waratah-supplies

How to lay garden pebbles

matt@iseekplant.com.au (Matt Peters) — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 04:54:00 GMT

Pebble the casbah - our guide to laying garden pebbles

Decorative pebbles can take the visual appeal of your garden to the next level - if used tastefully and laid correctly. While taste is (for better or for worse) in the eye of the beholder, the way to correctly lay garden pebbles isn’t up for debate. Here’s our guide to using decorative pebbles in your garden.

Measure out and mark your garden pebble landing zone

Laying pebbles isn’t something you should try to eyeball - you’ll end up with something that looks more like an inkblot test than good landscaping. By taking the time to measure your space and then mark it out with string, you’ll get a much better idea of how many garden pebbles you actually need.

From here, the process can vary slightly, depending on where you want to put your decorative pebbles.

How to lay garden pebbles on soil

If you want to lay your pebbles straight down on flat soil, the good news is that you don’t have much to do before you can get to pebbling. All you’ll need to get out of the way is a rudimentary levelling and clearing of the soil in question (which can be easily done with a household rake), and a quick weeding to ensure there’s no pesky plants hanging around.

Once that’s done, you can technically go ahead and start laying down pebbles. But there’s something worth considering before you jump in - a long-term weed prevention strategy.

How to stop weeds growing through garden pebbles laid on soil

Thankfully, the question of how to stop weeds growing through your carefully placed decorative pebbles is easily answered.

Once you’ve cleared and levelled your soil, all you need to do is lay down an appropriately-sized piece of landscape fabric. The material is firm and heavy enough to stop weeds from getting through but is also porous enough to ensure that the soil below it receives enough water and air. Be sure to place the fabric shiny side up!

And if you need soil as well as pebbles, we’ve got you covered with our range of soils which are available in small amounts or in bulk.

Laying it on thick - how tall should a layer of garden pebbles be?

All things being equal, you should aim to end up with a layer of decorative pebbles at least 5cm off the soil they’re sitting on. If you’re using your pebbles to cover a garden bed or fill a space, try to get them flush to the edges they’re up against.

Are different kinds of garden pebbles better or worse for landscaping?

When it comes to selecting the specific kind of pebble you want for your garden, your personal taste and preferences will once again be the driving force. The only real practical consideration to be aware of is the size of the pebbles you go with. Pebbles around 2-3cm in diameter are recommended for areas that will be walked on, and 2cm pebbles specifically are great for driveways - as are our aggregates and gravels .

Keep in mind that the smaller the pebble, the more pleasant it will be to walk on, but if your pebbles are too small, you’ll leave footprints, which isn’t ideal from an aesthetic standpoint!

Partner with Waratah Supplies for all your garden pebble needs

If you want to up the wow factor of your garden, give us a call ! We have many different types of pebbles available in whatever quantity you need, whether it’s one kilogram or one tonne. Pebbling a garden isn’t necessarily a complex task, but it’s one that you want to get right the first time - so for ultimate peace of mind, leave it to our team of expert landscapers for a result you’ll be over the moon about.

Our guide to top-tier turf care

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 02:58:39 GMT

Keep the grass greener on your side with our easy and effective turf care tips

If you’ve had some fresh new turf installed recently, your first thought may have been ‘wow this looks so green and healthy!’ But how do you keep it that way?

You can rest easy, because we’re here to give you all the turf care advice you need to keep your new turf healthy, shiny, green, and happy. We’re going to cover when and how to water, mow, and fertilise new turf - and go over some basic pest and weed control principles for new turf. Let’s get into it!

When can you water new turf?

You should water new turf as soon as possible after it’s been laid, and no more than 15 minutes after the first section’s down. New turf is extremely thirsty, so for the first four or so weeks you should water new turf lightly three times a day, to ensure it’s always damp and hydrated.

Once your turf is established and its roots have started making their new home in the ground, you can ease up on the daily waterings but will still need to follow a fairly strict schedule to maximise your new turf’s chances of thriving.

From week four onwards, you can slowly start dialling down the number of times a day you water new turf, while gradually increasing the amount of water you give it each time. Try working your way down to one deep water per day, then to one per every second day, and finally to one extended (one- or two-hour) water per week.

If you’re patient and persistent with your watering schedule, your new turf should have no issues developing a strong and healthy root system in the soil below it. However, if you notice dry, discoloured, or wilting leaves, take that as a sign that your lawn needs a big ol’ drink, regardless of where you’re at with your watering schedule.

When to mow new turf

You shouldn’t mow your new turf until its roots are fully established, which can take up six to eight weeks in some cases. You can check your turf’s progress by giving it a gentle tug; if it gives, it’s definitely not ready to be mowed. If it sticks firm to the soil, you’re well on your way to a healthy lawn.

Once you’re confident that your turf’s roots are well and truly established, you can mow it for the first time. Here are some tips for mowing your new turf without risking damage to the root system:

Make sure your mower blades are as sharp as possible to stop them from mangling the leaves instead of cutting them
Adjust your mower’s height so that it’ll only take off approximately the top third of the leaf - any more and you risk causing stress to the leaf and impeding photosynthesis
Only mow new turf if it’s completely dry - attempting to mow it after a watering session won’t go well for you
Don’t be scared to leave the grass box off! Grass clippings add nitrogen back to the soil, reducing the need for additional fertiliser by as much as 25%

The question of when to mow new turf can be a contentious one, but if you follow our tips you can rest easy knowing you’re not running the risk of damaging your new turf by mowing it prematurely.

When can you start fertilising new turf?

When fertilising new turf, you should ideally add a pre-turf fertiliser to the soil before laying any turf, and then when you first water the turf, add a liquid fertiliser containing seaweed to stimulate root growth.

From that point, fertilise your turf either four to six weeks after it was laid, or if you notice a drastic colour change in your turf. Happy, healthy grass should have a rich, dark green colour, so if it’s looking a little pale you might need to give it a feed.

However, check that your turf isn’t simply dehydrated first - excessively fertilising new turf can burn your grass, and potentially kill your entire lawn. You may also want to consider mulching your new turf at some point, as this helps the soil below soak up and retain crucial nutrients.

If you’ve never mulched a lawn before, you might want to take a look at:

Our how-to guides section , which includes a guide on how to apply mulch
Our range of soils, composts, and fertilisers , available for both bulk and retail purchase
Our FAQs section , which contains some handy information regarding how mulch works and the frequency with which you should be applying it

Weed control and dealing with lawn bugs

How you choose to deal with weeds and pests depends on your personal views regarding sustainability and nature. Some lawn owners will stop at nothing to make sure their yard is completely free of weeds and pests, utilising whatever pesticides and weed killers they deem necessary to their pest and weed control strategy.

Others take a more holistic view and allow weeds and pests to exist in their garden as they would in the wild. This can help to preserve important ecosystems and encourage biodiversity over monoculture - which can be vital to ensuring the health and continued existence of local flora and fauna.

If you do decide to take the exterminatory route, make sure that any pesticides or weed killers you’re using are safe, and won’t compromise the health of your new turf.

Keep in mind that for some prominent lawn bugs, such as the lawn grub, cultural control rather than chemical control is the way to go. This involves seeking out their telltale soft white cocoons around your property and disposing of them by either brushing or hosing them away. This will prevent the grubs from reproducing and keep your lawn safe from a hungry horde of lawn grubs.

Partner with Waratah Supplies for your turf care product needs

Here at Waratah Supplies, we can handle your turf installation and turf care product needs from start to finish. We offer a range of different grasses in turf form, all of which are suitable for Sydney’s climate and favoured by home gardeners and landscapers for their hardiness. Give us a call today and we can help you figure out which grass is best for your yard, and then get it laid down to bring you one step closer to the perfect lawn of your dreams!

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO GETTING ‘GARDEN-READY’ THIS SPRING

matt@iseekplant.com.au (Matt Peters) — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 01:25:08 GMT

As the cold winter months begin to ebb, and we increasingly turn to the outdoors for sunshine and activity, our gardens and outdoor spaces begin demanding more attention again. It can be a daunting task deciding where to begin and what to do to get your garden back in tiptop shape. Waratah’s friendly landscaping and garden professionals are here to help, so we created this guide to getting garden-ready to keep you informed and on track.

STEP ONE: THE DREADED SPRING CLEAN!

Before you get underway with your new gardening ideas, you’ll need a thorough clean to remove all the winter debris and unwanted growth. Fallen leaves and small branches can make for an unsightly mess and can be hazardous in the heat.

Be sure to remove any weeds from the roots, so they won’t grow back during the warmer months. Removing dead weeds is easier than living ones, so be sure to pick up a good weed killer to help get this underway.

But the clean-up doesn’t end with the vegetation. If you have any pavers or retaining wall blocks, give them a pressure-wash to remove mould and grime. After a good wash down and dry, sweep up as much dust and dirt as possible.

STEP TWO: GARDEN HEALTH CHECK

Once your spring clean-up is complete and you’ve had a chance to take a good look around, Waratah recommends a full ‘health check’ of your soils, mulches, plant life, lawns, and hardscapes to determine what needs attention, revitalisation, rehydration, or general maintenance. Having a systematic approach helps to save time and energy, so you can get down to the job of enjoying your outdoor spaces sooner!

STEP THREE: ADDITIONS & IMPROVEMENTS

Spring is the perfect time to begin planting new plants. Before you start, ensure you have prepared your soil as mentioned above.

Once you’ve planted your new plants, add a compost or manure to ensure they have nutrients to grow. Make sure the soil is watered regularly, and cover your new garden with a good layer of mulch to retain the moisture.

Some recommendations for good spring plants include Azaleas, Grevilleas and Callistemon, Bougainvillea, Jasmine (our favourite!), Lavender, Daisies, Petunias, Marigolds, and Geraniums.

Paving and retaining wall builds are also better done in spring, as you’re less likely to get interrupted by rain. But before you do build up your garden beds with sleepers or blocks, make sure you know your drainage requirements. Without proper drainage, new pavers and retaining walls can quickly sustain water damage or disrupt the drainage of the soils around them.

Waratah Supplies has all your drainage requirements including Agline, Blue Metal Aggregate and more. Take a gander at our aggregate material range here.

STEP FOUR: MAINTENANCE & PROTECTION

It’s always important to keep an eye out for unwanted pests in your garden. As the weather warms up, bugs and other pests become much more active, particularly around fruit and veggie patches. While there’s no guarantee that you won’t have some minor pest problems, there are a few things you can do to reduce the likelihood of a major infestation.

If your plants are strong and healthy, they will be better equipped to survive a few bugs. Adding rich compost to the soil, fertilising occasionally, and mulching regularly is the key to fantastic plant growth and health. Spacing your plants out and giving them plenty of room to grow also helps minimise the spread of bugs and any resulting plant damage and loss.

If you have any questions or would like to speak to one of our Waratah experts about your garden this spring, just call us or book a free consultation here.