Mulching is a very popular way to keep your gardens soil healthy, it helps stave off the wind and rain from washing topsoil away while also keeping the moisture in on the hot sunny days, but it’s sometimes hard to pick which mulch works best for you garden, let’s take a look.

Compost

Compost is the best mulch as it has plenty of nutrients that will soak into the soil and into the roots of your plants keeping them strong and healthy.“It might be a little more expensive, but it’s one of the best coverings for you garden so we recommend this be your number one choice”. It’s one of the best coverings for your garden, so we recommend this be your number one choice.

Sugar Cane Mulch

This is one of the most readily available mulches you can get and one of the cheapest too. It does however need applying more than others which is the downside of picking sugar cane mulch. It encourages soil organisms to help build up your soils nutrients however, meaning it can be a really effective way to redevelop your garden bed, you just have to make sure you keep on top of it and re apply when necessary.

Bark & Woodchips

Bark and wood chips take a long time to disintegrate so they’re perfect for those who live in rain affected or wind affected areas. They will help cover your garden keeping the soil moist and your plants protected from the elements. If a yellow tinge begins to take place within your plants after mulching, don’t panic! This just means your soil requires a little extra nitrogen. Simply find a product that you can add to your soil to increase the nitrogen levels, and your plants will slowly return to normal.

Pebbles and Stones

A bit of a different take on mulching your garden, but pebbles and stones are great when it comes to covering up your garden and preventing weeds. They also retain heat during the day, so they’re perfect at night for plants prone to any frost damage.

Straw

You might see many gardens packed up with straw, and for good measure too. It’s a fantastic addition to your garden and looks great with it’s golden colour. It’s perfect for a veggie garden, keeping the dirt off your edible crops.

Did you know that a well maintained garden can increase your property value by 20%? If you didn’t, you do now! So here’s a few ways you can give your property the best look and the best value going forward.

Cleanup

You might already have a great garden, it just needs a clean up. Make sure you prune and cut back trees that might be getting out of hand to neaten it up and give it a more elegant feel. Keep on top of weeds and plants that might suffocate others. This will enable your garden to flourish during springtime.

Selling Point

There are many different ways to make your garden stand out from others, so finding that point of difference and selling point that will make buyers really struggle to pass on your home is key. Whether it be investing in a pond, water fountain or a nice patio that can be used in the warmer months, installing or building one of these will add value to your home immediately.

Paint

You might not need to paint in your garden per say, but adding some paint to the old fence will give your garden a renewed vibe. It will create a more presentable look and enable the bright colours in your garden to look even more vibrant to the eye, exciting potential buyers.

Lawn

Whether you replace it or regrow, it has to look impeccable. Potential buyers will love seeing a nicely trimmed and lush lawn that their kids can play on. It will help give the home that extra wow factor. If you have lawn that’s patchy or needs maintenance, it’s about rolling up your sleeves and working hard because the value that it will add to your home is immense. If you need some tips about lawn maintenance, don’t hesitate to head into your garden supply store for a hand.

Tall Plants

Heading down to your local garden supply centre to talk about how to give your backyard privacy should be one of your priorities. Hiding your backyard with neighbour-be-gone trees or other tall hedging gives your potential buyer a sense of privacy that maybe others couldn’t, giving it that point of difference come selling time.

Have you decided it’s time to give your backyard an upgrade and have settled on creating a patio? Now comes the choice of pavers and surrounds, so how do you pick the right pavers to match your home and style, while also creating a patio that you and your family can enjoy all year round? Let’s take a look.

It’s important to think about what purpose your patio paving will serve. Is it to be a border around a pond if so you’ll want to look for some non-slip pavers to keep your family and other guests safe when standing on it. Consulting your local garden supplier such as Kennedy’s can help you in making the best decision style wise and safety wise when it comes to paving your patio area and its surrounds.

Patios very rarely carry much weight on them all at once, so pavers don’t need to be very thick, therefore giving you more options to choose from for your patio. When it comes to weather, you want to be able to see your patio drain quick and not let water pool on the pavers, so a proper drainage system or way to get rid of the water is a must when building your patio.

A solid base before your construction work is also necessary. This stops the patio from moving when it’s built and any erosion to not cause cracks or damage to the pavers in the long term. When laying this base, remember to think about what might grow through it, so a layer of landscaping cloth might be another thing you consider to stop those pesky weeds from showing themselves through in the future.

Once you’ve installed your patio plans into place, the extra items you want to include, need to be considered, such as a feature wall, plant wall or a fireplace. Making sure you factor these into your plans is key, as some might need extra safety features or a thicker base to hold the weight that will be on top of it, such as a feature wall.

These are some areas you need to think about before starting your patio. It’s a great DIY job, however first getting some expert knowledge will give you that added confidence to construct and maintain your patio throughout the future.

It’s one of the hardest tasks as a landscaper and gardener, how to protect your lawn from the harsh Australian summer sun. Well, there are a few ways you can protect your garden and soil from the sun, to ultimately keep your lawn looking lush and bright in even the harshest conditions.

Water Time

It’s important to know when the best time to water your lawn is to keep it nice and lush. The best time to water is early in the morning. Not only does your lawn absorb more water without the cooler sunlight in the morning enables photosynthesis without evaporation. Directing your water evenly across the lawn as well is key.

Keep on top of Weeds

Nothing kills your lawn quicker than weeds. It’s forever been the toughest thing to keep your lawn weed free, but you need to get on top of it as quick as you can, as you don’t want the weeds root systems to take away from your lawns, weakening them and causing them to suffer more in the heat than they might otherwise.

Fertilise

In the winter your lawn will need a little bit more of a feed, so fertilising is key in setting up the root system for the harsh summer. The springtime is the perfect time to set up your lawn for the summer with fertiliser, and this will help its longevity during the scalding hot days.

Mowing

You don’t want to mow your grass too low, as that will stunt its growth and cause it to die out earlier in the heat. Setting your mower on a higher level will keep it trim, but also enable the blades to absorb the sun and longer grass means longer roots that can bury themselves in the dense soil and absorb the best nutrients possible.

When it comes down to the summertime, it really just is about caring for your lawn and taking the time to water it properly and fertilise, if you stick to this routine, you’ll see the benefits of a lush bright green lawn all summer long.

There are so many different garden soils available to purchase here in Cranbourne, but how do you find out which soil is the one that will help your garden flourish? Here, we’ll take a look at
the different types of soils should be considered for each garden, its location and what you want to grow.

Before starting out, you need to work out what problem you are trying to solve in your garden. Are you trying to raise the soil levels, or optimise the pH levels to help your plants get the most
nutrients out of your soil. These two examples have two different solutions, so it’s important to find out the problem so that your garden supply centre can give you the correct answer. If you’re looking for garden soil that will help your vegetable gardens flourish, then an organic mix will benefit those plants immensely, giving them the best chance to grow strong and produce fruit and vegetables seasonally thanks to the nutrients that are present in compost and manure. Australian plants and flowers enjoy a sandier mix, so they can establish a stronger root system and absorb water well.

It’s important to make sure that the soil you’re purchasing has been stored and looked after before your purchase. We keep our garden soil away from winds that will bring in seeds and other pollens, meaning the soil isn’t contaminated, and plants will take to it quicker, giving them the best chance of growing and producing to their full capacity.

Overall, it’s essential that you consult with your garden supplier, as they are the specialists in their area and will be able to give you the best solution for all your garden soil needs. Here are Kennedy’s we have many different soils to suit all your garden needs, to give your garden that extra nutrient boost for your garden to flourish fully as we head into summer.

Everyone is looking to add as much value to their home, while spending as little as possible, but sometimes the outside portion of the house is forgotten about and can actually be one of the least expensive to renovate and most effective value wise if you’re able to choose the right landscaping supplies.

Entertainment

Adding a deck, pergola or patio to your garden will immediately increase the value of your home. This gives your backyard an entertainment area and enables your home to become the hub of the street. Adding a seating area or barbecue area will also be a significant value increaser as that lifestyle appeals to many people. You can finish off your space with decorative pots or a feature wall with hanging plants to finish.

Turf

Turf can be inexpensive but can add a lot of value to your home. This makes the lawn look lush and new, while also keeping your garden look neat and trim and keeping the edges clean will mean you can add in pavers or brick lining along the side if you wish. Turf will also be easily maintained and prevent the dry brown areas from reoccurring once it’s established its root system in your garden.

Mulching

Instead of bare soil, give your plants an extra helping hand while also making your garden stand out. Utility mulches such as pine bark make your garden look well maintained and help your garden appear very low maintenance and a joy to work in. Be aware of what mulch you decide on, however, as some mulches might not fit your garden’s style, so talk to your garden supplier about which will suit yours.

Paving and Paths

Adding pavers and pathways will appeal to families, as children love being able to play in the backyard while also riding their scooters or bikes around a path. Installing pebbles to fill space can also provide a more modern touch to your garden increasing its value.
There are many more different ways you can make your garden the masterpiece of your home that gives it that increased value boost you’re after. Kennedy’s Cranbourne has many various examples of how to give your garden the edge in your neighbourhood.

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

Backyard garden ponds have started to become extremely popular over the last few years, with many homeowners opting to install one in their gardens. They’re a fantastic way to showcase the flow of your garden and open up more opportunities for water features and other landscaping options later down the track, but how do you install a pond into an already established garden?

Firstly, you need to think about the size of your pond and where it will sit. It means mapping out the area well and considering what you want to surround your pond with, whether it be a paved surface or even a concreted area around the pond. You also need to take into consideration if you will have fish in the pond also, as some require a larger space to live in. Having some sunlight on it to keep it warm is also a must, while also keeping trees to a minimum above it as leaves will fall and clog up the system often.

Heading to your local garden supplier to work out what materials are best to install into your pond area is key. If you’re doing it yourself, you need to take care when lining the pond, as you don’t want it to be leaking underneath after you’ve finished, meaning you’ll have to dig it up and start over. Most linings have a 20-year warranty, but some can be upwards of 30-40 years, it just depends on your budget.

To maintain and keep a healthy and clean pond, you must have a filter and pump that regulates the water, so you don’t have to tend to it constantly. This means you might need to get a professional in, to wire up the system and to keep inside safety regulations. Once you have all this installed, you can start to plan your edging and surrounds of the pond.

It’s important to check the regulations around building a pond before you start. Some require a fence depending on the size, so it’s best to check your local regulations.

Kennedy’s Cranbourne can help facilitate the construction of your pond, with many materials and garden options to choose from.