The Best Rock Garden Ideas 2020

Creating a perfect garden is not limited to plants. Aside from the greenery, many yards in Sydney incorporate rocks to enhance their outdoors into a whole new level. A rock garden is achievable regardless of location and space you have.

Rocks can withstand high and low temperatures that can look great all year round. Also, you don’t need to live in a desert and mountains to create your rock garden. Moreover, rocks need less maintenance than foliage to keep a picturesque view of your yards.

Rocks and plants are almost present everywhere. Using both elements can help you connect with nature while keeping an impeccable garden. On that, here are the best rock garden ideas in 2020 that you can apply on your own.

Mediterranean Dry Rock Garden

If you’re an avid fan of sweet-smelling flowers, the Mediterranean-style is the best design for your rock garden. You can use different colours of rocks to surround your blossoming flowers. If you’re not fond of flowers, you can opt to use lavender and purple fountain grass to match your rockery.

Desert-Inspired Rock Garden

With the barren and rough appearance that rocks provide, it’s easy to create your desert-like garden. The abundant sunlight in your garden can help succulents and cacti thrive in your yard. Using rusty, brownish coloured rocks can elevate your backyard into a typical desert. 

Zen-style Japanese Garden

Beyond aesthetics, nothing can beat a calming and peaceful garden. Such a garden is possible with the zen style that draws inspiration from nature. The build of this garden usually has few boulders matched with green shrubs and pebbles.

Moreover, the few boulders provide miniature mountains in your rock garden. The style usually has greenery on the sides and middle to brighten the mood of your garden. Most importantly, the serene design is always suitable whether you have a large or small yard.

River Rock Garden

Creating a mini river is another best idea for your rockery. The design requires a specific arrangement of pebbles to create a beautiful stream of water. All you need is to be creative enough to mix and match the rocks to come up with a unique design you’ll admire for your garden.

Rocky Pond Landscapes

If you’re not into arranging pebbles for a mini river, then you can opt to have rocky pond landscapes. The water formation is a perfect centrepiece in a small or larger garden. If you want an innovative idea, you can use the rainwater from your rooftop to supply your pond.

A carefully planned pond can become the favourite spot of anyone who will visit your garden. Aside from the significance of rocks for this one, water plants are also crucial in creating a perfect pond. The type of plants you can opt to will depend on the water’s depth of your pond.

Placing plants in your pond can deter the growth of green algae. Here are some of the pond plants you can choose:

• Bog Plants (Planting Depth: 0-15 cm) – Pitcher plant and Corkscrew rush
• Marginal Depth (Planting Depth: 0-15 cm) – Papyrus and Mars Marigold
• Submerged Plants (Planting Depth: 15-40 cm) – Hornworts, Sagittaria
• Deep Water (Planting Depth: Over 40 cm) – Water Lily, Water Violets
• Floating plants – Water Lettuce and Water Hyacinth

Rock Boulder Formation

Boulder formation adds simple yet great aesthetics to your rocky garden. The simplified setup of this uses three boulders at the centre, which is an alternative replacement for statues. Also, adding smaller rocks are ideal in the spaces surrounding your greenery.

Buddha-Inspired Rock Garden

Such a design is easy to pull off if you have a Buddha statue lying around. If you don’t have one, other large objects can replace the figure as a centrepiece of your rock garden. Bamboo and other large plants are ideal for matching the overall oriental design.

Rock Mulch

Mulching your garden is a technique used to cover the soil with organic materials that can help keep moisture and temperature. Aside from dried leaves and crushed woods as mulch, rocks are ideal for mulching as well.

Covering the surrounding empty spaces of your garden with rocks can help you eliminate weeds. But the use of stones for mulching is more of a design rather than functional for your garden. You can create spiral patterns and other arrangements of these rocks to attain an impeccable flower bed.

Rock Garden on a Low Hill

Of all the sloped rock gardens, the low hill idea is the most common. Building this can help you imitate a natural outcrop or a bedding plane at a relatively lower price. All you need to do is fit the stones and plants in a way that they look great and appealing.

Rocky Entryway

A rocky entryway creates a stunning and magnificent passage for your garden. As if you see a portal to another dimension, the structure needs strong adhesion so that stones won’t fall easily. Also, this top-tier rock garden idea requires more work and a pro’s skill to complete.

Conclusion

Aside from greenery, rocks can offer aesthetics in achieving a perfect garden. The usage of stones can keep your garden lively all year round as it can withstand extreme weather and needs less maintenance than plants. 

Moreover, any rock garden requires thorough planning and skills to create an astonishing output. Thus, an expert’s guidance is necessary. Despite the trends in the rockery, you must apply your tastes for a unique design.

At Trees Down Under, we can help you build your dream rock garden. Our team has the expertise to guide you on the ideal plants, rocks and designs for your outdoors. With more than 30 years of experience in beautifying gardens across Sydney, we can help you meet your vision of a beautiful home garden.

Call us at 0475 463 597 for a free estimate. Trees Down Under will help you build an exceptional rocky garden. We are the perfect answer to all your garden makeover needs.

The Importance of Proper Lawn Watering

Plants and grasses alike need water for their survival. And when we say that watering them is crucial, we pertain to the proper ways of watering them. Otherwise, instead of prolonging their life and health, improper ways of watering your lawn may be deleterious for your plants and lawn.

How to Properly Water your Lawn

Below are some of the few methods and techniques to provide your lawn with the right amount of moisture it needs.

Water your lawn early in the morning

The best time to irrigate your lawn is early in the morning before the sun shines directly. The lower temperature during this time helps retain the moisture and keep it from evaporating too quickly.

Moisten your soil to a considerable depth

To obtain a properly hydrated turf, you are advised to water your lawn so that at least 6 inches (15 cm) of soil becomes wet. This depth is equal to the average length of the roots of grasses. 

Water with the right amount of pressure

The pressure of your sprinkler or irrigation system can affect the health and stability of your turf. For a newly-laid lawn, an oscillating sprinkler is preferable because of its low water pressure, thereby aiding the rooting of your turf. On the other hand, well-established lawns can go with a pulsating irrigation system.

Don’t overdo (or underdo) watering

Although water is an essential resource for your lawn, excessive watering may be detrimental to their health. An over-watered lawn may be at risk of fungal infection. On the contrary, insufficient watering may cause roots to be shorter, so the grass is less stable. Thus, you should water your lawn at least once every week if you have clay soils and twice if you have a sandy ground.

Importance of Watering your Lawn Properly

If your lawn could talk, it would probably thank you for properly watering it. Here is a list of reasons why proper lawn watering is important

Maintains the lush and verdant state of your lawn

A well-hydrated grass looks healthier and robust thanks to enough moisture from proper lawn watering. Properly watering your lawn, together with regular maintaining and fertilising, is a significant measure to ensure that your turf looks fuller and greener. 

Prevents lawn dehydration

Especially in the summer and dry seasons, watering your lawn properly and sufficiently can help the roots of your grass receive enough amount of moisture needed for survival. Providing your lawn with enough hydration can compensate for the water loss due to rapid evaporation of water during the hot weather.

Keeps lawn free from diseases

Over-watering your lawn can cause it to become infected by fungal diseases. This is because too much water can suffocate grasses and compromise their immune system. On the other hand, an over-watered lawn can also cause the grass’ roots to be poorly established because of shallow root systems. In addition to fungi, weeds and pest infestation are also commonplace in excessively watered turf. 

Conserves water

Watering done right can conserve water. That’s why the time, volume, and frequency of watering your lawn must be set so that the grass receives only enough amount of moisture necessary for their healthy state 

Conclusion

Water is an essential resource that your lawn needs for survival. Thus, providing your lawn with the right amount of moisture is an important part of lawn care and maintenance.

Trees Down Under is your one-call away garden and tree services in Sydney. Our team of experts in the field of gardening, landscaping, tree removal and tree pruning is always ready to provide you with quality and efficient tree and garden services.

If you have further questions, feel free to contact us. You can call us at 0475 463 597 to get a free quote and book with us.

Winter Lawn Care in Australia

The majority of Australia has four different seasons and one of those seasons is winter. The winter period happens from June to August. During these cold months, the average maximum temperature is 16 degrees Celsius in Sydney.

Although winter in Australia is considered to be mild, the cool temperatures, snow, and rain can damage the plants and lawn in your garden. Hence, taking care of your lawn and preparing them for the challenging winter period is a crucial step so that the grasses remain healthy and sound.

Effects of Winter on the Lawn

Grasses may incur damages and even death during the winter season. Some varieties of grass may be unaccustomed to the cold temperature and be unable to survive.

The drops in the temperature may also damage the roots of grasses. Additionally, ice forming on the exposed portions of grasses makes the leaf blades brittle and, thus, easy to rupture. 

The effects of winter do not stop at the end of the season. As grass regenerates during spring, damage incurred during the cold period can also jeopardise the greening process of the leaves. Blotchy areas may manifest in areas where the frozen lawn takes long to thaw such as in the shady and concentrated areas. 

How to Take Care of the Lawn in Winter

Taking care of your lawn is integral for its longevity and sustainability. So, here are a few tips on how you can help your lawn be at its best state during the winter season.

Let there be light

Provide your lawn with enough sunlight such as by removing anything blocking the sunlight like lawn clippings, leaves, benches, and garden table sets. You may also opt to have your trees pruned if they offer too much shade for your lawn.

Getting rid of these items can help the grass get the amount of heat and air it needs to survive the cold temperatures.

More nutrients and less water

Like any other season, winter also screams nutrients for your turf. Your lawn needs to be fertilised and be given enough amount and type of nutrients that they require for optimum survival. 

On the other hand, providing your lawn with moisture is less beneficial during the winter season. In fact, watering may even be detrimental. An over-watered lawn is more vulnerable to fungi and diseases during this low-temperature season.

Hence, it would be better to just have your lawn watered as needed, such as when the grass becomes dry. It is also advisable to do the watering early in the morning to remove ice formations in the leaves.

Keep grass taller

Grasses grow much slower during the cooler period. So, it’s advisable to mow your lawn less frequently and to maintain a grass height of at least 2.5 cm. 

That way, your lawn could be more adapted to the cold temperature. Taller grasses have more area for photosynthesis, thereby making your turf greener. 

Moreover, they are also less likely to experience scalping and browning during the winter which could make them susceptible to diseases and weeds.

Keep off the grass

Heavy foot traffic on your lawn during the cooler months can compact the soil. Soil compaction can make it difficult for the grass’ roots to receive ample air, sunlight, and nutrients to grow and survive. 

Thus, it’s better to keep off the grass during the months of June to August to keep your soil aerated. You can also perforate your soil using a hand rake to reduce compaction.

Winter Lawn Solutions in Sydney

In Sydney, the winter period can reach as low as 7.1 degrees Celsius. Because of this, winter lawn care is imperative so that they can survive the cold months.

Trees Down Under can help you take care of your lawn. No matter how cold or hot the season gets in Sydney, we are your reliable partner in garden makeovers.

We are ready to serve you. Feel free to contact us anytime. Call us at 0475 463 597 and get a free quote.

When is the Perfect Season for Tree Trimming?

Trees need regular maintenance to look good and grow in a healthy fashion. Just like anything living, trees are susceptible to different conditions with age and maturity. Because of this, tree trimming is a necessity for two reasons: aesthetics and maintenance. A tree that you trim regularly is a tree that can grow better than you expect. However, when exactly is the perfect time to trim your trees in the backyard?

You can’t keep trimming your tree every single time you want to. This will not only be counter-intuitive in keeping the tree in better condition, but it will also add to the pile of expenses that might not even be beneficial for your home. Pick a good time to give your tree the regular maintenance it needs. 

In this way, you don’t only form healthy routine maintenance for your tree. You can also maximise the cost and get the best results. 

A tree trimming primarily involves maintaining tree branches to keep good growth. Usually, a tree trim thins out the tree and gets rid of any overgrowth that might block too much sunlight. Giving your tree a trim also maintains the shape of a tree. 

These are some  things you can consider to get that tree trim you think your tree needs:

Season

One of the indicators for a tree trimming is the season. Most trees grow and get better in different seasons. Therefore, there isn’t one specific season when you should trim your tree. It is essential, however, to know the kind of tree or shrub you’re growing in your lawn. Different tree types equal different seasons of the year for a good trim.

However, in most cases, tree experts will suggest that winter is the best time to give your tree a trim. Winter is like a quiet time for trees. It will be easier for tree trimmers to make more accurate cuts on tree branches. It is also an excellent time to identify dead branches on your tree. 

Whereas winter is one of the most preferred time for a trim, fall is the most dissuaded season for a tree trim. To know more about when you should trim your tree, call your tree expert first.

Age

Starting your tree maintenance at a young age can contribute a lot to the healthy growth of a tree. Starting your tree trimmings when your tree is young doesn’t destroy the tree early; on the contrary, it can help in keeping the shape of the tree. 

Even better, an early start on tree trimming can influence the shape and the growth of future branches. There is no one specific age when you should trim your tree, however, for better maintenance, start them young.

Emergency

There are times where emergencies happen to your trees. If your tree is already brimming with disease or pests, it might be an urgent time to call your arborist. When you choose to postpone the trimming of your tree, more areas and branches might get affected. This will degrade the health of your tree really fast. 

For emergency tree trimmings, there are local services readily available to attend to your tree needs any time. 

Conclusion

Tree maintenance might be an arduous responsibility. In reality, you might not have the time to attend to your trees regularly. Hence, you need reliable people to work on your trees for you while you’re busy with home or work life.

At Trees Down Under, we can do your tree trimmings for you. We understand the general needs a tree has. May it be for better aesthetics, or simply to give your trees a fresher cut it needs, our team of tree experts is surely experienced to handle any sorts of tree services. Moreover, we can tell you when to give your trees the best trim it needs. We want to work with you in growing your trees as healthily as possible. Don’t hesitate to contact us for your tree trimming bookings!

You can call our mobile number 0475 463 597, or you can send us an email for your enquiries at info@treesdownunder.com.au

10 Contemporary Ideas for a Garden Makeover

There’s no better way to get creative and invest in good aesthetics than to have a garden makeover for your comfort zones—one of the best areas to give a little up and improvement in your back landscape at home. You may not see it now, however, adding even the simplest things in your area can boost its looks and theme aesthetics. How do you beautify things around you in the simplest way? 

Here are 10 contemporary ideas for you:

1. Tidy your garden space

Although it is one of the most underhanded ways to improve your space, you are increasing the lively feel of your garden by cleaning it up. Frequently, we catch ourselves diving deep into designs and themes that we forget the most crucial thing, maintenance. Make sure to sweep away dead leaves. Water your plants diligently. Wash and dry your pavement steps properly. This is your founding step in improving your garden looks.

2. Add LED lights

LED lights come in all kinds of colours and shapes. It is one of the most flexible lighting fixtures to have, as such, installing some in your gardens can give it all the difference it needs. Add subtle LED lights to the back of ledges or partitions. Experiment with colours and outline patterns around. This will highlight the more low-key parts of your space.

3. Use colourful shrubs

What is a garden without its very own plants and shrubs? Add colourful shrubs according to different areas. Change up and adjust your plants according to season. You can also mix up and match species of flora to make your garden look more diverse and cultured. Transform your garden into a colourful pit of shrubs to add more life.

4. Add simple statement pieces

You’ll pretty much expect to fill your gardens with so many greens and colours. Why not make it more surprising by adding a few statement pieces? You can add some simple abstract-designed light fixtures. You can play with vintage themes by hanging or installing classic coloured items around. Play with being retro and add a classic-romantic vibe.

5. Change the colour of your outdoor lights

For your indoors, you might be using just one colour of light. For your outdoor spaces, make it different. You can use yellow light lights to highlight some aspects, or you can add some dim coloured lights to increase the subtle romantic atmosphere. Lights definitely spice things up.

6. Polish outdoor fountains

Often, outdoor fountains are a bit of a hassle to maintain. They may grow in mould or look lacklustre from the lack of cleaning of polish. First, scrub your fountain clean and make sure it doesn’t have any parts blotched with discolouration. Second, polish it well and use proper products to make it shine. You can make your outdoor fountain the centre of attention just by polishing it up a bit.

7. Setup an outdoor lounging area

There’s no better way to spend your Friday nights except lounging in a relaxing area and sipping some wine. Why not setup an outdoor lounging space? Make it your outdoor living room. This way, you get actually to enjoy the excellent view your garden provides, and you can unwind with your family or loved one around with natural breeze flowing through.

8. Apply vertical gardening

Space can pose a bit of a challenge nowadays. If you live in an apartment complex or a condominium unit, gardening might be close to impossible to do. However, vertical gardening is now in the trend. Line up your walls with majestic and colourful shrubs that are in season.

9. Use natural elements

You can use natural elements around and incorporate them into the spaces of your gardens. Stones and bricks are good designs that make your garden a bit more concrete and compact. It can also function as borders for some areas. These elements are free around. You don’t need to spend that much to get creative.

10. Add a small fire pit

You can add a small fire pit and make it the centre attraction of your garden. Make this the centrepiece for dinner get-togethers with your friends. It can also be an excellent addition to your grill nights by the grass and some good wine with your friends and family.

Conclusion

More than tree removal services and tree maintenance expertise, Trees Down Under also offers you the garden makeover of your dreams. Make your fairytale gardens come true and work with us in improving your landscape space at home. You don’t always need to go on vacation to relax. Having a good garden view can make all the difference for you. Contact us!

You can call our mobile number 0475 463 597 or you can send us an email for your enquiries at info@treesdownunder.com.au

Home Beautification: Top Turf Laying Techniques

Turf laying is an instant process of having the lawn of your dreams. The grass has already been grown for you so all you’ve left to do is to set it down on the ground.

Although it may seem elementary, turf laying is not a haphazard task. However, you don’t need to be an expert landscape artist to have a lawn that’s laid out as smoothly as possible. You just need to learn these top techniques to lay turf like a pro.

Condition your Soil

The success of your lawn establishment is largely grounded on…the ground!

Prior to laying turf, you must ensure that the soil conditions where you will plant it are conducive to sustain the growth of your grass. You have to bear in mind that the majority of the roots of your turf are chopped off during its harvesting so you need to address their needs for water and nutrients by following these techniques: 

• Remove existing lawn since it hinders the new turf from rooting well and introduces weeds into the new turf. You can use lawn cutters to uproot your old lawn or treat them with an all-inclusive weed killer.
• Loosen the soil with a tiller or rotovator and remove irregularities in the soil such as rocks, debris and perennial weeds. This would help later when you’re levelling the ground.
• Thoroughly mix high-quality topsoil and compost with your own ground soil and then incorporate a starter fertiliser into the top 3 cm of the ground. These additives increase the nutrient levels your turf desperately needs. 
• Moisten your soil to supply water to the roots of your turf. Moreover, hydrating your soil allows it to be lightly compacted before you rake the ground surface evenly.

Ideally, the depth of your garden soil for turfing is at least 15 cm but the deeper you can enrich your soil, the more conducive it will be for the sustainability and growth of your lawn.

Ensure Turf Quality

Time is a critical factor in laying turf. From the moment the turves are reaped, their shelf life begins ticking and the longer they’re left rolled up, the more that their quality deteriorates especially during the hot weather. 

To guarantee that you will only lay fresh and high-quality turf, it’s better to have it at delivered when you’ll immediately roll it down on the ground. Turf is typically dispatched within 2 working days so you must have your ground prepared by then. 

Similarly, you must only order enough turves you can roll out in a day. For starters working alone, 100 rolls of turf are manageable but no one’s stopping you from hiring help to finish everything within the day. 

Install Turf with Expertise

When everything’s prepared, you can begin establishing your new lawn. Below are some tips to ensure that turf is laid out as smoothly as possible:

• Start positioning turf along the longest edge. For fields that are round in shape, it’s better to start at the centre and then work your way out. 
• Stagger the turves in brickwork manner and ensure that they are close to each other but not overlapping. Push the turf if you need to but never pull them to stretch.
• Trim ends using a cutter to shape around any obstructions such as trees, poles, and path walks. 
• Fill spaces between turves with light soil to prevent them from drying out. This excess soil can be removed later on when the lawn becomes more grounded.
• Ensure that your newly-laid lawn and the soil are intact by lightly pressing down the turves using a rake or a laying board. This compression also eliminates air pockets under your turf. Furthermore, planks can also be used to walk over your freshly-laid turf as you work and ensure that your turves remain level.

Maintain your Turf

All the time and effort you’ve invested on your turf installation would go to waste if you don’t take care of your freshly-laid turf. Here are some turf laying aftercare:

• Drench your implanted turf with water so that its limited roots can reach down through the top 4-5 cm of soil beneath it where water has percolated. Prioritize watering the edges since they dry out quicker than the middle. Moreover, it’s best that you water the areas with laid turf first before finishing laying turf on the entire field.
• Avoid disturbing your newly-laid turf during the first 3-4 weeks by stepping on it so that the grass grows securely and firmly. 

Conclusion

Laying turf on your own can be a strenuous and challenging task. That’s why Trees Down Under is here to make your dream lawn come true and take all the hassles away from you! Trees Down Under is dedicated to making your garden grinder and more appealing. We offer high-quality garden services including turf installation for your home and office garden needs. 

Want us to lay down your turf? Feel free to contact us at 0475 463 597 or send us an email here: info@treesdownunder.com.au

Introduction to Hydroseeding

At some point in your life, you’ve looked at greeneries and wondered how grasses can grow so lush and even, especially over large fields and sloping areas.

As the world becomes more urbanised and modern, finding green spaces turns out to be difficult. But it’s not impossible to achieve if ever you want one! 

A method called hydroseeding can help you achieve your desired lawn quickly and cost-effectively. Lawn established through hydroseeding has grass that grows uniformly and sturdily in just a month. Moreover, hydroseeding is a good erosion control technique, especially in sloping areas and hillsides.

What is Hydroseeding?

Hydroseeding or hydraulic seeding is the process of planting grass by spraying seeds that are suspended in water and other ingredients such as fertiliser and green dye. This mixture called slurry is sprayed onto the topsoil through a hose connected to a hydroseeding tank where the mixture is constantly homogenised.  

This process of lawn development is a much faster alternative to the traditional method of scattering dry grass seed over the field and more cost-effective than turf laying. 

Hydroseeding Essentials

Hydroseeding is a straightforward process that only requires at least two things:

• Slurry – Slurry is the mixture of seeds, water, soil conditioner and additional components such as tracking dyes and binding agents. The green dye is used to identify the areas that have been sprayed over already while the binder or tackifier keeps the seeds fixed to the soil so that they wouldn’t be washed away by the rain and stay in place long enough to germinate. 

Hydromulching or hydraulic mulching is a variant of hydroseeding which incorporates fibre mulch into the mixture. 

• Hydroseeder – This is the hydroseeding truck or trailer that stores and constantly combines your slurry mixture. This equipment has a built-in hose with a particular nozzle for easy spraying of the slurry mixture. 

Hydroseeding Process

Hydroseeding begins with the creation of your slurry mixture and ends with your grass or crop germination and growth, of course.  

1. Your chosen seeds together with water, fertiliser, green dyes and binders or tackifiers are mixed together to create a thick slurry.
2. This mixture is loaded unto the hydroseeder to continuously mix and keep the components evenly distributed.
3. The hydroseeding tank can be mounted unto trucks or trailers for easy transport and spraying.
4. The slurry is sprayed on the surface of your planting area using a pressurised hose and nozzle.
5. Expect the grass to germinate within a week and your turf to be robust in about a month.

Hydroseeding is advised to be performed in the spring for seed germination because the wet and cool weather allows the soil to maintain more moisture. Moreover, hydraulic seeding during the spring can provide your grass more time to develop in the summer and fall before the damaging winter begins.

Why should you do Hydroseeding? 

Hydroseeding has so many applications and benefits to offer such as:

• Hydroseeding is a quicker way to plant grass and crops to a vast area, much faster than the traditional method of casting dry seeds. Moreover, results of hydroseeding materialise in a shorter period of time (around 7 days) and usually with high rates of germination.
• Although it is more expensive than the old method of scattering seeds, hydroseeding is more cost-effective than laying down sod or turf. 
• Hydroseeding can be applied to establish grass on areas that are hardly accessible such as hillsides and steep-sloping fields. It can also provide effective erosion control for these areas as well as in construction sites. 
• Hydroseeding can be used without mulch as long as the planting area has healthy soil and ample irrigation.
• Hydroseeding solutions can be used to revegetate areas after a wildfire. Aircraft application may be utilized to cover the wide field faster.
• Because of the wet slurry mixture, hydroseeding can help reduce dust pollution. Moreover, it can also prevent unwanted weeds from growing by incorporating the right ingredient in the mixture. 

Conclusion

Having a verdant lawn in your backyard or outside your commercial establishment adds an engaging factor to your visitors and clients. Trees Down Under can help you achieve your green landscape quickly and affordably. We offer hydroseeding and garden services to help you with your gardening and landscape beautification. Feel free to contact us anytime you want! 

Call us at 0475 463 597 or send us an email at info@treesdownunder.com.au

The Cost of Beauty: Is Turf Laying Expensive?

The time it takes for grass to grow can be a lengthy one. But turf laying can make it possible in an instant. 

Turf laying is a time-saving and convenient option for you to achieve your dream lawn in a shorter period of time and with less effort. Provided this, it shouldn’t come out as a surprise if the cost of installing turf is more expensive than other methods. After all, grass has been grown for you and all that’s left to do is transplant them to your garden. 

The total cost of laying turf depends on three things: 

• The size of your lawn
• Your chosen grass variant
• Professional services for lawn installation

To install a 50-square metre lawn by yourself, it would normally cost you around $390 to $750, depending on the grass variety of your choice. This price range doesn’t include professional fees yet such as delivery charge, old lawn or soil removal, lawn mix addition, and cost of installation.

Size and Grass Variety

You can opt to work on your own without hiring professional help to keep costs down. In this case, you only have to consider the size of your lawn and the grass variant you want.

For the lawn turf itself, excluding the delivery fee, expect to pay around $7-$14 per square metre depending on the grass species. Here is a list of prices of different turf variants per square metre: 

• Kikuyu: $6.50/m2
• Couch: $6.95/m2
• Sir Walter: $12/m2
• Buffalo (Palmetto, Sapphire and Mathilda): $12/m2
• Empire Zoysia: $12.50/m2

The bigger the size of your lawn, the higher the costs you have to pay since you will purchase more turf to cover the area. Turves are usually sold in 60-square metre pallets so if you have the same size of lawn area, it would typically cost around $390-$750 minus the delivery charge. To break it down for you:

• Kikuyu: $390
• Couch: $417
• Sir Walter: $720
• Buffalo (Palmetto, Sapphire and Mathilda): $720
• Empire Zoysia: $750

If natural grass doesn’t do it for you, you may opt for artificial turf which can amount to $30 to $280 per square metre depending on your style choice.

Choosing Your Grass Variant

Aside from your budget and preferred aesthetic, you might also want to consider these factors to make spending more worthful:

• The climate in your area – Kikuya, Couch, and Empire Zoysia are ideal for Australian lawns because they are drought-resistant and resilient grass species. 
• Shade tolerance – The Buffalo varieties Mathilda, Palmetto and Sapphire are ideal for shaded lawns
• Maintenance – Kikuyu can be mowed once a week during the summer. Couch grass requires mowing at least once a month, and once or twice in the winter.

Professional Installation

If you’re really into beautifying your lawn and you want to invest on it, you may have it installed by turf professionals. It may raise the price significantly, but it’s reasonable given that you don’t have to do any work and you’ll be provided with quality service.

Landscape professionals can charge differently in laying turf but the key factors that determine the price are:

• Old lawn or soil removal
• Topsoil application
• Turf installation

Lawn Removal and Soil Application

It’s not advised that you just overlay your new turf to your old lawn. Having at least a depth of 10 cm of this soil removed can cost around $12-$19 per square metre. After removal, it will need to be replaced with quality lawn mix estimated to be around $12-$22 per square metre. Lawn sand can be a more budget-friendly option at $4 per square metre but it will require you more fertiliser since the nutrient levels get washed away quicker than the special lawn mix. 

Installation

Turf installations can typically be completed within a day, depending on the number of workers your landscaper has. Be ready with a budget of $5.50-$8 per square metre for the professional installation of turf.

To sum up, if you had to have an old lawn removed and then a special lawn mix added, your total turf laying price can reach $36-63 per square metre. However, if you’ve personally prepared your garden soil and you only needed the lawn installation service, it will bring down your overall cost to $12-$22 per square metre.

Conclusion

Spending money on turf installation is a good investment. Although it’s relatively pricier than the traditional method of planting grass seeds, turf laying offers you faster results, making your garden more beautiful in a shorter period of time.

Trees Down Under is always ready to give your green spaces their much-deserved makeover. We offer the best gardening services in Sydney including lawn removal and turf installation to ensure that you get your money’s worth. 

For questions or inquiries please call us at 0475 463 597 or email us at info@treesdownunder.com.au

Hydro Seeding versus Basic Seeding: Which is Better?

Garden and lawn owners all over Sydney understands the importance of a healthy and robust lawn. Whether in residential and commercial spaces, grasses play a vital role in the aesthetics and well-being of the green space.

Eventually, your gardening needs may require you to install a new lawn, repair an old one, or enhance your current garden landscape. For any of these, there are two popular methods you can choose in achieving a lush green garden ‒ hydro seeding and basic seeding.

Regardless of the purpose of the seeding process, you’ll have to weigh the benefits and risks of every procedure. Thus, you’ll know whether or not hydro seeding is a better option, or it makes more sense to sow the seeds by hand.

Hence, let us compare and contrast hydro seeding and basic seeding to identify which is the better option.

Hydro Seeding

Hydro seeding uses slurry, which is a combination of water, fertilisers, grass seeds, mulch, and additives. A mechanical pump sprays this mixture through a nozzle, allowing for a uniform distribution around an area. 

The fertilisers and additives included in the compound promote germination. However, the job isn’t quite done after spraying since you’ll need to water it for more than three times a day.

On the other hand, a hydro seeding process has downsides to consider when opting for it. 

Hydro Seeding Tackifier

One primary component for hydro seeding is glue or tackifier. This makes sure that the separate ingredients stay together after application and don’t wash out. However, the tackifier does not glue the mixture to the ground. 

Hence, when a heavy rainstorm occurs, excessive water could penetrate between the compound and the soil. So when enough water builds up, it could wash away the whole mixture in large sheets.

Hydro Seed Agitator

When applying a layer of hydro seed in your lawn, a mechanical or jet agitator continuously mixes the ingredients throughout the entire process. Since the mechanism blends the seeds, mulch, and additives evenly, there is no rhyme or reason about which component ends up above the layer and which one goes to the bottom. 

That means there is a good chance for the seeds to germinate when they are pressed firmly against the soil. 

However, despite the inconsistency of layers, as long as you prepare the soil well, it will still produce an even growth of lush grass. You have to make sure to till the soil enough to take in enough water without shedding it away. 

Basic Seeding

Basic grass seeding, or sowing, involves hand tools from the soil preparation up to the planting process. Similar to hydro seeding, you eliminate any weeds and till the soil by turning it over about eight (8) centimetres deep. 

This helps aerate the soil and loosen it up to accept the grass seeds to be planted. Before you can sow the grass seeds, you’ll need to firm the land using a compactor or lawn roller.

Unlike hydro seeding, you’ll have to fertilise the soil manually and make sure that it is moist before sowing the seeds. 

Afterwards, you’ll need to sow the seeds by hand and press them firmly into the soil using a rake and a roller. Then, you need to cover it with a layer of straw or any mulch of your choice.

Moreover, many gardeners agree that a straw mulch is way better than a hydro-mulch, as it provides better shade and protection over your grass seeds. 

Basic seeding also establishes a uniform layer of fertilisers, grass seeds, and straw mulch ‒ unlike the uniform mixture of a hydro seed where the seeds aren’t firmly pressed onto the soil.

Oh the other hand, basic seeding also has its own share of downsides.

Amount of Work

Every part of the process involves active engagement and serious amounts of work. From tilling the land to fertilising and sowing, you’ll need to bathe under the sun for quite some time before you complete the planting process. 

But it doesn’t end in sowing since you’ll need to cover the entire plot with mulch. While that’s fine for small plots of land, it might take some time to cover a vast space.

Time-consuming

Sowing inarguably takes longer to accomplish than hydro seeding. Each step might take an hour, depending on the availability of hand tools and the size of space to cover. 

Unlike hydro seeding which only takes up an hour or two to distribute the mixture, basic seeding will take a day or two to accomplish fully. Besides, sowing regular seeds takes longer to produce grass. However, it is far less expensive than hydro seeding.

Is Hydro Seeding Better than Basic Seeding?

We’ve weighed the pros and cons of both techniques. So is hydro seeding actually prove to be better than basic seeding?

It will mainly depend on your requirements. After all, they are mostly the same processes, except for the fact that hydro seeding uses water and additives to scatter and plant the seeds. 

You’ll also need to think about your budget. While hydro seeding is a faster and more efficient technique, it might even cost you more because of the equipment rental and labour fees. 

For basic seeding, you’ll only need to get your hands on a rake and lawn roller, as well as fertiliser and grass seeds of your choice.

Nevertheless, you’ll still need to have a regular watering routine for your grass seeds in both applications. If you’ve wrapped your head around these factors, it might be easy for you to choose whether to opt for hydro seeding or simply plant the grass seeds by hand.

Conclusion

Choosing between hydro seeding and basic seeding solely depends on your needs. If you’ll be covering a vast piece of land, it would be best to pick hydro seeding. 

But if you’re only seeding a small space, say your garden, then using up a bit of energy by sowing will prove to be a better option. Besides, exercising your green thumb and doing it with your family sounds like a great bonding idea.

Finally, how about complementing your lush grass with a profound garden landscape? With the help of Trees Down Under, you can unleash the true beauty of your garden. We are the only partner you’ll need for your commercial and residential garden landscapes.

You can put your trust to us in making your dream garden a reality. Call us now on 0475 463 597, and we’ll respond with a free quote. We are the perfect solution to all your budget-friendly garden and landscaping needs.

How to Manage Green Waste and Save Our Environment at the Same Time

In a time where health concerns are imminent, and the world is facing turbulent times, everyone plays an essential role in conserving and preserving our only planet. One way this becomes possible is by implementing an effective and eco-friendly waste management system in residential and commercial spaces.

Moreover, a single Aussie is responsible for about 400kg of household rubbish every year ‒ where 180kg of that comprises of green waste from yard clippings and food waste. That amounts to 15.3kg of methane emissions per annum. 

While that sounds small, it has a carbon dioxide equivalent of 321kg. Multiply that with Sydney’s total population of more than five (5) million and the numbers would significantly blow up.

Now that you have a vague idea about how harmful emissions from green waste are ‒ let’s talk about how you can manage your green waste and save our environment at the same time.

What is Composting?

Among the many ways to get rid of green waste, the most efficient method known to Sydneysiders is composting. It is by far the most excellent approach to eliminate green waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

However, it can sound intimidating, as people believe it is only for those with a green thumb and a sizeable yard.

Moreover, composting is an all-natural process of converting green waste into organic fertiliser through decomposition. It isn’t as hard as you believe because anyone with a small green space can effectively make use of this process.

How Compost Impacts the Environment

Green waste, as the name implies, is directly associated with compost. It is the end result of everything you’ve stored in a compost pit, including weeds, leaves, clippings, and food waste. Furthermore, these organic matter will decompose, eventually decaying into a potent fertiliser.

Fertilisers are also critical components for robust and healthy plant growth. On the other hand, widely available commercial fertilisers can introduce strong chemicals into the soil, reducing its quality in the long run. 

That’s where an organic fertiliser stands out ‒ as its all-natural ingredients do more good than store-bought fertilisers. 

Besides, by managing your green waste, you are doing your part in diverting rubbish from landfills. There, the biodegradable waste decomposes without the presence of oxygen, allowing for the generation of methane. 

Methane production is minimised in compost pits, as oxygen is freely available. Thus, compost pits produce carbon dioxide, which traps 86 times less heat than the potent methane gas.

How to Start Composting at Home

Presuming you’re planning to start a compost at home, you’ll have to look for a spot on your yard for a compost heap. For starters, it is best to dig a small pit on the ground or have a large container.

Then, add a mixture of nitrogen-rich “green” waste, and carbon-heavy “brown” materials. Green waste includes food and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and used-up tea leaves. Brown materials tend to be dry, including sawdust, old newspaper, and clippings from dead plants.

To maintain your compost, make sure to turn and shuffle it with a shovel and let it aerate. Moreover, adding water will keep the moisture which activates the decomposition. However, keep an eye on critters and rodents, as the moist environment of a compost pit is an ideal habitat for disease-causing organisms.

If everything is well done, you can sit back and let nature do its work. After a few months, you’ll notice a significant change in the appearance of your green waste as they morph into the soil. You can then use this material as your garden fertiliser and give back to nature in your own small ways.

The compost you just made promotes water retention in soil. Hence, your budding plants will need less irrigation if its soil is combined with compost fertilisers. 

Furthermore, it tends to encourage better crop yields, so you can get more out of your fruit plants with less water, which is an affordable way to grow your own food, flowers, and other plants.

Conclusion

How you manage your green waste will dictate how you take care of your environment. A simple act of ignorance and failure to take action will contribute to the increasing rate of global temperatures and greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, worsening the climate crisis.

Instead of throwing green waste recklessly, you can turn it into usable materials and give it back to nature in the most eco-friendly manner. With composting, you can help reduce energy consumption in rubbish removal processes, minimise air and water pollution, as well as improve the overall health and well-being of your garden.

When it comes to achieving the true beauty of your garden, you’ll need more than a handful of compost fertilisers. For your landscaping, tree pruning, and garden makeover, Trees Down Under is the only partner you’ll ever need.

You can put your trust to us in making your dream garden a reality. Call Trees Down Under now on 0475 463 597, and we’ll respond with a free quote. We are the perfect solution to your garden needs.