Monbulk gardener Robin Giles stays ahead of the season to keep autumn beautiful and gardening a constant pleasure.By Ed Merrison
THERE is a tendency to think of autumn as a time of when things fade with summer’s end.
But with a bit of organisation and know-how, summer can be neatly laid to rest in the garden while a beautiful new season is born to bloom.
Monbulk gardener Robin Giles, whose home Dragonwyck has featured in the Australian Open Garden Scheme, said there were two parts to her autumn action plan.
The first was managing the end of summer, which included deadheading plants, pruning back and reshaping shrubs and trees for next year.
“Deadheading is important so that rather than nutrition going to grow a seed, the nourishment and strength goes to making a healthier plant for next year,” Robin said.
“I also remove any yellowing and dead foliage. It immediately makes a 100 per cent improvement in the look of the garden.”
Robin was also mindful of the need to weed.
“One weed can make hundreds of seeds which can become hundreds of weeds,” she said.
The second side of the autumnal equation entails the selection of plants that will flower through autumn and into winter.
Among Ms Giles’ favourites are native hibiscus, crepe myrtle, tibouchina and plumbago, which flowers through to winter with a shade of blue unlike any other, Robin says.
Certain lilies, bromeliads and fuschias will also be allocated a patch at Dragonwyck this season.
“I also love my fragrant ginger plants, which are true autumn plants, and all the beautiful salvias and sages that come in magnificent reds, blues and pinks,” Robin said.
Such planning allows Robin to take great pleasure in her garden all year round.
“The secret is what I call ongoing, staggered blooming,” she said.
“I like to plant things so as soon as something starts to fade, something nearby starts to flower.”
Methodical and timely planting also prevents a gardener becoming inundated with fallen leaves and other general upkeep issues.
“I have a list every day of things that should be done, and each day I try to scratch something off that list so that no gardening chore seems overwhelming. If you can do a little every day, then gardening will always be a joy,” Robin said.
