For all our customers who, like us, are based in the City of Cockburn, you probably already know that our area is very focused on sustainability measures.
Cockburn was even awarded Overall Winner for both the State and National, Keep Australia Beautiful, Australian Sustainable Cities Awards in 2012!
What you might not know, is that there are a bunch of awesome offers available for local homeowners as part of the Climate Change Strategy 2020 – 2030. So, we wanted to feature them and make sure our local clients can take advantage!
1. Request a FREE street tree.
Make your street greener by submitting for a free tree to be supplied and planted on your verge.
What’s even better is that the City also then pays for all future pruning so it doesn’t increase maintenance for you.
That is great news because, although we can take care of all other gardening in Jandakot and Cockburn for you, we can’t prune a street tree – that’s a Council job.
Always wanted a veggie garden but worried you don’t have the skills to do it alone?
Join a Grow It Local seasonal grow-along — curated by master gardener Paul West plus top Aussie chefs.
They send you curated seeds, then guide you through every step of the growing journey, from patch prep and planting to harvesting and cooking. Grow your garden as part of an Australian-wide community!
Did you know that as a Cockburn resident, you can receive a 50% rebate (up to $50) towards the cost of a bird bath?
Part of the Habitat for Homes program, the City wants to encourage residents to create habitats in their homes by growing native gardens and having bird baths for native animals to find shelter and food.
Keep our local birds hydrated in the heat – they are a key part of our eco-system and keeping Perth green!
This is close to our hearts. While we love a good lawn, nothing beats a waterwise, thriving and beautiful native verge garden. It looks amazing, reduces your water usage, and keeps the bees, insects and animals happy and the local eco-system strong!
The City of Cockburn offers a financial rebate to help local residents create waterwise verges with native waterwise plants – this includes plants, soil wetter and soil improver to get things off to a good start.
While applications have closed for 2023, they open again in April 2024 so it’s a great time to start planning and creating your ‘design’ for what you could create!
Compost is an amazing way to keep food waste out of landfill and put it back into your garden in the form of healthy soil bursting with nutrients for your garden! Perth soils are often quite depleted so creating your own soil is an amazing way to boost the health of your garden.
City of Cockburn residents are eligible for subsidies on worm farms, compost bins and bokashi bins. You can also collect a free compost caddy for your kitchen scraps from the City’s Administration Building – just to make composting even easier.
Get advice to help reduce your water and energy bills (and you might even get a twin compost bin system) with a free eco home audit. They will check your retic, hot water, heating and cooling systems, etc. And this is available for both homeowners and tenants – so everyone can save!
To book, just email sustainability@cockburn.wa.gov.au and provide your; 1) Full name 2) Complete address 3) Phone number. 4) An in-person home visit or a zoom (or facetime) consult.
As you can see, there are a bunch of subsidies and great offers available so if you live in Cockburn and want to make your home and garden greener, we hope you’ll take advantage of them!
7. Mulching – another great gardening tip
Another great way to reduce your water bills while keeping your garden healthy is to mulch – and now in late spring/early summer is the perfect time. Just give our team of expert gardeners a call on 08 6263 4645 to book in for a gardening service or get a mulching quote. We love to help out our neighbours here in the great City of Cockburn!
We all know that here in Perth, water is an especially precious resource.
As gardeners, and for all our clients who love their gardens, it’s essential for us to create and maintain beautiful gardens while being mindful of water conservation and doing what we can to make our gardens as waterwise as possible.
By using waterwise practices, we can significantly reduce water usage without compromising the health and care of our plants, gardens and lawns. In this blog, we’ll share some of our top tips for maintaining a waterwise garden in Perth, focusing on methods that help retain moisture, minimize evaporation, and maximize the efficiency of watering.
Because we all want our gardens, and Perth, to stay healthy, green and beautiful – it’s up to all of us to do our part!
There are of course, two aspects to a truly waterwise garden; one is creating a waterwise garden from the beginning, for a design, plant choices and reticulation system that will provide the best waterwise result. The second aspect, which is where we can help, is how to approach the ongoing maintenance and care of your existing garden in a waterwise way.
To design and create a waterwise garden from scratch, you’ll need to talk to a Perth landscaping company like our sister company at Perth Landscaping Experts to carry out your project!
Here are our care and maintenance tips for Waterwise Gardening
1. Choose Waterwise Plants
Even the most established garden will always need some replanting or additional planting along the way. When you replace or add plants to your garden, make sure that you are choosing plants that are native or adapted, as well as right for the location so they will require as little water as possible. These plants have evolved to thrive in hot and dry conditions, requiring less water once established. Incorporate or make the switch to drought-tolerant species such as kangaroo paw, lavender, grevillea, and rosemary in your garden or opt for low-water grass varieties. Ask your local nursery, check out the Water Corporation’s “Waterwise Plants for Perth” database, or talk to a local landscaping company with horticulturalists on their team for help with waterwise plant selection.
2. Improve Soil Health
While this is often overlooked, by investing in improving your soil’s health and structure, it can really enhance water absorption and retention and reduce runoff. Dig in organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, to improve soil structure, promote water infiltration, and increase moisture-holding capacity. You can also regularly apply a wetting agent, especially in hot dry Perth summers, to make sure your garden can use every drop of water it gets. Healthy soil allows roots to access water more efficiently, reducing the frequency and amount of watering needed to keep your garden happy.
3. Mulch Your Garden
One of the most effective and proven ways to reduce watering and increase the health of your plants and soils is the correct application of much – and maintaining it at the right level year-round. Mulch acts as a protective barrier, reducing evaporation and suppressing weed growth. It also helps regulate soil temperature and conserves moisture, allowing you to water less frequently. Maintain a mulch layer of around 3-4 inches for optimal effectiveness. We love pine bark mulch for its look, chunky style (waterwise mulches should have a coarse and irregular texture) and natural material – it’s a great choice for most plants and gardens here in Perth.
4. Smart Watering Techniques
If you have a garden in Perth, you know all about the need for a reticulation system and will be aware that it must be switched off over Winter and is restricted to 2 watering days the rest of the year. We fully support this initiative and don’t worry; it is still possible to keep your garden happy using waterwise gardening methods and smart watering techniques.
These include:
a. Watering Deeply: Instead of frequent shallow watering, water deeply during your watering times. This encourages deep root growth, making plants more resilient to drought and makes sure that it doesn’t just wet the top of the soil but get all the way to the roots.
b. Time Your Watering: Water your garden during the early morning before 6am or late evening (but we recommend the mornings) when temperatures are cooler – never when the sun is out. This minimises evaporation and ensures more efficient water absorption by plants.
c. Choose a Waterwise irrigation company: They will understand things like which sprinkler heads and watering durations will deliver the right amount of water to your plants in the watering times you have allocated, and know how to extend or optimise your system so the water is getting to all areas of your lawns and gardens that need them.
d. Utilize Rainwater: Install a rainwater harvesting system to collect and store rainwater for later use in the garden. Use it for watering during drier periods or for specific plants that require extra attention.
e. Know Your Plants. If you have an established native garden, you may not need to water it much anymore, if at all. So, if your reticulation system is currently in ‘set and forget’ mode, you might want to take another look at your garden and see how much water your plants in their current state of growth actually need.
f. Watch your system watering. If your system is running at 6am, you might not have seen it in a while, so things like leaks, broken sprinklers that don’t pop up anymore or areas where more water might be going on your paths or driveways than your gardens!
5. Consider – Do You Really Need a Lawn?
We love a green vibrant lawn as much as anyone – but we also love making smart and waterwise garden choices. If you have a large verge area or grassed backyard, but don’t have a dog or you and your family just never use the area, maybe it’s time to consider replacing part or all of the grassy area with water-efficient alternatives like native ground covers or mulch. Turning your verge into a lush, native garden will reduce your water use dramatically, reduce the need for lawn mowing, and make it an incredibly attractive entrance to your property!
Another option is to replant lawn areas that don’t get much sun, such as around the base of a tree, with alternatives like native ground covers or mulch. Often lawn struggles to grow in these areas anyway so this won’t just reduce your maintenance requirements and water use but can also improve the entire look of the area as it will stay green where lawn would look turn brown or unhealthy.
At the end of the day, we all love a lawn, so for the spaces in your landscape you really must have one, go for a water-efficient species such as Saltene, Zoysia or one of the soft leafed Buffalos.
6. Carry Out Regular Garden Maintenance
Maintaining a waterwise garden involves regular care and attention. Having a regular gardening service helps with things like:
Pruning and trimming plants to make sure the sun, rain and reticulation system can get to all areas of your gardens and lawns
Well-pruned plants are also more efficient in their water utilisation than overgrown ones
Control weed growth so that every drop of water and nutrients are going to your plants, not to them! This also stops the weeds from blocking your sprinkler heads which can impact their area coverage
Regular mulch top-ups to maintain their water retention and fill in any gaps that occur
Prompt spotting of any garden health issues like dry or dead spots, reticulation leaks or water wastage
Did you know we are a waterwise garden company?
We are certified with the Water Corporation Waterwise Program, and so are our sister companies, so for anything garden maintenance, reticulation or landscaping, we can help or point you in the right direction!
Ready to create and maintain a waterwise garden?
We hope that by knowing and implementing these tips, you can enjoy a beautiful and thriving garden while significantly reducing water usage. By choosing the right plants, improving soil health, mulching effectively, utilising smart watering techniques, and practicing regular garden maintenance, you can contribute to conserving our valuable water resources while enjoying the beauty of your garden.
For help with regular garden maintenance, just get in touch with us on 08 6263 4645 and our lovely team will be happy to help your garden thrive!
A lush green lawn is a sight to behold – and the envy of every neighbour. However, it takes more than just watering and mowing to achieve that perfect green lawn. With the right care and attention, it is possible to transform even the most lacklustre lawn into a verdant oasis. In this blog post, we’ll provide you with 10 simple steps to get a greener lawn.
Step 1: Know Your Lawn
Before you start any lawn care routine, it’s essential to understand your lawn grass type. Different types of grass require different types of care. In Perth, the most common grass types are Couch, Buffalo, and Kikuyu. Understanding your lawn type will help you determine the best watering and fertilising schedule.
Step 2: Water Your Lawn Correctly
In Perth, watering your lawn is crucial. During the hot summer months, it’s important to give your lawn enough water to prevent it from drying out. However, it’s equally important not to overwater. Overwatering can lead to root rot and other fungal diseases. As a rule of thumb, water your lawn deeply once or twice a week rather than lightly every day. Make sure to check with your local reticulation company to be sure your gardens and lawns are getting the water coverage and amount they need!
Step 3: Fertilise Your Lawn
Fertilising your lawn is essential to ensure it remains healthy and green. It’s best to fertilise your lawn in the spring and summer months, when the grass is actively growing. Choose a fertiliser that is suitable for your lawn type and avoid using too much fertiliser as it can burn your lawn.
Step 4: Mow Your Lawn Regularly
Here are some lawn mowing tips for a healthy lawn. Mowing your lawn is necessary to keep it looking neat and tidy. However, it’s important not to cut your lawn too short as this can cause stress to the grass and make it more susceptible to disease. In Perth, it’s recommended to keep your lawn between 2.5 to 4 cm in height.
Step 5: Aerate Your Lawn
Aerating your lawn is an essential step in maintaining a healthy lawn. Aerating helps to improve water and nutrient uptake, reduces soil compaction, and promotes deeper root growth. In Perth, it’s recommended to aerate your lawn in autumn or spring.
Step 6: Control Weeds
Weeds can quickly take over your lawn and cause it to look unsightly. It’s important to remove weeds regularly and use a selective herbicide to prevent them from coming back. Be careful when choosing a herbicide as some can damage your lawn. It’s important to know the best methods for weeding lawns to keep them healthy and vibrant.
Step 7: Repair Bald Patches
Bald patches in your lawn can be caused by a variety of factors, including pests, disease, and poor soil conditions. It’s important to address the underlying issue before repairing the patch. Once you’ve identified the problem, reseed the area with a grass seed suitable for your lawn type.
Step 8: Provide Shade
In Perth, the hot sun can quickly dry out your lawn, causing it to turn brown. Providing shade to your lawn can help prevent it from drying out. Plant trees or install a shade sail to provide your lawn with the necessary shade. A good tip is to plant ground cover instead of lawn in areas which get zero sunlight, like at the base of trees, rather than trying to keep a lawn alive without sunlight amid roots and debris.
Step 9: Remove Lawn Clippings
Leaving lawn clippings on your lawn can prevent sunlight and air from reaching the grass, causing it to turn yellow. It’s important to remove lawn clippings regularly and dispose of them correctly.
Step 10: Hire The Experts
Achieving a green lawn takes time and effort. By following these 10 simple steps, you’ll be well on your way to a lush, green lawn.
If you’re struggling to get your lawn looking green and lush, it’s worth seeking professional help. Our garden and lawn care experts in Perth can help you keep your lawns and gardens looking healthy and lush with our garden maintenance services in Perth.
Contact us on 08 6263 4645 today to book in a service – your lawn and garden will thank you for it!
Here are our answers to some frequently asked questions about getting a greener lawn in Perth:
Q: What type of fertiliser should I use for my lawn in Perth?
A: The type of fertiliser you use will depend on your lawn type. In general, a slow-release fertiliser with a balanced NPK ratio is suitable for most lawns in Perth. It’s best to fertilise your lawn in the spring and summer months when the grass is actively growing.
Q: Can I mow my lawn when it’s wet?
A: It’s not recommended to mow your lawn when it’s wet. Wet grass can clog up your lawn mower and make it harder to cut your lawn evenly. It’s best to wait until your lawn is dry before mowing.
Q: How can I tell if my lawn needs aeration?
A: If your lawn is looking thin or patchy, it may need aerating. You can also perform a soil compaction test by pushing a garden fork into the ground. If the fork doesn’t go in easily, it’s likely that your soil is compacted and in need of aeration.
Q: How do I repair bald patches in my lawn?
A: Bald patches in your lawn can be caused by a variety of factors, including pests, disease, and poor soil conditions. Once you’ve identified the problem, reseed the area with a grass seed suitable for your lawn type. Keep the area moist until the grass seed has germinated and established.
Q: How can I prevent weeds from growing in my lawn?
A: Regular mowing and fertilising can help prevent weeds from growing in your lawn. However, it’s also important to remove weeds regularly and use a selective herbicide to prevent them from coming back.
Q: How can I provide shade for my lawn?
A: Planting trees or installing a shade sail can provide your lawn with the necessary shade. However, it’s important not to plant trees too close to your lawn as their roots can compete with your grass for water and nutrients.
Q: Do I need professional help to get a greener lawn?
A: While it’s possible to achieve a green lawn on your own, seeking professional help can save you time and effort. Lawn care experts in Perth can provide you with a personalised lawn care plan and recommend the best products for your lawn type. They can also help diagnose and treat any issues with your lawn.
Whether you are a keen gardener with the greenest of thumbs, or just starting out on your gardening journey, if you want a healthy, beautiful and thriving garden, pruning is a vital skill to learn.
Pruning is an important gardening practice that can help to maintain the health, shape, and productivity of plants, as well as improve their appearance. This applies to many plants; from trees to shrubs and other plants and flowers.
What is Pruning?
At it’s most basic level, pruning is what we call the task of cutting back or removing certain parts of a plant, such as branches, stems, or leaves. Critical for garden health, without proper pruning, your shrubs, bushes, trees and plants will not have the maintenance and support they need to thrive.
Knowing when to prune, depending on the season and temperature, and how to prune, for example, when to just give a light trim and when to really cut it back, is important for any garden proud homeowner.
Benefits of Pruning?
Pruning is important for a number of reasons. Critically, because, when done incorrectly, it can have a serious impact on the health, look and growth of your plants. At worst, improper pruning can kill a plant altogether or permantenly stunt it’s growth. So keep reading to learn how to do it right!
Some of the many benefits of pruning include:
Promote Growth
Firstly, it can help to promote the growth of new branches, leaves, and flowers. By removing dead, damaged, or diseased parts of a plant, you can encourage new growth and help the plant to remain healthy and productive. Pruning fruit trees encourages increased productivity and improves growth rates season upon season. In other hedges and shrubs, it increase growth by encouraging new shoots, helping plants grow taller and stronger. And in flowering plants, pruning improves growth and makes sure that they will continue to flower.
Prevent Disease
Pruning can be strategically applied to remove any parts of the plant that are dead, damaged, or infected with disease. This helps to prevent the spread of disease or pests to other parts of the plant, and allows the plant to focus its energy on healthy growth. While cutting it right back may sometimes be needed and not look great – it will be worth it to save it in the long run.
Aesthetics
No one likes an untidy bush… straggly, overgrown hedges and plants make the entire garden look untidy and un-cared for, while shaped, maintained plants give the whole garden a lift!
Pruning can be used to train and control plants to help them grow to the desired size, hight and shape to suit your garden design. From shrubs that are pruned into round balls or vines that are trained to grow in the right directions, pruning will definitely improve the astheics of your garden.
Safety
Especially important in winter, pruning also allows you to remove dead or heavy branches and limbs which might otherwise fall and injure unsuspecting passersby. From risks of stong winds or heavy rains, or very dry periods where dead branches grow brittle, careful pruning keeps your garden safe. It also helps to deter pests or vermin by eliminating potential breeding grounds or hiding places for pests, and increasing air circulation can make it more difficult for them to thrive. Additionally, pruning can help to prevent branches from touching nearby structures, which can provide a pathway for pests to enter your home or garden.
Protects Property
Not just increasing garden safety for people, pruning helps protect your property from falling limbs on cars or your house, prevent branches scratching windows or car paint, and even stop branches or heavy leaves from clogging up your drains causing more work.
Thick and overgrown shrubs can even collect dirt and create mould/scum patches on the edges of paths or driveways that take pressure cleaning or heavy scrubbing to remove. It’s always better to keep things tidy and under control.
Improve light
Some of your other plants or even lawn might suffer if your garden isn’t pruned back regularly. Thick or tall growth can reduce sunlight from getting to the lower areas and plants in your garden, reducing their health and growth chances by limiting their sun and air intake. Pruning decreases the competition between your plants for the nutrients they need to thrive.
Aids Reticulation
If your garden relies on an irrigation system to get the water it needs, garden overgrowth is one of your reticulation systems biggest problems. If hedges and plants aren’t pruned back regularly, they can block a sprinklers water coverage, causing dry patches in your lawns or stopping certain plants from getting any water at all.
Now that you know what pruning is and how important it is for your garden, let’s go a little deeper and learn more about the different types of pruning techniques to use.
Types of Pruning?
There are a few different types of pruning you can use, depending on the season and the type of plant; types of pruning will also differ depending on if it’s for trees, shrubs, fruit plants or flowers.
Types of Tree Pruning
At Perth Gardening Experts, we cann’t help with any major tree pruning – only for smaller trees under 3m in height – for anything higher, you’ll need to get an arborist involved. We’ll give you some tips here, but always make sure that you feel confident and safe – and never prune any heavy or large branches above your head!
Thinning
Thinning involves selectively removing branches from the crown to increase light penetration and air circulation, reduce wind resistance, and promote new growth. Done correctly, thinning can open up the canopy of a plant and allow more air and sunlight to reach the inner branches and leaves. This can reduce the risk of fungal diseases and promote healthy growth. Especially important in fruit tree pruning, it will improve the production of your fruit trees.
Lifting / Raising
This type of pruning involves removing the lower branches of the tree, and is usually done to provide clearance for buildings, vehicles, and pedestrians above paths, streets and walkways.
Reduction
This pruning involves removing the upper branches of the tree to reduce the overall height or spread of the tree. This is usually to prevent the tree from interfering with power lines or structures, or to reduce the weight of the canopy to prevent breakage. To avoid having to apply this technique, it is important to stay on top of pruning the tree to train it as it grows – rather than having to do a big cutback later.
Shaping
This is usually the reason you get a garden maintenance company or arbourist in – when you want to shape the tree to suit a garden design, the space or improve the overall look. Common shapes are natural, spherical round styles, or keeping the bottom of the tree cut in a straight line for a very tidy look.
Structural
Often done in the early stages of a young tree’s growth, structual pruning is used to improve the structure and stability of the tree, training from a young age to growth thicker where needed and promote the right shape for it to grow into.
Types of Shrub Pruning
At Perth Gardening Experts, we have experience in all types of shrub pruning, whether it’s for shape, improving the overall look, improving health or more. So if you decide that, after reading our blog, you want some help – just give us a call.
Maintenance
Something we are particularly passionate about, maintenance pruning involves removing dead or diseased branches of your shrub, and shaping the shrub to maintain its size and shape. This type of pruning is the key to keeping your garden looking great – year round.
Renewal / Growth
This pruning is applied when you need to cut back the entire shrub to stimulate new growth and rejuvenate the plant. This is typically done in older shrubs or those that have become overgrown.
Pruning for Fruit Trees, Bushes and Plants, and Flowers
Now we’ve covered how to prune trees and shrubs, it’s now time to look at how to prune fruiting and flowering trees, bushes, plants and flowers such as roses to promote growth of the flowers and fruit.
If you know anything about plants and flowers, you’ll know there are hundreds of varieties and best practice pruning methods will differ based on the variety, the season and your location, so we’ll only be able to give a basic overview in this blog to get you started.
Pruning Fruiting Trees and Bushes
The best time to prune fruiting trees and bushes in Perth is during the plant’s dormant season, which is typically in winter. Pruning during this time helps the plant to focus its energy on new growth in the spring and summer, and it also reduces the risk of damaging the plant’s fruit production.
Here are some tips on pruning fruit trees:
Remove dead and diseased wood: As you prune, look for any dead or diseased wood and remove it. This will prevent the spread of disease and encourage healthy growth.
Thin out overcrowded branches: If your tree or bush has too many branches, it’s important to thin them out to allow for better air circulation and light penetration. This will promote better fruit production.
Cut back to outward-facing buds: When making cuts, be sure to cut back to an outward-facing bud. This will encourage new growth to grow outward, which will help keep the plant from becoming too dense.
Prune to promote fruit production: Finally, be sure to prune in a way that promotes fruit production. This may mean cutting back some branches more than others to encourage fruiting spurs to form.
For deciduous fruit trees like apples, pears, and peaches, it’s best to prune them during their winter dormancy, usually from late June to early August in Perth. For evergreen fruit trees like citrus, you can prune them throughout the year, but the best time is right after the fruit has been harvested, typically in late winter to early spring.
It’s important to note that pruning timing can vary depending on the specific variety of fruiting tree or bush you have, as well as the local climate conditions. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to do some research or consult with a local gardening expert to find the best pruning schedule and more information on pruning fruit trees in Perth.
Pruning Flowering Bushes and Plants
The best time to prune flowering bushes and plants in Perth, Australia depends on the specific plant species, but a general rule of thumb is to prune after flowering has finished. This ensures that you don’t accidentally remove any flower buds that have formed for the upcoming season.
Here are some tips on how to prune flowering bushes and plants in Perth:
Choose the right tools: For smaller flowering plants, pruning shears or hand-held loppers may be sufficient. For larger bushes, a pruning saw may be necessary. Make sure your tools are sharp and clean to prevent damaging the plant.
Remove dead or diseased wood: As you prune, look for any dead or diseased wood and remove it. This will help prevent the spread of disease and promote healthy growth.
Cut back to healthy growth: When making cuts, be sure to cut back to a healthy growth point, such as a bud or lateral branch. Avoid cutting back too much at once, as this can weaken the plant.
Don’t over-prune: It’s important not to over-prune flowering bushes and plants, as this can lead to reduced flowering or even death of the plant. Only prune what is necessary to promote healthy growth and shape the plant.
Examples of flowering bushes that require pruning include roses, hydrangeas, and lilacs, which should be pruned after flowering. Other plants, like hibiscus, can be pruned in late winter or early spring before new growth begins.
Pruning Roses
The best time to prune roses in Perth, Australia is in winter, during their dormant season. The ideal time to prune is after the last frost of the season and before new growth appears, which is usually between June and August.
Choose the right time: As mentioned earlier, the best time to prune roses is in winter, during their dormant season. Wait until after the last frost of the season and before new growth appears, which is usually between June and August in Perth, Australia.
Identify the canes: Look for the main canes or stems of the rose bush. You’ll want to keep the strongest and healthiest ones and remove the weak or diseased ones.
Remove dead and diseased wood: Using sharp, clean pruning shears, cut out any dead, damaged, or diseased wood. Be sure to cut back to healthy wood.
Shape the plant: Prune to shape the plant and encourage an open, airy structure that allows good airflow and sunlight penetration. Cut back to a leaf node that faces the direction you want new growth to go.
Cut back to an outward-facing bud: When making cuts, cut back to an outward-facing bud to encourage new growth to grow outward, which will help keep the plant from becoming too dense.
Clean up green waste: Once you’ve finished pruning, remove all debris from around the plant to help prevent the spread of disease.
Fertilize and water: After pruning, fertilize the plant with a balanced fertilizer to help promote new growth, and water the plant thoroughly to help it recover and encourage new growth.
It’s important not to over-prune roses, as this can weaken the plant and reduce its ability to produce flowers. Only prune what is necessary to promote healthy growth and maintain the desired shape of the plant. By following these steps and pruning during the dormant season, you can help promote healthy growth, encourage abundant flowering, and maintain the overall health of your rose bushes.
Best Time To Prune
The best time to prune plants varies depending on the type of plant. In general, plants can be pruned when they are dormant, which is typically during the winter months when the plant has lost its leaves and is not actively growing.
However, some plants should not be pruned during the winter, such as those that bloom in the spring, because pruning during the winter can remove the buds that would have produced the flowers. These plants should be pruned immediately after they finish flowering, which is usually in the late spring or early summer.
For plants that are grown for their foliage, such as shrubs and hedges, it’s best to prune them in the late winter or early spring before new growth begins. This allows the plant to produce new growth that will fill in the areas that were pruned.
In general, it’s important to research the specific plant you want to prune and understand its growth habits, flowering time, and preferred pruning time. This will ensure that you prune the plant at the right time and in the right way to promote healthy growth and flowering.
Conclusion
Proper pruning is crucial to keep your trees, shrubs and plants healthy, tidy and attractive and to encourage flowers and fruit. You can see by now hoe important it is to do it not just at the right time, but in the right way to protect and increase the health and beauty of your plants.
If the thought of tackling your own plant and shrub pruning seems too stressful and you want to call in the experts, you can always get in touch with our team at Perth Gardening Experts on 08 6263 4645. We’ll take care of it for you throughout the year to make sure your plants grow healthy, stay in beautiful shape and look amazing in every season.
If you’re a homeowner in Perth, you know that maintaining a healthy and well-manicured lawn can be a daunting task. With our hot and dry climate, it’s important to have a solid understanding of the best practices for lawn care in order to keep your grass looking green and lush. In this blog, we’ll be sharing expert lawn care tips and tricks for keeping your Perth garden looking its best, including information on watering, fertilising and mowing.
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newbie to lawn care, we’ve got you covered with practical advice and helpful insights. So let’s get started on achieving the lawn of your dreams!
Why Taking Care of Your Lawn is Important
A well-maintained lawn can add value and beauty to any home. It provides a safe and attractive outdoor space for children to play and serves as a natural backdrop for outdoor gatherings and activities. A healthy lawn also has environmental benefits, as it helps to filter pollutants, reduce erosion, and cool the surrounding air.
However, maintaining a healthy lawn requires time, effort, and a good understanding of the specific needs of your grass and soil. This is especially important in Perth, where the hot and dry climate can pose challenges for lawn care. By following some expert lawn care tips, you can keep your lawn looking its best and enjoy all the benefits it has to offer.
Our Expert Lawn Tips for Perth
Along with some of our tips on choosing the right lawn and helping it establish, we have also compiled our top expert lawn tips for taking care of your lawn to keep it healthy, vibrant and green!
Let’s start at the beginning…
Choose the Right Lawn
The first step in maintaining a healthy lawn is choosing the right grass for your climate and soil. In Perth, the most common types of grass are buffalo, couch, and kikuyu.
Buffalo grass is a low-maintenance option that is well-suited to the dry and hot climate of Perth. It is drought-tolerant and can withstand heavy traffic, making it a good choice for areas with children or pets. However, it is not as resilient as some other grass types and may require more frequent watering and fertilising to keep it looking its best.
Couch grass is another popular choice for Perth lawns. It is a hardy grass that can tolerate drought and heat, and is resistant to pests and diseases. However, it can be more difficult to maintain than some other grass types, as it requires regular mowing and may require additional watering in summer.
Kikuyu grass is a fast-growing grass that is popular in Perth due to its ability to tolerate drought and heat. It is also resistant to pests and diseases, and can withstand heavy traffic. However, it can be more difficult to control than other grass types and may require regular mowing and maintenance to keep it looking its best.
When choosing a grass type for your lawn, consider your climate, soil type, and the amount of maintenance you are willing to commit to. It is also a good idea to consult with a local lawn care expert or the staff at a garden centre for advice on the best grass for your specific needs.
Should you choose to seed your new lawn or use roll out turf?
When choosing between seeding or turfing a new lawn in Perth, there are a few factors to consider. Seeding is typically more affordable and can be done at any time of year, but it does require much more maintenance and can take longer to establish. Turf, on the other hand, is more expensive but is quicker to install and requires less maintenance while it is established. It is also available year-round and can be used immediately after installation.
Establish Your New Lawn
If you are starting a new lawn from scratch, there are several steps you can take to ensure its success.
Prepare the Soil
Before planting your grass, it is important to prepare the soil by removing any weeds or debris and adding compost or other organic matter to improve the soil structure. You should also test the pH of the soil to ensure it is within the optimal range for grass growth (between 6.5 and 7.0) and level the ground.
Plant the Seed/ Lay the Turf
If you are seeding your lawn, once the soil is prepared, you can plant your grass seed. Rake the soil to create a smooth, even surface, and scatter the seed evenly over the area. Gently water the seed and keep it moist until it germinates.
If you are laying turf, apply a layer of compost or other organic matter to help improve the soil structure and add nutrients and water the soil well to ensure it is evenly moist. Once all the turf is in place, water it thoroughly to help it settle into the soil and promote root growth.
Watering
You’ll need to apply for a watering exemption from the Water Corporation to allow you to water your lawn or garden outside the watering roster while it is established. Only apply for a water exemption on the day your lawn or garden is installed so you get the maximum amount of extra watering days. If you don’t have an exemption, you can receive a fine – so don’t risk your lawn or your wallet!
Fertilise
After your grass has germinated, it is important to fertilise and water regularly to ensure it grows strong and healthy. Follow the instructions on the fertiliser package for the best results, and water your grass deeply and evenly to avoid drought stress.
Tips on taking care of your new lawn
Maintaining a lawn in Perth, Australia can be a challenging task due to the hot, dry climate and the high potential for weeds and pests. However, with proper care and attention, it is possible to keep your lawn looking healthy and beautiful. Here are some tips on how to maintain your new lawn in Perth:
Fertilise Your Lawn
Fertilising your lawn can help to promote healthy growth and keep it looking green and lush. There are several types of fertilisers available for use on lawns, including slow-release fertilisers and liquid fertilisers. Choose a fertiliser that is specifically formulated for use on lawns, and follow the instructions on the package carefully.
Water Your Lawn
One of the most important aspects of lawn care in Perth is proper watering. The key is to water your lawn deeply and less frequently, rather than shallowly and frequently. This helps to encourage deep root growth, which makes your lawn more drought-resistant. In general, your lawn should be watered once or twice a week, depending on the weather and the type of grass you have. It is important to avoid over-watering, as this can lead to fungal diseases and other problems.
Mow Your Lawn
Mowing your lawn regularly is an important part of maintaining its health and appearance. The key is to mow often enough to remove the top one-third of the grass blades, but not so frequently that you remove more than this. Mowing your lawn too short can weaken the grass and make it more susceptible to pests, weed growth and diseases. It is also a good idea to change the direction of your mowing pattern each time you mow, as this helps to prevent the grass from becoming compacted and encourages healthy growth. Our top tip for weed control; if weeds have already gone to seed use a ‘catcher’ so the seeds aren’t spread throughout the lawn again and can be disposed of correctly. There are many ways that lawn mowing keeps your lawn healthy and green so it’s important to do it correctly!
Control Weeds
Weeds can be a major problem for lawns in Perth, especially during the hot summer months. To keep your lawn weed-free, it is important to regularly inspect your lawn for weeds and remove them as soon as you see them. There are several types of weed control products available for use on lawns, including herbicides and weed-and-feed products. It is important to choose a product that is safe for use on lawns and follow the instructions carefully.
Protect your lawn from pests
Pests, such as grubs and chinch bugs, can be a major problem for lawns in Perth. To prevent pest problems, it is important to regularly inspect your lawn for signs of pests and take steps to control them if necessary. This may include using pest control products, such as insecticides or nematodes, or practising good cultural practices, such as maintaining proper soil moisture and mowing your lawn at the recommended height.
Repair damaged areas
If you have areas of your lawn that are damaged or patchy, it is important to take steps to repair them. This may include reseeding the area, adding new sod, or applying a lawn repair product. Follow the instructions on the product carefully, and be sure to water and fertilise the area as needed to encourage healthy growth.
Will you use our lawn care tips?
By following these expert lawn care tips, you can install and maintain your lawn to help keep it looking healthy and beautiful. Remember to be consistent with your lawn care routine, as this is the key to maintaining a healthy and attractive lawn.
If you know you need to use these lawn care tips but don’t have time – you can hand over the lawn care to us! Just call us on (08) 6263 4645 or contact us at Perth Gardening Experts to come and help you with your lawn and entire garden as part of one of our garden maintenance packages.
