Summer garden pests and diseases
Many common garden pests emerge as the warmer months ensue. By mid to late summer, if allowed to proliferate unchecked, these pests can cause serious damage to plants. Healthy plants will always have a better chance at resisting the scourge of pest infestations; working on the overall health of your garden will minimize the impact […]
Summer pruning tips
There are a couple of great reasons to prune our flowering ornamentals and fruit trees in summer… Summer pruning and removing spent flower heads encourages repeat blooming through the end of summer and on into autumn. With roses, for example, removing not only the spent flower but cutting back 30cm of stem, will encourage an […]
Acid Lovers…
Acid loving plants… Both feared and revered by gardeners, the acid loving plants include popular garden ornamentals such as azaleas, gardenias, daphne, camellia, pieris and rhododendrons. Producing some of the most beautiful and wonderfully fragrant blossoms, these plants can be problematic for gardeners, as generally, they prefer a pH of around 5.5; this lower pH […]
Irrigation…
Gone are the days of running the sprinkler during hot, lazy summer afternoons. Residential irrigation systems are becoming an essential management tool to maintain our gardens while supporting water saving initiatives. One of the key steps to designing your irrigation is to understand the water requirements of your plants and the natural attributes and deficiencies […]
Watering…
Understanding your soil type is the first step to effective watering. Soil types can be broken into three basic categories, loam, clay and sand. Loam soil – Loam is the ideal soil type, it holds water and drains well and can be watered deeply and infrequently. Clay soil – Clay soil holds moisture for long […]
Mulch, mulch, mulch
In our climate, mulching is one of the most sensible, cost effective treatments you can apply to your garden for all round positive results. Using the right mulch and using it the right way, can reduce the need to water by up to 60%, improve soil conditions, help minimize the need for manual weeding or […]
