At Materials In The Raw Sydney, we are passionate gardeners who are always looking for new ways to improve outdoor spaces.

Believe it or not, winter is coming to an end, which means the time is ripe to get your garden ready for spring. Whether you just want to focus your energy on backyard maintenance, or introducing new plants into the mix, try crafting out your very own to-do list and update as the season progresses. Here are a few ideas to help get you started so you can take advantage of the growing season up ahead.

Sharpen Your Tools:

With home improvement tools, the sharper the better. Consider sharpening tools such as lawn mower blades, shovels, or pruning shears for instance, to get them prepped and ready for the new season. Taking care of your garden tools after each use will allow for them to remain in good shape for years to come, and ensure you’re saving plenty of time and effort in the long run.

Try Beginner Gardening Projects:

What if you desperately want to garden but you’re unsure where to start with it all? Or you’ve attempted it once or twice, but don’t have a natural green thumb? Starter ideas such as container gardening can really ease you into gardening successfully. Even bag gardening in particular is not only low-effort; they overcome soil issues and help build soil over time. Getting the kids involved throughout this process may even make for a fun and educational experience for all.

Make Compost to Supercharge Your Garden:

Compost is the superfood for plants. You can turn food scraps, leaves, lawn clippings and otherwise useless ‘green waste’ like these into nutrient-rich fertilizers and soil amendments for your plants.

A compost bin powered by worms will produce compost in much less time. You could also blend old food scraps for instant compost or see if your community offers free compost (and mulch). After clearing the planting area and removing weeds, add a 4-inch layer of compost to new beds and work it well into the soil along with any other nutrients.

Choosing New Plants:

To choose the right plants think of the amount of sunlight the location gets, the soil moisture, and that the plants need to be matched to the very environments that they live in – the soil, the lighting, and other climate conditions. Even the best gardeners probably couldn’t make sun-loving plants thrive in the shade. The good news is that many plants aren’t too fussy. You might want to consider plants that don’t need too much water, work equally well in sunny and shady places, and the vegetables that save you the most money for your effort.

Edging:

Neat planting bed edges give any garden that extra bit of personality and flair. Aim to go for a clean deep trench edge between the lawn and beds. Be sure to neaten the edges with a fresh cut or scoop out any accumulated soil or mulch. Keep the edges weeded and grass-free.

Fertilize:

Be sure to feed plants in early spring as new growth appears. Use a fertilizer with low numbers on the bag, opting for either 3-4-4 or 4-2-4. For the best price, keep a look out for fertilizer in bulk sizes from a farm supply type store. To feed, sprinkle a handful of the fertilizer around the base of plants and begin to gently scratch it into the soil with your fingers or a hand rake. Feed all plants.

Clipping and Thinning:

Remove any old perennial stems from last year’s growth with a quick clip using scissors or hand pruners. It seems easy to yank stems, but with some perennials, a tug brings up new growth.

Cut back ornamental grasses that die with winter before new growth appears. Make sure you clip stem tips to promote branching in plants, and remove dead stems as soon as you can.

And there you have it! Get the jump on this Spring and get out there!

If you have any more questions don't hesitate to contact us or viist us in store! 

From

The Management and Staff

Materials in the Raw

About Materials in the Raw

Materials in the Raw (MITR) was established at Casula in 1988 as a bulk Landscaping materials distributor reselling sand, soil, gravel and mulches. MITR specialises in the supply of landscaping and building materials from multiple locations in the Sydney Metropolitan Area.

We deliver paving supplies to all Sydney regions including: Sydney City, Canterbury-Bankstown, Eastern Suburbs, Forest district, Hills district, Inner West, Macarthur, Northern Beaches, Lower North Shore, Upper North Shore, Northern Suburbs, South, western Sydney, Southern Sydney, St George, Western Sydney and Greater Western Sydney. If you are would like paving supplies delivered outside of Sydney please contact us for delivery prices

Our Sydney outlets are located at:

Chullora: Corner Hume Highway and Davidson Street
Guildford: Corner Ruby and Oxford Streets

At MITR, our customers are extremely valuable to us. It is our mission to help you build the very best with our diverse range of products and commitment to great service.

Our experienced and enthusiastic staff will work with you to make sure you get the job done in the right way. All MITR employees are trained on a regular basis so they are up to date with the latest products, trends and tips.

We are determined to be the best in the industry and we go beyond Landscaping Supplies and building materials. MITR has a genuine commitment to supporting local communities to keep them strong and their environments clean.