Across the road in Commonwealth Park, security staff will be on red alert for the next six days because the bird nets are being removed from the garden beds at Australia's premier spring show, Floriade.

Events ACT operations team member John Leahy said cockatoos loved pulling out tulip bulbs. Leading hand gardener Lisa Wrona rises at 5am to check if any cockies have made a grab for the delicious plants.

''I do a lap around the gardens to see if there's been any damage overnight. The white cockatoos are our biggest vandals. Once the bird nets are down, they're hard to control.''

Frost and wind can also threaten Canberra's favourite perennial extravaganza.

''We usually have one warm week and one cold week,'' Ms Wrona said. ''This is a false spring; you are nearly guaranteed you will have one cold week. For the flower beds this is fine. The tulips even like a bit of cold.''

Newly planted tomatoes and vegetables will need frost protection. Gardeners have been nurturing the plants' nitrogen to boost green leafy growth and are using phosphorus to bring out the dazzling flowers.

Poppies will flower for the duration of the festival, which opens on September 14 and runs until October 13. Some people cannot wait and try to get a sneak preview of the 1 million plants by peering through the temporary fence, but they are more likely to see a security guard than a botanical vista.

Operations manager Jenny Boyd said because Floriade was a construction site, occupation, health and safety rules applied.

People who can enter range from a team of fertiliser-spraying, weed-pulling contractors, events students studying bump-in procedures, tourist operators and volunteers.

Floriade traders will begin arriving on Wednesday.

Mr Leahy said volunteers would be briefed twice before the 400,000-plus visitors arrive.

Ms Boyd believes Questacon's DNA garden, which is packed with gangly poppies, violas, pansies, bellis, tulips and irises, is the most striking display.

''The stripes [of different coloured flowers] look great. You always get one display which looks good from the ferris wheel.''

With the festival in its 26th year, Floriade staff are well versed in getting preparations in the right order. ''It's all about protecting the plants and the people,'' Ms Boyd said. ''There are vehicles driving around; the gardens have to look their best.

''It's our turn to get some warm weather for NightFest. That's one thing you cannot control.

''The cold is less of an issue than high winds, which can damage the plants and temporary infrastructure.''

Weather stations at the site office, and near the ferris wheel and Bureau of Meteorology's site, warn staff of approaching high- and gale-force winds.

Every piece of infrastructure is wind-rated.

''We will close down marquees and lay down signs. We once closed half an hour earlier; there were only about half a dozen people in the park and we were worried branches might break off trees.''

As the opening day draws nearer, the excitement is building.

''This is what we have been working towards all year. Everyone looks forward to the opening. They can't wait,'' Ms Boyd said.