Autumn to early spring is the ideal time to plant Australian species. Planting is possible outside this time frame, but extra care of the plantings would then be essential.
Choose young plants, check that they are not rootbound, and water them after planting. Dry area species should survive just on the winter rains and, once established, will not need supplementary watering. Many other Australian plants have low water requirements but, contrary to popular belief, not all Australian plants are drought-tolerant, so ask garden centre staff about watering requirements, particularly for the first year.
Today subsurface trickle irrigation is recommended because water is delivered straight to the root zone and is not lost through evaporation. Older gardens usually still have overhead sprinklers which are not ideal, as water gathering on foliage may create humid conditions that encourage fungal disease.
Contrary to popular belief, however, most Australian plants can tolerate a sprinkler system provided they are not over-watered. Over-watering reduces their flowering and produces lush growth that is more attractive to pests and diseases. In the case of species that hail from dry areas, over-watering can kill them.