JBM Gardens

Trimming a hedge is an important step in maintaining its shape and appearance. Here are the steps to follow for trimming your hedge:

Start by selecting the right tools for the job. Hedge shears or manual trimmers are suitable for small hedges, while a powered trimmer or hedge trimmer is better for larger hedges.

Decide on the shape and size you want for your hedge. This will help you to determine where to make your cuts.

Begin by trimming the top of the hedge first, working from the center outwards. This will help to create a symmetrical shape.

Next, trim the sides of the hedge, angling the cuts slightly towards the center to encourage new growth.

Be sure to trim the bottom of the hedge as well, removing any shoots that are growing out of the bottom of the hedge.

When trimming the hedge, make sure to keep the top wider than the bottom. This will allow sunlight to reach the lower branches and encourage new growth.

Use a ladder if necessary to reach the top of the hedge.

It's also important to trim the hedge regularly, at least once a year, to maintain its shape and size.

Once you've finished trimming, clean up any debris or clippings from the area.

Mowing a lawn is an important step in maintaining a healthy and attractive yard. Here are the steps to follow for mowing your lawn:

Make sure your lawn mower is in good working condition. Check the oil and gas levels, and sharpen or replace the blades as needed.

Set your mower to the appropriate cutting height for your lawn. The general rule of thumb is to never remove more than one-third of the leaf blade at a time.

Begin mowing at the edge of the lawn and work your way inward, mowing in a pattern of straight lines. Overlap your previous pass by a couple of inches to make sure you get a clean cut.

Avoid mowing when the grass is wet, as wet grass can clog the mower deck and leave uneven clumps of grass.

When you're finished mowing, be sure to clean up any clippings or debris from the lawn.

Mow your lawn often enough that you are not removing more than 1/3 of the grass blade at a time. This will help to promote healthy growth and prevent scalping of the lawn.

In general, lawns should be mowed once a week during the growing season. However, the frequency of mowing may vary depending on the weather, your grass species, and how fast your lawn is growing.

It's also important to vary the mowing direction to avoid creating ruts and compaction on your lawn.

Once you've finished mowing, you can use a grass trimmer to edge around sidewalks, driveways, and other hard surfaces.

Pruning roses is an important step in maintaining the health and beauty of your rose bushes. The proper way to prune roses depends on the type of rose, but there are some general guidelines that can be followed for all types:

Start by removing any dead, diseased, or damaged wood. This will help to prevent the spread of disease and pests.

Next, remove any suckers, which are shoots that grow from the base of the rose bush. These shoots do not produce flowers and can take energy away from the rest of the bush.

Cut back any branches that are crossing or rubbing against each other. This will help to promote good air circulation and prevent the spread of disease.

Remove any old or spent blooms, also known as "deadheading." This will encourage the bush to produce more blooms.

Finally, cut back the remaining canes to a healthy bud or eye. This will encourage the bush to produce new growth and promote the development of new blooms.

Composting is a natural process that turns organic materials, such as food scraps and yard waste, into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. It is an easy and effective way to reduce the amount of waste in landfills and improve the quality of soil in your garden. Here is a detailed article explaining the process of composting:

​Choose a location for your compost pile: The location of your compost pile is important as it should be in an area that is convenient for adding materials and turning the pile, and away from any structures or water sources. A good spot for your compost pile is in a sunny area with good drainage.

Gather materials to add to your compost pile: Composting requires a balance of carbon-rich “brown” materials, such as leaves, straw, and sawdust, and nitrogen-rich “green” materials, such as food scraps, grass clippings, and coffee grounds. A good ratio to aim for is about two parts brown materials to one part green materials. You can also add other organic materials, such as eggshells, hair, and even paper products, as long as they are not glossy or coated.

Create a structure for your compost pile: You can create a compost pile in a variety of ways, depending on your preference. You can use a compost bin, tumbler, or make an open pile directly on the ground. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. A compost bin is great for keeping the pile contained, but can be difficult to turn. A tumbler is easy to turn but can be expensive. An open pile is easy to create, but it may not contain as much heat and will dry out faster.

Add water and air to the pile: Composting requires moisture to break down the organic materials, so be sure to keep the pile moist. You can add water as needed, or cover the pile with a tarp to retain moisture. Air is also essential for the decomposition process. Turning the pile regularly will provide the necessary oxygen.

Wait for the compost to mature: The time it takes for the compost to mature depends on the materials used, the size of the pile, and the conditions under which it is maintained. A well-maintained pile should be ready in about 3-6 months. Once the compost is ready, it will have a rich, dark color and a crumbly texture.

Use the compost: Once the compost is ready, it can be used to improve the soil in your garden. Compost can be added to flowerbeds, vegetable gardens, or used as a top dressing on lawns. It can also be mixed with potting soil to create a rich growing medium for potted plants.

Start a new pile: Once you've used up your first compost pile, you can start a new one. Just be sure to add a layer of mature compost to the new pile to inoculate it with beneficial microorganisms.

Avoid certain materials: While many organic materials can be added to your compost pile, there are some things you should avoid. These include meat, dairy, oils, and pet waste, as they can attract pests, odors, and slow down the decomposition process.

Do your citrus trees look like this? These are galls, and are caused by gall wasps, a tiny wasp that burrows into fresh growth of citrus trees.

Not only is it unsightly, it can cause stress to your plants, weakening branches and causing lower productivity.

While pruning was traditionally the recommended treatment, there’s been some changes in recent years.

Instead, grab some secateurs, a sharp knife or even a potato peeler and, facing the blade away from your body, slice the top off one side of the active gall, or slice the gall open.

This exposes the larvae growing inside the gall to air and kills them, without causing lasting damage to the tree.

The best time to do this is mid to late winter, before the wasps hatch and have time to lay eggs in fresh spring growth, repeating the cycle.

Just make sure you don’t ring-bark the stem, as this will kill it.

Snakes vs Birds

A well maintained lawn will keep you and your family safe from snakes!

It also means you’ll get visits from little birds like this common blackbird.

He swooped in to say hello and have a quick feed! 🐛 🐦

During the warmer months, it’s important to keep your lawn short, keep up the whipper-snipping and maintain any small shrubs or hedges.

Praying Mantises

We found this little guy while weeding this morning!

Praying Mantises are small carnivorous predators, eating mostly insects, however larger varieties have been known to eat small vertebrates.

They can be beneficial for your garden, as they eat pest insects including flies, crickets, caterpillars, grasshoppers and moths.

They have 6 legs, and their forelegs are raptorial, meaning they have rows of teeth, designed to hold onto live prey.

Red Oleander

The Red Oleander is an evergreen, fast growing, and weather tolerant shrub that produces bright red, five petal flowers during summer.

It’s stems are covered in an abundance of narrow dark green leaves, which provide a lovely contrast.

It does well in full sun to partial shade, and likes moist, well drained soil.

We’ve had some great weather over the holiday period, which means lawns are thriving.

Be sure to keep them low, or you’re providing snakes with a great hiding spot!