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Gardeners making the most of the spring growing season are being encouraged to prepare their gardens now for the warmer, potentially drier months ahead.

October is one of the busiest months in the northern gardens, with longer days and warming soil producing rapid new growth.

Auckland Botanic Gardens recommends sowing crops such as basil, beetroot, capsicum, chilli, lettuce and tomatoes into trays now, while sweet corn, cucumber, beans, melons, zucchini and pumpkins can be started in individual containers.

From late October, as soils become warmer, many of these summer vegetables can be planted directly into garden beds.

However, preparing the soil could be just as important as deciding what to plant.

The latest seasonal climate outlook from Earth Sciences New Zealand says El Niño conditions have strengthened, with westerly weather patterns expected to become more apparent during spring.

Rainfall is likely to be below normal across much of the North Island, while soil moisture and river flows in northern areas are expected to be near or below normal.

For home gardeners, that makes retaining moisture increasingly important.

Adding compost before planting improves soil structure and its ability to hold water, while a generous layer of mulch can help reduce evaporation, suppress weeds and keep plant roots cooler as temperatures rise.

Spring is also a good time to check irrigation systems and hoses for leaks and consider whether plants are being watered deeply enough to encourage strong root systems.