Melbourne's spring is the most important maintenance window in the garden calendar. Get it right in September and October and the garden performs well through summer. Miss it and you spend the rest of the year managing the consequences — weeds that established early, hedges that are already overgrown, lawns that went into summer heat without the preparation they needed. This is the complete spring maintenance checklist for Melbourne gardens, month by month. For a year-round picture, see our guides on summer garden maintenance and autumn lawn care.
September: the spring awakening
Lawn: first mow and assessment
September is typically when Melbourne's warm-season lawns start showing life again after winter dormancy. The first mow of spring sets the tone for the season — take it at the right height (do not scalp), assess what the lawn looks like after winter, and decide whether any areas need repair or additional treatment. See our guide on fixing dead and bare patches for areas that did not survive winter well.
Hedges: first major trim of the year
September and October are the ideal window for the first and most important hedge trim of the year. Growth is resuming, the plant has the full growing season ahead to recover and fill out after the trim, and any shaping work you do now will look excellent by December. See our hedge trimming timing guide for species-specific details.
Weeds: the most important window for control
September is the critical window for weed control, particularly for bindii (the spiky seed-producing weed that torments Melbourne feet through summer). Bindii needs to be treated before it sets seed — which happens in October. A selective herbicide applied in September eliminates the plant before the seeds form. See our lawn weeds in Melbourne guide for the full list of what to treat and when.
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October: the preparation month
Fertilise the lawn and garden beds
October is the prime fertilising window for Melbourne lawns and garden beds. Apply a slow-release balanced fertiliser to the lawn to support the active growing season. Apply an appropriate fertiliser to garden beds — remember to use a phosphorus-free or low-phosphorus product on Australian natives. For the full fertilising guide, see our Melbourne garden fertilising guide.
Mulch garden beds before the heat arrives
October is the best time to apply mulch to Melbourne garden beds — while the soil still has good winter moisture, but before the summer heat begins drawing that moisture out. A 5 to 7 cm layer of mulch now will make a significant difference to how well the garden handles November and December heat.
Aeration for compacted lawns
If the lawn has areas of significant compaction — water pools after rain, or the turf is thin and stressed despite watering — October is the window for core aeration. The soil is warm enough for the lawn to recover quickly, and the growing season ahead provides the recovery time needed.
November: the pivot to summer
Second hedge trim for fast growers
By November, fast-growing species like lilly pilly and murraya will have put out a significant flush of new growth after the September trim. A second maintenance trim in November keeps them shaped and prevents the season's growth from getting ahead of you.
Irrigation: set up and check
November is the time to check irrigation systems before the summer demand begins. Run the system through a full cycle, check for blocked emitters, broken pipes, and sprinkler head alignment. Set the timer for the early morning window that complies with Melbourne Water restrictions. Do not wait until January when the lawn is already suffering.
FAQ: Spring garden maintenance in Melbourne
What should I do first in my Melbourne garden in spring?
Start with the lawn assessment and the weed control applications in September — these have the tightest timing windows. Then move to fertilising and mulching in October. Hedge trimming and structural work can happen across September and October in any order.
When should I fertilise my Melbourne lawn in spring?
Late September to October is the ideal window. The soil is warm enough for fertiliser to be effective, and the plant is actively growing and able to take up nutrients. Fertilising in August when the lawn is still semi-dormant is largely wasted.
How do I deal with bindii before it sets seed in Melbourne?
Apply a selective herbicide containing dicamba or MCPA in August or September, before the plant seeds in October. Identify bindii by its flat, feathery rosette growth at ground level. Once you can see the seed heads forming in October, the treatment window for prevention has closed.
Is spring the right time to plant new hedges in Melbourne?
Late winter (August) and early spring (September) are actually the best windows for planting new hedges in Melbourne. Plants establish with less heat stress and have the full growing season to put down roots before their first Melbourne summer. Container-grown plants can be planted at any time if watered well, but the cooler shoulder seasons give them the best start.
