West Vic garden guide: What to plant this season in September and October

They look good, attract wildlife and withstand Western Victoria’s extremes: native plants are ticking all the boxes for local gardeners.

Resilient and adapted to the local climate, often surviving on rainfall alone once established, native species boost biodiversity and, because they require less maintenance and inputs, save time and money for gardeners.

The Brolga asked Terang horticulturalist Angela Daly to share her top picks for native plants to get started in your garden this September and October. 

Daly said with the weather “getting a tiny bit warmer and not as many cold nights”, it’s the perfect time to plant.

Look for hard + tough plants

Daly recommends hardy, tougher natives like:

• Calistemons, known commonly as bottle brush

• Poa

• Dianella

• Correa (particularly the Granny’s Grave variety)

• Westringia

• Banksia 

“Grevilleas do well in south west Victoria with so many varieties,” she told the Brolga.

“For something a little bigger, Agonis Flexuosa also has lots of different varieties with stunning green and purple foliage.”

“We’re almost past the frost now, so the soil is warming up, and it gives things a chance to flourish before it gets too warm, which helps get the roots going.”

What to do once they’re in the ground:

After planting, Daly said these plants wouldn’t require too much maintenance, but offered a few top tips to give your plants the best chance of thriving.

“They’re pretty hardy, but spreading some native mulch around them and watering really well once a week when first established will help,” she said. 

“When it’s very hot, if there’s a period of hot weather over 30 degrees, make sure to check on them every day or at least every second day, but mulch will help to keep the ground moist around them.”