There are plenty of cheap ways to give the garden a quick makeover. Elegant pots stood on pavers will enliven a boring spot or define separate areas.
It was the Partner’s birthday a little while ago and, in a rush of blood to the head, we decided on a party. There’s nothing quite like two glasses of wine to make you feel sociable enough to consider inviting a dozen or so people for drinks and nibbles.
It’s the next morning, when you realise you’ll have to make food, clean the house and sort the garden, that it starts to seem like a very bad idea.
However, if it weren’t for social occasions our garden would never be tidy. It’s a perpetual work-in-progress and looks like a construction site most of the time.
Fortunately, I’m an expert at tarting up houses and gardens, having, in a former life, bought and sold properties at an alarming rate. Interiors are easy: a lick of paint, clean windows, decent artwork, a serious de-clutter and the ubiquitous flowers and freshly made coffee will usually do the trick.
But dressing up the garden can take days or even weeks, and might involve a larger outlay than the cost of a bunch of daisies and a packet of Fair Trade coffee beans.
Three identical planters bring impact and screening to a nondescript area.
Apart from common-sense measures like mowing the lawn, weeding the beds and fixing the hole in the fence, there are numerous touches you can add to the outdoors that will give your property sparkle and style.
Most gardens have dead spots and an upcoming occasion is the perfect excuse to enliven them. Happily, our local nursery had a massive sale at Easter which enabled us to plug the gaps with bargain grasses, vireyas and hibiscus. If there’s no sale in time for your special event, a big paver with an arty piece of driftwood or a pot on it will look better than bare dirt or, worse, weedy dirt.
Failing that, cheat. Chop lush foliage off existing shrubs and trees, cram it into heavy containers and position them to cover up anything that doesn’t look as good as it should.
A gap between the end of a paved area and the beginning of a wall doesn’t need to be full of clods and weeds. Lay weedmat, buy a bag of crushed shell, spread it over the area and add a couple of big clam shells or a ceramic ornament. It’s a 10-minute, $10 job.
Turn a dead spot into a talking point by adding an eye-catching ornament or piece of driftwood.
Disguise an indeterminate transition, or give an edge to an area of paving or lawn, with a set of container plants. Find three identical pots and plant with astelias or grasses for a smart, contemporary look, or camellias or daisies for a cottage-garden style. Square pots look smarter than round.
If there’s an area that lacks privacy or impact (the path from the driveway to the front door, for instance), splash out on three narrow shrubs or young trees, plant them in the ground and edge with contrasting pavers. You’ll get a classy, designer look.
In a spot that cries out for a bit of drama, a single mature tree will have a similar impact. Try a mature palm in a contemporary garden, or a spreading or weeping tree for an old-fashioned look.
Even when the temperatures are down to single figures, an attractive outdoor living space will at least hint at the possibility of alfresco entertaining, and if the day of your occasion turns out fine, you’ll be ready.
Clean up your outdoor entertaining space, dress the chairs with throws and cushions and get the table ready for lunch or drinks. You won’t want to outlay money on major items like lighting or water features, but shallow basins of water sprinkled with petals, and strategically placed candles or oil burners will create a welcoming, festive atmosphere.
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