Liani Smith - Prepare For Summer

 Read more from Liani.
 
Almost every New Zealander is digging somewhere, my guess it’s in the veggie patch. Like squirrels preparing for winter we plan and plant our veggie gardens with much expectation. As we bend over the vanity to scrub the earth from our hands we imagine a bumper crop in the making.
 
What makes a summer BBQ so magical and enjoyable? Is it the food, friends and family? Imagine having a BBQ inside, same food, friends and family. It is no where near the same. The piece to the puzzle is OUTDOORS. To be surrounded by plants, air, and sunshine. The word garden springs to mind. A BBQ is all about having a good time outside in the garden, whether it is an acre of rolling lawns and mature trees or a green patch the size of a bath towel.
 
It is all about outside and gardens happen to be outside.
 
But a few things need to be considered before we can dream of BBQ’s etc.

Now is an ideal time to start planning changes and improvements that need to be made to your garden.  Prevent the pre-Christmas frenzy and get the garden ready for visitors now… Landscapers are fully booked and over worked.

If you have a new garden, talk to a designer about ideas, solutions and potential costs. Prevent expensive mistakes by choosing the right plants.
 
If you set out armed with a few simple design rules, you can successfully develop the right look, feel and mood to create a space that will push the right buttons for all who enter.
 
Try these simple strategies:

Include a space for living

Gardens are our favourite outdoor living rooms during summer. Is your entertainment area surrounded by a herd of misfits? Overgrown, shapeless, and boring? Does it compliment the entertainment area?

Create a room-like feel with solid floor (paving or decking), leafy walls and a seamless link between indoors and out. Furnish with comfortable yet durable pieces. Provide shelter and shade with a timber pergola or umbrella.

Add a focal point

Focal points are just that - single points in the landscape of your garden. Don’t use more that 2 (depending on the size of your garden), or the visual effect will become cluttered.  Placement is all important, you need to locate these features in an obvious spot, somewhere the eye travels naturally. Gaze out into the garden and work out the “sight lines” in your landscape. In small gardens position features at the furthest boundary to create depth and in large gardens place them closer to the house to break up an empty view.

Create a water view

Beautiful gardens don’t need to start with a piece of prime real estate. They can generate their own water views. Ponds, fountains and water bowls bring a special touch to a garden and are hugely desirable. It is also a great way to add value to your property. Position one where it can be seen from the kitchen or living room window. The choice of water features is enormous from a simple bowl to a garden pond with ducks, mud and tadpoles.  Frogs if you are lucky!  Pukekos if you are unlucky!

Add hardscapes

Paths, steps and driveways give the landscape a sense of order. Primarily practical features, they can be attractive too. Choose materials and textures to compliment your house. If possible use a single paving material for all hardscape areas and keep pathways straight or the curve even.  Installing these needs skill.  Rather get a professional to do it than becoming a victim of “I told you to get someone in”.

Create privacy

Gardens need to have a sense of sanctuary- somewhere you can escape to, far from the prying eyes of the world (and Mrs Nosy from next door). What a treat to enjoy your coffee in the morning sun dressed for success, in your dressing gown?

To turn an outdoor area into a private refuge, give the area “walls” using tall screening shrubs, dense hedges or lattice screens.  Make hiding ugly views a priority and tailor the height of your screen to suit.  Enclosed courtyards offer wonderful privacy but can sacrifice sunshine.  
 
Be practical about privacy, weigh up your privacy needs against sunshine needs. Consider the seasons and the changing aspect of the sun.
 
Plan now, don’t wait until it’s too late, often projects are left undone because of a lack of time and lack of funds. Especially before Christmas, we know the family is coming and we should get the deck done, but have left it too late.

Start pricing and planning, get quotes now.
 
Sit back and enjoy summer. Make time for BBQ’s and do show off your home grown produce.

Published 18th Dec 2009

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