Author: Sarah

The last few weeks have been big in the landscaping calendar with the eyes of the horticultural world set firmly on a small square of land in London’s glitziest suburb of Chelsea. The most prestigious flower show in the world “The RHS Chelsea Flower Show” is known for setting the trend when it comes to materials, plants, and techniques for building for years to come and after a brief covid hiatus the 2022 year was a big welcome back.

This year’s show had a huge movement to rewilding the landscape. Making it look and feel untouched by human hand. The top honours and ‘best in show’ award went to a landscape that had been created as if beavers had been reintroduced into the English countryside. Although I can appreciate the artistry in making a landscape look untouched, I’m more of a ‘working with nature to achieve a garden that can be used an appreciated by the owner’ type of guy.

I’m sure most of us don’t or can’t really imagine having a beaver sanctuary rather than a garden. But it is food for thought on the way we create our gardens moving forward. How can we be lighter on our environment? How can we be lighter with our own personal spaces when creating gardens so wildlife (insects, bees and native animals like wallabies, possums, and echidnas) can still have a place in our gardens. Many of the show exhibits on display had an area dedicated to such a space, a bug hotel, a bee hive or a pile of twigs for lizards to live in. I feel this is something easy to do and beneficial for all gardens, no matter the location.

Many of the gardens had changed hard paved pathways and surfaces for gravel. This allows water to get into the ground quicker and lessen run off easing the strain on our drains and waterways. Most English people don’t go outside without shoes for the fear of frost bite so I can understand the heavy use of gravel. My alternative a well-maintained lawn will also allow water into the ground slowly but be easier on the eye and softer underfoot! I’m a huge fan of Sir Grange Zoysia for its soft foliage, but any of the premium Lawn Solutions turf varieties, Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo or TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda will do just the trick.

Closer to home the Australian garden is moving towards more plants to offset the often heavily constructed outdoor landscape. We tend to design our garden to be practical so we can make the most of our amazing climate. This comes with large areas of paving, pavilions or pergolas, bench seating and swimming pools. To really make these elements stand out in the garden you need large areas of garden beds and lawns. This will help offset the built elements and help them sit comfortably in the landscape.

Almost every design I have completed since the beginning of the pandemic includes a veggie patch or a space to grow your own herbs. With more people spending time at home and reflecting on their lifestyle a space to turn the dirt regularly and produce even the smallest number of edible plants is highly sought after. Displaying this area has become more than just a steel raised bed. Clients investing in sturdy, long lasting construction methods, such as brick, stone, or timber. This shows it’s a trend that is here to stay.

With more plants comes the need to improve soil more. This will help get the best out of the investment you plant into the ground. With the inundation of rain the east coast has of recent times, getting the drainage right for contemporary plantings of succulents and cacti is imperative. Getting the soil right for turf grasses is also vital for their success and consideration of surface run off into these areas should also be looked at when planning a space.

When it comes to a swimming pool the filtration system needs to be considered. Often the water from a pool will end up in your garden beds and lawns so less chemicals are preferred. Enviroswim and magnesium filtrations are really being pushed as a great alternative as the wash they create is easy on the plants and surrounding soils.

With our hard landscapes, stone and tiles have become more and more popular. They add texture, warmth, and a point of interest in the garden. Walling stone has more of a rustic touch with free from stone. Stone has being seen in various applications like feature walls, benches and boundary fences and pillars. Getting the right stone mason for the installation of these products will make or break the success of the stone in the garden. Get it right and the feature is a standout. Getting it wrong leads to an expensive problem. This problem will need to be fixed as if designed properly this will be a key area that needs to be perfect.

Feature tiles are showing a bit of an emergence, being used outdoors like they are used indoors. Fluted marbles and textural basalts are being used for key areas where the vista requires a standout element. The pros of this trend – it looks amazing. The con – the cost!

Landscape trends are forever changing with elements and products swapping place on the main stage. My best piece of advice is to select materials and finishes that you love. That way even if they are not ‘trendy’ they will put a smile on your face and enrich your lifestyle.

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When laying turf in wet weather, you can take a few extra simple steps to ensure you get the best results.

Ground preparation for turf

When preparing an area for turf we recommend using a non-selective herbicide like Roundup or Zero. When spraying is best to wait for a break in rainfall. This will help ensure that the herbicide won’t wash away, increasing its effectiveness. After your application has taken effect, give the area a low mow. This will help pick up all the dead plant material. This is best done a few weeks before your turf arrives to ensure you have enough time if repeated applications are needed.

Soil for turf

We recommend bringing in at least 100mm of sandy loam (80% sand, 20% loam) when installing grass. For Sir Grange Zoysia, an underlay of 100 – 200ml of washed river sand is recommended.

We recommend bringing in your soil a few days before when laying turf in wet weather. This will help avoid the soil washing away. When bringing in soil, avoid it sitting in an area that regularly has water running when it rains, e.g., near a drain. Spreading out soil will be a bit more of a labour-intensive task. It is best to wait in a gap of heavy rainfall and spread the soil out evenly. We recommend using a rake or a lawn leveller to help make the base level. Once the area is level, keep off the area until installing your lawn.

Laying turf

When your turf arrives, it is best to install it as soon as possible. If your soil levels have been disturbed, it is best to use a lawn leveller or rake to even out the soil. Start by laying out your turf in a brickwork pattern at the furthest away from the exit.

Caring for a new lawn

After laying turf in wet weather it is important to avoid walking on the lawn until the lawn is established. This will firstly help keep your lawn level (stopping any footprint divots in the soil base) and will help ensure the grass can establish its roots into the soil base as soon as possible. If the soil base still isn’t level, once the lawn is established you can top dress the lawn to improve levels. Please note it is best to only top dress in spring and summer while the lawn is actively growing.

If your area continues to receive rainfall after instillation, you will need to adjust your watering. For example, if you area is getting lots of rain, you will not need to water. However, if you do have a break in rainfall may need to irrigate the area. As the roots of your lawn grow into the soil base, you can reduce any additional irrigation. For specific advice on irrigation for your current conditions, it is best to have a chat with your local turf supplier.

Due to the wet conditions, weeds have a higher rate of infiltrating your lawn. After establishment, if you notice weeds popping through the lawn it is best to simply remove them by hand. It is best to avoid using herbicides on the lawn until the lawn is established.

When there are periods of excessive rainfall, the nutrients in your soil base in some cases can be washed and drained away. This is known as soil leaching. To remedy this loss of nutrients you can apply a well balanced fertiliser like our Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser or Exceed.

Your new lawn should be ready for its first mow once the roots of the grass grow down into the soil profile. To see if it is ready, try to lift the corner of a turf roll from the ground. Your lawn will be ready to mow if you can’t lift the roll from the ground.

For more specific advice on installing turf in your area it is best to have a chat with your local turf suppliers. You can see who your local suppliers are here.

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