Are you new to gardening? Looking for some tips on how to keep your garden healthy? Regardless of where you live, whether you experience the hot summers in Perth, the subtropical weather Brisbane or the four distinct seasons in Hobart, we want to help you out with a few tips for beginner gardeners. Please bear in mind that everyone’s gardens will be different, and depending on the zone you’re in certain factors may need addressing more than others.
So, let’s begin:
Take the time to find out what soil and grass types, and any plants, you have in your garden. You also need to be aware of your local climate - how much rainfall do you get on average? What are the daylight hours during each season and, for your site in particular, how much sunlight do you get over each part of your garden? All of these components will help you plan and care for your garden more effectively.
If you have a local garden centre or nursery nearby, they may be able to offer some advice or point you in the direction of someone who can.
What are the most common soil types in Australia?
● Silt
● Sand
● Clay
What are the most common grass types in Australia?
● Soft-leaf buffalo
● Hybrid Bermuda
● Zoysia
● Couch
Once you’ve figured out what type of garden you have to work with, in terms of soil, grass and sunlight, you need to have a think about what you want for your garden. Are you wanting to create a playground for your little ones, or construct that perfect back garden paradise and transports you off to somewhere more tropical? Perhaps you’re thinking of something simple, but homely, that will not require much maintenance. Whatever it is, write it down and sketch some ideas out.
If you go out planting trees and digging up patches randomly, you may find yourself with more work than you bargained for and a garden that doesn’t look quite right. So take your time and think about the two or three things you really want for your garden, and work towards them.
We strongly recommend you invest both time and money into your garden to make it maintainable,inviting and full of the right nutrients for healthy growth.
Time
In order to be able to take care of your garden and keep it as healthy as possible, you will need to invest some time into researching your soil type, what plants will grow well and which plants will need different soil.
Think about the plants that you want and then look into whether or not they will be suitable for your garden and the space you have. You can also read up on planting arrangements for a healthier garden, which will explain why certain plants paired together can both brighten up your garden and make it more appealing to bees and spiders, essential garden critters.
Money
You should invest in a good quality set of garden tools such as a shovel, secateurs, garden gloves and a watering can, spray bottle or pressure sprayer, and if you have a larger garden, possibly a wheelbarrow and a rake. These will make your tasks much easier, and safer for you, especially if you’re serious about gardening. It maybe tempting to buy a cheap set from the homeware store, but rest assured these tools won’t last long and may cause more damage to your garden in the long run.
It’s also worth buying some plastic boxes for keeping fertiliser in, a mix of soils that are suitable for your plants and garden, and support poles and cable ties if you are planning on growing vegetables or climbing plants. These are your basic garden essentials for any new and experienced gardener that will save you running to the store every time you bring home a new plant.
Soil
If you buy a bundle of plants without understanding your soil type or researching the plants needs,sizing or soil type you may find yourself with a collection of dead plants and more work on your hands. If you want to create a vegetable patch, you will need to have a mixture of compost, manure and soil that will enable plants to grow healthily. Each soil type will require different preparation methods, which many involve adding organic matter or more frequent aerating,
Sun
You will also need to consider whether or not your garden has adequate amounts of sun and shade for the plants that you want. Many plants thrive in the shade as much as others do in the sun and you want to ensure you don’t put your plants in the wrong place,and end up with a brown, withered plant that makes your garden look less attractive than you had hoped for.
Space
The size of plants and the amount of space they can take up is often underestimated by new, and even more experienced, gardeners! So, if you’re wanting to plant a row of trees you will need to consider the size that they will grow to, and whether they will cause future issues for fencing, space on your own property and possibly the neighboring properties. One of the biggest causes of neighborhood disputes is fencing, overgrowing plants and trees from people who had no idea how large they would grow.
Not knowing how to water your plants is one of the easiest, and most common, ways to kill the plants and grass in your garden. Plants, much like humans, have different requirements for growth. Some need more water and more direct sunlight, whilst others need no sun and very little water. This is where it is important to invest your time in researching the plants that you want, and whether they will be suitable and manageable.
There are plenty more ways you can turn your garden into the perfect place for you to spend your time, but these key points mentioned are vital for any new gardener looking for tips for growing a healthy garden.
Hopefully this article helped you as a beginner gardener looking for tips! As the owner of Brisbane's best lawn care company, I've been working with gardens all over the city. I've worked with hundreds of homes helping provide lawn mowing, and garden maintenance services in Brisbane. So I like to think of myself as highly qualified to talk about gardening!
Unfortunately I see home gardeners who love tending to their gardens (but hate the tedium of mowing, and other garden maintenance activities) make mistakes which can ruin their lawn, and garden. Maybe this article will help you avoid those same mistakes? I hope so!
Cheers,
Sye
