Australia is the driest inhabited continent in the planet. As such, any action that will efficiently conserve water is a good thing.

Mulching (and Why You Should Use It)

The number one rule for water conservation in the garden is to use mulch. By adding mulch into the garden, water loss can be minimised by up to 25%, increasing the water storage capacity in the soil and reducing evaporation rates. Mulching will also help suppress weed growth; bear in mind that weeds will compete with the plants for water and nutrients.

Different Materials You Can Use as Mulch

Compost – Although you can use compost on all the plants in your garden, it is more suitable for nutrient-hungry and rapidly growing plants like flowering annuals, fruit trees, and vegetables. Compost breaks down throughout several months. It improves the ability of the soil to retain water and nutrients. And since it is dark in colour, it will increase heat absorption. Be reminded, though, that this will favour weed growth as well.

Sugarcane Mulch – Obtained from dried sugarcane leaves, this kind of mulch adds a small amount of nutrient to the soil. Also, this acts as a conditioner, which boosts the soil’s ability to hold water and nutrients. It is best suited to areas that are regularly maintained, like vegetable patches. It can reflect sunlight, thus minimising loss of moisture and keeping the soil cooler.

Bark Mulch – This is made from different tree species. Barks must be composted before being used as mulch. Those with big particles are the best for most gardens. Use them on all kinds of plants, but be very cautious when applying them on herbaceous plants.

Straw – This is made from dried plant stalks left after crops were harvested. If it comes from legumes, it will break down more quickly, adding nutrients to the soil. But if it is from cereal crops, it will take longer to decompose. Since it is light in colour, it will keep the soil cooler.

Tea-tree Mulch – This is created from the residue left after tea tree has been processed for its medicinal oil. It can be used on all garden plants, most especially around long-term plantings.

Shrub and Tree Lopping Residue – Pruning in urban areas like Adelaide yields this type of mulch. It comes from different plant species. Do not use it fresh because it may contain toxins.

How long a certain type of mulch breaks down is determined by how fine or coarse the material is. Generally, fine mulch breaks down faster than coarse materials.

There are some mulch types that take nutrients away from the soil as they break down. In these circumstances, you might need to add manure before mulching. For more garden and landscaping tips, tune in for more Jim’s Mowing NZ blogs.

The warmer temperature and the flurry of activity in your garden is more than enough to compel anyone to do a little spring gardening. Here’s a brief checklist of the things that you might want to do to prepare your garden for spring.

Off to a right start

Before you focus your attention on gardening, start it off right with some spring cleaning on your yard. As you tidy up your garden and clear the clutter, it will become easier for you to do other important gardening tasks.

Early spring is the best time to remove pesky weeds because at this point, the roots of these uninvited guests are still shallow, making these easy to remove. Adding a layer of mulch around trees will help prevent weeds from overtaking your yard.

Be sure to check and clean drains as well as areas where leaves may have accumulated. This will ensure that rainwater will have a runoff path.

You should also check your irrigation system. Look for parts that need to be repaired or replaced.

In addition, this is the perfect time to make a few repairs around the yard. Go over your planter boxes, edgings, and trellises and check whether any of these need to be repaired or replaced.

Prune trees and shrubs

Around this time, you may notice new growth on your trees and shrubs. Set aside time to prune away dead or unwanted branches. Removing these will help fortify your trees and shrubs against pests and diseases while facilitating the flow of air to the branches.

Pruning also benefits roses. Just make sure that you do your pruning before the buds start to show.

Fertilising

As your plants begin to blossom, you may want to encourage more growth by fertilising your garden. Just remember to avoid fertilisers rich in nitrogen. This nutrient can make your plants vulnerable to insects and fungi.

Experts recommend the use of manure or slow-release organic fertilisers instead. If you are planning on using manure, choose cow or sheep manure instead of chicken manure. Make sure that you follow instructions.

If you have fruit trees on your property, consider using liquid potash along with a general fertiliser. These can aid in the optimal growth of fruits.

Prepping your garden bed

Planning to plant veggies? You can begin planting lettuce, spring onions, summer beans and sweet corn around September. Crops like basil, chili peppers and tomatoes will have to wait until October when the weather has grown warmer.

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

Gardening is a year-round task. Although the volume of work you have to put in during winter is considerably lower, there are still a few tasks that you need to do in order to reap great results come springtime.

What are these gardening and lawn care tasks that you need to do during winter?

Lawn care

Most turf species go dormant over the winter. That, however, does not mean that our lawn no longer needs your attention. On the contrary, winter is an important time for the lawn. If you want your lawn to look great for spring, autumn is the best time to make the necessary preparations.

One of the first things that you need to do is to ensure the optimal health of the lawn for the winter. That means applying fertilisers on the lawn before the temperature drops.

If the rains have been heavy during the summer, the soil on your lawn may have become heavily compacted. In order to remedy this, you will need to aerate your lawn. Spreading gypsum over the lawn can also help lessen the compaction.

There are a few different methods in aerating compacted soil that you can try. You can create holes on the soil manually using a pitchfork or you can wear shoes with spiked soles and walk around the lawn.

As the winter season draws near, it is a good idea to mow the lawn a little higher. This will give the grass protection from frost. Additionally, longer leaf blades help facilitate optimal photosynthesis which translates to healthier lawns, even if the amount of sunshine is considerably less during winter.

Gardening

Winter can be a harsh time for your plants, especially if you have exotics. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do to minimise the adverse effects of the season before these set in. Autumn is the perfect time to take precautions because the soil is still warm and the days are longer.

For your vegetable garden, adding a thick of layer of mulch can provide much-needed protection from the cold weather.

Make sure that you remove all weeds from your garden and add organic compost after tilling the soil.

For plants that require protection from frost, you will need to build a light yet solid frame around these. Use either a sheet of plastic or cloth on top of the frame in order to shield the plants from frost. Do remember to remove the cover in the morning.

Potted tropical and subtropical plants will thrive indoors. Just remember to reduce the amount of water you give to the plants.

If you live in an area where winter rains can get heavy, make the necessary preparation by providing enough drainage to the plants.

To give your garden some life and colour, consider adding flowering plants like violas and pansies which thrive even in cold weather.

Equipment maintenance

Set aside ample time to maintain and clean your gardening implements. Winter is the perfect time to complete these tasks. Pack your lawn mower and tools properly. Remember to allow your tools to dry completely after washing these thoroughly.

The summer heat can be a bane to both humans and plants. If you fail to make the necessary preparations, your garden can succumb to the hot, hot heat.

Certainly, you wouldn’t want to spend all of your time tending to your garden. Instead, you want to divide your attention between your plants and your loved ones and spend the summer holidays with the people who matter in your life.

Follow these simple tips to summer gardening if you wish to have more time for your loved ones while keeping your garden resilient against the intense summer heat.

Watering tips

Check your irrigation system and hoses for leaks and blocked nozzles. This will ensure that your plants get much-needed water while preventing unnecessary waste.

If you are collecting rainwater in tanks, make sure that these are properly covered to avoid making these a home for both frogs and pesky mosquitoes.

As much as possible, water your plants early in the morning. This will give the water enough time to evaporate. If you water the plants later in the afternoon, the excess moisture will create a condition wherein the plants become vulnerable to attacks from fungi and mildew. Plus, this condition can also attract unwelcome guests like sandflies and mosquitoes.

Taking care of your plants

Prevent plants from drying out by watering deeply about once or twice a week. Adding mulch will allow the soil to retain more moisture.

For potted plants, the addition of a layer of mulch can help prevent overheating. Consider replacing the water on saucers with moist sand. This helps the plants stay cool while preventing the breeding of mosquitoes.

Protect seedlings and new plants from the summer heat by providing these with shade. You can use cloth, old curtains, or even leafy branches.

Giving plants a nutrient boost

If you cannot water your plants on a daily basis, the next best thing you can do is to water these deeply. Adding potash to the water can benefit fruit trees and even enhance the flavour of fruits. Additionally, potash helps keep plants healthy while helping ward off fungi.

Magnesium is particularly beneficial to roses, gardenias, and cymbidium orchids. Epsom salts mixed with water, on the other hand, makes the soil acidic and provides iron which facilitates healthy growth.

Keeping pests at bay

The combination of moisture and warmth of the soil facilitates the increase of activity from termites. Although some species do not attack homes, a little precaution can go a long way. Make sure that your garden tools, particularly those with wooden handles, are inspected regularly. Keep wood chips away from your home and apply the proper treatment to wooden benches and garden bed edgings.

Some TLC for your lawn

Avoid mowing the lawn too short, especially during the summer. By allowing the grass leaves to grow longer, the lawn becomes more resilient to traffic and weeds. Leave the clippings behind after each mowing session. The clippings can provide much needed nutrients to the turf.

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