Belle Property

This week we met Denise, a long-term resident of the beautiful suburb of Jewells. Denise has lived in Jewells for 40 years, and loves the location and her impeccable garden! We asked Denise what attracted her to Jewells. "With three kids, the local school was one of the big drawcards when I was looking for a new home. I love the leafy feel of the suburb, the friendly people and being so close to the beach. Over the forty years, I've seen lots of change, but most recently I'm seeing lots of young families moving in." TELL US ABOUT YOUR GARDEN Denise's garden is an amazing labyrinth of pathways, hedges and manicured lawns. She very kindly gave us her tips and tricks on how to make such a beautiful garden. So how do you make your roses grow? • Never prune until it is cold. Denise won't prune until the end of July to ensure good growth and great blooms, but leaving your pruning till the plant is dormant also ensures that they won't flower too early. • Plants are no different to people - the better fed they are, the more likely they are to resist disease. Give your roses a good feed every six to eight weeks through the growing season with an organically based rose fertiliser. Denise prefers chicken manure from a chicken farm – much better than the pre- packed manure! How do you make your lawn so lush? • Denise suggests that you lift your mower one notch higher than usual in winter. This provides thick coverage and prevents weeds from getting through. • Using Seasol once or twice per year will also give your lawn the boost it needs. Your hedges are amazing – what is your trick? • Denise has planted Murraya hedges - they have an attractive, glossy green foliage, dense growth, with gorgeous perfumed white flowers, are easy to grow, and long-lived. • Once a year she gives them a good fertilise with cow manure. Take a wander around the streets of Jewells – you may just come across Denise happily working in her garden! GETTING TO KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY