There is nothing to compare with a sprawling garden complete with a well-managed lawn and flower beds; if you are fortunate enough to have a large garden and you have little or no gardening experience, you have come to the right place, as we offer a comprehensive guide to large garden maintenance.
Lawn Care
The heart of every garden is the lawn; if you have the budget, check out the amazing deals at https://www.rdoequipment.com.au/john-deere-zero-turn-price-list/ where you will find a wide range of mowers from a leading Australian supplier.
You really do need a ride-on mower for a large lawn, unless you love a grueling workout under the blazing sun! The John Deere Zero Turn model ticks all the boxes and who are we to argue? Once a year, you can feed the lawn by spreading grass nutrients, and remember to water the lawn every 7-10 days, in the absence of rain.
Do not cut the grass too short, as this can damage the turf and the final cut of the season should be about 1 inch longer than usual to offer winter protection. There are many different species of grass and they all require watering. Monitor the condition of the lawn and give it a good rake-over to aerate the ground, followed by a good soaking.
Create a compost corner
You will have a lot of green waste, especially grass cuttings, which can be stored in a compost corner that will feed flora and fauna. Failing that, you have to arrange for this waste to be removed, which might come with a cost.
Search the web for full instructions on how to make a compost corner and you are good to go! You can buy a ready-to-use compost frame that assembles easily and we recommend you do just that.
You can add food waste to the compost as well as all green garden waste and turning it regularly aids the biodegradation. Click here for tips on maintaining your lawn.
Gardening tools
While it makes sense to acquire tools as and when you need them, here is a list of basic tools that you should acquire;
- Shovel, spade, fork and hoe.
- Set of rakes.
- Pruning shears.
- Lawn clippers/strimmer.
- Stiff broom.
- Pruning saw.
There are other hand tools that you might need to acquire over time.
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Power tools
The following equipment is required for garden care;
- Lawnmower.
- Hedge trimmer.
- Chainsaw.
- Leaf-blower.
You can choose from a petrol engine or an electric one, depending on your preference. Buy equipment of high quality and it will stand the test of time, while power tools and equipment require regular maintenance.
Other essentials
A pair of gardening gloves is always a good idea and you will need a wheelbarrow to remove green waste and ferry sacks of fertilizer around. A long garden hose is another essential, as your lawn, trees, shrubs, and flowers need water on a regular basis; a sprinkler to set out on the lawn is another accessory to add to your shopping list.
Pruning & general tree care
Pruning can be carried out in the spring or autumn, depending on the species; Google is your best friend when it comes to gardening information and if you are unsure, ask a local arborist to pay you a visit.
Inspecting trees, looking for deadwood and signs of disease, and pruning for shape are also important. Keep an eye on branches that might compromise your phone lines and remove sections that overhang the roof.
Working at height
Either a set of extendable aluminum ladders or a pair of stepladders will help you prune trees and trim hedges; working at height brings in more danger, especially when working with power tools.
Removing weeds
Weeds seem to pop up everywhere; in flower beds, along fence lines, and between paving slabs; there are 3 ways to deal with weeds, pull them out (including the roots) put down woodchips, or spray with weedkiller.
Frequency for garden maintenance
Some homeowners prefer to do the gardening once a week, others are happy with fortnightly and you could get away with a monthly session. Anything more than one month begins to be a much harder task; you may have to cut the grass twice to make it neat and tidy.
If you don’t have the time for garden maintenance, a local landscape gardening contractor would be happy to pay you a visit at your chosen frequency.
YouTube can help
If you are unsure about tree pruning, planting, or any other aspect of garden maintenance, search YouTube to find tutorials and this will help you. If nothing else, watching others do a chore gives you the self-confidence you need to complete the job.
Cleaning paths and driveway
If your driveway is stone pavers, you can use a special stone cleaner and a high-pressure water jet; the paths can also be scrubbed and washed off. Use the grass clippers to trim along the drive edge and along wall and fence lines.
Garden maintenance contractors
If you are a gardening lover and you have the time, managing a large garden is doable, although it will likely be an all-day event. If you don’t exactly enjoy pottering around in the garden or you are too busy, talk to a local landscape contractor about maintaining your garden.
One thing you don’t want to do is leave the garden, as the longer you do, the harder the clean-up will be; try to spend 2-3 hours per week and your garden will always look neat and tidy.
Like anything, the more gardening you do, the more proficient you will be, and tending to your outdoor living space is very rewarding. It gives you an earthy connection and a feeling of accomplishment when you have finished the job.
Acquire tools as you need them and you should also have a secure shed to store all your gardening tools and equipment.
