Hi, screen off your utilities, water tank, extend living area , paving or decking, add a pergola a seating area and you would really have a great outdoor area , plant up with lush plants and it could look gorgeous
Hi, As Julie pointed out, it'll be easier for you in you can consolidate and screen off your utilities where you can and then designate zones. If you could move your clothes line either further back or to the side of the house it'll free up lots of space.
Decide on what kind of backgarden you want - do you want country cottage, european formal, oriental? This will determine the style and plants. It would be helpful if you can share where your home is and how much maintenance you're prepared to do. Good luck!
Firstly check your climatic conditions, then the garden’s aspect re sunlight, then your soil type and it’s pH. Then you have some information to help you choose the right plants. Go to a local nursery that has knowledgeable staff - not a chain that simply buys in bulk across the country. Given our liklihood of more extreme conditions becoming the norm, think seriously about plants that will survive intense heat and/or winds etc. Depending on which way your garden faces, consider whether you want a good shade tree (or two) as a focal point and build your garden design around that. Your garden and you will benefit from the installation of a sensible watering system at the same time as you plant - saves time and digging up dead plants. Think about how much time you have/want to spend on plant maintenance and choose accordingly. Also whether you want to grow some vegies down the back in a sunny spot, or a simple but handy herb patch nearer to the house. Plan it out on paper, thinking about you want from a garden now but also in the long term, and go from there. Have fun and enjoy the process !
Know exactly how you want to use your garden, not just now but in the future. Do you have children where you want a safe place for them to play, will you want to add swings, a trampoline, a sandpit, a cubby house and other play toys kids love, but in years to come these will be replaced with other features. Allow for shade trees not just for your garden but to keep your house cool too. Depending on aspect decide if you need evergreen or deciduous trees - if your garden faces north, for example, deciduous trees are best, they provide cooling shade in summer but allow you to enjoy the winter sun both inside and out. What local wildlife do you have? Consider them when planting too.
Use graph paper to draw your garden to scale to get a good idea of how much space you need for features. Measure carefully for space needed for a table and chairs for example and allow sufficient room for access in and around the area. Search "Planning a garden for beginners" on Google - lots of ideas here, practical advice and links to You Tube videos. You will even find garden design ideas on-line. Walk around your local area checking what plants neighbours are successfully growing to get you started on what is best for your area. Bunnings do employ Horticulturists to advise you too. If you have patience, look at buying tubestock plants, these actually grow faster than a larger plant and are so much cheaper.
Finally try not to make too much hard work of it, a garden is to be enjoyed, take your time and enjoy the creation as well.
julie herbert
georgi02
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