Free Local Guide
Adelaide garden calendar
What to mow, trim, prune and mulch each month in Adelaide's Mediterranean climate — written from what we actually do on local jobs through the year.
Adelaide gardens swing between a hot, dry summer and a cool, wet winter, so the same job done at the wrong time of year can set a lawn or hedge back for a season. Use the table below as a simple month-by-month plan — or book us in and we'll keep it on schedule for you.
| Month | Lawn | Hedges & pruning | Beds, mulch & weeds |
|---|---|---|---|
| JanuarySummer | Mow high every 2 weeks, leave clippings short and never scalp | Hold off on hard trims — light tidy only in the cool of the morning | Top up mulch, deep-water twice a week, pull weeds before they seed |
| FebruarySummer | Mow fortnightly at the highest comfortable height | Late-summer trim on fast growers like photinia and lilly pilly | Deep water early morning, check drippers for blockages |
| MarchAutumn | Growth picks up — return to weekly or fortnightly mowing and re-edge | Good month for shaping while growth is still active | Autumn clean-up, cut back spent summer growth, feed the soil |
| AprilAutumn | Mow fortnightly, lower the height slightly as heat eases | Structural pruning on shrubs and small trees | Weed thoroughly and plant winter colour |
| MayAutumn | Mow monthly, clear fallen leaves so the lawn keeps light | Avoid heavy trims from here — new growth is frost-tender | Prune roses lightly, refresh mulch before the wet months |
| JuneWinter | Monthly tidy, stay off soggy lawns to avoid compaction | Deciduous pruning while trees are dormant | Bare-rooted planting season, winter weeds go quickly now |
| JulyWinter | Monthly tidy and edge | Prune deciduous fruit trees (apples, pears, stone fruit) | Stay on top of winter weeds while the soil is soft |
| AugustWinter | Last monthly cut before the spring flush | Finish dormant pruning; hold citrus until after frost risk | Feed beds and prepare for spring planting |
| SeptemberSpring | Weekly mowing starts — the strongest growth of the year | First shaping trim of the season | Big spring clean-up, mulch 5–7 cm deep before it warms up |
| OctoberSpring | Weekly mowing and crisp edging | Late-spring formal trim to set shape for summer | Prune citrus after fruiting, weed before seed heads form |
| NovemberSpring | Raise the mower height as the heat builds | Light tidy only — avoid exposing inner foliage to sunburn | Check mulch depth and irrigation before summer arrives |
| DecemberSummer | Mow high fortnightly, water deeply and infrequently | Trim only in the early morning or late afternoon | Water deeply, shade new plantings, keep weeds down |
January
Summer- Lawn
- Mow high every 2 weeks, leave clippings short and never scalp
- Hedges & pruning
- Hold off on hard trims — light tidy only in the cool of the morning
- Beds, mulch & weeds
- Top up mulch, deep-water twice a week, pull weeds before they seed
February
Summer- Lawn
- Mow fortnightly at the highest comfortable height
- Hedges & pruning
- Late-summer trim on fast growers like photinia and lilly pilly
- Beds, mulch & weeds
- Deep water early morning, check drippers for blockages
March
Autumn- Lawn
- Growth picks up — return to weekly or fortnightly mowing and re-edge
- Hedges & pruning
- Good month for shaping while growth is still active
- Beds, mulch & weeds
- Autumn clean-up, cut back spent summer growth, feed the soil
April
Autumn- Lawn
- Mow fortnightly, lower the height slightly as heat eases
- Hedges & pruning
- Structural pruning on shrubs and small trees
- Beds, mulch & weeds
- Weed thoroughly and plant winter colour
May
Autumn- Lawn
- Mow monthly, clear fallen leaves so the lawn keeps light
- Hedges & pruning
- Avoid heavy trims from here — new growth is frost-tender
- Beds, mulch & weeds
- Prune roses lightly, refresh mulch before the wet months
June
Winter- Lawn
- Monthly tidy, stay off soggy lawns to avoid compaction
- Hedges & pruning
- Deciduous pruning while trees are dormant
- Beds, mulch & weeds
- Bare-rooted planting season, winter weeds go quickly now
July
Winter- Lawn
- Monthly tidy and edge
- Hedges & pruning
- Prune deciduous fruit trees (apples, pears, stone fruit)
- Beds, mulch & weeds
- Stay on top of winter weeds while the soil is soft
August
Winter- Lawn
- Last monthly cut before the spring flush
- Hedges & pruning
- Finish dormant pruning; hold citrus until after frost risk
- Beds, mulch & weeds
- Feed beds and prepare for spring planting
September
Spring- Lawn
- Weekly mowing starts — the strongest growth of the year
- Hedges & pruning
- First shaping trim of the season
- Beds, mulch & weeds
- Big spring clean-up, mulch 5–7 cm deep before it warms up
October
Spring- Lawn
- Weekly mowing and crisp edging
- Hedges & pruning
- Late-spring formal trim to set shape for summer
- Beds, mulch & weeds
- Prune citrus after fruiting, weed before seed heads form
November
Spring- Lawn
- Raise the mower height as the heat builds
- Hedges & pruning
- Light tidy only — avoid exposing inner foliage to sunburn
- Beds, mulch & weeds
- Check mulch depth and irrigation before summer arrives
December
Summer- Lawn
- Mow high fortnightly, water deeply and infrequently
- Hedges & pruning
- Trim only in the early morning or late afternoon
- Beds, mulch & weeds
- Water deeply, shade new plantings, keep weeds down
Related services
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