A healthy, good-looking garden takes more than the occasional weekend of watering, and getting your landscaping wrong can even damage your home's structure. This guide covers everything you need to know to care for your lawn and garden through every season, while protecting the structural integrity of your property: correct mowing and watering technique, aeration, winter garden care, frost protection, and the landscaping rules that keep water and pests away from your walls and foundations.
Properly mowing your lawn comes down to three things: blades, height, and frequency.
Aeration can help if routine maintenance isn't giving you the lawn you want or you're noticing bald or browning patches. Aeration involves removing small plugs of soil from the lawn using an aerator, hand garden fork, or digging fork, which breaks down the thatch layer that builds up over time.
Benefits of aeration include:
We recommend hiring a professional for aeration, as doing it incorrectly can cause further damage to your lawn.
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Landscaping isn't just about how your garden looks. Done incorrectly, it can damage your home's structure. Keep the following in mind before installing paving, concrete, or changing the soil level around your house.
Always keep one to one-and-a-half rows of brick visible between the ground and the plaster band around your home. This protects the damp-proof course (DPC) (the black plastic layer beneath the plaster band) from being covered, which can make the cement porous and cause moisture to rise, deteriorating the plaster and paint. All concrete or paving should also slope away from the house to prevent water from pooling near the foundation. Well-maintained gutters and downpipes play the same role from above, directing roof water away from your walls and foundation instead of letting it pool.
Weep holes sit at the base of boundary walls to let stormwater drain away. If they become blocked or covered, water can build up behind the wall and cause it to collapse under the pressure. Alterations to boundary walls and structures are not permitted. If your boundary includes a motor or pedestrian gate, keeping it properly maintained is just as important for your property's security and structural integrity. See our motor, pedestrian and security gate maintenance guide for what to check.
A rodding eye is an access point in your drainage system used for cleaning blocked drains, and it must remain accessible at all times. Inspection eye (IE) blocks and access louvres mark the location of the 110 mm drainpipes running from your toilet and gulley, and also protect the rodding eyes from damage. Most properties have two or three of these. Leave these blocks in place and uncovered if you install paving, grass, or walkways, otherwise a plumber may need to dig up large sections of your yard to locate them. Access louvres are only found on double-storey homes.
Flower beds placed directly against your house weaken the wall structure over time, as routine watering lets moisture penetrate above the DPC. Soil against a wall can also give termites and insects an entry point into your home. Always protect the wall properly before placing soil or plants against it. If you notice any cracks forming near affected walls, it's worth understanding which ones are cosmetic and which need attention.
Cold weather doesn't mean your garden has to suffer. A few adjustments will keep it healthy through winter and ready to thrive by spring.
Flowers like tulips and roses are naturally suited to chilly weather. Planting azaleas, proteas, daisies, camellias, gladiolus, pansies, primulas, phlox, snapdragons, and strelitzias before winter sets in will help your garden stand out by spring. These also work well in clay pots if you like to rearrange your décor.
Remove weeds regularly, since they compete with other plants for water, nutrients, and sunlight. Use homemade, organic herbicide recipes rather than chemical solutions, which can harm your flowers along with the weeds.
Mulch (materials like bark chips spread across the soil surface) protects your garden against frost and blocks weeds. Clear existing weeds before applying a new mulch layer, and always remove the old layer before adding fresh mulch.
Keep mulch separate from your soil rather than mixing them, to protect the nutrient balance of each. Apply mulch so it doesn't touch your house or nearby trees, as this can create an entry point for pests.
Compost supplies organic nutrients that boost plant vitality, encourage flowering, and support vegetable growth. It's an effective way to return nutrients to the soil, improving its health and its capacity to support your winter garden.
Winter plants aren't dormant, so they still need water; just less than in spring and summer. Water early in the day so plants absorb nutrients before the water freezes overnight, and check that the soil is thawed so water can be absorbed immediately. Add water in small amounts, giving it time to mix into the soil, and use a hose-end vaporiser rather than an auto-sprinkler, since sprinkler attachments can be damaged by frost.
Seasonal vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, celery, green onions, kale, leeks, and parsnips often taste sweeter in winter, since cold weather causes the crop to generate extra sugar. Growing your own also saves money, supports your health, and adds colour to a winter garden. Indoor growing starter kits with LED lighting and self-watering systems are widely available if you'd like to grow small vegetables in your kitchen.
Once winter passes, remove any contaminated plants and any weeds you missed during the colder months. Take off the old mulch layer and add fresh topsoil to keep the soil nutritious. Loosening the soil in your garden beds also helps rainwater drain properly.
Your lawn needs less water in winter than in summer, since cold weather can dry out and damage grass and soil. In frost-prone areas, a frost-tolerant grass variety is worth considering, and it's easy to over-hydrate a winter lawn, so watch your water restrictions.
Fertilise according to the season, a phosphate-rich fertiliser in winter encourages root development, while a nitrogen-rich fertiliser in warmer months supports leaf growth. Always water thoroughly after fertilising. In areas with heavy winter rainfall, good irrigation is essential, since pooled water around plant roots can cause them to rot.
You can also keep the rest of your garden going through winter by planting seasonal plants, adding mulch and compost, watering before a predicted freeze, and giving plants extra frost protection.
Water your lawn about three times a week, applying roughly 2.5 cm each time. Water early in the morning or late in the evening so the roots can absorb moisture before it evaporates.
Cover outdoor plants with frost cloth down to the soil line, move potted plants indoors overnight, and wrap young trees in burlap secured with rope or tape.
Keeping one to one-and-a-half rows of brick visible protects the damp-proof course (DPC) beneath your plaster band. Covering it can let moisture rise into the walls, damaging the plaster and paint.
Weep holes let stormwater drain away from the base of your boundary wall. Blocking or covering them can cause water to build up, putting pressure on the wall and risking collapse.
Yes. Cold-season vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, kale, and leeks often taste sweeter in winter, as the cold encourages the plant to produce extra sugar.
Aerate when you notice bald or browning patches, or when regular maintenance isn't improving your lawn's appearance. It's best handled by a professional to avoid further damage.
Disclaimer: The recommendations herein are given in good faith and are meant to guide the user. The recommendations imply no guarantee since the conditions of use and method of application are beyond our control.