It's time to: May

Divide

Divide perennials by root division to make new plants.

Divide kangaroo paw if the clump is outgrowing its space.

Collect

Collect fallen leaves for composting.

Plant

Winter herbs such as coriander, parsley, rosemary, thyme, sage and chervil.

Plant a clump of spring-flowering bulbs. You’ll need about 20 bulbs to make a good show.

Plant garlic cloves. Simply push a fat clove into a thumb’s depth of soil.

Pull up 

Pull up any remaining tomatoes, eggplant and capsicum. Dig them up with as much soil as possible and leave them in the shed. The fruit will continue to ripen – one last chutney can still be made.

Move

Move furniture into a sunny spot for the winter.

Move shrubs and trees that need to be in a different part of the garden.

Prune 

Prune grevilleas to thicken up bushes. Cut back by 30cm.

Order

Order rhubarb, asparagus and artichoke plants.

Feed 

Fertilise cymbidium orchids with Strike Back for Orchids. Apply the pellets once a month until flowering spikes appear.

Bright Idea!

Keep the birds off autumn produce with a scarecrow.

Photo - Linda K. Ross

This scarecrow has become part of the family, standing guard over the vegetables and the blueberry patch. All you need are some sturdy sticks, hessian bags, old clothes, tomato stakes and straw wig.