15 February, 2023 | Garden Tips, Garden Trends, General
As your local gardenologists, the team here at Early Up are well placed to showcase the new and emerging landscaping trends for 2023.
We see the personalisation of outdoor spaces and a connection with the environment becoming popular. During the lockdowns of COVID-19, most people spent more time at home and realised there’s potential to create their own outdoor sanctuary. Whether you’d like to create a beautiful outdoor space at your home or for use in a larger commercial setting, we’ll share what’s trending for the coming year in this blog post.
Here are 5 of the Emerging Landscaping Trends for 2023…
1. Outdoor Entertaining Areas with Firepits
In 2023, more people will be enhancing the ambience of their outdoor entertaining area with firepits and lights, to create a unique atmosphere that is both comfortable and inviting. With the warmth of the firepit and the soft glow of the lights, outdoor entertaining can offer an experience like no other. Whether gathering family and friends in a welcoming and cosy setting or simply taking some time to yourself, roasting marshmallows over an open flame is always enjoyable.
Many of our landscaping clients have been investing in striking furniture pieces, fire pits, pizza ovens and water features, as well as lighting that will make their backyard the perfect spot to unwind.
2. Rustic & Homely Looks
Creating a rustic garden brings a less clean-cut and more homely feel to your outdoor space. From weathered wood and vintage accents to native flora and natural stone, the rustic style combines charm and beauty with a sense of history. Planting various trees, shrubs and flowers at different heights gives structure and texture to complete the look. Furnishings such as handmade benches or upcycled furniture add the perfect touch to create a cosy environment where you can relax, entertain or just enjoy some quiet time.
By embracing the rustic vibe, you can create a unique backyard oasis that both looks good and also helps sustain wildlife in 2023 and beyond.
3. Native Plants that Wildlife Love
Turning your yard into a haven of native flora, pollinator-friendly flowers and bird habitats has become a popular trend, especially for younger gardeners. You can nurture nature by including native trees, herbs, shrubs and edible plants in your garden. Because these plants have adapted to the local climate, planting them helps produce a fantastic green space that is full of sustainable seasonal homes and feed for birds and wildlife.
Native plants can create an oasis where humans and wildlife can thrive as one. Fortunately, there is growing awareness around the importance of sustainability and the small part we can all play in our own environments.
4. Keeping it Simple – and Relaxing
Less is more when it comes to a calming space where you can cool down and relax.
Drawing inspiration from European influences, this sophisticated style captures the essence of elegance, history and tradition. Taking some time for yourself is always beneficial, and this trend gives you the feeling of being on holiday without ever leaving your house.
When creating simplicity and relaxation in your own outdoor setting, consider limiting yourself to a specific colour palette rather than too many colours, while repeating shapes through rows or mounds can provide an especially strong optical effect.
Property owners seeking a beautiful, simplistic and relaxing landscape often enlist the help of an expert for design and installation. Our landscaping experts are happy to assist you to create your outdoor oasis. (link to landscape design services)
5. Vegetable Gardens that Feed the Family
With grocery prices escalating to an all-time high, it is no surprise that edible gardens are among the landscaping trends for 2023. Besides saving money, nothing compares to the freshness of homegrown produce. From the juicy tomato plucked right from your garden to a wholesome vegetable salad, home-grown fruits and vegetables have no parallel. Veggie gardens provide the opportunity to live off the land and give you the satisfaction of growing your own produce.
Need help planning out your landscaped garden? Want to know more about the emerging landscaping trends for 2023? Speak to one of our experienced team. Call us today on 0448 300 736 to arrange a quote and find out why Early Up are your local landscaping and gardening experts!
12 January, 2023 | Garden Tips, Garden Trends, General
Self sufficient plants guarantee beauty and appeal with little-to-no maintenance for any garden. They provide a much-needed solution for time-poor and neglectful gardeners.
The busyness of life often gets the better of us, leaving very little time for watering or pruning the garden.
Are you a Neglectful Gardener?
Do you long for a gorgeous garden? Does your busy schedule prevent you from giving it the attention it deserves?
Kids, work, and social commitments are part of a hectic daily schedule. It’s easy for us to become distracted and neglect our gardens. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for self sufficient plants to grow and bring colour while requiring little watering or maintenance.
Top 5 Self Sufficient Plants for an Easy-Care Garden
Check out our top choices of stunning and hardy plants:
1. Lily of the Valley
Blooming with blue or white bells in the spring, these beautiful perennials also have a lovely fragrance. Once established, the Lily of the Valley can easily be left to blossom naturally.
2. Russian Sage
Russian Sage thrives in dry conditions with their striking lavender-coloured flowers in the warmer months. Requiring minimal watering, they’re ideal for the busy gardener.
3. Oak tree
In Australia’s hot and dry climate, oak trees provide generous shade in any backyard. Enjoy autumn with its large leaves in shades of red and yellow.
4. Nandina
Originating from Japan, this multi-stemmed shrub brings out stunning-coloured leaves ranging from gold to pink. Nandina is durable in extremely low and hot temperatures, adding colour to your outdoor space all year round.
5. Peace Lily
As a low-maintenance indoor plant, the Peace Lily is perfect for apartment dwellers. Bringing warmth and charm to your home, they don’t need sunshine and are happy in a brightly lit room.
Expert Tips to Help Revive the Neglected Garden
Beyond using self sufficient plants, the following simple steps will help restore life and beauty to your yard:
- Take a look at the different areas and conditions of your garden, and decide which plants will work best
- Prune and trim existing plants and give them a new lease of life
- Rejuvenate your soil with fertiliser – organic is best
- While it can be a dreaded chore, weeding is essential to give your new plants the best start
- Self-sufficient plants still need some attention in the beginning – water them thoroughly and add slow-release fertiliser
- Place a generous layer of organic mulch to ensure water retention
Gardening doesn’t need to be too time-consuming or difficult. By establishing a low maintenance garden based around self sufficient plants, you can have a beautiful display without all the hard work.
Early Up’s team of gardenologists specialise in landscaping design, garden maintenance and garden makeovers that will have your garden thriving in no time. We are your local landscape garden designers in Murwillumbah, the Tweed Coast, Tweed Heads, Northern Rivers and the Far North Coast areas. Let us help you with all your landscaping and gardening requirements.
Are you too busy to create a low maintenance garden? We can help… Give us a call on 0448 300 736 to chat about your garden or backyard landscaping ideas today.
Related tag: landscaping services
8 December, 2022 | Garden Tips, Garden Trends, General
Presenting plants as gifts at Christmas time, birthdays or any special occasion, is a unique and thoughtful option. Loved ones and friends will appreciate the life and colour it will bring into their homes now and in the future.
Give Your Loved Ones a Living Gift
Whether the lucky recipient is an avid gardener or someone who can only manage to maintain a cactus, plants as gifts symbolise friendship and connection. It’s also a meaningful way of expressing that you care about their health and well-being.
Plants make fantastic Christmas presents because:
- Plants bring happiness and joy with their natural green beauty
- You help add a touch of nature into their home and surroundings
- Offering something beautiful lightens and brightens up living spaces
- As natural air-purifiers and oxygen providers, plants promote a healthy lifestyle
- Nurtured properly, plants are long-lasting and sustainable
Beginners or Plant Lovers – Does it Matter?
Green thumb or not, plant gifts are suitable for everyone across all gardening levels. If you are concerned about giving a plant to a friend who has never owned one, we suggest looking into low-maintenance indoor options.
For friends or relatives who are keen gardeners, the choices are endless. You could even look for a rare type of plant that may require extra attention and care.
Top 5 Plants to Give As Gifts
Every plant is unique and different. With so many types and categories to choose from, we have compiled a list of top plant gift ideas for inspiration:
1. Spider Plant
Easy to care for and only requires weekly watering, Spider Plants are perfect for the gardening newbie.
2. Peace Lily
As an ideal indoor plant, the Peace Lily brings charm to a home with glossy green leaves and stunning white buds.
3. Monstera
A vibrant large houseplant with low maintenance, the Monstera needs minimal sunlight to flourish. Best suited for larger homes.
4. Fiddle Leaf Fig
This trendy indoor tree is ideal for experienced gardeners as it requires constant watering, plenty of natural sunlight, pruning and fertilising.
5. Calathea ‘Medallion’
Nicknamed ‘prayer plants’, their leaves will open and close throughout the day. Cathalea owners will only need to water it once a week, while placing it in moderate light.
We highly recommend giving plants as gifts this Christmas. What better way to provide the gift recipient with an ongoing reminder of how much you care about them?
When making your choice of plant, our team can advise on the level of care required and the most suitable location for each type of plant.
As your local gardenologists, we’re the plant experts. We specialise in garden maintenance, raised vegetable gardens, garden makeovers and landscape design in Murwillumbah, the Tweed Coast, Tweed Heads, Northern Rivers and the Far North Coast areas. We love helping your plants and garden thrive!
Still wondering which plants to give to your family and friends this Christmas? We can definitely help you … We invite you to call our friendly team on 0448 300 736 to chat about plants as gifts, or your garden and backyard landscaping ideas today.
10 November, 2022 | Garden Tips, General
Edible Garden Tips for a Bountiful Harvest
Would you like to have a thriving vegetable garden? If so, you need the edible garden tips we share in this post. Read on ….
Even if your backyard has limited space, you can still create an amazing vegetable garden in a small area. Courtyards, balconies, porches and small gardens are all suitable. If you’re okay with growing your vegetables without requiring a raised garden bed, you can start planting your edible garden directly into the ground.
Your Thriving Veggie Garden Starts Here
With the warmer months approaching, there’s an endless list of what to grow in your vegetable garden this summer.
Raised vegetable gardens are a great idea for edible gardens, as they are easier to plant in and maintain. You can plant, grow and eat a healthy crop of veggies such as cucumbers, tomatoes, capsicums and beans. You could also start small using a few pots and containers. As they say, “From little things, big things grow.”
Get Your Vegetables Growing with these Simple Steps
As we delve into our tips, it’s helpful to understand the difference between a winter and summer veggie garden.
Vegetables that thrive in warmer weather include tomatoes, capsicums and eggplants. Alternatively, broccoli, cauliflower and lettuce will thrive during the cooler months.
It’s important to note that, while plants will grow slowly during winter due to the short days and lack of sunshine, there are fewer garden pests and insects.
Step 1: Deciding What to Plant
The best way to plan a thriving edible garden this season is to consider the herbs, vegetables, and summer fruits you enjoy the most. This will make the project more fun and bring the flavours you want to your plate.
For those creating a vegetable garden for a daycare centre or aged care community, consider plants with a sensory appeal, such as herbs with distinct aromas, like rosemary, thyme and mint.
We suggest strawberries and blueberries as a great summer fruit addition to your garden.
Step 2: Which Vessel is Best?
Using old containers or vessels for your garden will make your project fun and quirky. It also encourages recycling. Add holes to ensure drainage, and you can use:
- Wheelbarrows
- Old bathtubs
- Wooden barrels
- Laundry tubs
- Terracotta pots
Step 3: Location Matters!
While you don’t need much space for an edible garden, choosing the right location during the summer is essential.
Some points to consider include:
- A flat ground
- Reasonable access to sunlight with some shade
- Shelter from the wind
- Close to a garden tap for easy watering
- A safe, non-slippery walking surface
Edible Garden Tips
We hope our helpful tips inspire you with fun and unique ideas for the upcoming summer months.
Whether it’s a family project or a community initiative, the benefits of planting and growing a thriving vegetable garden bring people closer together. Also, growing delicious produce in your yard promotes healthy eating and well-being.
Here at Early Up, we create raised vegetable gardens, design landscaping and deliver garden maintenance to help your garden shine. We’re your local backyard landscaping experts. Whether you’re located in Murwillumbah, Tweed Heads, across the Tweed Coast or elsewhere on the Far North Coast, we can help with all your gardening needs.
Do you need assistance to create an edible garden? Our team of gardenologists are ready and willing to help. Call us today on 0448 300 736 to discuss your requirements and organise a quote.
26 October, 2022 | Announcements, General
We Won the Business NSW Excellence in Small Business Award!
We’re proud to have been announced the winner of The Business NSW Northern Rivers Excellence in Small Business Award 2022!
Dan and his team attended the 2022 Business Awards ceremony which was held at Southern Cross University in Lismore on Saturday 22 October. The awards recognise growth, entrepreneurship and celebrates business success across New South Wales.
‘After an extremely challenging year this is a real honour. In March, we experienced 1.5 metres of floodwater through our premises. As a result, we lost 4 of our 5 vehicles plus equipment/product totalling $250,000+. This disaster temporarily crippled our business. However, the team pulled together, doing what was required to clean up and restore our premises.’ Said Dan.
Dan demonstrated his leadership skills, springing into action to immediately lodge insurance claims and order new vehicles. Hire cars were immediately organised for the interim, so he could operate and support his clients, staff and families to clean up. Due to this swift action, Early Up were operational again within 1 week.
Despite their challenges, Early Up has continued to grow and expand. As a local Tweed business, they are passionately committed to engaging other local businesses at every opportunity. Dan is firmly committed to providing career opportunities for local youth by employing young people as trainees and he hopes to bring on more trainees in the future.
Dan also firmly believes in supporting locals who need help. Early Up proactively supports local charities who feed the homeless and disadvantaged in our community, including Fred’s Place and the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal. After the recent floods, they supported the local recovery process through a competition for a $10K garden makeover for a flood-affected family.
Early Up was up against 18 other finalists within the category of The Excellence in Small Business Award. This particular award recognises a business that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience. Dan and his team will now attend the NSW Business State Awards held in Sydney on November 18.
Early Up were also proud winners of the Home and Garden Improvement category in the Australian Small Business Champion Awards back in March 22.
Related tags: local garden landscapers
8 September, 2022 | General
Photo credit: Tweed Holiday Parks
A move to the Far North Coast from the Big Smoke offers many significant advantages, including a quieter, slower pace of life. With larger homes and extra land, it’s a great gardening opportunity to start backyard landscaping and growing your own raised vegetable gardens.
If you have recently relocated to the Far North Coast and want to ensure your garden survives and thrives, here are some tips from Early Up, your local landscape garden designers.
Garden Tips for New Residents to the Far North Coast
After living in apartments or smaller homes in the city, having a home on the Far North Coast with a backyard is a welcome change. Known for its sub-tropical climate and abundant sunshine, it’s a perfect opportunity to create your dream garden.
At Early Up, we have an experienced team of landscape garden designers who can help you get started. From backyard landscaping to building raised vegetable gardens, let us inspire you with our ideas and expertise.
Based on our knowledge and extensive experience in the local region, here are our garden tips for people who’ve recently moved to the Far North Coast or who are considering relocating to this beautiful part of the world.
Tip 1: How to deal with heavy rain
The Northern NSW region is susceptible to heavy rainfall, especially from mid-December to mid-April. While plants and vegetation generally welcome the rain, too much can cause parts of your garden to become soggy and water-logged.
After a torrential downpour, it’s essential to start the tidy-up process. Here’s what you can do:
- For soggy patches that won’t drain at all, add sand and soil to absorb the moisture
- Deal with damaged plants immediately, cutting the affected areas
- Build a raised vegetable garden where soil can drain adequately
Tip 2: What to do when drought sets in
Our harsh, hot climate makes Australia prone to severe drought conditions, often resulting in strict water restrictions.
To look after your garden during the drought season, here are our recommendations:
- Landscape your backyard with drought tolerant native plants, pebbles and gravel
- Keep your soil moist by adding compost and mulch
- Catch excess water from the shower or the kitchen sink to use on your garden
Tip 3: Addressing lawn grub infestation
Lawn grubs are common Australian pests creating havoc on lawns, destroying leaves and root systems. Prevalent during the warmer months, lawn grubs turn into moths and beetles, creating a relentless cycle.
Prevention is key. Regularly treating your lawn with insecticide will keep it healthy and fertile while keeping lawn grubs away. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and apply cautiously. Should you need a professional to get rid of your lawn grubs, we work closely with the extermination experts at Peace of Mind Pest Management.
Tip 4: Say Goodbye to Funnel Ants
Another pesky insect is the Funnel Ant. Living underground, their funnel-shaped nests create large, unsightly moulds throughout your lawn and making the ground unstable. Living underground, the funnel ant usually emerges after rainfall and excavates soil to dry their nests.
Don’t deal with the stress of lawn grubs and ant mounds. Call for professional help. Peace of Mind Pest Management specialises in pest control, protecting and saving gardens and lawns throughout the Far North Coast of NSW.
As your local Gardenologists, contact us for any questions regarding caring for your garden during extreme weather conditions. Our team provide expert gardening and landscaping design for residents and families in the lush and beautiful areas of Murwillumbah, Tweed Heads, Tweed Coast and across the Far North Coast of New South Wales.
No one knows Northern NSW gardens like we do! Trust us with yours. Enquire today – Call 0448 300 736.
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