Gardening Tips Guide

Whether its a backache or pest control that's getting to you, we have some tips and helpful advice to solve your gardening problems, whatever they may be.

Common Problems

Back Issues

Back problems affect people of all ages and can sometimes make gardening a painful experience.  There are a few simple rules to follow that will make gardening easier on your back and prevent any future issues.

• Help banish the problem.  
• Before going into the garden, do some stretches to warm up your muscles.
• Avoid repetitive garden work by altering your position frequently while you work.
• Remember to lift with your legs, not your arms, and let a wheelbarrow  do most of your work.
• Arrange a layout, and reduce the need to bend down by raising flowerbeds  from the ground.
• Try to avoid having a lawn; it's less mowing  for you. Replace grass with mulch  or decorative rocks  and plants. 
• Get some tools with extra-long handles  to save yourself from all of the bending.
• Think about installing an irrigation system  or a hose  on wheels. Stop lifting that watering can! 

Garden Safety

Though gardens can be a place for relaxation and pleasure, they are also a spot for dangerous accidents and nasty mishaps.  Take some of our advice to make your garden a safe haven.

• Make your garden safer.
• Design your garden so that it requires minimal lifting and maintenance.
• Avoid tripping hazards like uneven pavement or hose pipes  left unravelled.
• Never leave sharp tools  lying around and always lock them away from children.
• Know if any of your plants  are poisonous and be sure to keep them out of the reach of children and pets.
• Lock away chemicals such as weed-killers  or insecticides.  Just because they say "organic" does not mean they are safe.
• Wear safety equipment such as goggles,  hard-hats,  gloves,  and steel-toed boots  when working with any machinery. Be sure all clothing is tucked in.
• If you are the least bit unsure about tackling an outdoor job, please call in the professionals.

Dealing with Weeds

Most weeds are easy to fix if spotted early on, and can be controlled without the use of harsh chemicals. 

• Ten minutes a week will produce results.
• Mulch borders with an 8 cm layer of bark mulch  to prevent weeds from colonising.
• Cover large areas of bare soil with plastic, old carpeting, or landscape fabric  to minimise growth.
• Remove annual weeds with a hoe  or by hand-pulling them out.
• Lever up perennial  weeds with a hand fork  or special weeding tool.  Make sure the root is fully out!
• Scrape weeds or moss between gaps with an old knife. 
• Tackle coarse grasses by slashing at the root with a knife before mowing. 
• Lawns that are smothered in weeds and moss are best treated with a weed and feed product. 
• Pull weeds from pots and fill the gaps with new compost.

Pests

Maintaining a healthy and beautiful garden means knowing about common pests and diseases.  Survey your garden regularly to detect any problems at their earliest stages.

• Check out our guide on Garden Insect Management to learn about the different ways in which you can banish these pests from your garden altogether.

Related Guides

Gardening Resource Page	Gardening Hand Tools	Mulch	Outdoor Entertaining

External Links

• ABC.net.au: "Gardening Australia" offers fact sheets for every gardener.
• BackdoorGarden.com: Read some tips on how to fix up your soil.
• BBC.co.uk: Use this interactive pest identifier to figure out just how to control those pesky insects.
• iVillage.com: Gardening tips, advice, guidelines, and check-lists for every need.