The garden is, of course, an essential part of your living space and like everything else, it needs some TLC if it is to look its best. Some people love nothing more than spending a few hours gardening, which gives you a connection to Mother Nature and whether you do the work yourself, or leave it to a local garden maintenance contractor, it is nice to sit in a tidy space at the rear of your home.
Typical garden chores
The list is long and includes the following:
Cutting the grass
Unless you have installed artificial grass, the lawn needs to be mowed once a week, perhaps you can skip a few weeks in the winter, otherwise this is a job that really does make a difference to how the garden looks. If you are looking to buy a lawn mower, a lot depends on how much of your garden is grassed; a large area demands some form of a power mower, a ride-on would be a perfect choice, while a small lawn can be cut with a simple push-mower. The best results are achieved by collecting the grass (most mowers have an attachment to collect the cuttings) and all you need to do is trim around trees, along walls and fences.
Lawn care
If your lawn isn’t looking its best, it might be time to spread some grass fertiliser, which is available from your local garden centre. You can also aerate the lawn using a fork or special machine that makes small holes that allow the soil to breathe and this also helps with drainage. There is nothing quite like a manicured lawn to make a garden look superb; resist the temptation to cut too short, as this can destroy a lawn; make sure you water the lawn in the summer for a lush green look.
Weeding the flower beds
One great idea is to add mulch, which prevents weeds from taking hold, otherwise takes a few minutes to remove weeds and the odd strand of grass, while pruning plants that require shaping. If left for a few weeks, the soil might need turning over with a garden fork, then raked to remove the debris. Adding some fertiliser is a good idea, as all flowers, plants and shrubs need nutrition, visit your local garden centre for the best selection.
Tree care
Trees do require pruning and if you are not happy working at height, make contact with a company that offers affordable tree services in Sydney and let the professionals take care of your trees. Aside from shaping, you need to remove deadwood and keep an eye out for signs of disease. Most Australian homeowners have a tree surgeon visit annually, which would normally suffice and should there be any issues, they can be dealt with promptly. Large trees can be dangerous and should always be trimmed to avoid growing into phone lines or the roofline of your home. Tree removal is a last resort that is sometimes required, although a good arborist would look for other options, rather than felling. If one of your trees does have to be removed, you can hire a stump grinder to completely remove the stump, allowing you to make good use of the space.
Trimming hedges
It doesn’t take long for a hedge or line of evergreen trees to look untidy and with a battery-powered trimmer, you can safely trim the top and sides. You may need a set of stepladders to do this. Check out the YouTube videos on hedge trimming and gardening in general if you need some help with technique. You could get quite creative with hedge trimming; indeed, some people create animals by carefully clipping their hedges; something that requires a lot of patience and a little skill. It certainly is a great conversation starter when you have unique features in the garden.
Pruning shrubs
Certain species prefer a spring prune, while others should be cut back in the autumn; the web can give you all the info you need on specific species and how to take care of them. Pruning isn’t exactly rocket science, it is mainly common sense; remove dead sections and cut just above joints for the best results. Click here for pruning tips from the experts.
Paths & driveway
Weeds and other growths should be removed and the edges trimmed for a smart look. If you don’t have pets, you could use weed killer to keep pathways free from weeds, which saves you a job.
Cleaning up
Once you have finished, remove all green waste and sweep the paths, driveway and deck and you are good to go! You could designate a corner for a compost heap and use that to feed plants, shrubs and trees, which makes the best use of your green waste.
If all this sounds like hard work, you can call a local garden maintenance contractor who would be happy to add you to their long list of properties to maintain. You could ask him to come on a weekly, bi-weekly or even monthly basis, which would leave your garden looking great at all times. If you are a senior, you might be able to get some financial help from the government. The contractor typically bills the customer every month and should you ever wish to add a few attractive features, this is the person to talk to.
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