Back at work
~ PLUSGARDENING ~ EDIT
Gosh it has been an interesting past couple of months with Covid-19 causing havoc all over the world and the Auckland water restrictions in the past month, both Kim and I are glad and grateful to return to work last week during level 2.
Level 4 lock down was a time for us to ponder our gardening business and wonder if we would ever return to normal….what ever that is. To help us pass the time we decided to look after our own plants and do what we do best which is gardening. However not having any garden retail outlets open we had to improvise. During our many walks around the neighbourhood we took advantage of all the leaves falling around the road and collected as many as we could. Put together with some dirt and rotted down branches we found, we managed to create some good soil to pot our seeds and plants in. I think the neighbours were a little concerned about what we were up to at first.
Our plants are doing really well, enjoying this bit of rain we are having this week and they should be ready to be sold and move onto another loving home where they can bring some joy.
Projects
We have been busily working on different projects that include landscape building, creating planting plans, further developing a design plan and learning ‘how to’ as we go. Or should I say I am learning so much from my talented husband Kim who was thankfully taught by his father how to build which included planning the project. Valuable teachings that he can now use in our business.
One of our lovely clients has lived in their home for 15 years and had an elaborate garden design created when they first moved into their home. She and her husband planted from the garden design with the intention that it would look just like the plan. However this did not occur and we approached the client suggesting we could improve upon the design and add some structure to the garden which looked a little weathered. Our client fully admits she is not a gardener and welcomed our ideas.
We set to work by tracing from the original plan and created a more improved garden design with structure. We do not profess to be garden designers and we do not have fancy computer software to utilise however we can trace from original plans and used coloured pens and pencils to emphasis points on the plan. This worked well and the client accepted our additions and has begun the work on the front garden.
Before pictures shows a pleasant garden with very little structure.
The design we did with colouring pencils to emphasis to our client what we could do. Not a fancy computer generated plan by any means.
After we had completed phase one of the project, the pictures show some structure cleverly created with rocks.
Our client was very happy with the additions and can see how her garden can be improved and add to her house frontage.
Gardening in stones
Gardens look great don’t they with lots of stones and rocks creating a different Look, texture and feel. Excellent product to use in the garden. However be wary of what you plant with the stones or rocks. Especially small pebbles or stones that can actually strangle the plants and slowly kill them off. This would not have been the intention of the landscaper when they planted them at all. They would have been wanting to create a beautiful garden.
Kim and I have worked on many gardens which have been beautifully landscaped when they were first created. Lots of small pebbles and stones creating a gorgeous garden. However maybe two years on we find that these gardens are looking like a desert. One garden we look after has hebes in them creating a lovely boarder around the deck and as years have gone be the stones are slowly strangling the hebes which are now starting to die.
We have worked hard to remove the stones and add compost and fertiliser to provide food and an environment the hebes will grow in. This can be a long process however really worthwhile when you see the end result. Most people just want a nice garden that is easy care…well if you know anything about gardens there really is no such thing as easy care. All gardens need care. All plants need food just like people. Plants are living things and need attention.
Please think twice before you plant with stones. Do some research first and make sure the plants you choose will enjoy that space.
Projects continued
Spring is here!
The wonders of spring have arrived with lots of rain to water the garden. The Herald reported on 22/09/17 that it had been a record rainfall and are calling it ‘the year it didn’t stop raining’ Auckland and Tauranga have had their fourth wettest year in observations since 1962 and 1898, respectively.
Sometimes continuous rain can be off putting for some when it comes to caring for their gardens. Some people may not wish to get their outdoor projects completed, lets wait for better weather however this is the time to deal with your garden. Composting, fertilizing and mulching is what we should be doing at this time. Getting the garden ready for summer ensuring that your precious plants are not starved of nutrients, are feed and covered with mulch to prevent moisture depletion.
If you are unsure of what should be done please contact us for a free consultation and lets see where to go from here.
Plus Gardening 