With so many different types of garden tools available, choosing the tools which will be the most used and necessary to set up your garden tool shed can be a difficult decision.

Essential garden tools

There are a few garden tools which are essential for any gardener to start their collection. The tools to begin with are a shovel, spade, wheelbarrow, hoe, fork, rake and garden secateurs.  Quality garden tools are a must which, in the long term will save you time, money and help to ensure your time in the garden is most enjoyable.

Spade

A spade is not used for digging and is different to a shovel.  Generally the spade has a larger scoop and is used for moving a pile of mulch, soil and other bulk products. A spade with a very sharp edge can also be used for edging lawn. Stainless steel spades are lighter and easier to use than fully forged steel spades.  A small hand sized spade is also very useful for digging and planting small flowers, veges and shrubs.

Shovel

A shovel blade is typically curved and usually angled forward for digging where the spade blade is not.  The shovel generally has a long straight handle for digging holes which allows for more leverage needed.

Wheelbarrow

A wheelbarrow is one of the most useful items for carrying tools, garden products and other items around. This makes the garden jobs much easier and saves your back.  Make sure your wheelbarrow is sturdy with a solid bucket and wheels are large enough to hold your tools.

Rake

Choose which garden rake to the job you are doing.  A heavy-duty landscapers rake is used for larger landscaping projects such as leveling soil, driveways and heavier product.  A light weight rake is generally only used for raking things such as leaves and grass.

Fork

A fork is for cultivating the ground in areas like a vege patch.  A potato fork is a wider fork with more prongs to fork for potatoes and other root vegetables.

Garden Secateurs

Garden secateurs are also called pruning shears and need to feel comfortable in your hand when in use.  Good garden secateurs need to be strong enough to prune shrubs and hard branches up to two centimetres.  It is important that they have a high-quality blade which keeps a sharp edge.

Stocking your garden shed with just a few of the most useful tools will go a long way when its time to get out for planting, pruning and building your next garden bed.

Re-potting outdoor pot plants is important for the continuation of growth and health of the
plant. Using the right container and the best potting mix will save on future maintenance
issues, giving the plants a better environment for growth.

There is a little more to it than just grabbing a larger pot and some old potting mix from the shed.
A well cleaned pot and a quality potting mix will make all the difference.
The most common questions we hear regarding potting mixes are: “Aren’t all potting mixes
the same?” or “Does it matter which potting mix to use?”

How outdoor plants respond to re-potting depends on both the choice of pot and the
quality of the potting mix.
Although potting mixes may look the same, the ingredients inside the bag can be very
different. Depending on what type of plants you are planting, and their requirements in soil
structure and nutrients, a suitable potting mix will be required.  For most outdoor plants, a
high-quality premium mix is recommended.

Potting mix for outdoor plants

Quality potting mixes comply with the Australian Standard requirements of AS 3743
for a Premium grade potting mix.
Certified Australian Standard potting mixes have all been tested and approved for the following specifications:

•  Water holding capacity of the potting mix
•  How well the mix drains
•  Water absorption
•  The nutrient levels
•  Ph levels

Premium potting mix

It is important that the potting mix is certified to the AS 373 Australian Standard and contain
the red ticks of approval.
A certified Premium potting mix contains slow release fertilizer and a re-wetting agent. This
potting mix lasts longer than a general-purpose mix, therefore needs less maintenance. This mix can be used for most plants except specialty plants such as orchids or azaleas.

Specialty plants

A specialty potting mix should be used for certain plants which require specific needs from
their mix. These specialty mixes are specific for Camellia or Azalea, Orchids, seed
germination and bulbs such as the African Violet.

How to re-pot your plants

1.  Make sure the plant is well watered up to one day beforehand
2.  The cleaned replacement pot needs to be between 5 to 7cm wider than the old pot.
3.  Fill a third of the pot with potting mix.
4.  Gently remove the plant from the old pot by tipping it upside down and tapping the
   sides.
5.  Place the plant in the new pot and fill the pot with potting mix.
6.  Water generously and add extra potting mix if necessary.
7.  Place the freshly potted plant in its optimum position.
8.  Water plants when required.
9.  After 3 to 4months, a slow release fertiliser may be required.

With a little bit of TLC, using the right ingredients, your outdoor potted plants will look their
best throughout the year.

The success in establishing freshly laid turf depends greatly on both proper site preparation and soil preparation.  Spending time on preparation will help to ensure the best growing conditions and establishment for your freshly laid instant turf.

HOW TO PREPARE THE SITE FOR INSTANT TURF INSTALLATION

Prepare the site with the following steps will ensure successful establishment for your instant turf:

• Clear the site from weeds, rocks and sticks. 
• Dig the surface to a depth of 10-15 cm
• Add quality sandy loam soil of around 10 cm making sure the soil level is 3cm below paths and driveways.
• Slope the soil away from buildings to avoid flooding.
• Rake the soil for an even surface
• Apply quality lawn starter fertiliser
• Instant turf can now be applied.

SITE CLEARANCE

The first step is to clear the area of any debris such as rocks, sticks, weeds or stones.  Dig the area evenly to a depth of around 10-15 cm making sure that the soil slopes away from the house. This will improve drainage therefore reducing wet patches and flooding near buildings.

SOIL PREPARATION

It is important to prepare the soil properly before laying new lawn.

Add a good quality top soil around 10 cm in depth.

A sandy loam top soil is best and can be top dressed with turf sand if required.Make sure the soil level is 3 cm lower than any paths or driveways.

This will ensure an even surface for mowing after the turf has been laid.

RAKE THE SOIL

Rake the soil so the surface is free of any pits or rises.  This will give you better results for an even lawn surface and easy mowing.

Next, add a good quality lawn starter fertiliser to the soil before laying the fresh turf.

When you are happy with the appearance of your soils surface, you may then apply the correct instant lawn for the weather conditions for the area for which you live.

Artificial grass has been a low maintenance option for those who love the look of grass but don’t want to spend time mowing or maintaining it.

Before installing synthetic grass, it is essential to have the area prepared properly.

With the right ground preparation, synthetic grass will look amazing and feel soft underfoot.

Remove Lawn

Dig out to remove existing lawn and debris. Dig down to a depth of around 10cm. This allows enough room to apply the sub bases.

Best sub base for artificial grass

1: Apply 5 cm of 20 mm crushed rock as the first sub base layer and compact.
2: Spread another 5 cm of a fine crusher dust such as Blue Stone Dust for a smooth, softer feel under the grass
3: Smooth and level the crushed dust so the artificial grass will be smooth.
4: The area is now prepared for the application of the artificial turf

Applying the sub base

Lay around 5 cm of the 20 mm crushed rock first and compact down firmly. This layer will provide a firm
base and keep the levels from dropping or forming low patches.
Next, lay another 5 cm of fine crushed dust such as Blue Stone Dust and smooth out the surface. The Blue Stone Dust is a
finer product and will feel smoother and softer walking underfoot when the artificial turf has been laid.

Smooth and level

Use the back of a rake or piece of wood to smooth and level the area.  It is important to get this step right as a smooth sub surface will give the laid artificial turf a smooth soft appearance.  The area is now prepared for the application of synthetic grass and kiln dry sand.

Mulch is so important to the health of both soil and plants. It has many functions and benefits in the garden.  Deciding on the right kind of mulch for your garden depends on what types of plants you are growing and their specific needs.  The types of mulch can be broken up into three categories. These categories have differing benefits to both the soil and the garden plants.  They are called feeding mulches, woody mulches and hard mulches.

What is the best garden mulch?

Nutritional mulches such as Sugar Cane mulch and Pea Straw are best suited to shallow rooted plants feeding vegetables and flowers.  Woody mulch breaks down more slowly which is suitable for garden shrubs and trees.  Hard mulches like pebbles, scoria or gravel offer no nutritional value. They are suited to both drought tolerant plants or those with little nutritional needs.  Liquid fertiliser can be applied to plants that are hard mulched from time to time.

Feeding mulch

Mulches that break down quickly, promote worm and microbial activity, nourishing and conditioning the soils structure.  This type of mulch is perfect for the vegetable garden and other shallow rooted plants.  Mulches such as Lucerne hay, Pea straw and Sugar cane mulch fit into this category.

Woody Mulch

Woody mulches come in an assortment of size and textures.  Fine woody mulches will tend to break down faster while the thicker wood chips are very slow to break down.  These mulches are recommended to be applied up to 10 cm thick to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.  Woody mulches can be used in garden beds amongst flowers, shrubs and trees where the roots grow deeper into the soil.

Hard Mulch

Hard landscaping mulch such as pebbles, scoria or gravel does not break down or feed the soil at all and is mostly decorative.  This mulch does not need to be topped up each year, therefore is low maintenance in the long term.  Hard mulches can be used in low nutritional gardens or drought tolerant gardens.

With careful consideration, choosing the right mulch for your garden can give your plants the best start, creating an enjoyable space to relax and unwind around your home.

When you receive your first load of rocks or garden pebbles, it is possible that they may be covered in a fine film of silt or have a dirty appearance.  As they are a natural product which comes from the quarry, the silt may have settled in the pile and covered the stones at the bottom of the pile.  With a few simple maintenance steps your pebbles and garden rocks will look amazing for many years to come.

Cleaning the landscaping rocks or pebbles with a broom and a spray hose is usually all you need to achieve fresh new look required for your garden beds.  Rain also can be enough to wash away the silt from the surface of the pebbles.

Lay your rocks into position

First, lay your rocks or pebbles in the garden beds as you would like them.  This will save any double handling and therefore easier cleaning of your stones.

Use a broom

Hard brushing the surface of the rocks or pebbles with a broom will scrub away any excess, therefore thinning the dry silt layer which are covering the stones. Do this before hosing or applying water to the stones.

Water with a spray hose

Using a pressurized spray hose, will blast water in between the rocks to loosen the silt or dirt.  Washing the stones will bring out the best of the colours in the pebbles.

The water may look quite muddy but will wash away fairly quickly, cleaning the gravel or stones.

There is no need to hose your pebbles or rocks if rain is forecast, as the rain will naturally wash away the silt from the stones.

Maintenance

Over the seasons, you may notice some leaves or twigs have fallen over the surface of your landscaping stones.  A simple blast with a blower or garden vac will remove the layer of fallen debris to keep your garden looking its best.

With a very small amount of maintenance, landscaping your garden with rocks, pebbles or gravel will continue to keep its appearance and your garden will look great for many years to come.

There is something about the taste of freshly home-grown food as the intense flavours are so different to store bought produce.  This is one of the reasons why back yard or balcony veggie plots have been a beneficial past time throughout the ages.

There are a few things to consider when planning and constructing your own plot. Before building and planting, consider the sunny aspect, mark out your beds, build the raised garden beds and fill with the best ingredients.   Get this part right and it will make growing and harvesting so much easier.

Consider the location

Locate your vegetable garden where it will receive full sun.  Herb gardens can be located closer the house for regular harvesting.  Look for an area where the grass grows lush and green which indicates a good location for a vegetable garden.

Preparation

Mark out the positions of the beds with a spray marker or string line.  This will ensure your vegetable garden is the correct shape when constructed.

The ideal width for a raised garden bed is 1.2 metres wide and 2.4 metres long. A width of 1.2 metres will allow you to reach into the middle of the bed for planting and weeding.  The typical length of a treated pine sleeper is 2.4 metres which makes and ideal length or connect two sleepers for a longer 4.8m length.

If you are planning more than one garden bed, position them side by side allowing between 0.9 and 1 metre in between for a pathway to walk through.

Next, remove grass with a shovel or turf cutter and use a sharp spade to achieve straight edges.

For a no dig garden, layers of cardboard can be placed over the grass secured by sleepers.

Water in the cardboard well to improve drainage.

Construct Raised beds

MicroPro Sienna or ACQ treated pine is best for garden edges as it does not contain arsenic. For other types of treated sleepers, line inside with plastic or poly to create a barrier to the soil.  Join the edges with galvanized screws.

Treated pine sleepers are approximately 2.4 metres in length and 20cm in width.

Condition the soil

Compost, manures, gypsum, dynamic lifter and other organic matter can be mixed into the soil improving its condition, structure and nutrient levels. Here you can see their price list when you need help in house cleaning.

The added organic mixture increases water holding capacity and feeds the plants via the root system.

Planting

Always plant Seasonal vegetables.  In Victoria, plant march to May for cool season veggies and August to October for a warm season crop.

Mulch

After planting, add a thick layer of mulch such as sugar cane, lucerne hay or pea straw to retain moisture levels and regulate soil temperature.  These types of mulches will break down quickly to feed soil and improve soil structure.

Your plants will thrive in healthy soil, rich in organic matter and moisture.  With only a small amount of regular care, you can enjoy a beneficial and healthy bounty of home-grown food.

Coloured or dyed mulch has become very popular over the years.  Occasionally we receive enquiries asking how to care and maintain the colours

There are a few things to know and prepare for when receiving a delivery of freshly dyed mulch.

Lay tarp

The first thing we recommend before expecting your first delivery is to lay down some tarp or plastic on your driveway to tip the load on.

This will help prevent any excess colour staining the driveway and avoid unnecessary clean ups.

Wear gloves

Before handling the fresh mulch, make sure you put on a pair of gloves to ensure your hands are free from any staining.

Refrain from watering

As the mulch dries over time, the vegetable dye sets and is no longer affected by rain.  For best results, avoid watering the fresh mulch for 24 hours to allow the colour to set.

Raking

If you have found the mulch has been affected by the Spring Wash, simply turn the pile or rake the garden bed to freshen up the vibrant colour.

Your choice of either Sunset red or black mulch is very much a personal decision as to what look you would like to achieve in your garden. What ever your choice, your garden plants will surely reap the benefits.

Having a kid-friendly place space in your garden will encourage children to be active and spend time outdoors in the fresh air. Safety is essential. The area you choose for your play space should be on a flat level surface with equipment that can withstand the Australian climate and not get too hot in Summer.

But what surface is best for your kid-friendly place space? Ideally, you’d want something safe, low maintenance and affordable. Let’s take a look at a few different options.

Fake lawn

Fake lawn can get a bad rap at times and to be completely honest, artificial lawn is probably not suitable for all areas. It is relatively low maintenance but it Australia’s hot climate it can get scorching during Summer.

In a shady area, fake lawn is a great alternative, especially if your kids are prone to hay fever or allergies from traditional lawn. Plus it provides a great flat surface that may not be achieved with a conventional lawn.

Pavers

Pavers are common in the backyard and provide a fantastic level surface for a playspace. Like fake lawn, pavers can get very hot in Summer, so it’s best to consider where you’re going to pave and opt for a shady location. Pavers are probably not the best choice under play equipment but will provide an excellent base to cubby houses and other play spaces. 

Tanbark

A playground certified tanbark is the perfect option under play equipment to help protect children from bumps and bruises. This versatile product is not the best choice for paths, so it’s probably best to use in conjunction with pavers for fake lawn.

Rubber tiles

Rubber tiles are slip-resistant, easy to maintain and available in a variety of thicknesses. They can be used in pathways as well as under play equipment but can also get hot in the Australian Summer. Some can wear quickly and won’t last as long as other surfaces.

Whatever your choice for a kid-friendly surface, the friendly team at Kennedy’s Garden Supplies can provide you with advice and information and deliver products to the local and surrounding suburbs of Cranbourne.

Themed gardens are becoming increasingly popular so let’s take a look at some of the most popular themes and how you can bring a point of interest to your garden.

Zen Garden

The main idea with a Zen garden is that everything in it must carry a meaning to you. There is no focal point in a zen garden and asymmetry, and contrast is essential.

All elements are carefully selected to harmonise with each other, and it should look natural and well maintained.

A zen garden will provide you with a serene retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the modern world.

Australian Native

There are a plethora of plants you can put in your Native Australian garden, and the good news is most are drought tolerant and very low maintenance.

Think Spotted Emu Bush mixed with Kangaroo Paw and maybe even an NSW Christmas Bush. Carefully plan out your garden with Australian natives, and you’ll have a relaxing space that is low maintenance and requires very little water to keep it looking great!

Asian Inspired

An Asian inspired oasis will require some careful planning and beware – they’re usually high maintenance. 

There are a few different styles – in a Chinese garden, the emphasis is on nature and culture to create a harmonious space. A Japanese garden is a little more controlled. All have water features. Jump on Pinterest for inspiration and styles to best suit your climate and home.

English Flower Garden

An English flower or cottage garden seamlessly blends colours, textures, forms and fragrance to create a beautiful and breathtaking garden. 

An English flower garden does not have to be meticulously planned, but it does need some maintenance to ensure some plants don’t take over the entire yard while others need to be maintained, so they don’t die out.  

Start with a formal structure and then let your imagination run wild with various cottage plants and flowers suitable for your climate. It’s probably best to start small and use features such as picket fencing, window boxes, birdbaths and feeders mixed with rustic tables and chairs to fill the empty spaces.