Garden Irrigation Maintenance Tips

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Planting a garden is one thing, but garden maintenance is ongoing. The planting is merely the beginning of the work – now you have to start staking, watering, mulching and the ongoing schedule of plant and garden care.

There is a lot involved in maintaining your garden – which is why more than a few things are usually neglected in most gardens. Here are few tips to ensure a successful garden even if you never own a garden before.

Watering: is a simple and basic fact that plants need water to grow. However it can be tiring sometimes and this might affect our plants. Consistent watering usually yields the best result in your garden.  You might look into soaker hose or a drip irrigation if you have a large garden. This could save you a lot of money, actually up to 65% of water used by the sprinkler system and will ensure your plants get watered without having their leaves wet and eliminate disease problems.

Mulching: 3-4 layers of mulch should be spread over vegetable beds. This will help reduce loss of water from the soil and fully reduce the growth of weed. Look for organic mulch sources like shredded dry leaves, dry grass clippings, compost, straw and many more; they add a great value of nutrient to your garden soil and build its soil structure. They also reduce the growth of weeds and water loss.

Fertilizing: fertilizer and soil additives like garden limestone should be added to soil, based on your soil structure and a soil test result.  Don’t waste time and money treating the soil without testing the soil pH first, to ensure the best result for the garden soil. Organic fertilizers such as blood meal and alfalfa meal, and mineral fertilizers like crushed stone are excellent for soil and so plant health. If you do use any chemical fertilizers, ensure they are strictly in recommended proportion as overuse can be detrimental to the  garden, and “burn” plants.

Weed control: weeds usually are major problem for not only as direct threats to existing plants but because they also house diseases and insect which may do significant damage to your garden if not taken care of early. It is advisable to weed regularly, especially at the early stage of the growing season. This will make it much easy to keep weeds at bay.

Cool plants: when the weather becomes very hot, it is advisable to provide shade for plants to avoid wilting. Basic cheesecloth is a very good shade cover you can look out for, that is still cost effective. Or you might look at erecting a shade cloth, garden umbrella or even a shade sail to protect some areas of the garden in high summer.

Keep clean: it is advisable to always remove and destroy any part of the plant that has any form of disease so as to protect the healthy one. If quickly controlled, it might not spread to other plants but in case it already has, removing or taking off just the damaged part will be enough in many cases. It depends on the infection, by the way, you might have to remove the entire plant in some cases.

If Jim’s can help, whether you’re taking a break and going on holiday or want regular garden maintenance, no job is too big or too small.  Just call 0800 454654 for a free quote or book a Jim’s online.

 

Fun family friendly garden ideas

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Gardening can be exciting for the whole family and it’s great to be able to enjoy some hobbies with your children. There are plenty of great child friendly garden ideas that will keep them interested.

Grown Edibles in Your Garden

By planting tasty treats that you can later pick and enjoy together, everyone can get excited about planning, planting and picking the fruits (and vegetables and herbs) of their labour. Plant things like strawberries, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes and peas. Let your kids know what it is they are planting (if they help) to get them interested. You can even plant things like gourds and sunflowers, they may enjoy trying some new and interesting, fresh things out of the garden! Then, when harvest time comes around, get the family together for a picking session to show the kids the final product.

Plant Beautiful, Colourful Flowers

Planting flowers is not just a way to add beauty to the garden, but also a way to attract bees and other insects that can benefit your yard. Kids love to pick flowers and use them in arts and crafts. Plant some flowering plants and allow your kids to pick them to peak their interest in flowers and the garden. Letting your kids help pick the flowers and colours, and take them to the store and let them help pick the seeds!

And Speaking of Seeds…

It may seem like an unnecessary and time consuming process to start from seed, but starting the process inside and growing the seeds in a window can really help get the family involved in gardening. There is just something beautiful and magical about watching a plant sprout from seed in a window sill. Try this at least a few times with the children, you may even enjoy it more than you think!  Letting your kids take part in the gardening experience can be fun for all of you and educational for them as well. It doesn’t matter if your plants aren’t in a perfect line because your kids helped plant the seeds, the plants don’t care and neither should you. Creating a family-friendly garden is all about creating it as a family!

Cat enjoying catnip

Grow Catnip for your Cats

Growing fresh catnip will not only excite your cats, but it will also give your kids something to look forward to when gardening. Before planting, start with some store-bought catnip to show them the effects the plant has on your cat and then tell them that it’s possible to grow their own. Let your kid’s help you plant the catnip and then let them help you harvest it. Give them some to give to the cat and let the fun begin!

Designing Your Family Garden

Particularly important in smaller gardens, the layout needs to be more create to accommodate everyone else’s differing needs. Before you start designing, bear in mind elements such as:

  • Planting – Are plant selections and placements appropriate to withstand games of chasey, footy, pets and swordfights?
  • Play equipment– Can you fit in a cubby house, slide, sandpit and/or swing? Otherwise, find play equipment that can be packed away when not in use.
  • Colour–Introduce some colour by painting walls, fences, lattice work and even furniture & cushions.  Imaginative planting though will ensure seasonal colour-changes that will engage the whole family.
  • Easy-care seating– Can furniture be left uncovered and exposed to the elements?  Built in seating of natural stone or wood material might work well, with cushions that can provide additional comfort.  Consider also other weather friendly materials such as plastic, synthetic rattan, wood and lightweight metal – all good outdoor options.
  • Wildlife & Creatures– Consider adding a pond with fish or frogs – children especially will find it fascinating. Birdfeeders will also be a big success – though perhaps not if you have a cat.

If you need any help with gardening and landscaping ideas, call Jim’s on 0800 454 654 or book online.  We’d be delighted to help.

Different ways to add charm to your curb

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Paying careful attention to maintaining curb appeal is part of strategic property management nowadays. This effort not only creates a good image for the property owners, but it’s also one of the reliable ways of increasing property market value. It’s worth mentioning as well that a nice exterior space can have a variety of functions to improve home life. Therefore, many New Zealanders today are truly inspired to explore a variety of ways of improving their property’s street appeal.

If you’re among those willing to dedicate time, money and effort to adding charm to your curb, provided below are some of the ways you can easily do so.

  • Add hedging to your exterior space. This can be an improvement to your property’s dimensions; likewise, it can create a clear distinction of where the public property ends and where your private property starts. On top of these, you also score the nice benefit of creating additional shade and privacy for your outdoor space. Jim’s Mowing services include hedging and trimming, so those hedges you introduce to your yard will fully achieve the look and function you have in mind.
  • For a beautifully manicured lawn, nothing beats professional mowing services because expert mowers can really target those edges for the most polished appearance. It’s worth mentioning as well that they know the best grass height that can promote healthy growth throughout the changing seasons.
  • Rubbish removal is also an important effort to make in enhancing the look of your curb. Nothing can ruin the beauty of outdoor space more than piles of rubbish such as trimmings, fallen leaves, dead branches, and obviously wilted plants. Professional lawn services will take care of clean-up for you, not only to restore the nice appearance of your yard, but also to prevent pests like mice and other rodents from becoming attracted to your property’s outdoor space.
  • Introducing new plants, particularly flowering ones, is another smart thing to do for improved curb appeal. There’s nothing like the look of health that blossoming flowers create. If you will plant species endemic to your location, you won’t have to worry much about maintenance because they will naturally thrive in your local climate. If you wish to ensure the healthy look of your curb with a voluminous growth of plants, flowers and trees, the gardening pros at Jim’s Mowing can definitely lend their expertise so you can grow and maintain an abundant garden easily.

If you lack the green thumb or simply don’t have the time, call the professionals at Jim’s mowing on 0800 454 654 or book online for a free, no obligation quote!

The 5 best landscaping ideas for small backyards

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Today, even a small backyard can look and feel spacious if it is designed the right way. With the right landscaping ideas and steps, you can have an aesthetically appealing lawn and still have enough functional space for the family to enjoy.

To get on the right track to having a beautiful landscaped small backyard, here are five ideas and tips that can help you out:

 

  1. Create a feasible plan.

Organisation is the operative word when making a plan for a small landscaped yard. Start by thinking about the primary use of the backyard. You can then select a theme and also come up with a budget. It would also work to your advantage if you define the spaces in your small yard and make sure you know their specific purposes.

For example, you can delineate a dining or lounging area with a stone patio and separate the play area from this spot with some plantings.

 

 

 

 

  1. Select the right plants.

When planning your landscape, it’s best to cultivate native or indigenous plants since you can be sure that there is always something growing in the yard year-round. In case you want to have some trees on your yard, select ones that grow up instead of out. Tall and thin trees will give you lush landscaping without eating up all your space.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Be creative.

To maximise a small space for a landscape, you have to think outside the box. Consider having terraced landscaping since this helps designate spaces and make a small yard look bigger. Terracing can also enable you have to more space for plantings and the lower walls can double as bench seatings.

Another good idea would be to have a trellis built above which you can cover with native vines. This trellis will define your patio space and provide shade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Put multifunctional features.

When you’re deciding on features to place in your yard, opt for items that have multiple uses and are not too bulky. An example of this is a bench that can double as a storage box to contain garden tools. You will also do well to choose pieces of furniture that can be easily stored such as collapsible tables and folding chairs.

 

  1. Enhance your fence.

Lastly, if your yard is surrounded by fences, make them more appealing by painting them or adorning them with decorative items. Plain white fences can you give the sense of enclosure, but decorating them will provide anyone looking at them a sense of depth. An adorning tip you can consider is to attach planters to the fence to add more greenery in the yard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Space is your biggest concern when landscaping a small back yard. But with the right ideas, techniques, and tips, you can have a well-designed, attractive and functional yard.

 

Top 3 landscaping ideas for large backyards

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Whenever you look at your huge, empty backyard, in your mind, you can probably hear it begging to be landscaped. Although a huge outdoor space can be great as a personal recreational area for kids and teens, you will still get more out of it and get your property looking better if you have it landscaped.

Landscaping a huge backyard however, doesn’t simply entail planting some seeds in certain areas and waiting for them to grow, and putting in some pieces of outdoor furniture. Here are some of the best landscaping ideas and strategies that will
work well for you and your property if you’re designing a large backyard.

  1. When coming up with a design, use zones.

The final landscape design of an expansive yard can lack focus if you don’t divide it into specific sectors. When coming up with the plan, consider each area as an outdoor room and use its function to define its design. If you want to have an outdoor kitchen or dining area, make sure the designated spot has a grill, patio table, and chairs. Its layout should make it easily noticeable that it is an outdoor kitchen and dining area.

If you want to have a quiet place to relax outdoors, consider allocating an area for installing a water feature, a shade, and some comfy chairs where you can read a book or even meditate.  When planning these rooms, don’t forget to leave a portion of the yard open for your kids to play. Make sure it will be spacious enough to hold a trampoline and some outdoor play equipment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Opt for a curvilinear design.

Different landscape styles can work for large backyards. However, a curvilinear design can be truly appealing since it effortlessly simulates a natural look thanks to its use of the curved boundary lines that follow the contours of your yard. Properties standing on rolling terrains can also benefit greatly from this landscape style since the curved lines can highlight changes in grade and successfully incorporate them into the design.

A curvilinear design will enable you to take advantage of your yard’s views on all sides since it is supposed to blend with your outdoor space’s natural curves instead of trying to create a new yet conventional rectilinear shape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Layer the plants.

Lastly, by layering your plants, you will be able to give your huge backyard and landscape additional texture and an appealing look. To achieve this look, place or cultivate tall plants along the edges of your yard. It would work to your advantage to plant native, hardy trees.

In the middle and front, plant bold, colourful shrubs such as native species of grevilleas, honey myrtles, and bottlebrushes. Just make sure you layer them so that the smaller varieties of bushes are in front.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A huge backyard can be the complete, perfect outdoor space for everyone, and for different purposes. This can be achieved effortlessly if it has the right landscape design.

 

7 household products that kill and control weeds

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We’ve seen it too many times, beautiful flowers trying to grow and pesky weeds coming along and destroying the beauty with their uncontrollable hunger for destruction. Luckily, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on weed control. These are 7 household products you can use to kill or control weeds in your garden.

  1. Shower curtains. Next time you splurge for a new shower curtain, don’t just throw your old one out, use it to control weeds in your backyard! Simply place the shower curtain under mulch to prevent weeds from growing through.
  2. After you throw your next party and have an extra half of bottle of vodka laying around, try using it to kill weeds. Mix 1 oz Vodka with a couple of drops of dish soap and 2 cups water in a small spray bottle and spray the mixture directly on to the weed leaves until it runs off. Do this when it’s sunny, because the purpose of the mix is to dehydrate the weeds in sunlight and it may not be as effective in the shade.
  3. Bleach is too harsh for your garden, but if you have weeds growing up through cracks in footpaths or walkways, you can try pouring just a bit of bleach directly on to them to kill the weeds.
  4. Salt is another household item that is great for ridding your footpath of the pesky weeds that pop up in between cracks, it always works great to kill unwanted grass that springs up. Boil 2 cups water mixed with 1 cup of salt and pour the boiling mix directly on the weeds.
  5. Carpet pieces.If you’ve just redone your carpet and have some scraps laying around, use them under straw or mulch in your garden for a weed-less path. Place the scraps upside down under mulch. You can also use the smallest pieces for actual mulch in a veggie garden.
  6. Baking soda.As if this miracle product didn’t already have enough uses, now we know we can use it for a safe, effective way of controlling weeds. Sprinkle baking soda by the handful onto concrete and sweep into cracks where weeds are growing. The powder will make it much drier and harder for the weeds to grow, basically snuffing them out.
  7. 2-litre bottles.If you do choose to use herbicides, try using bottles to make a more controlled application. Single out the weed you want to kill and cut a 2-liter bottle in half, place the upper half of the bottle over the weed. Aim the wand in to the opening of the bottle and spray. Doing this protects all of the plants you DON’T want to harm while you’re spraying.

Call Jim’s Mowing on 0800 454654 for all of your gardening needs or simply book online for a free, no-obligation quote!

 

Herb Gardening In Unique Ways

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Jim's Mowing New Zealand - Herb Gardening

Growing herbs in your property offers plenty of benefits. If they are portable, you can easily find their preferred shade and sun locations. Also, you can conveniently keep them in the kitchen for cooking. Most importantly, herbs are excellent edible works of art. Herb gardening in unique ways allows homeowners to easily grow their own herbs.

4 Creative Ways to Grow Herbs

  1. Pallet Herb Garden

Prior to planting herbs in a pallet, you must make sure that the wood is food-safe. Pallets have stamps on them which indicate how they were treated. Know that the stamps vary by county; thus, you must examine your pallet carefully and look up the code.

  1. Potted Herb Garden

You can use plastic flower pots, baskets, barrels, wooden boxes, and any container that is at least 15cm big. It is crucial for you to create holes in the container’s bottom for easy and proper drainage.

Clean the containers before filling them with nutrient-rich, organic, and fresh potting soil. If you are to use nursery plants that are root bound, loosen the roots at the bottom of the soil and set them slightly deeper than when they were in the nursery pots. Lastly, water them thoroughly.

Jim's Mowing New Zealand - Herb Gardening

  1. Mason Jar Herb GardenJim's Mowing New Zealand - Herb Gardening

Recycle your jars and place them on a pallet. You can also use a piece of wood and hang them in your favourite space at home. This is one of the best ideas to try if you want to watch your herbs grow before your eyes.

Fill the jars ¾ full with high quality organic potting soil. Add seeds to every jar. Be sure to always follow the planting instructions. Cover the seeds with more potting soil. Lastly, water them properly. Don’t forget to place identification tags on every Mason jar.

4 .Self-Watering Herb Planters

Jim's Mowing New Zealand - Herb Gardening

If you are wondering what you can do with all those empty wine bottles, consider creating self-watering herb planters. But before that, you need to learn how to correctly cut wine glasses. And among the easiest ways of cutting the bottles is with the use of a bottle cutter.

When the bottles have been cut, it is time to plant. Layer the herbs up as you would do with other plants. You can add some stones at the base of the bottle’s neck for drainage. To hold the soil, add some dirt. Make sure to pop the herbs in a sunny position.

Growing your own herbs is the best way to avoid having the leftover herbs slowly wilt and end up in compost bins. The good news is that growing herbs in a small space is easier than you think. In Australia, some of the herbs you can easily grow at home will include mint, parsley, rosemary, thyme, and basil.

Jim's Mowing New Zealand - Herb Gardening

For all of your gardening requirements, call Jim’s Mowing on 0800 454 654 or Book Online for your free, no-obligation quote today!