Old Mate Landscapes

Yesterday we completed the first stage of works on our Australian native garden overhaul in Mornington consisting of the following:
- Removal of existing Yukkas and succulents, river pebbles and soil
- Removed w**ds on pathway leading to side gate
- Install plinth edging and granitic sand to pathway, screed and compact
- Install new garden blend soil
- Re-used landscape rocks in new setout
- Install Waratahs, Banksias and Doryanthes in open areas, along with an Agonis tree in the open areas, with a mix of Myoporum and Brachyscome to cascade over retaining wall and fill in areas as ground covers
- Install 1/2" Pine bark mulch
- Wash down all surfaces

As of tomorrow 30/6/2024, we will be closing the books operating as a sole trader and from Monday 1/7/2024 onwards, we will be operating as Old Mate Landscapes pty ltd.
It has been one hell of a road to travel, working after hours during the week and weekends when I was also at my previous employment, to stepping out to full time with my wife Paige encouraging, advising and assisting by my side every step of the way.
As we take our next step forward, we are excited about the next set of challenges to face and reaching the milestones we have set to achieve. With myself on the ground and Paige managing everything in the office, the sky really is the limit!
Of course, we wouldn't have made it this far without our amazing on-going maintenance clients and those that we have completed landscape construction projects for and we can't thank you all enough 😊🤠

Hi everyone, remember the deck we recently completed the renovation on in Sandhurst?
We have just completed new walkways at either side of the deck to the sides of the house.
The pavers are 600mm x 600mm Bluestone harkaway pavers set together for a wider step, with one side finished with a granitic path for small machinery and the other side finished with a large paved square to make using the hose and accessing the side of the house easier.
The pathways are finished with merbau edging and 25-40mm river pebbles, with the surrounds top dressed

Whilst Michael has been very busy on the ground completing works, behind the scenes we've been flatout. I have not only been advertising for a new employee to take over our Maintenance side of the business, I've also been working away on creating a new, sleek and fresh design for a logo and I'm excited that it will be shared with you all shortly.

We really appreciate all our followers, current and past clients in getting us to where we are. Without you and your support this business with just be a dream rather than a reality.

We can't wait to keep building our client relationships and also finding new ways to get involved within the community 🙌

Thanks,
Paige Bailey

🙌Old Mate Landscapes are currently hiring🙌

We are looking for a gardener to assist with looking after the maintenance side of our landscape business.
We ask that people who may wish to apply have a ute or car that can tow a trailer.

Duties include but are not limited to:
- Completing mowing works to a high standard
- Weeding in gardens with a high attention to detail and w**d identification
- Hedge trimming from the ground and on ladders
- Mulching
- Tree care including uplifting and formative pruning
- Identification and treatment of pests/diseases on turf, plants and trees
- Ability to meet clients expectations and liaise with suppliers, clients, etc.
- Above award pay rate offered for the right person

Please feel free to send your cover letter and resume to [email protected]

Thank you
Michael and Paige Bailey
Old Mate Landscapes

Another side of our business we don't get to post too often is irrigation.
Before going out on our own, I completed many irrigation works including minor repairs to sprinklers, mainline and dripline and replacement of solenoid valves, as well as performing irrigation system audits and diagnostics and creating/installing full irrigation systems from scratch for both commercial and residential clients.
Last week, we had two items that required attention for our clients
The first one being amendment of an existing leak and tidying up of existing irrigation pipework before further works are carried out.
We removed the existing setup, installed new pipework, re-connected the multicore wiring to a new solenoid and installed a new tap.
The second was after removal of w**d mat, it was found the installer drove a pin through the 25mm mainline, which until removed was completely sealed.
We shut the mains water off, exposed the pipe further and removed the damaged portion. Installed new section of mainline along with new couplings to suit. The water was turned back on shortly after the initial incident and the clients weren't inconvenienced for long :)

Today has seen the end of our biggest construction job to date located in Pakenham, including the following scope of works:

1. Removal of existing garden edging and timber structures along fenceline and installation of sleepers as new edging, leaving a gap along back fence for a future cubby house.

2. Removal of raised garden bed and pavers in lawn area and top dress

3. After client removed old bird aviary, constructed new raised veggie garden and continued bottom sleeper to edge surrounding garden.

4. Lifted pavers from walkway at back of house, reset on mortar base and added extra paver width to widen pathway, ramping down to concrete footpath at clothesline.

5. Removed cobble stone and river pebble garden from around concrete in undercover area. Removed two outer concrete bays due to coming away from rest of slab because of no reo mesh or starter bars being used. Installed deck with half supported on remaining slab and rest installed on new posts. Also added coloured lights into deck

6. Top dressed turf areas to remove undulations throughout

Another construction job recently completed by our team:
- Boards between original deck and extension had changed in level, so removed and inspected
- Found extension wasn't attached to original deck, not a sufficient amount of posts or bearers were used and therefore the extension had dropped in height
- Removed all boards, installed new bearers and posts and interlocked new extension into existing deck
- Re-shaped levels under deck due to water previously pooling. Installed new ag line and pit to stormwater outlet
- Installed merbau 90mm decking to top of deck and 140mm to sides as a skirting board
- Installed deck lights along last board with Bluetooth controller to be able to adjust brightness and set timers, etc.
- More to come to compliment the new deck 😊

We recently completed this construction job in Langwarrin including:
- Removal of existing pavers and laying new ivory pavers
- Installation of ag drain in garden space
- Adjustment of falls and installation of appropriate drainage to suit new levels
- Installation of garden blend soil, Photinia 'Red Robin' hedge, w**d mat and 1/2" Pine bark mulch
- Completion of all prep work for new artificial turf
- Installation of artificial turf

This morning our son represented his Joey Scouts group and marched with our current navy, air force, army, ses, police force, past soldiers and people in the local community 🫡

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."

Lest we forget 🎖

After almost a month off socials due to being absolutely flat out, I thought it was time to update with all we have been up to.
We have been continuing through various maintenance works including mulching, mowing, plant treatment for pests and diseases and w**ding.
We have also been progressing on multiple construction works, with now having ourselves booked out until June completing paving, decking, artificial turf, planting and installing instant turf too.
Looking forward to showing completed photos on projects we are currently working through :)

Works have been completed on our Mt Martha job today, consisting of the following:
- Removed dead Fescue turf from turf and proposed garden area to be created by client and disposed of all waste
- Aerated existing soil and found lawn grubs to be present
- Installed turf blend soil, amended levels and rolled over to compact
- Installed Eureka premium Kikuyu turf and watered in after rolling over
- With the assistance of a turf science professional, we acquired a pesticide product to treat the turf and the soil underneath for the lawn grubs with the treatment lasting for up to 3 months

Last week we completed this garden bed transformation for our clients in Mornington.
We removed everything from the space, moving plants and bulbs wanting to be kept into pots to be replanted later.
A tiller was used to break up the soil and bring the heights down.
We installed a concrete footing to the perimeter, then installed second hand red bricks on a mortar base following the client's request for the formation and design of the edging.
Once dry, we raked the mortar back from the brick edges to keep the character of the bricks as the main focus.
As requested, we installed cardboard and sugar cane mulch base, with garden blend soil to top the garden bed up
More photos to come once bricks have been washed, mulch installed and top dressing completed.

Over the last two weeks, our work has taken us all over the place from Tootgarook to Frankston and over to Berwick and we love it.
Here's some photos of our recently completed works and the beginning of our current project in Mornington 😊

On this International Women's Day, I would like to celebrate my wife Paige and all that she does to help with not only our business but also for our family.
From invoicing to liaising with clients, setting up schedules and helping on the tools at times, to being a full time mum to our 3 boys, you are our Super Woman and we are forever grateful for you 😊

It has been a busy couple of weeks for us, getting into a few different types of work to keep things interesting. Below is what we have achieved along with some other maintenance items :)

1. Waterproofing works on the outside of a garage in Mornington. Due to water getting into the garage during downpours, we excavated, found original ag pipe wasn't installed properly, installed waterproofing on garage wall, then installed 100mm socked ag line to appropriate fall and amended neighbours gardens.

2. Completed overhaul of railway sleeper retaining wall in Pearcedale due to failure of existing timber. Also used stump grinder to remove pre-existing tree stump so client could install new fruit tree

3. Completed removal of fallen tree branch from recent storms in Rye and disposed of waste

4. Completed garden and turf maintenance of properties in Hastings and Rye

5. Installed 3m x 3m concrete slabs in preparation for outdoor furniture at a school. Once completed, removed all waste and backfilled around all edges to remove trip hazards

The last two weeks has been all about maintenance for us.
As well as plenty of w**ds to remove, we have also completed:

- Mowing works
- Hedge works
- Treating plants for insect and fungus damage
- Formative pruning of individual plants to suit garden design
- Removal of trimmings and excess garden waste

We have now completed landscape works at our Frankston job in preparation for selling.
Works consisting of the following:
- Removal of existing pavers, bricks, etc. from pathway
- Setout new pathway and remove excess green waste
- Setout garden area around existing palm tree
- Setout area for artificial turf around clothesline, install new drain to height along fenceline and install artificial turf
- Install crushed rock base in walkway and compact, install pavers and Tooborac toppings to finish
- Install new lemon tree and Dwarf Agonis flexuosa
- Install mulch to all garden areas

A big happy birthday to my husband Michael and the man behind Old Mate Landscapes. We hope you have a fantastic day and year ahead. 🌱🍃

In November last year, our client in Mt Martha wanted some help and advice getting his Tall Fescue turf to a better state.
The top photo is upon completing the first mow in November. Since then, only simple techniques have been used to improve the coverage to get it to how it is after mowing today in the bottom photo.
We have also developed an on-going maintenance schedule to improve coverage, control pests, diseases and w**ds with experienced industry professionals, as well as assisting with setting the existing irrigation system to suit 😊

Construction works are now complete at our job in Frankston South.

Works completed are as follows:
- Removal of all materials to 150mm and dispose of
- Remove second Olive tree, leftover posts, stairway and garden bed, rotted out railway sleepers and uplifted Camelia tree
- Set heights to suit turf installation, cutting in along existing retaining wall under deck to reduce the angle of the backyard
- Installed retaining wall around perimeter of turf area and replaced railway sleepers with new ones
- Installed ag line and 20mm aggregate along inside of retaining wall
- Installed gypsum and used a tiller to turn over clay sub base before levelling out
- Installed stairs leading in to bungalow
- Installed turf blend soil to all areas, levelled out and compacted
- Installed Corten steel edging rings around remaining Olive and Camelia trees
- Installed Matilda Buffalo turf to area, cut in all joins and used roller
- Completed site clean of all areas

🙌 WE'RE HIRING!!! 🙌

*Qualified horticulturalists and/or experienced gardener wanted*

Old Mate Landscapes are seeking a person to come on board and assist with the maintenance division of our business.

*Own transport (Ute or a car with a tow ball) and current licence is a must as well as being able to safely tow a trailer if need be.

*Position is casual to start with, with the possible to part/full time, etc. For the right candidate.
Starting with a 3 month probation period.

Duties consist of but are not limited to:
°Ride-on mowing
°Hand mowing
°Hedge trimming
°Weeding
°Slashing
°Formative pruning of trees
°Pest and disease management in turf and plants
°Direct reporting to manager's
°Liaising with clients, contractors and suppliers
°Inspecting machinery and tools on a daily basis and reporting servicing needs

The successful applicant must have attention to detail and pride in their work.

Please forward any questions, cover letter and resume to [email protected]

Thankyou,

Michael & Paige Bailey
Old Mate Landscapes

It has been a big week to finish off 2023 and has been great to catch up with a few of our clients before the break too.

This week we completed the following:
- Initial works on our new construction job in Frankston South
- Mowing works in Carrum Downs
- Garden clean up works in Rye
- Tree trimming works for an NDIS client in Langwarrin
- Garden clean up works in Frankston
- Mowing works in Skye
- Mowing works in Hastings
- First stage of clean up works in Frankston

Thankyou to all our followers, clients past and present and the Old Mate family for everything in 2023 that helped us become everything we are today.
Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year.
See you in 2024 😊

The 150 year commemorative paving works have been completed at Skye Primary School, including bricks with the names of staff, students and parents past and present who purchased them.

Works including:
- Set out and installation of bricks along pathway on a mortar base
- Keeping a gap behind the goals for access for vehicles, etc.
- Topping up of rock throughout centre of pathway, levelling and compacting
- Installing top soil to sides of pathway to allow turf to grow back through to blend in with height of bricks 😊

In a crazy week with the weather hampering things at times, we were able to complete the following:
- Mowing works at Arthur's Seat just before storms hit
- First stage of garden clean up works at Mt Eliza
- Removal of bungalow and pavers in Rosebud

Our Somerville project is now complete.
Works consisting of:
- Removal of existing garden and lawn
- Install new steps on deck at clothesline and turf area
- Install balustrading along high side of deck
- Install more boards along side of deck to close in
- Install artificial turf to areas as requested
- Install Seymour toppings on clothesline and side path areas