October to April — the cool season
The active growing season. Plant new trees, shrubs and seasonal colour now while temperatures support root establishment. Fertilise lawn and beds at the start of the season and again in February. Reduce irrigation frequency but maintain depth — short watering doesn't penetrate to root zones.
This is also the ideal window for hardscape work, pergola installations and any planting bed rebuilds. Pests are at their lowest activity; inspect monthly and treat any early signs of scale or whitefly.
May to September — the survival season
Switch to fortnightly maintenance minimum. Mulch all planted beds 50 mm deep to retain moisture and reduce soil temperature. Increase irrigation duration but watch for runoff. Lawn should be cut higher (40–50 mm) to shade the root zone.
Do not plant in peak summer unless under a maintained contract — establishment failure rates triple between May and September. Prune lightly to remove deadwood; avoid hard pruning that exposes inner growth to sun scald.
Year-round routine items
Weekly: lawn mowing in season, weeding, leaf clearing. Monthly: irrigation walk-through, fertiliser top-up, hedge trimming, pest inspection. Quarterly: soil amendment check, mulch refresh, lighting and pump function test. Annual: deep aeration of lawn, structural pruning of trees, full planting bed audit.
What goes wrong without a maintenance plan
Within six months: weeds dominate, lawn thins, hedges go uneven. Within a year: pest populations explode, plants start dying back, irrigation efficiency drops 30%+ due to clogged emitters. Within two years: full replant typically needed at multiples of the original installation cost.
