While there are autumn bulbs to give colour, the shape of foliage can also play a big part in creating an interesting garden, writes gardening columnist JACKIE WARBURTON. 

One plant with unusual-shaped foliage that’s growing well in my garden is wax mallow (Malvaviscus arboreus). 

It is herbaceous, meaning it completely dies down in winter and regrows in spring creating a mound to about a metre tall.

At this time of year it displays unusual and striking cherry red flowers that sit upright above the foliage. 

The plant can be hard to come by, but look out for it at local plant sales such as Marymead and The Horticultural Society of Canberra. 

From the malvaceae family, they are all tough and drought tolerant and many of its plants grow well in our climate.

Some hardy species to try of this family are Chinese lanterns, deciduous hibiscus or a native, the hollyhock tree (Hibiscus splendens). 

Winter can be a problem with hollyhocks, so plant it in a sheltered spot or in a pot where it can be moved when the cold weather arrives. Its pretty pink flowers run from October to December. 

The fruit matures in summer and the seeds are easy to germinate or can grow quickly from cuttings as well. 

WITH the soil beginning to cool and the prospect of frost getting closer, it’s a busy time to get plants in the ground and growing before winter. 

Vegetable seedlings need to be in, as do sweet peas and early spring colour such as primula, pansies and poppies.

Green manure crops need to be planted in the next few weeks and garden beds to be mulched to reduce the risk of frost drawing moisture from the ground in winter and to keep the weeds down.

The coarser the mulch, the longer it takes to break down to let moisture into the soil to keep roots watered over winter.

I prefer pea straw or sugar cane mulch for vegetable beds and bark for garden beds. In general, the smaller the space the smaller the bark. Sugar cane mulch is good as the snails don’t like it and breaks down as well. 

Water the ground before and after mulching for best results. 

SOME short-lived native colour can also be planted this time of year and Scaevola, a pretty little ground cover, is a good choice. It’s either purple or white flowering and can be planted in the shade. 

WHILE the weather is still warm, some fertilising can be done but be selective and fertilise plants that are evergreen and flower in winter and early spring such as daphnes, camellias, azaleas, banksias and grevilleas. All exotics can have a general-purpose fertilisers, but a native-only fertiliser for the natives. 

A REALLY pretty plant I see growing well in Canberra is geisha girl (Duranta repens). Its dainty flowers are rich blue and it has a graceful weeping habit where the tips of the branches are where the flowers form.

It will grow well in a pot in our winters or, if in the ground, it would need to be in a frost-free courtyard.

It is important to prune hard after flowering to keep the plant compact and ensure flowering next year. The harder the pruning, the more vigorous growth and, in turn, more flowers. They like good drainage and water in the warmer months and when they are flowering. 

Jottings

• Add boron to the base of apple trees to sweeten the soil. 

• Keep planting beetroot, leafy greens and kale.

• Prune excess growth from pome fruits.

• Keep pear trees netted as fruit ripens.

jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au