Autumn leaves: how to prepare your garden for winter more sustainably

Belinda Thackeray , horticulturist and manager of Sydney City Farm , says now is a great time to turn plants on their last legs into a resource for the warmer months .

Thea Kerr , nursery manager at Ceres in Melbourne , says we need to be mindful of what we do with that foliage.

For ornamental annuals, seed saving can be as simple as giving the plant a shake before ripping it out.

Autumn is an ideal time to get some flowering natives in your garden.

Autumn is also a good time to move cannas, lilies, dahlias and their cousins.

Bringing in insects helps with pollinating the plants, but also helps with pest and disease management.