Insights and inspiration for your garden

Hi, Bish here.  A common question I get is whether we should be collecting lawn clippings or just letting them drop back onto the grass. It seems like a small decision, but it actually makes a surprising difference to how your lawn looks, grows, and behaves in the warm, humid subtropical climate of the Northern Rivers.  After a goodly amount of time mowing lawns for customers from Casino to Alstonville, and from Modanville to Coraki, here's what I have learned.

Hi, this is Bish.   A healthy lawn makes such a difference to how a backyard feels and looks, yet it’s easy to get it wrong if you’re not sure what you’re dealing with.  Whether you’ve just moved in, inherited an overgrown jungle, or you’re simply trying to keep your existing lawn looking decent through the Northern Rivers’ changeable seasons, here’s the no-nonsense primer I wish I’d had years ago.

Fourteen years ago I was writing obsessive trip reports about hiking the Victorian high country, complete with dodgy photos and overly detailed gear notes. These days the adventures are a bit closer to home — but the same principle applies: a bit of proper preparation turns a mediocre experience into something you can actually enjoy.

If you’ve done what I’ve done — laid down weedmat years ago like a responsible gardener, only to watch a fresh crop of weeds popping up happily through your mulch every single spring — welcome to the club, mate. I’ve been there. More times than I care to admit.