Summer Gardening Task Checklist

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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.

Your Autumn Gardening Task Checklist

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Use Your very own Autumn Gardening Task Checklist or Call Jim’s Mowing on 0800 454 654 or book online!

The autumn season often seems like the most leisurely period of the year, especially with its mellowed fruitfulness. But it’s actually quite a hectic time, particularly for property owners that maintain a lawn or garden. There are so many tasks to stay on top of – leaves need to be raked, perennials need to be tidied up, and it’s a must to keep an eye out for diseased branches and leave.

All these tasks for autumn gardening can be quite overwhelming. Before tackling them, it’s good to work out an “attack plan.” This will streamline the process and ascertain that you’re able to cover everything in a much easier manner.

For your attack plan, one of the things you need to prepare is a checklist. Having a list will allow you to group tasks together properly so you can create a schedule that’s thoroughly efficient.

To help you streamline your autumn gardening, here are the tasks that your autumn gardening checklist should include:

Tidy all the beds.

  • Cut back all spent perennials.
  • Boost plants with beautiful seed heads.
  • Get rid of weeds by removing them from the root to have a head start on spring when weeds are most aggressive and harmful.
  • Throw away dead wood and leaves. You don’t want them to become matted lest they suffocate the beds or even your lawn.
  • Control vine growth.

Mow the lawn.

  • Give your lawn the final buzz before the winter.

Check the pH level of your lawn.

  • If pH level is below 5.5, apply chalk or powdered limestone.
  • The right pH will support healthy growth in the spring. Grass colour will be more vibrant and it’ll be less susceptible to diseases.

Spread organic fertiliser and compost.

  • Give plants food in late autumn so they will be well nourished in the spring after the winter frost has thawed (like what usually happens in many parts of Southern and Central New Zealand).
  • Spreading fertiliser will also help control weeds.

Plant perennials and bulbs.

  • Autumn is ideal for placing spring bulbs in the ground and planting everything from deciduous trees, shrubs and evergreens.
  • Bulbs are easy to grow but make sure to place them where they’ll get loads of sunshine.

Save seeds.

  • This is a smart way to get a head start in the warm seasons’ garden.
  • It is also important in preserving cherished heirloom varieties.

Clean gardening containers and tools.

  • Make sure to disinfect pots to remove all traces of soil that could contain bacteria and disease-causing organisms.
  • Clean and sharpen tools to prolong good performance and at the same time prevent potential contamination.

If you need help completing your Autumn Gardening Task Checklist just call on 0800 454 654! For more garden and landscaping tips, tune in for more Jim’s Mowing NZ blogs.

Garden Waste Facts

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Ever wonder what household green waste is, where it goes, and why it’s important to properly dispose of it?

An Australian resident is responsible for approximately 400kg of household rubbish every year, 180kg of which is comprised of recyclable food and garden waste. Green waste must never be placed in standard waste bins but must be properly disposed of in green waste bins.

Dumping Garden Waste in Landfills

Rubbish contained in standard waste bins goes to landfills. When the 180kg of green waste ends up in landfills, gas emissions will increase. Every kilogram of organic waste will contain enough carbon to yield about 0.17kg of methane.

In the landfill, green waste is broken down without oxygen. Around 50% of carbon can be converted to methane. Hence, every Australian resident is responsible for the emission of 15.3kg of methane every year. Carbon dioxide and methane are greenhouse gases, which are among the fundamental causes of the greenhouse effect, leading to global warming and climate change.

What Must Go Into the Green Waste Bins?

  • Flowers
  • Prunings
  • Leaves
  • Small branches and twigs that are not longer than 60cm or thicker than 15cm
  • Grass cuttings and clippings

You must not place rocks, treated timber, plastic bags, potting mix, flower pots, cardboard, paper, general rubbish like batteries, building materials, and dead animals into the green waste bins. Still, plastic bags find their way into these bins, which costs most waste management firms both time and money. This also has a negative impact on the environment, most especially when it gets mixed into compost.

Where Do Green Waste Bins Go?

After the green waste bins are collected, they are brought to a customised green waste processing facility. They will be sorted in here by hand, removing things and rubbish that do not belong in the bins.

After that, the rubbish is passed through a gigantic grinder and laid out in rows, which will then be covered with a thermal material. This thermal material will stop the stink and help regulate the temperature. For three days, these rows will be heated to kill pathogens, weed seed, and pests that might be present in the rubbish.

The composted green waste will then undergo a cleaning process – the ferrous metals such as stainless steel and iron based alloys are removed using large magnets. The green waste will be graded based on size – the big pieces are sent back to the grinder. The end product of this entire process is compost, which can be sold back to gardeners and landscapers.

Australian residents must be serious about properly disposing of their garden rubbish. Compost and recycle everything that you can. Most importantly, use your green waste bin. For more garden and landscaping tips, tune in for more Jim’s Mowing NZ blogs.

Create Garden Art from 5 Household Rubbish Items

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Turn your unused or old household items into treasures by making decorations from them to achieve a unique design for your garden. Let your garden showcase your creativity and personality.

It can be very challenging to make garden decorations using different recycling ideas. Also, it can be interesting to find materials for DIY and art projects. Moreover, this helps reduce clutter and the environment.

Rubbish You Can Use

Old Tyres – Every year, there are plenty of scrap tyres piling up in vacant plots or solid waste management facilities. Avoid adding up to such a heavy load by recycling a few of them. For instance, you can use them for growing herbs like sage and thyme. You must dig out the soil so the tyres can go into the holes with just their tops visible. Fill the inside of the tyres with soil and plant herbs on it. With the tyres’ thick walls, the spread of herbs beyond the intended space can be prevented. To achieve a fresh, attractive look, paint the tyres in bright hues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glass Bottles – Use these as borders for your flower beds. Make them more interesting by using bottles in different colors. But before commencing with the project, you must collect plenty of bottles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Desk – Remove all the contents of the desk and position it in a shaded portion of the garden. To protect it from different elements, you need to paint it to your desired colour. There are seeds that sprout well in the dark while the others need a bit of sunlight. For light-loving seeds, place them on the top drawers while those that require darkness must be kept closed. Always check for sprouting and moisture every day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Boots – You do not have to look for old boots of the same colour, type or size. To make it more enticing, paint quotes or designs on them. Giving good drainage is the most crucial thing when undertaking this project. You need to drill several holes into the boots’ soles before filling them up with soil. You can just place them on benches or nail them up on your fences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Jeans – A durable material that you can recycle in many different ways is denim. You can just stuff them with straw or cut off the jeans’ legs. Hook the jeans up so it will be a lot easier for you to fill them.

 

 

 

 

 

Start searching the basement and attic for reusable items. You can also look outside your home but refrain from buying new stuff. Simple yet attractive recycled crafts will teach you to appreciate simple skills. For more garden and landscaping tips, tune in for more Jim’s Mowing NZ blogs.

Responsible Garden Rubbish Disposal

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Different kinds of waste go to the landfill every week. Organic waste is one of them. Organic waste pertains to organic material such as food or garden and lawn clippings. This particular type of rubbish can also include animal and plant-based products and degradable carbon such as timber.

Because of the large amount of organic waste that goes to landfills weekly, all households need to find better ways to deal with this rubbish. Responsible waste management and rubbish disposal are easy to do and each member of the family can pitch in to make sure that this is properly taken care of. They can start by finding sustainable solutions for their garden rubbish.

Below are some responsible garden rubbish disposal tips for households:

Segregate your garden waste.

Garden waste can be classified into two categories: green waste and mixed general waste. Green wastes include grass, leaves, small twigs, and leaves. Mixed general waste includes plastic and paper bags from gardening stores, lawn furniture, bricks, plant pots, soil, and hand branches. Nearly all these items can be recycled, but generally, green waste removal costs at least half as much per load to dispose of when compared to general mixed waste. Because of this, it is best to segregate your waste into two piles and mention this to your rubbish removal service provider since many companies offer discounts for the green waste that they get.

Compost.

Instead of having dead leaves removed, turn them into compost. You can also reduce costs on grass clipping removal by recycling them. Simply leave your grass clippings on the lawn after mowing to return essential nutrients to the soil. This technique also helps the soil retain moisture, reducing the number of times you need to mow and the time it takes for to mow your yard. When mowing, make sure to cut only the top third of the grass.

Use some garden wastes as mulch.

Grass clippings also make excellent mulches. Woody waste such as wood chips can be used, too. However, you can’t simply spread the fresh pile of chips on your yard or garden bed. Because tree trimmings are so carbon-rich, if applied as is, they will upset the balance of nutrients in the soil. To ensure the correct carbon/nitrogen ratio, mix the fresh wood chips with a nitrogen-rich material such as leaves or blood meal and let the pile rest. This mixture can be used fresh, but chips that have been slightly decomposed for six to eight months make the most nutritious mulch.

Sell or give away logs.

Finally, there are still households that use wood burning fires or stoves. If you need to have a tree trimmed or cut down, have the contractors cut it into logs. Put a sign stating “Logs for Sale” or “Free Logs” in front of your home to help others and get rid of these logs responsibly.

Recycling garden organics helps reduce greenhouse gases and water consumption. By practising the right rubbish management techniques, you can make sure stuff from your garden doesn’t contribute to more landfill waste. For more garden and landscaping tips, tune in for more Jim’s Mowing NZ blogs.

What Is Legionnaires’ Disease?

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Do you love gardening? Lots of people do since gardening can be fun, exciting and useful.

However, it’s important to observe proper practices as well as observe safety measures against exposure to potentially harmful organisms.

As the rains cease, homeowners, as well as lawn care and landscaping professionals, must protect themselves from acquiring a serious infection as they start spring planting. Legionella longbeachae, which is a potentially fatal strain of Legionella bacteria, can be found in compost heaps, soil conditioners, potting mixes, composted manures and mulches.

Legionnaires’ Disease – What Is It?

Legionnaires’ disease is caused by Legionella bacteria. It got its name after the American Legion Convention in 1976 in Philadelphia wherein several participants became ill with pneumonia. Later on, the bacteria that caused such illness were isolated and identified as Legionella pnuemophila. It was further determined that it spread from the air conditioning system of the hotel where the legionnaires were staying.

Most infections are caused by Legionella longbeachae and Legionella pneumophila species. The disease’s incubation period can be between 2-14 days after exposure.

In 2000, the largest Legionella outbreak happened in the Melbourne Aquarium. Here, 125 cases were diagnosed and four people died. Later on, it was discovered that this was caused by Legionella pneumophila found in the cooling towers of the Aquarium.

Mode of Transmission

Legionnaires’ disease is acquired by inhaling aerosols containing the bacteria. It cannot be passed from one person to another or from an animal to person. Also, it cannot be acquired from washing in or drinking water that is contaminated with the bacteria. However, it can be passed from hand to mouth and through ingestion, which makes smokers very vulnerable.

Who Are at Risk?

Not everyone can acquire Legionnaires’ disease; only those with compromised immune systems are at risk. These will include those who are more than 65 years old, who have chronic lung disease or diabetes, who are suffering from any health condition that suppresses the immune system, smokers and heavy drinkers.

What to Watch Out for

Symptoms are somewhat similar to a severe flu. These include high fever, severe headache, dyspnea or shortness of breath, diarrhea, muscle aches, loss of appetite, dry couch, and confusion.

Legionnaires’ disease can only be diagnosed by specialised laboratory tests on sputum, blood or urine samples. Once you are diagnosed, you will be prescribed antibiotics that are very effective against the bacteria.

Prevention Tips

To minimise the growth of these deadly bacteria, regulations and guidelines are in place in Australia. For instance, gardeners are advised to use a face mask so they won’t inhale the detrimental aerosols. They must also wear gloves whenever they perform gardening tasks. Moreover, they need to keep the mix damp and always wash their hands after handling it.

If you are not sure about the correct ways to deal with gardening tasks, your best option would be to hire a fully trained team to get your gardening done for you. For more garden and landscaping tips, tune in for more Jim’s Mowing NZ blogs.

Seasonal Flower Guide For Aussie Gardeners

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A garden teeming with beautiful, vibrant flowers is always a sight for sore eyes. Homeowners will certainly want to have a yard with plants that add colour to the property. Although this can take quite a lot of hard work, homeowners can ensure that their property remains appealing and vibrant year-round if they have one or more plants that bloom every season.

Below is a simple guide to flowers that bloom each season:

Spring

Spring is often associated with bursts of colour. Fortunately, there are numerous spring flowers that you could choose from to plant in your garden. Here are some of the most popular ones:

  • Allwood pinks
  • Azalea
  • Chrysanthemums
  • Forget-me-nots
  • Fuschias
  • Pansies
  • Poppies
  • Sweet peas

Azaleas

Sweet Peas

Poppy

Pansy

Fuschias

Forget-me-nots

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you want to bring birds into your garden, plant some natives. Also, keep watering and fertilising bulbs that have finished flowering until their leaves die down completely to keep them healthy for a while. Prune flowering shrubs as soon as their flowering is finished as well.

Summer

September is the best month to start planting summer flowers. You can start preparing your garden beds when the soil has become naturally warm enough. You can easily sow flower seeds in garden beds when the soil has lost its chill.

Below are some of the most popular of flowers that bloom during summer:

  • Sunflowers
  • Carnation
  • Celosias
  • Dahlias
  • Everlasting daisies
  • Nasturtiums
  • Petunias
  • Poppies
  • Zinnias

Carnation

Sunflower

Celosia

Zinnia

Dahlia

Petunia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fungal diseases in plants are quite prevalent during summer so water them only in the morning. Water your plants deeply and infrequently as well. Watering in the morning will reduce the risk of fungal disease. Lastly, check drainage in your bed gardens and use a liquid clay-breaker in heavy soils.

Autumn

Autumn brings in cooler air which helps plants develop flowers with more vivid hues. The peak of these colours comes out during April. To enjoy these benefits, make sure you start planting before and during March.

Some of the plants that bloom produce really colourful flowers during autumn include:

  • Autumn sage
  • Daisies
  • Dahlias
  • Gerberas
  • Japanese windflowers
  • Nerines
  • Roses

Autumn Sage

Daisy

Gerberas

Japanese Windflower

Nerines

Rose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At this time, you can also plant perennials such as alpine phlox, bergenias, and campanulas. Lawn grubs will also be coming out during this season so make sure you always have a good pesticide at hand. You will also have to contend with weeds; get rid of them immediately by pulling them out, smothering them with mulch or spraying with them with a weed control product.

Winter

Even if it’s winter, you can still add life to your property by having colourful blooms. Flowering plants that grow in the winter may develop more slowly and gently than the ones in spring and summer, but they can be as beautiful and fragrant — and sometimes, even more so.

Here are some of the flowering plants that grow best during winter:

  • Aquilegias
  • Calendulas
  • Daphne
  • Lavender
  • Lilium
  • Pansies
  • Violas
  • Sticky Everlasting

Aquilegias

Calendula

Daphne

Lavender

Lilium

Sticky Everlasting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During this season, spray frost-sensitive plants generously with water before the sun hits their leaves in the morning to help prevent frost burn. Take the necessary steps to control pests such as aphids, snails, and slugs which can be abundant during winter as well. Lastly, ensure the health of your plants and turf by spreading organic plant food and organic mulch.

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