The October long weekend is ideal for getting things done around the house and garden - that extra day seems to do us a world of good. But when you've got a lot to do, where do you start? We've broken it down into easy chunks - so whether you have five minutes or a whole three-day weekend to spare, you can find a task to do.

Ready to get started?

Click here if you have five minutes to spare this long weekend

Click here if you can spare two hours

Click here if you have one day free

Click here if you've got all long weekend!

 

 


 

If you have five minutes...

Mulching, feeding citrus and fertilising lawns are high-impact tasks requiring minimal effort.

Mulch your garden beds

Mulching is a really quick task that has many benefits - it helps to suppress weed growth, keeps soil cool and helps to retain moisture through the warmer, drier months. Plus, if you choose an organic mulch it will add nutrients right back into the soil as it breaks down, feeding your plants for you. With all this going for it, why not take a couple of minutes to mulch this weekend? There are lots of mulches out there, so if you need help picking the right one for your garden, we suggest you check out this helpful article for all you need to know about mulching.

Ready to shop our mulch range? You'll find it here!

 

Feed your hungry citrus

Citrus plants have needs that are a little more specialised than your average plant, and if you want to promote growth and fruiting, it pays to get their care needs right. If your citrus plants are in pots, we suggest Osmocote Plus Trace Elements Fruit, Citrus, Trees & Shrubs, but for in-ground trees, our favourite is Gyganic for Fruit and Citrus.

Ready to shop citrus fertilisers? Click here!

 

Fertilise and top dress your lawn

Encourage strong growth and lush, green foliage in your lawn with a nice spring feed. We recommend you use Scotts Lawn Builder All Purpose Lawn Fertiliser or Brunnings Buffalo Lawn Food. These slow-release fertilisers have all the nutrients your lawn needs to thrive, and will ensure it looks great for up to three months post-application. Top dressing is also a great task you can perform this weekend - it will help to even out your lawn and fill any ditches or holes while also improving nutrient retention for healthier turf.

Click here to shop all lawn care products.

 


 

If you have two hours...

You'd be amazed what you can get done in a couple of hours. You could fill your garden with flowering colour, overhaul your indoor plants or plant some tasty tomatoes.

Top up on flowering colour

Garden beds looking a little drab? Put aside a couple of hours to plant some colourful flowering annuals to give your home and garden an immediate facelift. Our favourites at this time of year are marigolds, snapdragons and petunias. The best thing? You can also use versatile flowering annuals to underplant in large pots or potted gardens, or to create a cheery arrangement on an outdoor table or at your front entrance!

 

Perform an indoor plant overhaul

If you're an indoor gardener, now's your opportunity to give your plant babies a real treat! Take them all outside to an area that's under cover or in shade, and give them a good hose down to clean the foliage of any dust that may have accumulated. You can also use this opportunity to give them a good, deep watering, allowing the water to soak through the pot and drain away before taking your plant back to its indoor home. For an extra boost, add Powerfeed All-Purpose Fertiliser & Soil Conditioner Concentrate to your watering can. Once your plant is drained and happily back inside, go over the leaves with a soft cloth and give them a spritz with Yates Leaf Shine Spray to keep them looking their best!

 

Start growing your own tomatoes

No matter where you live, and no matter how much or how little space you have, this is a task you can definitely accomplish. There are plenty of tomato varieties out there that will grow just as happily in a patio pot as they will in the ground, provided they get at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. Ready to start growing (and eating!) your own tomatoes? Click here to learn about some of our stocked varieties, plus some tips on planting and growing your crop.

Ready to plant? Click here to shop all tomatoes!

 


 

If you have one day...

Got a day spare this weekend? Consider creating a herb barrel or sprucing up your front door.

Start a potted herb garden

Want to add a fresh zing to your cooking? Growing your own herbs is really simple and can be done in a pot or a window box. Here's how you can do it in 6 simple steps:

  1. Choose your container. This depends entirely on the space you have and the look you want to achieve. In a narrow space, you might want to use multiple small pots, which will also help you keep your herbs separated. In a larger space, you can go for broke by planting a mix of herbs in one or a few large containers - we love wine barrels for this! Click here to shop all outdoor pots.
  2. Select your herb seedlings. This will all depend on what you're most likely to use, and what's in season. Our spring favourites are rosemary, basil and coriander, but there are plenty to suit your taste - click here to shop the full range!
  3. Fill with soil. Using our favourite Supersoil Professional Herb & Vegie Potting and Planting Mix, fill your chosen container almost up to the top. This mix is designed specifically to give herbs and veggies the nutrition they need to thrive.
  4. Plant your seedlings. Remove your seedlings from their pots or punnets and tease out their roots gently before planting into the soil mix.
  5. Top it off. Fill the remainder of your chosen container with more potting mix.
  6. Feed and water. Help your herbs settle in with a nice, deep watering, using a seaweed solution like Seasol. Bonus - follow it up 1 week later with an application of liquid fertiliser, such as Amgrow Organix Harvest, to really get them going!

 

Perform a front door makeover

If you want a quick and simple way to update your home, why not spruce up your front entry? It's the one part of your home that every visitor is guaranteed to see, so it's a great way to make an impression. Here are a few things you can grab at Flower Power to make an impact...

  • Door mat. A quirky door mat is a great way to set the tone and welcome visitors into your home while also keeping things neat and tidy. Click here to view our current range, with a design to suit every home!
  • Statement pot + plant combo. The first step here is to choose the perfect pot. Keep in mind the size of the space you're working with, and also the style of your home - both of these factors will dictate the type of pot you need. You can shop our extensive range of durable and stylish outdoor pots here.
    Once you've settled on a pot, you can choose a plant to match. While there's a whole world of foliage for you to choose from, we have a couple of tried and tested plant suggestions based on your front door's aspect (not all plants like all conditions!). If your front door experiences full shade, some high-impact options for you to try include a fiddle-leaf fig, an umbrella plant, a Spathiphyllum 'Sensation' or a palm - if you want something short, try an atrovirens or a rhapis palm, or for something taller, a kentia or golden cane. If, however, your front door receives either partial or full sun, you can try topiary standards including lilly pillies, ficus and azaleas, a quirky succulent or cactus, a camellia sasanqua or a rhaphiolepis.
  • Side table. If you have the space, a side table positioned near your front door can be a great spot to place a smaller pot plant or simply a practical addition allowing you to put down your handbag while you search for your house keys. We've got a fabulous range of side tables ideal for outdoor use - click here to shop!

Got all day? Start a veggie garden with Vegepod.

Plant a veggie patch

Make your garden work for you with a productive, edible crop. Now's the time to plant summer veggies including beetrootcapsicumchillicucumbereggplantlettucepumpkinradishspring onionsquashsweet corntomato and zucchini. As a bonus, it's a family activity you can get the kids to join in on, and it might just encourage them to eat more veggies! Not sure where to start? Click here for a comprehensive guide to growing veggies.

Top tip: We love Vegepods because they enable you to start a veggie patch just about anywhere - even in courtyards and on balconies!

 


 

If you have all weekend...

 

Like spending time indoors? The long weekend is ideal for restyling your interiors.

 

Restyle your interiors

This spring, interior decorating is all about the breezy, retro-tropical vibe, with earthy tones and generous helpings of foliage against natural textures including timber, jute and cane. Here are a few ways you can refresh your home for spring without breaking the bank...

  • Redecorate your lounge room. A new cushion combo paired with a throw is a quick and simple way to infuse your lounge with seasonal tones, layers of texture and a comfy, cosy feel. Patterned, printed, plain, textured, tasselled, fringed - at Flower Power we have a wide range of cushions and throws to suit every space. Shop them here.
  • Scent your space. A scented candle can change the entire atmosphere of a room with minimal effort. Shop out our extensive home fragrance range here, including pillars, jar candles, tealights and diffusers.
  • Get arty. Feel like your walls are letting your space down? A standout canvas, print, textile, grass or metallic piece will help to add some personality to your walls and tie them in with the rest of your decor. To shop our extensive range, click here.
  • Bedroom refresh. You'd be surprised at how quickly a fresh throw and cushion scatter can change the vibe of any space, but particularly your bedroom, which can sometimes be a little neglected. Treat yourself to something nice! Shop our stylish throws here.
  • Add some green life. Have a sad or dull space in your home that needs a bit of a pep-up? A new pot and plant combo is just what the doctor ordered. Aside from our huge collection of indoor plants, we also have Sydney's widest range of gorgeous indoor pots, sourced by our expert buyers so there's one to suit every home. Click here to shop the range!

 

Got all weekend? Now's the time to get your outdoor living area exactly how you want it by cleaning your pavers, selecting furniture that makes the most of your space and adding personality with accessories.

 

Create a new outdoor entertaining area

As warm weather approaches, we all want to be outside soaking up the sunshine - and with the festive season around the corner, what better time than now to get your outdoor entertaining area in shape? If you've got an established area, a little bit of love will make the world of difference, but you could also use your weekend to create a whole new vibe. Here's how...

  • Clean your pavers. You'd be surprised at the mould, mildew and moss your tiles can accumulate over the course of a year without you even noticing. Give them a once-over with Wet & Forget -  you'll be thrilled with the results!
  • Re-evaluate your space. With space at a premium, it pays to think about how you're using your garden. Have an under-utilised zone? Transform it into a practical, usable space with some DIY paving. It doesn't have to be difficult or time consuming, either - click here for our complete guide to DIY paving, and when you're ready to get going, click here to shop our extensive range of pavers.
  • Make it inviting. Once your space is finished, clean and ready to go, it's time to fill it with comfy and stylish outdoor furniture. But how do you choose the right piece for the space you have? We've done the legwork for you. Click here for 5 tips on choosing the perfect outdoor furniture for your space.
    Ready to make your choice? Click here to shop our complete outdoor furniture range!
  • Add some personality. Flower Power's range of outdoor rugs and outdoor cushions ensures you can inject additional texture and colour into any setting, making it truly your own. You can also add a centrepiece such as a fire pit to make the area feel cosier.
  • The finishing touches. No beautifully-styled outdoor living space is complete without some plant life, whether it's a small plant on the coffee table or a cluster of large, statement potted plants next to the lounge. As always, it's important to consider the space you have when choosing pots, and its sunlight exposure when selecting plants. Click here for our guide to choosing the best plants for outdoor pots.

 

Inspired to get moving this long weekend? Don't forget to share pictures of your projects with us! We're on Facebook and Instagram at @flowerpowergardencentres.