Best Garden Maintenance Products

What does garden maintenance include?

Garden maintenance refers to anything you’d do or use to tend to your garden, and for different people, it means different things.

Some common garden maintenance products that Australian green thumbs (or budding green thumbs) use include:

• Fertilisers, to promote plant growth.
• Weed killers and garden pest control products, to stop insects from destroying plants.
• Soils and mulches, including potting mixes, to use when potting or repotting plants.
• Garden beds, to house any herbs, veggies, or flowers you want to grow.
• Lawn care products, such as synthetic grass.

You can also read reviews for other garden products, such as hoses, gardening tools, and compost bins.

Fertilisers

What is a fertiliser?

Plants - like us - need food to grow. Plant food, or fertilisers, can do a variety of things, such as improve seed germination, reduce transplant shock, and promote root growth, flowering and fruiting.

A variety of elements are necessary for them to be happy and healthy, and of these, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus are needed in the largest amounts.

Fertilisers should display the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium they contain - this is called the N:P:K ratio. Looking for a higher ratio means that you’re more likely to provide your plants with the nutrients they need.

What are the different types of fertiliser?

You can find fertilisers in either liquid or solid form.

Liquid or water-soluble fertilisers immediately give nutrients to plants, allowing for quick uptake. They don’t last particularly long in the soil, however, as they’re quickly leached away with watering. They’re usually well-suited for use during spring or summer, while the plant is growing, flowering, or fruiting.

Solid or granular fertilisers gradually release nutrients for the plants to eat up. These are the cream of the crop for lazy gardeners, as they can slowly release nutrients for up to 12 months.

Inorganic vs. organic fertiliser

Inorganic fertilisers are synthetic forms of usually naturally occurring minerals that are beneficial to plants. They have concentrated nutrients and are often intended for a particular group of plants, making it easier for you to tend to a specific variety.

Organic fertilisers contain ingredients derived from living things, such as manure. They’re slow releasing and are less likely to harm the plant (and environment) if too much is used.

Weed killers

Types of weed killers

Not all weed killers have the same purpose - some prevent the germination of seeds, while others kill established plants. Here are the different types to look out for.

• Pre-emergent weed killer: Pre-emergent weed killers kill weeds before they start growing. They’re generally recommended to use in early spring so they don’t harm plants that have an established root system.
• Post-emergent weed killer: These kill established weeds that you can see on your lawn. Just ensure you don’t apply them to your lawn or established plants, as it could destroy them.

Weed killers can also be distinguished by how they work, however some may be both a contact and a systemic weed killer.

• Contact weed killer: These weed control products kill plants they come into physical contact with very quickly - you’ll usually see results in just an hour. They’re generally more effective at getting rid of lighter weed growth and foliage, but may take a few applications to eradicate a plant.
• Systemic weed killer: These are absorbed by the leaves of the plant and enter the root system, impairing the weed’s ability to get nutrients from the soil. They work more slowly, and usually yield results in 1 to 3 weeks. Perennial weeds are usually treated with this type of weed killer.

Weed killers can be expensive, and it’s difficult to find the right balance between effectiveness and value.

Ingredients

If you have children and pets playing in the yard, or you’re concerned about what your weed killer is doing to the environment, then you can find organic or natural weed killers, such as the Slasher Organic Weedkiller.

Some people even find success with homemade weed killer, using everything from boiling water, salt, vinegar, and cornmeal to get rid of unwanted greenery.

Raised garden beds

If you want to start a vegetable garden and don’t want to start digging into your lawn, then you may want to buy a raised garden bed (if you don’t feel up to the task of making one yourself).

What's the point of a raised garden bed?

Raised garden beds offer plenty of benefits, but that doesn’t mean they’re suitable for all gardens. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of having a raised bed.

Find the right size

Consider the length, width, and depth of your garden bed. One advantage of having a raised garden bed is that it can make gardening easier on the back if it’s high enough, so if you can see a garden bed in store, see how much you have to bend over to reach different areas.

Raised beds should generally be kept to a maximum of 1.2 to 1.5m wide depending on your reach, so that it’s still easy to reach the middle of the plot. Keep in mind that beds backed against a wall or fence should be half this width as you’ll only be able to access it from one side.

If you’re looking to plant deep-rooting crops, then look for at least 30cm of soil depth.

Choose a material that suits you

Garden beds are subject to the elements, as well as constant moisture and potentially insects, which is why you should consider the right material for your plot. Here are the main options.

• Wood. Timber raised garden beds are durable and attractive, however they can be susceptible to rot. Some wood fares better than others - cedar, for example, is durable and quite resistant to moisture and rot, however often costs more and may be sourced unsustainably.
• Galvanised steel. While it may not be the prettiest material, galvanised steel is durable, resistant to rust, and economical.
• Stone. Stone is more common in homemade garden beds rather than ones you can buy in store. It can be expensive, but will last longer than most other materials.

Potting mix

Potting mix can make or break a plant, so if you want to do right by the new green friend you picked up at your local nursery, then invest in a decent mix.

Look for potting mixes that meet Australian standards

There’s an Australian Standard for bagged retail potting mix, and mixes that meet them have passed a series of tests to prove their quality.

Look for black and red ticks on a potting mix bag. Black ticks indicate a regular grade mix that you need to add fertiliser to when you do your potting. Red ticks are premium grade mixes that last longer and have fertiliser in them.

Try and get the freshest mix you can, as the longer the mix is in the bag, the more nutrients the microorganisms in the potting mix will consume.

Match the mix with the plant

Some plants prefer rich, fertile garden soil, while others benefit more from sandier soils. Different plants also have different pH preferences, which is why selecting the right potting mix can be tricky work if you don’t go for a general purpose soil.

Plants in indirect light or shade don’t lose water as rapidly as those in direct sunlight, which is why a lighter mix may be better for these plants. Your green friends in full sun will generally prefer a medium-weight mix that holds water well.

You can also find specialty potting mixes that are formulated to give specific plant varieties the nutrients they need.