It's time to: March

Divide

Divide agapanthus, cliveas, liriope.

Remove

Spent flowers from flowering gums. Do this before the large decorative gum nuts form to allow the tree to conserve energy for more flowers next spring.

Take notes about any shrubs or trees that need to be moved to a new spot next month.

Buy 

Buy bulbs for planting in April and May.

Trim

Trim balls and hedges of coastal rosemary, box, lilly pilli and orange jessamine (Murraya).

Feed 

Feed the lawn.

Enjoy 

the last hurrah of the summer vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplant and zucchini. It’s ratatouille time.

Compost

Turn and aerate the compost ready for emptying out next month.

Water

Reduce water to succulent plants such as frangipani, succulents, cactus and indoor plants.

Plant

Plant annuals for winter colour. Try warm-coloured poppies and pansies, or cooler-toned cineraria, primula and stock.

Plant sweetpeas to rush up a teepee of bamboo stakes.

Mulch

Top up mulch to retain warmth in the soil through autumn.