Maintenance

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Bright pink rose arbour

10 Tips For Novice Gardeners in Australia

September 7, 2023
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Australian Natives, Garden, Gardening For Beginners, Gardens for Life, Maintenance, Plants, Pruning, Scented gardens, Sustainable Gardening, Uncategorized
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No comments
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Posted by Parveen
Australia's diverse climate and unique flora make it a paradise for garden enthusiasts. Whether you're a city dweller with a balcony garden or lucky enough to have a sprawling backyard, gardening in Australia offers many possibilities. If you're a novice gardener eager to nurture your green thumb, we've got you covered with essential tips to help you successfully embark on your gardening journey. Gardening is rewarding and fulfilling, especially in…
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Backyard merbau decking in Ashburton landscape design

Ways To Look After Your Timber Decking

August 7, 2023
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Blog, Construction, Garden, Landscape Design, Maintenance, Materials, Outdoor Entertaining, Seasonal tips
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No comments
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Posted by Parveen
Winter is a beautiful time to be outdoors, with the crisp air and warm sun providing the perfect setting for entertaining. However, it's also a season of harsh conditions that can take its toll on your outdoor timber decking if you're not careful. Timber decking adds a touch of natural elegance to any home but requires proper care to withstand winter's harsh conditions. Fear not! Whether your deck is a…
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Bright Colours and Smells Are A Must For Sensory Gardens

Creating A Sensory Garden

June 4, 2023
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Gardens for Life, Landscaping, Maintenance, Plants, Productive gardening, Pruning, Scented gardens, Sustainable Gardening, Uncategorized
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No comments
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Posted by Parveen
Creating a sensory garden is both rewarding and fun. It’s a great way to add interest and enjoyment to your outdoor space. Sensory gardens are an exciting place for kids and adults to connect with nature as it combines hardscape elements and plants in such a way as to entice the person wandering through the garden to have that sense of amazement viewing the space, touch, smell, hear sounds and…
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Leucophyta brownii in Vermont South landscape design

12 Low Maintenance Garden Ideas

May 28, 2023
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Australian Natives, Gardens for Life, Landscaping, Maintenance, Materials, Paving, Plants
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No comments
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Posted by Parveen
Gardening is an enjoyable hobby (or, for some of us, an obsession ), but not all of us have the time or energy to maintain a garden that requires constant upkeep. If you’re looking for a way to spruce up your outdoor space with minimal effort, try these 12 low maintenance garden ideas. Plant Drought-Resistant Plants Many types of succulents, cacti and other plants are naturally adapted to survive in…
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Collaborative exercise in garden design

How Far In Advance Should I Hire A Garden Designer?

November 22, 2022
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Budgeting, Construction, Gardens for Life, Home, Landscape Design, Landscaping, Maintenance, Plants
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No comments
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Posted by Parveen
I get asked this question a lot, and my two standard responses are as soon as possible (provided that you are mentally ready to commit to the process) and with the expectation that you give the process enough thought/time to create a space that truly suits your needs. However, many of us think about our gardens sometimes as an afterthought or as a reaction to specific triggers like warmer weather…
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Custom deck shaped like a river bed joining a wall to wall cascading water feature in Maribyrnong landscape design

Creating A Healing Garden

April 8, 2021
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Australian Natives, Balcony Gardens, Garden, Gardening For Beginners, Gardens for Life, Landscaping, Maintenance, Plant collectors, Plants, Scented gardens, Water Features
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No comments
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Posted by Parveen
Creating a healing garden in your backyard can be incredibly beneficial and relaxing. Not only does it provide you with an outdoor escape to enjoy the beauty of nature, but it can also help improve your physical and mental health. Healing gardens are places of tranquillity and refuge. They have been used for centuries to restore, refresh and relax the body, mind and soul. They may be small or large, but…
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Sustainable garden design for Vermont South property

Compost for Natives

September 8, 2020
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Australian Natives, Maintenance, Materials, Plants, Pruning
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Posted by Parveen
Australia is home to diverse native plants, from the hardy and drought-tolerant wattles to the fragrant bush flowers (my favourite). To ensure that these natives thrive for years to come, choosing the right soil profile for planting them is essential. When it comes to the long-term health of your native plants, the most important thing is soil preparation and maintenance. We all know how much joy we get out of…
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View of front entry stepper path from the street in Burwood landscape design by Parveen Dhaliwa

Achieving amazing on a tight garden design budget

July 7, 2020
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Budgeting, Construction, Maintenance, Plants
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Posted by Parveen
Setting the scene Last year, I was approached by the family who wanted to create a beautiful garden surrounding their newly built home that they were looking at selling. It was an unusual project for me to take on.  As you well know, my gardens are all about the creating spaces that are custom for the family they live in.  And which they feel connected to on some level. So…
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Close up of purple shrub in Burwood landscape design by Parveen Dhaliwal

Choosing plants for your garden

May 3, 2020
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Biophilia, Gardens for Life, Landscape Design, Landscaping, Maintenance, Plants, Seasonal tips
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Posted by Parveen
Creating a Planting Plan So you’ve landed upon a theme for your dream garden and it’s got you so excited that you’ve already decided on the hard materials, accessories, and layout for this oasis. The next step is - many would say - the most fun part. Choosing your plants! But how do you work out what plants to put in and where they should go? You’ve come to the…
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Corten wall lightbox used in Glen Waverley garden design

How to create your perfect outdoor space

April 3, 2020
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Construction, Gardens for Life, Home office, Landscape Design, Landscaping, Maintenance, Plants, Productive gardening, Scented gardens, Seasonal tips
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Posted by Parveen
Do you want to learn what it takes to create the perfect outdoor space? A space that you love to look at and spend time in? We have developed a free comprehensive eBook just for you! This 10-page eBook will take you through: how to design the garden of your dreams. practical tips and inclusions based on your lifestyle. how to create harmony and flow between your home and garden.…
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Brown pebbles for landscaping Melbourne

What is rock mulch?

March 3, 2020
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Construction, Landscape Design, Landscaping, Maintenance, Materials
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Posted by Parveen
What is it? What is rock mulch? I get this question a lot. It stems from the general perception that "mulch" only relates to material made from chipped wood. Rock "mulch" is basically a groundcover material made of your chosen size of screenings, pebbles or small rocks. Now you're going to ask me, what are these in turn as they all seem to mean the same thing? In fact they…
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Basic soil dispersiveness testing by Inspiring Landscape Solutions

Clay soil – how to work with it?

January 21, 2020
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Landscaping, Maintenance, Seasonal tips
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Posted by Parveen
How do I know I have clay soil? It’s relatively easy to do a basic soil type test to help you understand your soil profile. It’s called the hand texturing or extrusion test. Basically, you take a fist full of your soil, wet it so that you are able to shape it into a ball.  Then you lightly “extrude” the ball using your forefinger and thumb and see whether what…
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Salvia used in Vermont South landscape design

Creating your dream garden – steps before hiring a “landscaper”

December 25, 2019
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Construction, Gardens for Life, Home office, Landscape Design, Landscaping, Maintenance, Plants, Productive gardening, Scented gardens, Seasonal tips
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Posted by Parveen
Do you want to learn what it takes to create your dream garden? A space that you love to look at and spend time in?   We have developed a free comprehensive eBook just for you!   This 17-page eWorkbook will help: Map out your existing garden and identify problem areas Brainstorm new ideas Clarify what you want before contacting a landscape designer or contractor If you are not sure…
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Closeup of jasmine used in Vermont South garden design

Jasmines – which one is right for you?

November 5, 2019
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Landscape Design, Maintenance, Plants, Scented gardens, Seasonal tips
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Posted by Parveen
Jasmines - love them to bits!  Have a look around right now and they should be at their flowering best.  I'm writing this from my deck where I've surrounded myself with the variety of my choice. Reminds me of home. Reminds me of my childhood experiences.  Can't go wrong with a scented garden! There are many species and styles of jasmine available.  The biggest difference between jasmine varieties is their…
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Aphids on helleborus. Landscape design Melbourne by Inspiring Landscape Solutions

Aphids – a friend or a foe?

October 8, 2019
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Maintenance, Seasonal tips
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Posted by Parveen
With spring well underway, I'm sure you've come across them.  Swarms of soft bodied insects swarming around and eventually ruining your young buds. They are present in my garden too.  Used to attack my roses but much less now, having implemented some preventative measures discussed below.  However, they still attack my hellebores! Here's some insights into what aphids are and what you should consider when dealing with them. What are…
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Close up of aloes and echeveria succulents used in Vermont South landscape design

How to grow succulents

September 8, 2019
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Maintenance, Plants, Propagation
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Posted by Parveen
Propagating succulents Succulents are one of the easiest of plants to propagate!  Depending on the species of succulent, they can grown from seeds; you’re able to create mini me’s from their leaves/stems; or set off wee cute little baby versions of them themselves and which are aptly called pups! From leaf Pick one of their leaves, leave the wounded end to dry (called callousing) for about a day then put…
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Closeup view of the slate wall used to create the water feature in Maribyrnong courtyard garden

Water features & aquatic plants

May 8, 2019
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Landscape Design, Maintenance, Plants, Structures, Water Features
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Posted by Parveen
Water features in your garden Water features are perfect for large gardens as well as for small courtyards. With or without aquatic plants, they will transform your garden into an amazing space! Sometimes it’s a bit confusing to choose which one will be appropriate in your garden.  When choosing water features for your garden, try to consider the price, the size of your space and the design of your garden.…
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Clivia flowers in Hawthorn East landscape design

Special edition – My top gardening tips for summer

November 3, 2018
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Irrigation, Maintenance, Seasonal tips
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Posted by Parveen
Thought I'd quickly share some of my gardening tips for getting your garden ready this summer.  Every keen gardener I know is worried about the forecasts for this summer - it's predicted to be hot and dry so best to get your preparation underway to tackle the heat and ensure your garden survives the onslaught!! Irrigation A key gardening tip is to ensure that your irrigation system, if you have…
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Closeup of pot styling area in Bundoora garden design

What Irrigation System Is Right For You?

December 11, 2017
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Irrigation, Maintenance
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Posted by Parveen
It's a must have!   In our garden designs, an irrigation system is one of the things we insist that our clients invest in.  Parveen has a live example garden which is not irrigated on purpose. We can prove how cumbersome it gets, over time, when you don't have an irrigation system.  Even the toughest of plants will wither and perish over a prolonged period of lack of watering.  Additionally,…
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Front garden design plant cluster in Blackburn by Parveen Dhaliwal

Why a landscape designer, landscaper and not a gardener?

November 11, 2017
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Landscaping, Maintenance
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Posted by Parveen
We get asked this a lot so we've decided to clarify a few urban myths on this topic.  Specifically, how people perceive the skillset required to be a designer, landscaper (i.e. landscape contractor) or a gardener.   Landscaping and landscape design   Landscaping is a 4 year apprenticeship.  Its a commitment of 4 days a week of on-the-job training and 1 day a week at TAFE. The TAFE landscaping course…
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Street view of front garden in Burwood garden design by Inspiring Landscape Solutions

Adding Value to your Property with Landscaping

August 31, 2017
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Landscape Design, Maintenance
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Posted by Parveen
Motivation Adding value to your property with effective landscaping is easy to achieve if you follow a few simple rules. Whether it is your home or an investment property, adding value will be a key consideration when looking to design the garden and construct it. The main elements when adding value are aesthetics, budget and low maintenance. Questions to ask yourself - aesthetics When looking at how to design or…
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Beautiful elm tree showing its yellow winter leaves in Burwood landscape design

The art of pruning

July 31, 2017
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Maintenance, Pruning
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Posted by Parveen
Well its nearly spring and if you've not been blessed with the delights of flowering buds from your fruit trees, you will be soon.  Oh imagine the bountiful fruit on my trees, you say.   But then your hopes come crashing down when you venture out and inspect the fruit trees closely. That was me this morning.  This is me now.  Feeling annoyed.  Extremely annoyed.  My horticulturist qualified gardener or so…
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Large grassed area in Burwood landscape design by Inspiring Landscape Solutions

New Instant Turf Care

June 30, 2017
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Maintenance
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Posted by Parveen
Ensure that your instant turf receives plenty of water, the turf should be moist but not wet. Depending on the season your turf may need to be watered daily. * Do not install your instant turf in shade areas.  Consider artificial lawns in those circumstances.  There are turf types that are sold as suitable to grow in the shade, however, from experience, they do not take as well as those…
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