Monthly Archives: July 2018

If you’re looking to sell your home or investment property, you probably don’t see the value in landscaping if you won’t be living there for much longer. Why spend money on something as important as your front or backyard if you won’t be there to enjoy it?

But think of it like this: you’re probably already preparing the inside of your home for potential buyers. Whether you’re giving the walls a fresh coat of paint, cleaning the carpets, polishing the floors or even hiring furniture to make an impact, you’re already investing money in your property to get a better return. The same goes for your garden.

Increasing the curb appeal of your home is perhaps even more important than giving the inside of your home a mini makeover. What’s the first thing that potential buyers see when they come to inspect a property? A front yard that they can see themselves nurturing and enjoying for years to come.

You might be feeling overwhelming with everything you need to do, so we’ve compiled some landscaping tips that anyone can follow to help interest potential buyers.

Lay New Lawn Because Curb Appeal is Everything

The best part about landscaping is that you don’t even need to complete a full backyard blitz for the final result to have an impact. If your lawn is looking sad or neglected, especially after the Australian summer, then a fresh and lush new lawn can make any home shine.

Consider instant turf, or even synthetic turf for an easy to maintain yet aesthetically pleasing option.

Add Colour but Limit Plant Species

Adding bright pops of colour, native blooms and flowering annuals can make your property feel welcoming and give it an immediate lift. You might be tempted to go overboard with plants, but you still want to make it seem easy to maintain. Research your area or talk to your landscapers to find the right plants that suit the climate, helps reduce pests and encourages biodiversity.

Mulching and Weeding Goes a Long Way

With any garden, you want it to seem low maintenance to potential buyers. When it comes to selling, it’s usually all about appearances. Weeding goes a long way in helping your garden look tidy and well-maintained, while mulching your garden beds will help make your gardens look much neater.

At Watersave Landscaping, we offer all these services and so much more, to help get your garden in order before open house. If you’d like to discuss your landscaping needs, get in touch with our experts today – we’re only a phone call away!

The best thing about a garden bursting with Australian natives is that if you choose the right varieties, you can enjoy a low maintenance, sustainable and beautiful garden that you can call your own. For a while there, natives seemed a thing of the past when it came to landscaping, however they’re enjoying something of a resurgence thanks to being drought tolerant, providing food and shelter for native animals and attracting important insects to name a few.

Before investing in a garden of Australian natives, it’s important that you’re up to date on garden maintenance, and plant selection. So, we’ve compiled a handy guide on some important tips on looking after your native garden.

Choose the right natives for your climate

As we all know, the climates in Australia can be drastically different. Some native plants that are found up north may not thrive in Victoria and vice versa. Research what native plants work for your specific climate to give your garden the best chance to establish itself. A few natives that grow well in Victoria include Banksia, Acacia, Dog Rose, Native Fuschia, Yellow Buttons, Grevillea Lanigera, Dwarf Heath Myrtle, Native Hibiscus, Illawarra Flame Tree, Eucalyptus Tree and Native Frangipani. Of course, this is only a small sample, and varietals thrive differently depending on location, for example coastal, inland or mountain regions.

Minimise Frost Damage

In Victoria, frost damage can happen quite easily during winter. Although natives might be more resilient than introduced species, as the winters get colder it’s best that you do all you can to minimise frost damage. If your area is prone to frost, choose plants that are more frost tolerant than others. Do not use a nitrogenous fertiliser, keep your soil moist and avoid blocking any air flow to the area.

Keep on top of Pruning

Pruning any plant can help it stay looking lush and healthy, while keeping them well maintained.

Keep them Hydrated

Although Australian natives are quite resilient and drought resistant, they still like to stay hydrated as much as any other varietal. To help your plants thrive, look at varieties that survive on winter rainfall similar to your own.

Mulch it Up

Mulching is important as it helps to maintain soil moisture and lessens the need for watering. It also helps improve soil and can help reduce weed growth. When looking for a mulch for your natives, look for any organic material that is free of disease. You can also use leaves, grass clippings and path sweepings.

When it comes time for you to get your native garden started, or if you’d like help discussing which natives would flourish in your area, then contact the professionals today.

Do you love tending to your garden? Nothing beats the feeling of seeing sprouts pop out of the soil, having a colourful bunch of flowers bloom before your eyes and witnessing bees and butterflies be drawn to your backyard. Not only is gardening great for aesthetic reasons and for benefitting your mental and physical health, but did you know that gardening is also beneficial for the environment?

Here we outline the top 4 reasons why your backyard garden is helping build a healthier environment.

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

This is a simple one, but it can make a huge difference in the long run. If you’re growing your own fruits, vegetables or herbs, then you’re less likely to purchase these from a grocery store. If you’re eating direct from your garden to your plate, then your food doesn’t have to be transported, which results in Co2 emissions and fuel usage.   

Reduce C02 in the Atmosphere

Yes, with your own garden, you can now do your part to help reduce the amount of Co2 in the atmosphere and join the collective effort in tackling climate change. Through photosynthesis, your plants naturally take in Co2 and release oxygen. No matter how small you think your garden may be, you’re still taking steps towards cleaner air and a greener future. 

Create Habitats for Important Wildlife

You might not think of it much, but with your garden you can create a little habitat for some important critters. Without knowing, your garden could be home to butterflies, insects, ants, birds, slugs, snails and bees. Each of these animals and insects are important to the ecosystem, and without them could have negative implications for animals higher up in the food chain in the long run! 

Cut Down on Energy Costs

If you choose the right plants for your garden, think easy to maintain natives, climbers, succulents, cacti and evergreens you can reduce your water bills. Researching what plants are adapted to your particular city and climate will help you to find flora that are more likely to live through all seasons with minimum care. Using wall climbers, vines and wall shrubs can also help to insulate your home, resulting in lower energy costs, plus they look great! 

Additional Greener Gardening Tips

• When mowing your lawn, try to use a cordless electric lawnmower, or a push mower, instead of one that runs on fuel
• When trying to stop insects and pests coming into your garden, look for an eco-friendly way of doing it without using pesticides
• Collect rainwater. Instead of watering your garden from the hose, collect your rainwater and use this to keep your garden looking green

Whether you’re looking at creating a more energy efficient garden or are considering incorporating natives into your already established garden, you’re already doing your part to help our environment. To discuss how Watersave Landscaping can help you create an energy efficient and eco-friendly garden, contact us on 0411 143 599.