Contact Us
0475 463 597
0475 463 597

Category: Landscaping

Key Elements of a Great Landscaping Design

Anybody has a dream home design in mind. As a result, thousands of people spend a big portion to make their homes beautiful. It’s not just the building structure and the architectural design that brings out a home’s best features. The landscape and the property itself brings out either the best or the worst phases of any home. Consider making your landscapes as beautiful as you want. Your property also shines with the garden scenery you bring to life.

To make the landscape of your home the best aesthetic you’re aiming for, you have local partners that can help you. Trees Down Under offers landscaping services to help you achieve your dreams. You don’t need to start from scratch. Start from our experience and expertise in helping you make your dream garden scenes come to life. Get the help of our professionals in assessing the key elements that can make an impact on creating your home.

Layout

First things first: the layout. It is perhaps the most basic element to start considering when you’re about to embark on a great landscaping design for your home. Know the technical aspects of your property. Find the area of the entire landscape-able parts of your property. Decide on the zones of your area. You can divide the areas of your land into lawn area, plant areas, dining area, living area. Plan the layout of your garden landscape well to designate specific purpose in the space.

Material

Are you a fan of stone and mineral substances? Do you want to have more woody materials in your design? Decide on the kind of materials you want to use in your landscape. Afterwards, incorporate these materials to the layout. See if the materials you will use are compatible with the layout you want. Many logistical and natural conditions might hinder you from using the materials you want. Moreover, in the end, consider the waste disposal of your landscape construction too.

Boundaries

The boundaries we are talking about here means the external boundaries. This is important to consider homes that have neighbouring properties. Set a border or fencing allowance to your layout so you don’t end up having conflicts with people next door. Decide the height and the kind of boundaries that will contain your landscape. Sometimes, having a private landscape makes your home more magical to you. There’s nothing wrong with keeping your space private.

Plants and shrubs

The most important and highlighted part of landscapes and the plants and shrubs you will put in the land. Many homegrown and native Australian plants bring out the colour in your property. You can mix and match and play with the season too. If you feel like picking out low maintenance plants to save time, there are plenty to choose from. You can have your own space for crops too. Grow the green thumb in you and learn more about different shrubs you can grow.

Lighting and fixtures

Sometimes, a little fixture and some accessories can bring the modern or classic touch in your landscape. Different lighting designs and other items can influence the mood of your garden. If you want a more classic vibe, you can always go for rustic designed bulb fixtures. If you want a more playful touch, you can consider colourful LED lights to your space. A difference in lighting can transform your garden from a daytime lawn to a nighttime garden party scenery. Light it up!

Conclusion 

Trees Down Under has always prided itself in helping people build their private spaces into a private paradise. Landscaping involves a lot of work and effort. It takes a lot of planning and flawless execution to make the land into a landscape. As a team who wants to help property-owners transform their place, we offer nothing but the best and the professional work to you. We offer our landscaping service to you. Let us work with you in this beautiful transformation of your home.

Contact us on our mobile 0475 463 597.  You can also send us an email or enquire with us here..

These Beautiful Australian Flowers Should Be in Your Garden

Flowers make everything bright and wonderful, don’t you agree? As such, to give your home joy, start growing your private garden paradise. With this garden paradise, only the best flowers and plants should make your slice of nature their home. There are many species of plants around the globe. You have millions to choose from. To make your gardens more optimal, there are certain Australian home-grown that bring out the best in your landscape. 

There are plenty of things you can do in your garden. You can start by planting Australian-native flora that can brighten your private space. Trees Down Under can give you a hand in that. We are a group of passionate people who want only the best shrubs in your garden. Many of these shrubs are straight from the Australian nation. Our professionals can guarantee only the best aesthetic you’re aiming for in your garden. 

Banksia (Banksias)

Banksias are native to Australia. As an original in the nation, they deserve a spot in your garden. Banksias come in shades of yellow, orange and red in their flowering season. They attract different insects and wildlife like bees and good insects. Banksias thrive well in the sun and they burn at extremely high temperatures. They are perfect as your summer plants in the yard to cheer you up. 

Australian Daisy (Brachyscome)

These beautiful purple thin-leaved flowers are one of the most popular in Australia. They can also come in shades of blue or white. Australian Daisies tend to grow in any setting. You can find them almost anywhere which makes them one of the most common species to grow in various spaces. As such, you should find them in your garden too. They grow best in full or half sun conditions. Make sure to have them in the summer to brighten up the mood of your garden at home.  

Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos)

Kangaroo paws are far from the flower-shaped shrubs you see normally. These native grows in red tubular stems with tubular parts that hold different coloured flowers. The flowers of Kangaroo Paws can range from green, yellow, pink. They can also come in beautifully blended combinations of different warm colours. They grow well during winter up to spring. To add, the unique shape of the Kangaroo Paw adds a more exotic atmosphere to your garden.

Grevillea

If you want a low-maintenance friend in your garden, Grevilleas are your best friend. They can produce as much orange to pink-tinged flowers that can grow in varying heights. They are flowering shrubs around the year. This is perfect as an all-season kind of plant you can have around. There are plenty of species of Grevilleas that you can choose from. Pick one that suits your taste and water it from time to time. 

Australian Tea-tree

If you want a citrus smelling environment in your garden, this tall shrub is the one for you. Australian Tea-trees produce a lemon-like zesty smell that can instantly lighten up your space. They also produce white flowers that can brighten up your garden. To maintain your Australian Tea-trees around, prune it regularly with Trees Down Under. 

Wattle (Acacia)

Anything that represents the country is worth mentioning, at least. The Golden Wattle is the national flower in Australia. If you want the perfect tinge of yellow to gold hue in your garden, plant these around. They also produce a pleasant smell early in their lives. As Wattles are still trees, prune them well. Pruning your Wattles serves as its grooming and maintenance. Keep your wattles healthy by calling in your tree professionals from time to time.  

Conclusion 

Trees Down Under is your one-stop regular solution to garden concerns. We are a team with more than three decades of professional experience in making gardens and landscapes better. We can also work with you in putting in the Australian natives right in their place in your garden. Make your home bright and wonderful by adding these florae around. We work with only the best standards and quality in mind. Your garden is your little slice of paradise, let us help you with it.

To inquire about our garden services, you can contact us on our mobile 0475 463 597.  You can also send us an email or enquire with us here.

Types of Noxious Weeds Found in NSW and How to Deal with Them

You may find it odd to see plants in your garden that aren’t supposed to be there. Weeds are plants that grow arbitrarily. They aren’t planted nor wanted in any land because they multiply uncontrollably and compete with other plants for water and nutrients. 

The NSW council frowns upon noxious weeds, in particular, because of their invasiveness and ability to spread fast. These plants pose a threat to the economy, community, and the environment. As a result, it is imperative to control these noxious plants throughout NSW before they become unmanageable and disastrous.

Types of Noxious Weeds in NSW

The local council and agricultural experts consider a lot of weeds noxious in NSW. The Minister for Primary Industries regarded these plants as such because they are harmful to agriculture and plants, ecosystems, animals, and humans. Below are the types of noxious weeds based on their class.

Class 1 (State Prohibited Weeds) 

The entire state orders the eradication of noxious weeds that fall under this class and keeping of the state free of the plant. It is essential to notify the local council if ever you spot class 1 noxious weeds so that they can perform measures to control the said weeds.

Some examples of class 1 noxious weeds found in NSW include:

Class 2 (Regionally Prohibited Weeds) 

The parts of the state that prohibits class 2 noxious weeds must eradicate and keep the region free of the plant. Like in Class 1, you should also notify the local council for any discovery of class 2 weeds so that they can regulate them. Some examples of class 2 noxious weeds found in NSW include:

Class 3 (Regionally Controlled Weeds)

The region should fully and continuously suppress and destroy class 3 noxious weeds to reduce and confine the negative impacts of the infestation. Some examples of class 3 noxious weeds found in NSW include:

Class 4 (Locally Controlled Weeds)

The local community must control the growth of these noxious weeds to reduce their numbers, spread, and incidence and to inhibit their proliferation continuously. The locality should also aim to minimise the negative impacts of class 4 weeds on agriculture, community, and environment. Some examples of class 4 noxious weeds found in NSW are:

Class 5 (Restricted Plants)

NSW restricts weeds that haven’t been established in the state yet or only have rare occurrences. The state also prohibits selling weeds that were initially garden or aquarium plants but have the potential to become noxious weeds. The MPI created this class to prevent the introduction and spread of these potential weeds throughout NSW. Examples of class 5 noxious weeds are:

How to Deal with Noxious Weeds. 

Since weeds can grow anywhere, it wouldn’t be surprising to find some in your garden. When these unwanted plants appear in your garden, you need to take measures to control their growth and proliferation immediately. Some ways on how you can deal with them are listed below.

Prevent weed growth

Preventing noxious weeds from growing in your yard is more straightforward and cost-effective than getting rid of existing ones. While it is impossible for you to avoid undesirable plants, you can still use weed killers to intervene during their early stages of development. Applying selective weed killers can hinder the growth and spread of noxious weeds while keeping the desirable plants safe. 

Cover soil with mulch

Mulching is an effective way to inhibit weed growth. Covering the ground with mulch hinders the seeds of noxious weeds from germinating due to lack of sunlight. It also helps nurture the significant plants since mulch allows moisture and nutrient retention as well as temperature moderation. 

Take the weeds out

The best way to get rid of noxious weeds is to pull them out manually. The trick is to pull the entire plant to take out the root so that the weed stops regrowing. You can ensure that you’ve included the roots by pulling from the base and digging the soil using a spade or fork. Watering the soil is also a good idea so that you can easily slip the weeds out. 

Cultivate high-quality plants

High-quality, desirable plants and weed-free crops can outcompete noxious weeds. These plants can hoard all the nutrients, water, and sunlight that the weeds also need, thereby preventing the unwanted plant from flourishing. 

Apply herbicides 

Chemical application of herbicides is a surefire way to kill existing noxious weeds in your yard. It is also an excellent treatment for your garden soil when you remove your old lawn. Just make sure that you read and follow the directions so that you can safely apply the chemical.

Conclusion

Noxious weeds are undesirable plants in your garden because they endanger other plants, animals, and people. Thus, you should remove them immediately if you notice any seed or sprout in your yard so that they don’t thrive. That is, however, an exhausting task. You may also find it frustrating to stop and limit the proliferation of weeds in your garden. More so when you notice your precious plants and lawn die of weed infestation. 

Trees Down Under can help you deal with weed problems in your garden. Throughout our more than 30 years of service in the Sydney area, we have remained to be your number one partner in garden and tree removal services. Our expert gardeners and plant experts have the right tools and expertise to ensure that your yard is free from any noxious weeds. Contact us now at 0475 463 597 to get a free quote.

How to Choose the Right Artificial Turf for Your Lawn

As climate change makes it difficult to sustain a lush garden, many households in Sydney opt for artificial turf. The extreme changing weather creates many brown patches and uneven colours to your greenery. But with synthetic grass, worry less to achieve a green yard all year round.

Installing artificial turf in your yard means less maintenance and no watering. Also, you don’t need to apply fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides to keep a perfect lawn. Beyond that, artificial grass gives you a wide array of options to beautify your home from its types, colours, shades and thickness.

Moreover, high-quality fabricated grass can last for more than 20 years— providing huge savings from costs and maintenance. Setting artificial turf in your lawn is a long-term investment; thus, it’s crucial to choose the best product in making a lush garden for decades.

That said, here are the factors to consider when opting for the right artificial greenery in your lawn:

Usage

As kids and even pets love to play on your lawn, it’s ideal to have a durable artificial turf. The fabricated grass should withstand your daily outdoor activities. If you don’t consider the frequent usage of it, your investment could wear out too quickly.

Quality

Choosing a high-quality artificial turf doesn’t necessarily mean buying the most expensive one. The healthy competition in the marketplace provides plenty of affordable, but quality-grade synthetic greenery. Also, you can check if it’s highly durable and other traits for your personal preference.

Here are some of the traits of a high-quality artificial turf:

Pile Height

The pile height is the blade length usually measured in millimetres from the top of the backing to the turf’s tip. Residential lawns typically use more extended pile height as it is more visually appealing and soft underfoot. However, a very long blade will flatten out over time, making your artificial lawn weathered and flat.

On that, the recommended blade length is 30-37 mm. Such a short length will give you a natural-like lawn that looks fresh yet well-manicured. But it would help if you still swept it now and then, but not as often as you would with longer pile height. 

Density and Weight

When choosing a durable synthetic grass, opt to a denser product that has more fabricated yarns per square foot of turf. As for weight, heavier artificial greenery indicates higher quality. A thicker and heavier artificial grass is expensive. Still, such investment can last for 20 years or more when properly handled and maintained.

Colour

Selecting colours of your synthetic turf is a crucial decision, considering it will furnish your yard for a couple of years. Take a close look on your lawn, and you can see the colour isn’t uniform. With that, you can opt for varying shades of green to make your yard completely natural-looking.

The commonly mixed colours in synthetic grass are olive-green, dark green and lime green. Aside from the different shades of green, you can opt for a product with a few brown flecks. The minimal brownish touch in it can make your lawn look even more natural and full.

Artificial Turf Composition

Inspecting the composition of the synthetic grass can help you choose the right quality product. The C4 materials in fabricated greenery is a recycled polyethylene that is sensitive to temperature and potentially unstable to UV lights. The C4 turf is cheap, but it might end up costing you more visually and financially.

Meanwhile, you can opt for C6 as a high-quality material for your artificial lawn. Such composition means that your synthetic turf is more robust, less sensitive to temperature and softer to touch. 

Infill and Backing

The typically used infills are sand and rubber granules which provide weight and body to the grass while protecting the base of the yarns. However, rubber under extreme heat can produce minimal toxic chemical residue to your yard. On that, the installation company can help you use gravels and other types of infill to suit your changing needs.

Moreover, the backing of your synthetic lawn uses polyurethane or latex. The latex can expand and contract under extreme heat, but poly backed materials do not. Polyurethane-based products are ideal for installing in a scorching area, making sure your artificial lawn won’t expand and contract that might cause ripples and tears.

Non-Allergic Artificial Turf

Some designs of faux lawns deter allergens or hypoallergenic. It’s necessary especially if you’re installing artificial greenery for your children and pets. With that consideration, it’s better to always look for synthetic grass that naturally deters allergens such as pollens and dust.

Warranty

When choosing the right synthetic grass for your lawn, always ask for the warranties of the product. Consider how long it will last and what it covers. Most of the manufacturing companies give a 15-year warranty while products start to wear out after 20 or more years.

See to it that the warranty offers solutions when there are damages in your artificial lawn. You can also look for a product warranty that covers UV stabilisation or colour fade and the general integrity of the fake greenery.

Conclusion

Maintaining a lush natural lawn becomes difficult due to the extreme weather condition. As a result, artificial turf is ideal for making a perfect lawn without worrying from the damaging heat of the sun.  

Moreover, installing synthetic turf is a long-term investment. Thus, it’s crucial to have thorough speculation on what are the factors you should consider before choosing the best product for your lawn. Also, artificial greenery can last longer when you properly maintain and handle it.

At Trees Down Under, we offer the best gardening services in Sydney. Our expert team can remove damaged lawns and install your synthetic turf for an impeccable garden you aspire. We can also guide you from the installation process to finding the right artificial grass for your lawn.

For turf installation, please call us today at 0475 463 597. Trees Down Under will help you keep up the evergreen lawn for your outdoors. We are the perfect answer to your garden.

Is Artificial Turf Right for Your Yard?

A yard with lush grasses is an excellent outdoor spot to play with your kids and pets. As Sydney’s climate is getting warmer, you might see uneven colours and brown patches in your lawn. In effect, artificial turfs become popular as mainstream landscaping options in the city.

Artificial grass has become a realistic and affordable option to replace natural grass in lawns. It’s also more convenient to use when putting greens surrounding your pools, rooftops and decorative borders between patio pavers. 

Moreover, the synthetic turf has a good drainage layer compacted usually with gravel. It has recycled crumb rubber or sand to prevent the stiff breeze from blowing it. Also, it gives you a wide array of options in textures, finishes, colours and blade shapes.

But should you go for it? Before you can decide, it’s crucial to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of having artificial grass installed in your property. With that, here are the factors to help you decide if artificial turf is right for your yard:

Lesser Maintenance

If you have a tight schedule, installing artificial turf can save you a lot of time. The artificial grass won’t require you to spend hours in mowing and trimming your yard. On that, you can spend your weekends to bond with your family more.

However, it doesn’t mean that synthetic grass is maintenance-free. You still need to clean and rinse the debris and dirt in it. Also, grooming your lawn is necessary to fluff the grass blades and keep it matted.

Reduced Utility Bills

Is your water bill too high, especially in summer? It’s because one-third of your bill goes to watering your lawn. With the artificial grass, say goodbye to your sprinklers and expensive water bill.

Opting for artificial turf means no mowing, which can cut a chunk from your electric bills. As natural grass requires mowing to maintain, the mower consumes a large amount of electricity. Aside from that, natural grass releases oxygen while mowing it contributes to carbon pollution— the by-product of burning fuels to produce energy.

Prevent Chemical Use

A well-maintained natural grass is somehow applied with fertilisers to boost growth. But with synthetic turf in your yard, you’re preventing the use of fertilisers. Also, you won’t need pesticides and herbicides to keep up a perfect lawn.

Eliminate Allergens in Yard

Artificial turf is ideal if you or someone in your family has allergies. Ryegrass and dust are the primary culprits of hay fevers in the months of spring and summer. Having synthetic grass installed in your yard means minimal dust and weeds— reducing those nasty allergens in your yard.

Durability

It’s no brainer that synthetic lawn won’t die in drought, making it green throughout the year. It’s less vulnerable to weeds, pests, heat, light and moisture than natural grass. Artificial turf is also extremely durable as it is dig-proof for dogs and varmints, withstanding any torture or damages.

Installation and Cost

Another factor in the decision-making of having artificial turf in your yard is how easy to install it. Before rolling out a synthetic turf, you need to prepare the ground, layout the base layer and apply a weed membrane. After that, installation can become very quick and may require you to seek professional service, which is the same with natural grass.

On the other hand, the cost is the most significant factor to consider when you want an artificial lawn. From the installation to the grass carpet itself, it is very pricey. But once you have it in your yard, it’s a long-term investment that can benefit you from less maintenance and cost for 20 years or more.

Safer Surface

Installing artificial turf to your yard is ideal when your kids love to play outdoors. The synthetic grass has a smooth and even surface that prevents your kids and even adults from tripping. Moreover, many versions of the fabricated lawn have increased shock absorption, which protects kids from falls as high as five feet.

Drawbacks of Artificial Turf

Nothing is perfect, and the same goes with artificial turf. When deciding to install the fabricated grass, it’s necessary to know what are the drawbacks of having it in your yard. Here are some of the disadvantages of artificial greenery:

Surface Heat

The biggest downside of artificial turf is it holds more heat than natural grass. With the blazing sun of Australia’s summer, it can melt slowly while radiating heat in its surrounding area. Burning charcoal can also melt the plastic grass, fortunately, it is repairable.

Odour Build-Up

Same with natural grass, you need to clean up messes in artificial greenery. It’s necessary to rinse it with water when there are droppings and other wastes. Otherwise, odours will build up and cling to the infill of the lawn.

Toxic Run-off Concern

The run-off from the crumb rubber infill is still a major concern for many people. Scientific studies have shown a minimal level of toxic residue from the infill can harm your family, pets, or the environment. As of now, many manufacturers are providing alternative infill materials to solve such an issue.

Ends Up in Landfills

The supposed life expectancy of the artificial turf is around 15-25 years. However, improper care and handling of the synthetic lawn can speed up the wear and tear it receives. Such damage might cause it to end up in landfills sooner than you expected. On that, proper handling is vital so you can look forward to using it for decades.

Conclusion

There are many factors to consider before installing artificial turf for your yard. Weighing the advantages and disadvantages of fabricated greenery can help in your decision-making. A synthetic lawn can help you reduce costs and maintenance in achieving lush greenery for your home.

Moreover, installing artificial turf depends on whether you like the appearance and aesthetics it brings to your lawns. Despite its minimal drawbacks, proper care and handling can help you enjoy the long-lasting benefits that synthetic turf provides.

Trees Down Under is always here to give the best makeover your garden deserves. Our expert team provides lawn removal and a wide array of options for your turf installation. With more than 30 years of experience in offering the best gardening services in Sydney, we ensure to upgrade your gardens at an affordable rate.

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

Fun Gardening Activities for Kids

The future of our society relies on the kids of today. At an early age, it’s essential to teach them the significance of sustainable living through gardening. When it’s difficult to grab their interest in gardening, you can create fun activities to spark their curious minds. 

Getting out in the garden is a great way to bond with your kids. Apart from being physically active, gardening teaches kids about sharing, organising, creativity and responsibility. Beyond that, it helps them connect with nature and local wildlife.

As many children are into gadgets, letting your kids play a part in your garden provides a place for them to think, relax and recharge. No matter how big or small your garden is, there are plenty of activities that they can learn while enjoying.

At holidays and weekdays, you can grab your shovel and trowel with your kids. On that, here are the fun garden activities for kids of all ages.

Make a Worm Composting Bin

As early as it is, teach your kids on the importance of composting. If you don’t have ample space in your garden, you can do composting using worm bins. The generated compost from this activity is useful for supplying your plants with the nutrients they need.

Fill half of your container with newspaper strips and moisten it. Opt for red wiggler worms for your bin as earthworms from your outdoors don’t like to live inside the containers. Add food scraps into it, but never include dairy products, oil and meat.

Let kids participate in checking the bin regularly. Ensure that the container is not overly wet and not dry while placing an extra newspaper for bedding. As the castings build up after several months, only scoop the organic material and add it to the soil around your plants.

Planting a Family Tree

It’s beyond amazing to plant trees with kids. Let the kids participate in taking care of and watering the trees in your garden. Such activity will create memories and deep connections between trees and kids as time goes by.

DIY Hydroponics

Kids usually see plants growing on your flower beds and garden. But the non-traditional way of planting like hydroponics can capture kid’s attention and make them excited about gardening. As prefabricated hydroponic units are pricey, you can opt to do-it-your own activity that is ideal for creating active participation for the kids.

Cut the one-fourth top part of a soda bottle and invert the top of the bottle into the bottom. After that, place 2-3 seeds of lettuce in a small square of cotton balls or rockwool diluted with hydroponics solution. Once the lettuce seeds start to germinate, transfer it to your bottle filled with nutrient solution.

Wrap the plastic with aluminium foil or any dark plastic to discourage algae growth. Let your kids help you change the solution every two weeks or so. With such activity, kids will enjoy gardening more than ever.

Creating a Butterfly Garden

Butterflies always amaze everyone with its beauty, especially kids. Encourage children to create a garden consisting of a colourful array of nectar-producing plants. With the right planting materials, your garden will attract butterflies and offer plants to feed the caterpillar stage of their life cycle.

The best way to attract butterflies in your area is by selecting native plants. Also, make sure you planted flowers consisting of colours such as purple, red and yellow that inevitably draws in more butterflies. With this fun activity, it’s an opportunity to teach children about the life cycle of butterflies and understand each stage of growth in great detail.

Build Homemade Bird Feeders

Another fun and exciting activity you can do with kids is feeding the chirping creatures in your garden. Winter is the toughest period of the year for wild birds, so it’s the best time to create a bird feeder. Providing food for birds is an excellent activity for your kids in helping your local wildlife. 

Kids need adult supervision upon creating a bird feeder. First, melt the lard in the saucepan and add the bird seeds. Next, punch a hole in a yoghurt cup, place a long thread in the middle and then put the mixed ingredients in it. 

After putting it in the freezer overnight, the mixture is already set. You can cut away the pot and get ready to tie your bird feeder outdoors. On that, more birds will visit your garden providing a view that kids would enjoy.

Paint Stones for Decoration

Painting stones for your garden is possible for kids of all ages. Any kiddie paint will work fine in this activity. Try creating character figures in stones or applying colours in rocks. As you place the artworks of your kids to decorate the garden, it will make them proud and happy, which encourages them to enjoy and visit the area more often.

Make Your Vegetable Garden

One of the best adventures you want the kids to try is to grow food and vegetables in your garden. With this activity, children will love vegetables more as they understand the difficulty of cultivating it themselves. As children get involved in making a vegetable garden, they will feel the joy of reaping the real rewards of their effort.

Burying Time Capsule in Your Garden

There are many fun activities that kids can enjoy in your garden, but burying a time capsule is the most unique. Let your kids find special toys and objects they want to open in the next decades to come. Creating the time capsule is very special as it will let your kids reminisce good childhood memories once they get older.

Conclusion

Gardening can help kids develop lifelong values. Aside from the idea that gardening is fun, they must learn different things at the same time. Beyond learning and values, it guides kids to preserve and conserve the environment for a brighter future.

At Trees Down Under, we can help you setup and maintain your garden space that your kids will enjoy. Our expert team also offers tree removal and tree pruning services to keep your garden safe for your kids and family. After all the fun activities, we can collect and dispose of your green wastes to keep your outdoors spotless. 

Call us today at 0475 463 597 for a free estimate. Trees Down Under provides garden maintenance to make your dream garden perfectly vibrant and safe. We are the perfect answer to all your garden needs.

How to Properly Plant Flowers in a Flower Bed

The wonders of nature are evident anywhere. In spring, the vast numbers of plants blossom in gardens of many households in Sydney. As you plan to uplift the face of your outdoors, flowers are the best elements to create a vibrant garden that will stop anyone on their tracks upon seeing it.

Planting flowers in your garden promotes an active lifestyle. The multiple sizes and colours of petals never fail to create a relaxing and alluring garden. But incorporating these plants in your garden requires proper planning before the actual planting until its full growth.

Moreover, planting flowers is usually done in a flower bed. Before seeing your flowers bloom, good soil prep is your key to successful gardening. Most importantly, your creativity in matching flowering plants will set the picturesque view you wanted.

On that, this article will guide you on how to plant flowers in a flower bed properly.

Flower Bed Preparation

Before planting flowers, bed preparation is the first step to do. See to it that there are no utility or irrigation lines buried under the location you opt to build your flower bed. You can call your local council to solve this problem.

Here are the steps in preparing your flower beds:

Weeds Removal

If you have an existing flower bed, you don’t need to do this. But when you’re building a new one, it’s necessary to remove the existing vegetation. The common notion of weed removal is by using herbicides. Still, it might remain active in the soil for days after application.

If you’re removing a small number of weeds, it’s ideal to do it manually. Even if you remove these weeds, expect that some of them will grow after planting flowers. On that, you can do the next step, which is digging the soil.

Digging Your Flower Bed

A little moisture on the soil can help you dig it easily. You can use a tiller to turn the ground to a depth of 6-8 inches. If you have a shovel, then you can do a ‘double digging’ to a depth of 18 inches which is better for the plants.

Use Mulch and Weed Barrier 

Once you’ve turned over the bed, add mulch or organic materials into it. Opting for compost can add nutrients and improve the soil structure. Spread a layer of compost two to three inches thick over the bed and mix it with the soil. 

Moreover, avoid extremely fine compost as they tend to break down quickly. Applying thicker mulching such as bark products over your flower bed deter the growth of weeds. But if compost and other mulching materials are not available, you can use woven landscape fabric as the weeds barrier.

Planting Your Flowers

After preparing your soil, you’re ready to plant flowers. See to it that the land has enough moisture, but not too wet. A soil with poor water drainage can induce the rotting of the plant’s roots. Here are some of the considerations you need before planting your flowers:

Visualising Future Growth

Visualising the full growth of your plants is necessary. Flowering plants need ample space to strive and grow ideally. If possible, consider the spread and thickness of mature plants in providing spaces in your beds.

Light Intensity

Flower beds receive sunlight abundantly. Many flowers thrive well in full sun but not all. Do some research if the flowers your planting tolerate full sun to light shade so that you’ll be successful in creating an impeccable garden.

Seasonal Growth Cycle

The seasonal growth cycle of flowering plants is vital to determine when you should plant them. Aside from that, planting the flowers in the right condition and time will help them bloom fully. Combine these three seasonal flowers to create colourful beds at different seasons:

Annuals

Annual flowers grow, produce flowers and seeds, and die in one year. As they last for only one year, it’s best to know when to plant them before buying and planting the seeds. They are usually planted in summer and fall so they can bloom from spring to late summer. 

Planting annuals require a depth of the hole that is at least 6-8 inches while the spacing between each plant is between 4-5 inches. Soil that clumps easily like clayish ones is not good in cultivating annual flowers. Some examples of annuals are petunias, zinnias, coleus and begonias.

With such quick growth, annuals are effective in changing the colours and setting of your flower beds. 

Biennials

Biennial flowers take two years to complete its life cycle. In the first season, they grow from seeds to establish themselves. In the second season, they become larger and produce flowers. Some popular flowers that belong in this category are foxglove, angelica and varieties of evening primrose.

Perennials

The perennial flowers take years to establish and bloom in full beauty. When planting these in flower beds, it’s vital to place them in a spot where it will grow for the following years to come. Examples of perennials include colourful varieties of lavender, lobelia and datura that are useful for decorating your beds.

Follow the Layering Technique

The typical colour scheme in beds is the combination of blue, purple and gold flowers. However, matching the colour and texture will depend significantly on your style and taste. Aside from that, the proper planting focuses mainly on layering your flowers from front to back of your beds.

Use Low Plants at the Front

You don’t want to put flowers at the front covering the view of your entire flower beds. You can opt to plant fescue grass and Angelina flowers that grow low enough in the front row.

Use Middle-Height Plants for Middle Row

The flowers at the middle row need to be taller than plants in the front but shorter than the back row. The ideal plants to use here are salvia varieties including Victoria blue, May Night, Caradonna, Blue Hills and Royal Candles.

Plant the Tallest at the Back Row

The tallest flowering plants serve as the backdrop for your beds. You can plant Blue Star juniper, King’s gold cypress and Emerald n’ Gold euonymus shrubs in the back row. You can also grow particular plants at the back that interest you, but with the consideration that it is the tallest in your flower bed.

Water Deeply and Add Mulch

Proper planting includes the correct watering of your flowers. You can soak the soil around your newly planted flowers. If the flowers don’t receive enough rain, you can add 1 to 2 inches of moisture every week. It’s best to water your bed deeply but less often to avoid waterlogged soil which might cause the rotting of your flower’s roots.

Over time, the flower bed will run out of the needed nutrients for proper growth. On that, it’s essential to add mulch or compost twice a year to your flower beds. Adding a layer of mulch will also help slow down evaporation that will reduce how often you should water your flowers.

Conclusion

Flowers are part of the wonders of nature that never fail to beautify gardens. But planting flowers doesn’t end after you stick the plants on the soil. It requires proper techniques and thorough planning to create the perfect garden you wanted.

Moreover, preparing the soil and beds are essential to successful flower gardening. You also need to consider the shading, seasonal growth cycle and layering techniques as part of proper planting of flowers in your flower beds.

At Trees Down Under, we can guide you in building the best flower bed for your home. When you need to clear vegetation in creating beds, our team has the equipment and skills to remove trees and weeds. Our expert team can also tailor the designs and colours of flowers to uplift the scenery that your garden deserves.

Call us at 0475 463 597 today for a free estimate. We’ll help you maintain colourful and vibrant flower beds and garden. We are the perfect answer to all your garden makeover needs.

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:

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.

Get A Free Tree Inspection
No call out fee!

Affordable tree removal. Prompt & safe removal.
Honest local service

Contacts

0475 463 597

info@treesdownunder.com.au

244 New Line Rd, Dural, Sydney, NSW, 2158