Gardening with worms

Did you know worms are capable of a lot more than just being bait on your fishing hook?
Without worms, we would be many kilometres deep in decaying vegetation and our soil wouldn’t be able to grow healthy plants, including food. These small creatures are hard at work in your garden but because they are below the surface you probably don’t even realise!

Many people are under the impression that worms eat dirt, but they actually feast on the bacteria and fungi that grows on decomposing matter. This diet allows worms to produce rich castings (manure) which is jam-packed full of the nutrients your garden craves.

Although there are many ways that worm castings can be added to your garden, we’ve compiled our top 3 for you to try!
1. If you’re adding new plants to your garden, mix 1 part worm castings with 3 parts soil before you start.
2. If you’re adding castings to plants already in the ground or pots, simply place a handful around the base of the plant and each time you water, the nutrients will work their way down.
3. Place 4 to 5 cups of worm castings in a homemade teabag (use an old t-shirt or sock), fill a bucket with water and let the casting soak overnight. By morning the water should be brown and ready for you to sprinkle on your plants!

Adding worm castings to your garden will do wonders in its self, but if you want to take your gardening to the next level, consider adding live worms. Worms not only improve soil health and help your plants thrive, but they also help with aeration and getting more moisture into your soil. The easiest way to add worms to your garden is to buy them but it’s not as simple as throwing them in. It is crucial that worms have food such as organic compost, garden compost, leaf matter or broken down manure (not fresh).

A year’s preparation is ideal, and by the time it comes around (if you’ve done it right) you will go to dig a hole to plant and find a bunch of worms hard at work.

Earth worm

Friday 6 October 2017

Written by ASQ Garden & Landscape

Improve your lawn before summer!

With spring in full swing and summer just around the corner, now is the time to head outside and give your lawn a new lease on life!

Weed
If your weeds are out of control, it’s a good idea to remove them before doing any other lawn maintenance. If your lawn is turf like Sir Walter, Buffalo or Kikuyu, you are best to use Lawn Lover’s Buffalo Weed Control. Another option is using a weed grabber or grandpa weeder to remove the weeds by hand. With whatever treatment you choose, you may need to treat your lawn a couple of times, as the weeds have plenty of moisture to keep them going at this time of year.

Feed
Once the weeds are under control, it’s time to feed your lawn. Seasol is a complete garden health treatment that is great for root stimulation and easy to apply. We have a 1.25 litre Seasol concentrate available, which is a great way to get value for money. Apply Seasol every four to six weeks to keep your lawn green and healthy – and don’t worry if you get it on the plants – they will love it too!

Fertilise
About two to three weeks after the Seasol application, it’s time to fertilise. Whether your lawn is turf or grown from seed, you can use the same fertiliser. Granular Sir Walter fertiliser comes in two sizes, either a 4kg or 10kg tub. We also stock a Professional Turf Fertiliser which comes in either 2.5kg or 8kg bags. The size of your lawn will dictate what size tub or bag you need. Grow Better’s Organic Fertiliser is another option, which comes in four sizes and is a good all round fertiliser for the entire garden. No matter which fertiliser you use, make sure you spread it evenly over the lawn and water in well.

Products and tips
Did you know, at ASQ Garden & Landscape we have our very own quality lawn seed products? For full sun areas we have a Hardy Lawn Blend, or for shaded areas, we recommend the Shade Lawn Blend. As well as our own products, we are a licensed distributer for Lawn Solutions Australia, as well as selling instant turf such as Sir Walter. We also supply high quality synthetic turf varieties, so whatever your lawn needs this spring, we’ve got it covered!

Lawn

Friday 16 June 2017

Written by Mick Wyatt

Find the right secateurs for your winter pruning!

Winter is the best time of year to give your garden a heavy prune, and there is nothing worse than having a pair of blunt or broken secateurs when you’re trying to get the job done! At ASQ Garden & Landscape, we stock a number of different types of secateurs. From every gardener’s dream brand Felco, to more budget-friendly options, we’re sure to have a pair to meet your needs!

Come along to our pruning demonstration on Saturday 8 July and let our friendly and qualified staff help you pick the right pair of secateurs! Click here for more information

ASQ secateurs