Onions • Parsley • Parsnip • Pumpkin • Sage • Silverbeet • Sweet Corn

• Swede • Spring Onion • Late Tomatoes • Turnip

January is a fantastic month to keep your edible garden productive by planting a mix of fast-growing greens and longer-season crops. Warmer soil temperatures help seedlings establish quickly, while many herbs and leafy vegetables thrive with regular harvesting. By staggering your plantings now, you’ll ensure a steady supply of fresh produce right through late summer and into autumn.

Support and protect summer crops
Crops like sweet corn and tomatoes can become top-heavy, so ensure they are well supported with stakes or frames.

Ensure climbing crops such as peas and beans are trained up their supports and not encroaching on neighbouring plants.

Check ties on bush tomatoes and other vegetables to make sure they aren’t constricting or cutting into stems.

Protect your vegetables from birds and possums with bird netting, making sure the mesh is smaller than 5mm to prevent any wildlife from getting trapped.

On very hot days, consider using shade cloth to protect sensitive vegetable crops. A layer of pea straw or sugar cane mulch will help maintain ideal soil conditions.

Harvest consistently
Pick your summer vegetables regularly to encourage continuous cropping. Any surplus can be frozen, dried or preserved so nothing goes to waste.

Weeds

Keep weeds under control by hand-pulling or hoeing them out - they compete for nutrients and water and can harbour pests that may damage your crops.

Prune, Feed & Maintain

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Prune summer bloomers
Remove spent flowers to encourage new growth and keep plants looking fresh. Deadhead fuchsias and geraniums and give annuals a feed - they’ll reward you with more colour.

Look after your soil
Add compost or organic matter now to nourish your soil and prepare beds for late-summer and autumn planting.

Protect your roses
Spray for black spot and pick up fallen leaves to reduce the spread of disease. Keep an eye out for aphids, thrips and caterpillars - ask our team about safe and effective control options.

Lush Summer Lawns

As temperatures climb and we look for ways to stay cool outdoors, it’s worth giving your lawn a little extra attention too. Summer heat can place stress on your grass, but with the right lawn variety and a few simple care habits, you can keep it looking green, healthy and inviting.

• Watering: Deep, consistent watering helps develop strong root systems that cope better with hot weather.
• Feeding: A quality lawn fertiliser applied occasionally will boost growth, colour and overall resilience.
• Health: A well-maintained lawn is naturally more resistant to weeds, pests and disease, ensuring it stays vibrant throughout the season.
• Mowing: Raise your mower blades and avoid scalping your lawn. Short grass leads to shallow roots, increased weed problems and poorer disease resistance. A slightly higher cut helps your lawn stay cooler and healthier through summer.

With a little care, your lawn can thrive - even on the warmest Tassie summer days.

Add Movement & Coolness

A water feature - whether large or small - adds instant calm, attracts wildlife and helps cool the garden on hot days.

A Month to Enjoy & Prepare

January invites you to celebrate your hard work - and to prepare your garden for continued success.

Whether you're refreshing your soil, planting new summer crops or planning a new garden, there’s so much to look forward to in the season ahead.

Pop in and see us at Stoneman’s Garden Centre for advice, summer essentials, beautiful plants, landscaping supplies and everything you need to keep your garden thriving all year long.