Personal Touch Landscaping

27/08/2024

27/08/2024

Contact me Mark, on 076 197 9345, for new landscaping, clean up of shrubs and trees in your garden or cutting down of small to medium trees.

Our work consists of:

> Supplying and laying of compost and bark
> Supplying and planting of the plants and lawn
> Arranging and fitting irrigation being manual or computer
> Lifting of lawns and replacing with stone chips or pebbles
> Walkways accompanied by stepping slabs.

When completed, one walks into a ready made garden.

27/08/2024

A few things to remember for this time of the year. Clean out all dead wood from shrubs and trees, keeping it healthy. Trim back if over grown to allow for new growth for the coming Spring when new shoots appear. By doing this you also allowing light in as well as air flow also adding to a healthier shrub.

Weeding... broad leaf w**d killer for lawns and for driveways and paved areas one can use roundup BUT DO NOT use on areas where shrubs are, it will kill them. If on a driveway or paving and you have a bordering garden bed, maybe use a large cut up cardboard box and use it as a barrier between garden bed and pavement.. spray low down so spray is only sprayed on paving... also not when it is windy also so that wind does not blow spray onto leaves of plants as well as for your own health of inhaling... also don't spray when raining or wet or else it will dilute the ratio of poison. Other option is the old pulling out method by hand as many people don't like poisons like myself.... also try boiling water on paved areas instead of poisons to kill w**ds.

Roses by now should have been pruned. Composting and mulching can be started now to feed for oncoming Spring.

For new landscaping to garden, garden clean outs, trimming of shrubs and trees and even cutting down of small to medium tress ...you can give me a call on 076 1979 345 ... let me come out and see how i can help you.
Enjoy your garden ... it turns your HOUSE into a HOME

17/06/2024

29/04/2024

To all my family and friends... again i ask you keep us in your prayers ... been heavy the last few days... proud of my guys, both women and men fighters putting in endless hours away from their loved ones to save our mountains, animals, plants and property from the numerous fires... 5 in total this weekend. We wont stop unless all is out and all fighters are safely home. May God watch over us.🔥🙏... and please donations are most welcome as vehicles do not run on air and fighters cant fight without uniforms and personal protection equipment... please go to vws.org.za thank you

18/04/2024

Remember this time of the year shrubs and lawn are preparing to go into sleep mode so growth is slowing down. Wait for end of July for hard pruning, especially roses. General compost is always good with a good water or to save water do it when you know a good rain is on its way.
Start to clean out all dead branches. Also watch for parasite bugs such as mealybug, scale insects and aphids. Koinor ( roughly about R120 for 50ml) is a good insecticide to use for any sap sucking insects. As a diluted mixture, you pour it around the root area...which is then taken up by the plant so no sprays are needed which could be bad for your health. This should hold for a season.
Will be updating pictures soon, so keep in touch and most of all ....enjoy your garden.

11/03/2018

07/09/2017

Drought...a garden lovers nightmare!!! For plants in pots, place smaller pot plants in larger pot plants around the stem of the larger plant... when you water smaller pot with the rain water you have saved or any saved water it will then drain through into the larger pot thus watering two or more plants at once and also with small pot on larger pot it will keep the moisture in more in the larger pot acting as a "mulch". Possibly also move your pots to semi shaded areas or under trees thus also watering your trees when draining through.
Like i have mentioned in previous pages place a cut off 2L coke bottle with spout end at the roots of large plants and trees the water will soak down to roots and not run away and waste.
We have been doing a lot of changes to clients gardens as far as taking up lawns and replacing with chip stone but dont make it boring... use slabs in a decorative manner with maybe succulents or a tree aloe in between. Everyone thinks of cactus but there are so many varieties of succulents with beauty.
Also waterwise plants such as dietes or tulbaghia can be used still giving colour and greenery. Our own indigenous plants can take the wind and sun.
Yes the drought will take time to recover but things will come right so by placing shade cloth over plants will save many plants and one day you will still have them instead of having to rebye in the future costing you money.
While we have the rain...place buckets outside to catch the rain or improvise your guttering to save water...
EVERY DROP WILL HELP.
Enjoy your gardening and DONT give up.
If you need revamping, replacing lawn with chip stone or pavers or planting indigenous / succulants ... give me a call ...............
Mark 076 1979 345.

06/03/2017

Hi to all... if you are in Cape Town then drought is on your mind and how to cope in your garden. Well with your shrubs, cut back all unnecessary growth as it is taking up water and strength plus cut back dead wood. with trees and shrubs place a 2Lcoke bottle upside down with the neck part buried close to the trunk or stem, cut off the top part and fill with water...this will allow water to filter down slowly and around the root area instead of running away. Also around plants make a dam affect so when pouring water onto plant it will dam up and again filter down around roots and not run away. Mulch which is placing bark around plants and this will keep soil damp longer ans also will stop the sun scorching the soil around the roots. For pots, place them in an area under other larger plants so that the sun wont bake the pot drying out the soil quicker...also when you water the pot plant and if water runs out the bottom it will then water the plant it is under and not waist.
For lawns couple pool bendable pipes to your kitchen and shower outlet pipes even though i am not a fan of soap water on plants but it is at least water on your lawn. Move pipes around every now and again spreading the water flow.
Good luck and Pray for rain.