5 Tips Every Good Gardener Needs To Know

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New gardening techniques, tips, products, tools, and equipment are introduced on a regular basis. Although many of these have been proven to be effective, you can be sure that you will have a healthy, lush lawn by knowing and applying the basic yet most helpful gardening tips and tricks.

Jim's Mowing New Zealand - Gardening Tips

Here are five simple and effective tricks and tips every good gardener needs to know about:

  1. Make sure your soil is conducive for growing plants.For your plants to grow and thrive, your soil must have the right pH level and the right amount
  2. Jim's Mowing New Zealand - Gardening Tipsand quality of micro-nutrients. You can use a soil testing kit which you can buy at gardening stores to do this, or send it to a company that offers this service. If you are already certain that you have the ideal soil, you can help make it even more nutrient-rich and “friendlier” by adding compost, manure or dried peat moss. Keep in mind that amended soil is lighter, drains well, allows roots to establish themselves quicker, and makes for easy weeding.
  3. Water deeply and in the morning.By watering deeply, you ensure that the plants’ deep roots get enough water which they need for healthy growth. Also, always water your plants in the morning to avoid quick water loss from evaporation. In addition, when you water early in the morning, you ensure that the plant’s leaves dry up before evening, which helps restrict the development of fungus and mealybugs.Jim's Mowing New Zealand - Gardening Tips
  4. Control the weeds.Cudweed, dandelion, clover, and creeping oxalis are some of the most common invasive weeds you can find in New Zealand. To prevent any of these weeds from invading your garden, whenever you see one, pull it out from the moist soil so that you can be sure you remove the whole plant, including its roots. If you already have a weed invasion, cover the weeds with black plastic, tarpaulin, or newspapers for at least 15 days so that they don’t get any sun light and eventually die.
  5. Prune regularly.Trimming a plant makes it healthier and controllable. In addition, you can give it the shape you want. You don’t have to use a motor-powered tool every time you trim; removing a few centimetres off the plant, which is called pinch pruning, can do wonders for your plants.Jim's Mowing New Zealand - Gardening Tips
  6. Keep your garden pest-free.Lastly, although small, caterpillar worms, beetles, slugs, and aphids can easily and quickly destroy your precious plants. Some simple DIY pest control tips include placing saucers of beer around as bait for slugs and snails and applying crushed tomato leaf or garlic spray on stems and leaves to control aphids.

Jim's Mowing New Zealand - Gardening Tips

Whether you’re a beginner or already a pro at gardening, sticking to tried-and-tested techniques and tips and trying new proven effective hacks and tricks can help you get the healthy, lush garden you’ve always wanted.

For all of your gardening requirements, call Jim’s Mowing on 0800 454 654 or Book Online for your free, no-obligation quote today!

Roses

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Caring for Roses – Jim’s Mowing  – 0800 454 654 or book online!Jim's Mowing New Zealand - Rose Care

Instructions

Winter is the best time to plant roses and is also the correct time to prune, mulch and spray but they also do just fine when planted in spring.

Planting

If you plant your rose bushes right, it will be a lot easier to keep them healthy, strong and full of flowers.

Roses like a lot of sunlight so choose a sunny spot – somewhere that gets at about 5 hours a day is best. Also try to pick a spot sheltered from strong winds.

Next, prepare your soil. Dig it through using a garden fork and remove any weeds. Add plenty of peat, compost or any well-rotted organic material to give the soil a nutrient boost.

Now dig a hole big enough to hold the roots and create a small mound of soil (around 5cm high) in the centre of the hole. Carefully squeeze out your rose bush from its pot and place on top of the mound. Check that where the roots and stem meet is level with the top of the hole – if it isn’t you may need to adjust the size of your mound. Then spread out the roots around the mound.

Fill in the hole, firm the soil and water well.

Add a layer of mulch around the rose bush to help prevent weeds from growing and to help retain water. Just make sure that mulch doesn’t touch the stem of the bush as if it does it can cause it to rot.

Pruning

Prune roses when they are not in flower. This is generally aroJim's Mowing New Zealand - Rose Garden Careund June or July although in cooler regions, it may be more like August. Don’t be concerned if you still have a few roses flowering when it is time to prune. A few flowers are an acceptable sacrifice to ensure a good performance next year.

Choose a sunny dry day to prune, as wet weather can encourage the spread of disease.

Always use sharp secateurs to get a clean cut. A clean cut prevents die back and bacterial disease from affecting roses. TOP TIP Dip secateurs in bleach or methylated spirit to reduce the chances of spreading disease.

To prune, first remove any dead or diseased growth and then clear the centre of the plant to allow air movement. Cut branches back by about half and make all cuts on an angle which slopes away from the bud

HANDY HINT:
Keep your garden bag handy to collect all the cuttings and debris that falls on the ground. You should dispose of this to stop the spread disease rather than putting into your compost bin if you have one.

Watering and FeedingJim's Mowing - Rose Care

Roses do not need watering or feeding in winter as they are dormant and not growing but they do require plenty of water in summer. Consider installing an irrigation system to make sure your roses get the regular, deep watering they need

When buds start to burst in early spring start feeding them approximately once a month with a balanced fertiliser specially blended for roses.

Roses do well with cool, moist, rich soils, and do not like competing with weeds for food and water so continue to add a layer of mulch around the stem.

Spraying

To keep roses pest and disease free many gardeners regularly spray them. Winter is a good time for spraying to catch any over-wintering insect eggs or fungal spores. A copper based spray is a good general clean up spray to apply. Talk to a team member in store for specific advice on different sprays available or alternative options for dealing with pests and disease.

HANDY HINT:
There are lots rose varieties available. Consider colour, planting location and climate and scent when choosing. Talk to one of our friendly team members in store for advice on the best variety for you.

For all of your gardening and landscaping needs call Jim’s Mowing on 0800 454 654 or book online today!

Mulch Facts

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Need help determining what mulch to use? Here are some Mulch Facts that should help you make a decision.

Feeding the soil well is one of the most crucial ways to grow a beautiful, healthy garden. Among the most important ingredients that gardeners must use to make their garden soil and plants healthy is mulch.

Mulch is a thick blanket of natural materials spread over garden soil to keep it healthy. Clippings, hay, straw, and even damp newspapers are some of the materials that gardeners use as mulch.

Some Mulching Tips

  • Remove any weeds, grass and dead plants from the garden bed before mulching.
  • Before applying a mulch layer, put in new plants.
  • Although mulch can be applied at any time of the year, it is best applied in early summer or mid spring.
  • Prior to choosing what type of mulch to use, take into account the origin of the native plant you are using. Rainforest plants, for instance, grow better with deep green organic mulch.
  • Consider also how you’re going to water the plants before laying down the mulch. Drippers placed under the mulch work efficiently. Bear in mind that water applied over the mulch does not always get down to the soil.
  • Avoid placing piles of mulch directly against the trunks and stems of plants because this can result in plant death.

Mulch Pros

Covering exposed soil with the right type of mulch is a safe and efficient way to control weeds. This will also reduce evaporation, leading to less watering. Mulch will keep the soil temperature warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Mulch also protects the surface of the soil from the compacting effects of rain. And what’s more, it enhances the aesthetic appeal of the garden beds.

By using organic mulch, the soil can benefit from the added nutrients as the mulch starts to decompose. In turn, this helps create excellent soil structure by boosting the biological activity within the soil.

Mulch Cons

Before applying mulch, the soil must be damp or wet. When the mulch material used is very effective, it can insulate the soil completely; thereby, moisture penetration is prevented.

The use of green, fresh organic material can deplete the soil’s nitrogen supplies because decomposition uses up nitrogen. Adding extra nitrogen becomes a necessity to compensate for this. In doing so, nitrogen must be applied prior to spreading the mulch.

Finally, paper placed under mulch to suppress the growth of weeds can attract nematodes and be colonised by termites.

When mulch is incorrectly used, all gardening efforts can fail. Also, this can inflict environmental damage as it promotes pest proliferation and spreads diseases. So for all your gardening needs, seek expert help if you must. Call Jim’s Mowing New Zealand on 0800 454 654 or book online.

Organic Mulch Vs. Inorganic Mulch

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Homeowners who engage in gardening can keep plants healthy through mulching. However, it’s best not to wait for summer to get started.

Mulching protects and improves the soil. Also, it reduces moisture loss, preventing the soil surface from drying out and cracking. Mulching is also efficient at suppressing weed growth and reducing competition for nutrients and water. Most importantly, mulching minimises run-off and soil movement from garden beds.

Organic Mulch

Mulches derived from organic materials like wood chips, straws and pine barks are considered organic. Recycled green waste can also be used.

The lifespan of a chip or bark mulch will greatly depend on the size of the particles. Those with smaller particles will break down immediately, putting nutrients back into the soil in just a short period of time. Those with larger particles, on the other hand, will take several years to break down.

When buying organic mulch, make sure to find out where it came from and the possible damage it may cause once you remove it from the environment. Pine barks are considered more sustainable than those derived from hardwoods like red gum chips.

When creating mulch on site is not possible, opt for recycled mulch. This is derived from the materials that end up into the green waste bins. These materials are then processed by a composting system that will destroy any weed seeds that the material has. The end product is a mulch with excellent weed-suppressing, soil-improving, and water-holding capabilities, making it very ideal for all garden styles.

Inorganic Mulch

The use of inorganic mulch is increasing. An inorganic mulch is derived from recycled glass, rubber, and stone. It is available in different sizes, colours and styles. It is well-suited to contemporary garden designs since it is a decorative mulch. It is the best choice for bushfire zones since it does not burn.

Be cautious, however, in using inorganic mulches because if you are not satisfied with your choice, you might end up forever picking out the light-coloured pebbles or glass that seemed like a great idea at the time.

How to Mulch

  1. Remove weeds
  2. Thoroughly moisten the soil by making sure that the water penetrates well.
  3. If you choose to use bark-based mulches, sprinkle some blood and bone over the soil. This will provide extra nitrogen because the gradual decomposition of the mulch might take up nitrogen.
  4. Lay the mulch thickly. The area around the plants must be free of mulch.
  5. To ensure that water does not run off the surface, sprinkle soil-wetting agents.

Selecting the right type of mulch will greatly depend on which will best suit your garden needs. Looking into the specific characteristics of each mulch type is a must. For more garden and landscaping tips, tune in for more Jim’s Mowing NZ blogs.

Should I Remove Old Mulch?

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Mulching is an essential practice in gardening or agriculture. Here, organic materials such as hay, straw, leaves, sawdust, well-rotted manure, or other soft substances are used to cover the ground for the purpose of retaining soil moisture and protecting plant roots from excessive heat or cold. Other materials that may be used as mulches include weed-free lawn or hedge clippings, pulverised peat moss, buckwheat hulls, and wood chips.

Whatever material you use as mulch, the ground should first be thoroughly cultivated and watered. The mulch should then be applied loosely so that circulation of air into the soil is not prevented.

When organic materials are used as mulch, the soil condition may also be improved. Mulching acts to hold down weed growth. And if neatly applied, it can improve the appearance of  your garden. Timing also plays a crucial role when applying mulch. Spring is the perfect time to mulch. Make sure the soil is warm enough to prevent delay and plant growth retardation.

The question is, should you remove the old mulch or simply add to it?

Old mulch refers to a mulch that is still intact after a year has passed since it was applied. Remaining mulch from last year must not be removed. Why?

  1. The old much is full of essential Mulch continues to break down and this means it is still adding more organic matter and nutrients to the soil.
  2. It saves you time, money and effort. Removing mulch can be exhausting and time-consuming. It can also be costly since you have to apply more new mulch. With the old mulch, there is no need to do the tiring task of mulch removal. There is no need to buy a large amount of new mulch, too.

Should you touch the old mulch before adding the new layer or not?

The answer is indefinite. You can cultivate the existing mulch before adding the new layer, provided that there is no sign of any fungal disease. Cultivating helps loosen the mulch and allows rain to get into the soil.

If fungal disease is present, then it is better to keep the existing mulch untouched. Just cover it with a new layer of mulch.

Depending on how much is needed for a new mulch, old mulch must never be removed. Just add the new layer on top.

How much new mulch should you add?

Generally speaking, you should renew the mulch to keep a layer 50 to 100mm from the soil surface.  However, adding about 25mm of new mulch to existing one is enough.

For shrub beds or trees, maintain 76mm of mulch. For flower beds, 25 to 38mm of mulch will do. It is quite excessive to add mulch that is 50mm thick.

Mulching must be done with care. Otherwise, it might damage your plants instead of helping them grow. For more garden and landscaping tips, tune in for more Jim’s Mowing NZ blogs.

FAQs About Mulches

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Plants need all the right nutrients they can get to grow well and flourish. Although the soil provides them most of these, there are other ways that you can help them to thrive better. One of these ways is through mulching.

To understand what mulch is, here are some FAQs about them along with the answers:

Q. What is mulch?

A. Mulch is a layer of natural material applied on top of the soil that helps conserve moisture, adds nutrients to the topsoil, and protects the soil against extremes of climate. The shade provided by mulch helps lessen evaporation and lower the need for watering during summer. Mulch also keeps the soil cool so that earthworms and other micro-organisms remain active near the surface, allowing them to do their work. It also prevents the growth of weeds and reduces the need for cultivation since it thwarts soil crusts from forming.

Q. What are different types of mulch?

A. There are three main types of mulches: feeding, woody, and permanent.

Feeding mulches break down rapidly to feed the soil; as such, they need topping up repeatedly. They are ideal for fruit trees, vegetable gardens, and flowering plants. Examples of feeding mulches are pea straw, lupin, and Lucerne.

Woody mulches are basically wood chips. They are best suited for hardy plants such as trees and shrubs.

Permanent mulches are typically used for landscaping effects. The usual materials for this type of mulch include pebbles, crushed brick, and stone. They help hold moisture in the soil and are recommended for plants that don’t drop many leaves, such as succulents.

Q. How can I choose which mulch is best to use?

A. Availability is usually the deciding factor that will enable you to select the best type of mulch. This is especially true if you want to make them yourself. If you want to buy them, the choice will usually depend on your personal preference. In general, fine mulches are more ideal for more formal gardens. For gardens that have numerous foliage plants and fewer flowering plants, colourful mulches are best since they offer a strong contrast to the foliage. Whatever you buy, make sure you choose one that is organic.

Q. When is the best time to mulch?

A. It is best to apply mulch at the end of winter or in the beginning of spring, when the ground is still reasonably moist and cool, and before summer unleashes its effects on your plants and garden.

Q. How deeply should I mulch my garden?

A. Experts recommend mulch to be applied to a depth of 100mm so that they can provide an effective weed-suppressing layer and help maximise moisture retention in the soil. However, remember to keep mulch a few centimetres away from the stems of your plants since if they are covered, they may rot.

Q. What is the best way to prepare the garden before applying mulch?

A. Before applying mulch, make sure your soil is healthy, has adequate compost and organic matter, and has enough fertiliser to allow the plants to grow. Also, water your garden well before application.

For more garden and landscaping tips, tune in for more Jim’s Mowing NZ blogs.

3 Myths About Mulches

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Mulches are one of the most beneficial organic materials you can spread on your garden. Once applied, they will decay into organic matter — something that is essential to having healthy soil life and plant life.

Mulch also reduces the need for fertilisers and amendments and prevents the growth of weeds in your garden. It helps keep the soil evenly moist and protects the crowns of perennial plants from the harsh effects of winter. It also helps nurture the roots of trees and shrubs, prevents erosion, and keeps nutrients in place.

But even if mulches provide numerous benefits to plants and your garden soil, many people still have a lot of misconceptions about them. Here are the top five myths about mulches and the facts behind them:

  1. You can use pretty much anything as mulch.

Fact:  Leaves, pine needles, grass clippings, straw, tree bark, and wood chips are just some of the most common items that can be used as mulch. However, you can’t just spread one or more of these items on your soil. The truth is, you will see great results when you select a specific type of mulch based on what’s been planted in your lawn. This is because different types of plants require different levels of alkalinity, water, and nutrients such as nitrogen and oxygen.

Below is a simple guide you can follow to correctly choose the right type of mulch to spread on your lawn:

  • For vegetable gardens, use compost, grass clippings, shredded leaves and straw.
  • For flowers and shrub beds, compost, fine tree bark, pine needles, and shredded leaves are more suitable.
  • For trees and shrubs, mulch made from coarse tree bark is best.
  • For plants that bear berries, use grass clippings and straw.
  1. Spreading excessive amounts of mulch is great for your soil and plants.

Fact: Many people think tall mulches mounded around trunks and stems of plants are good for them. Unfortunately, this isn’t true. Tall mounded mulches invite a host of problems. They can stimulate above-ground “hair roots” on the trunk — something that isn’t good for the tree. They will also attract insects and rodents which may infest or gnaw trunks, which can then lead to the death of the plant. It can cause bark decay as well.  The best way to mulch a tree or shrub is in a donut shape.

  1. Because of mulch, all the plants will grow and flourish faster even without extra care.

Mulch provide a lot of nutrients to your plants. However, they won’t grow on their own simply because they are covered with mulch. They will still need regular watering. In addition, they will also require compost and fertilisers from time to time.  You will also have to remove weeds immediately if they come up. Remember to protect your plants from pests as well.

Due to the several benefits they provide to plants, mulches are gardening supplies that you should always have at hand. For more garden and landscaping tips, tune in for more Jim’s Mowing NZ blogs.