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It is not every landscape design that has trees included in it, but those that do gain several benefits thanks to those trees. Now, if your garden or the plot which is being landscaped is small, then we agree that it might not be possible to include a tree in your landscape design. That does not mean that your landscape design is inferior or will be any less stunning when it is complete, but for practical reasons, particularly size, trees may not be a part of it. For those who can include one or more trees in your landscape design, then we will explain the benefits of that below, be we must also add a caveat. If you are growing trees from saplings then it may take some time, often running into years, for these benefits to be maximised. The alternative is to plant mature trees which can be a considerable undertaking in both practical and financial terms, but most certainly worth it. However, whether you take a shortcut, or are happy to be patient until your trees grow, in both cases the trees will be a hugely positive addition to your landscaping. Most obvious will be the natural beauty that is created within your garden by one or more trees and the kaleidoscope of colours that is produced as each season comes and goes. Additionally, you will soon also be reaping the following five benefits thanks to the tree or trees in your landscape design. Tree Benefit #1 – Cooling Shade As your tree flowers and the leaves on them grow to their full size each spring and summer, those leaves are going to provide you with your very own natural parasol to shade you from the sun. By placing a tree within your landscaping in a strategic position that lines up with its shade on a seating area, it makes the ideal combination. Alternatively, if your tree creates shade over your home, it can mean it is cooler inside and thus less need for HVAC to be on, saving you money. 6884

There are many ways in which a landscape design can transform your garden and provide all the many positives that flow from that. However, as much as we believe landscaping is the perfect way to turn a garden into something you and your family will benefit from, there are certain things that no landscape design can fix entirely, and one of those is weeds. While specific landscape designs might have no natural elements to them and thus may eliminate any spots where weeds might grow, these are rare and tend to be landscape projects for commercial buildings. As for residential landscape designs, they almost always have natural elements such as grass, flower beds, and shrubbery to name but three. This means that almost every Dalkeith homeowner who has landscaping has got to deal with weeds, and whilst nature may find a way to thwart your efforts, it does not mean that you should not try to minimise the weeds in your garden. Every bit of nourishment that a weed consumes is less for the plants you want to grow in your garden, so that is reason enough, plus weeds are ugly and diminish the appearance of your landscaping. One approach to removing weeds would be to blast them with all manner of chemical weed killers. It might work temporarily, but you have to question if these chemicals cause more harm than good. They are certainly not conducive to the other plants, flowers, and grass in your garden staying healthy plus they are a danger to everyone in the vicinity including yourself, children, and pets. 6829

One natural phenomenon which is prevalent in many areas of Australia is bushfires, and if you are planning to have landscaping on your property, this is something that you must take into consideration when formulating your landscape design. Areas such as Western Australia and New South Wales are but two of the states in Australia which have seen horrific bushfires in recent years with many homes destroyed and even more damaged. Whilst no landscape design will ever stop a bushfire from starting, or indeed causing at least some damage, by taking them into account, the damage to your home may at least be minimised as it is defended against the bushfire to an extent by the garden outside. As for what a smart landscaped design for a garden in areas prone to bushfires will include, many of you might be concerned more about what it would exclude. We understand that you may be thinking that such a design is going to be a space with few plants and the entirety of it being made from bricks and stone work. Fear not, because, although there might be some practical elements in a landscape design suitable for at-risk areas, it can still be comfortable and aesthetically stunning. So, with all of that in mind, let us explore what landscaping for bushfire areas constitutes. Bushfires And Landscaping One unfortunate facet of bushfires is that they are indiscriminate in the sense that they do not care what object or item is in their path, If it is flammable, it will damage or destroy them. Other features of bushfires are that, unlike most things, they accelerate up hills rather than down them. 6832

For many of us living in Claremont Australia, we have hot, sunny weather for much of the year and we see it as a positive bonus, however, such a climate also comes with its fair share of issues, and one we come across regularly is how the heat and dry weather impacts landscaping and gardens. In particular, the many plants which grow in landscaped gardens have to have first been chosen carefully, and they then also have to be cared for and maintained according to the local weather conditions. One of the natural features you will find in many landscape designs is a tree, and it is trees that grow in hot conditions and their welfare which we are going to focus on in this blog post so that you never have to face the issue of a tree succumbing to the hot summer heat. Plan Ahead One of the most puzzling things for us is when we hear from homeowners who have issues in their gardens caused by heat when we are well into the summer months. It puzzles us because, firstly, summer occurs in the same months every year, and second, with only rare occasions, most areas will have the same hot summer weather each year, so it should never come as a surprise. As such, everyone should be able to plan for the weather that is going to be coming, and if you are not, then by the time you get around to doing anything to help protect your trees it could be too late. So, start planning as soon as possible for the hot weather that is sure to come in summer. 6836

There are several reasons why you may request a landscape design be created so that you can have landscaping outside your property. These include moving to a new property in Cottesloe where the garden is not entirely to your liking. You might wish to provide your immediate family with a safe and welcoming area where they can relax or play. Or you might be someone who has lots of outdoor parties and BBQs and wish to create the ideal space for those. Often it will not be a single reason that seals the decision to have new landscaping, but a combination of them. However, there is one reason which will influence the decision to go ahead with all new landscape designs on the majority of occasions, and that is that landscaping can increase the value of a property. What you might pay to have a landscape design planned and the landscaping created might seem like a cost. However, in reality, it is an investment, and unlike many investments, the return on it can be immediate. If you have your home valued before and after your landscaping has been installed, the second valuation will invariably be several thousand dollars higher than the first. At this point, we must highlight a caveat to that statement and that is a property’s value increase due to new landscaping will only occur if it has been designed following several key landscaping principles. Simply, ‘updating your garden’ is not going to have anywhere the same impact on your home’s value as having professional landscapers design your landscaping as they will certainly follow those principles. As for what they are, here are the seven most important principles. 6871

Indoor plants seem to be the latest way to make a statement with your landscape design. Move over statues, flowers and vases – indoor plants are here to stay! With a huge variety of vibrant foliage to choose from, it’s no wonder this trend has taken off. But not all indoor plants were created equal. Each indoor plant requires certain conditions in order to thrive. As such, finding the perfect indoor plant for your space is an art form.   Calathea The Calathea plant can be a temperamental one, but the vivid foliage makes them a popular choice! They thrive in high humidity and low light, which means a well-lit, air-conditioned bedroom or airy and well ventilated living area is a no-go zone. But don’t despair – even if the majority of your house is well lit & cooled down, there is still one room that’s likely a prime setting for your new Calathea – the bathroom! Due to the water vapour in the air, bathrooms are often the most humid room in the house! Set the Calathea out of direct light and only water it when the soil is dry and it will thrive here.   Devil’s Ivy (aka Epipremnum Aureum) Pothos, more commonly known as Devil’s Ivy holds such as title because it is impossible to kill! This plant with its vibrant crawling vines can grow in almost any room of the house! Easily trained, you can have it hanging from the top shelf or crawling up a stake. It grows best indirect light with sufficient water, but never fear if you neglect it for a week or three – it will keep on ticking!     Fiddle Leaf Fig (aka Ficus Lyrata) This über trendy house plant is a common feature in cafes and studios everywhere! Coming in a variety of sizes, its rich coloured violin shaped leaves will add a luxurious accent to your home. The Fiddle Leaf Fig prefers a warmer room and thrives in high humidity. But if a humidity level of 68 isn’t quite how you prefer your home – don’t despair – this doesn’t rule your home out. Just ensure it’s placed in a position of bright indirect light and in a room that doesn’t receive frequent air conditioning.     Rubber Plant (aka Ficus Elastica) So you want a Fiddle Leaf Fig but you’re also a bit of a brown thumb? Meet the Rubber Plant. Like the Fiddle Leaf, this is a tree-like plant but in comparison, this underrated plant is much easier to care for. If kept in small pots, these can be compact medium-size houseplants but alternatively, they can also be grown to large indoor-trees for those who wish to make a statement. These guys enjoy bright light – so an indirect sunny spot is perfect!       Mother-in-law’s Tongue or Snake Plant (aka Sansevieria) Ok, so the name is not appealing but this plant has risen to massive popularity in spite of its name. A hardy plant, they can withstand some neglect and low levels of light. They are the perfect plant to complement both retro and minimal interiors. It can make a statement in the bedroom or be the perfect focal piece in the kitchen or living area. Given its size, it is best suited to sitting on a bench or sideboard.     ZZ Plant or Zanzibar Gem (aka Zamioculcas) Last but not least is the ZZ Plant. A quick look through the #houseplantsofinstagram hashtag shows that this is a staple plant in the indoor plant trend. With rich, dark leaves that reflect the light, the ZZ plant is reputable to be a slow-grower, even in perfect conditions, so it will not grow past one or two feet, making it the ideal small-medium size house plant. Better yet, it is incredibly tolerant of drought and low light.     Monstera Deliciosa Let us introduce you to the Monstera Deliciosa. Well, actually, this one might not need an introduction, as you’ve most likely seen it on everything from pillowcase prints to wall canvases, this incredibly popular tropical plant is taking the indoor plant world by storm. Thinking about purchasing this luscious specimen? You’ll need a humid room with lots of space. It’s the perfect plant to make a statement – so a large side table in a living or dining room is an ideal space. Ensure the space is in indirect light.   If you’re looking to jump on the indoor plant bandwagon, or if you’ve managed to kill all your indoor plant so far, give us a call and we’ll match you with the perfect indoor plant that reflects you and suits your space! [contact-form-7 id=”963″ title=”News Page Contact Form”]

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Spring might seem like it’s a while away, but now is the time to start preparing your garden and laying the groundwork for Spring. To ensure that that your garden will flourish for the rest of the year, you need to start your prep work now. Mulch your beds If you want your garden to flourish in Spring, you need to mulch your garden in Winter to ensure that the necessary nutrients don’t die off in the cold weather. When choosing the perfect mulch, pick a sustainable mulch with low impact on the environment, that will enrich your soil as it breaks down. Pruning For many plants, pruning is an important job to do at this time of the year. However, don’t go crazy and start to prune everything right now – you want to prune your deciduous fruit trees (except apricots) and any plants that bloom in summer! What to plant? Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to plant this season. Look at planning lettuce, celery, broad beans, potato, garlic, radish and spinach. You could also plant ornamental and fruit trees now – such as figs, bare-rooted roses and non-invasive vines. But when it’s cold outside, the last thing you might want to be doing is standing outside in the wet and windy weather. If that’s the case, then get in touch with us today. Our knowledgeable team can get your garden ready for spring, so you don’t have to. CONTACT US TODAY SO WE CAN TAKE CARE OF YOUR GARDEN [contact-form-7 id=”963″ title=”News Page Contact Form”]