Plant, feed & fertilise

Autumn is nature's best planting time

This is a great time of year to plant, feed and fertilise.  The soil is still warm and plants have the longest possible time to establish themselves before summer.

Feeding now means that plants go into winter healthy and ready for the next growing season - a liquid feed and sheep pellets will do the trick.

Mulch acts as a barrier, so a good layer now will help suppress those spring weeds.

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Planting instructions
Dig a hole twice as wide as the pot your plant came in.  The hole should be the same depth as the pot your plant came in.  
Gently remove the plant from its pot and into the hole.  If the roots seem congested around the base, you can gently prise them loose.
Backfill with a mix of topsoil (the soil that came out out the hole), a handful of compost or garden mix and sheep pellets. 
In heavy clay soils, like those on the North Shore, in Auckland, if you are planting a tree or shrub which prefer free draining soils, plant into a mound and improve drainage with some gypsum and compost. Add a slow release fertiliser too, for a great start.