Handy Tips
When you next want to plant a fruit tree, think of how big it is going to be & how high you will have to reach when you go to harvest the fruit.
For tall varieties i tie a sock half way down the branch to start,then put a cup of fertiliser in the toe part (eg;blood & bone,pelletised chook poo,rock dust etc...),this will start to put downward pressure on the branch & after a couple of weeks move the sock down another 3 or 4 inches,You will soon see the branch starting to get a weeping effect(if you feel there is to much pressure on the branch back it off until you think it will be ok.
The great thing about this method is 1;you end up with a lovely weeping shape
2;more fruit can develop on the branch
3;the fruit is at a good height for you to harvest
& 4; when it rains or you water, your tree will be getting fertilised at the same time ensuring your tree will be strong & healthy.
Sawdust for paths
A great way to access your veggies in the garden is by putting a thin sawdust path along each bed,it only has to be 200mm wide to be able to walk on.
When the garden bed is finishing ,sprinkle some blood & bone on the sawdust & then you can turn it in.
Recycling the old swimming pool
Next time you see an old swimming pool surround on a rubbish throw out, grab it & turn it into the best raised garden.
We turned ours into a Mandela garden,its great.
You can shape it any way you like,its also great for a companion garden & plant twice as many veggies in the same amount of space.
The other advantages are,
1;Its at a great height so there is little bending,
2; It reduces the amount of pests to combat,making organic gardening more manageable & also less weeds. 3; All the veggies are easy to reach.
Try a sack Garden
This is a fun instant low cost garden that you can try.
Here we have some old hessian bags with 2/3rds filled with compost.
You can just about grow anything in them,the bag at the back has potatoes with lettuces & strawberries at the front.
When the garden is finished you can just put the left over compost & all the worms in the garden & the hessian bags (which will be half rotten) can go on the worm farm or in the compost.
Nothing gets wasted ,that's smart gardening.
Wheel barrow garden
Wheelbarrows make great little beds for things like strawberries & herbs.You can pick up lots of different planting vessels from garage sales, swap meet,rubbish throw out etc..
