Gardening in winter seems to trouble a lot of people, but it needn’t be so. Here we share some direction to help your cause, and prepare for a beautiful summer garden.
Looking after a garden is an ongoing affair and like any relationship, it really does take regular and ongoing maintenance, especially at this time of the year. With all the rain, weeds grow faster than the plants so generally speaking every plant in your garden needs to be cared for specifically.
The idea was to create a succulent garden that would be water wise and low maintenance, whilst at the same time incorporating the aesthetics of a “Karoo Padstal” in look and feel – the type of vibe that they hoped to bring to the North Coast.
The service of composting can be thrown around in the garden services industry as an optional or unnecessary procedure but we see composting as a vital and essential service in every garden. This blog explains the procedure, benefits, and best timing for composting your garden beds.
Developing a new shopping centre? Reviving an outdated space? Shopping mall landscaping layout and design has changed significantly over time as shoppers demand more of a lifestyle rather than pure shopping experience. This means working with a theme and style that encourages shoppers to stay and linger in shopping spaces – to enjoy their time indoors and, ultimately, spend more.
There are myriad methods of maintaining the privacy in your garden, from stone walls to garden structures!
Eco Balance Landscaping can create the simplest of screens that will change the look and feel of your gardens landscape, giving you the privacy you opted for!
Take a look at a wooden screen we built to tuck away these Jo Jo tanks.
Hanging baskets always conjure up memories of dried up flowers in desperate need of water, hanging from your granny’s balcony, collecting every bug, spider and dust particle in sight. Lucky for us, that’s not the case anymore, especially for those of us that don’t have gardens to play around in. Now we can be so creative with hanging baskets, from beautiful flowering annuals that you can change as the season changes, to succulents that seem to go on forever, demanding almost no attention, even fruit, like strawberries are perfect for these baskets.
A healthy garden is like a mini eco system, where life abounds. All eco systems are balanced and there will be as much life in your garden at night as in the day. By day we marvel at not just the flora in our garden but also the fauna, most folks not realising that when the day shift goes off beat a vibrant night shift takes over. Few people are privileged enough to spend a lot of time in their gardens in the day time, but after a hard day’s work there is very little more relaxing both physically and mentally as spending time admiring the beauty of your garden in the cool of the evening, full moon will add soft light to your garden for a few days once a month.
We share a few clever ways with lighting, to ensure you get your maximum garden benefits this summer.
Image by : Inhabitat.com
A new innovation called light pots will bring the romance of the full moon to your garden every night. The soft light provided by these pots will allow you to observe all the nocturnal life in your garden, if you are still and patient the little night creatures will treat you as part of the furniture! These lovely light pots will extend your gardening hours and your gardening pleasure.
Image by: Familyhandyman.com
It is a great idea for your garden, and for the greening of our planet, to replace old wired lights with outdoor solar lights. They require less energy, look great in the garden, and don’t require any wiring installation. They make for a really beautiful display when strategically placed along footpaths and in your garden beds. Whilst they don’t provide massive amounts of light, they certainly adds a beautiful touch.
Hanging lights are a very popular trend that ads a real splash of delightful glamour to your garden. They can be hung from trees, awnings and eaves, and provide magnificent soft lighting. Perfect for a romantic outdoor setting! Be sure that your wiring is weather-protected if you’re hanging them in weather-exposed areas.
Image by: Familyhandyman.com
Autumn is a very important planting season in the garden especially for tree planting . Autumn tree planting will certainly pay handsome dividends in the long run because the roots spend the whole Autumn and winter period developing their root network .As spring arrives these autumn planted trees do not miss a beat by growing prolifically from the get go. If you need to relocate established trees and shrubs to a more suitable position in your garden, autumn is the best time to do so.
How to transplant a tree :
Tip 1: In preparation for the big move, always prune trees and shrubs before digging them out, this helps to minimize transplant shock, this gives them a much better chance to make a rapid recovery in their new home.
Tip 2: Prepare the new hole before you even start digging the tree or shrub out. Good hole preparation is key. A general rule for a medium sized tree (of about a man's height) is to dig a 1m x 1m hole and about 800mm deep. Now that is a lot of digging, but worth the effort when you see your tree flourishing. Mix the soil that has come out of the hole with generous amounts of compost, bone meal and a general fertilizer.
Tip 3 : Water the empty hole by filling the hole to the top with water. Allow that water to drain away into the soil and then do the same again.
Tip 4: Very important when transplanting any plant, is to firmly compress the soil around the roots of the plant. You can really be quite tough about it. Even a great big stomp with your garden boots is good. Large air pockets around the roots cause the fine root hairs to dry out and cause the death of the plant.
Tip 5: The "Life and Death" tip: Never plant your tree too deep in the hole. If soil covers the stem of your tree, higher than what it was in its original position, it will die.
Tip 6: Water the newly transplanted tree or shrub about three times a week. Always check surrounding soil first to ensure it is dry and only then water. Be very careful not to over water a newly transplanted tree.
