How To Be A Green Thumb Minus The Groundwork

Planning to give your garden that much needed makeover can be extremely daunting; when the words ‘garden makeover’ spring to mind, one often envisions numerous backbreaking hours spent in the sun, covered head to toe in soil.

Matt Leacy from Landart Landscapes gives readers his take on a simple temporary garden makeover- minus the sore back and gruelling manual labour. Matt

Wine barrel Garden

We all have areas in our garden that need a little extra attention- Matt Leacy suggests taking a second hand wine barrel and using it as a convenient and effective pot plant. Second hand barrels can be purchased from gardening outlets for around $50. Their size makes them the perfect fit for corners, or smaller gardens with limited space. They can be grouped together for dramatic effect, or can stand alone as a key garden feature.

Matt recommends planting olive trees, citrus trees and shrubs in the wine barrels as they provide the ideal surface area for these plants to grow. Wine barrels are also great for planting mini herb gardens, or veggie gardens including- lettuces, spinach, tomatoes and rocket. Matts recommends installing several drainage holes in the barrel before planting, then placing gravel in filter fabric to a depth of 50mm at the base of the pot, before putting in the remaining soil and plants. This will enable the soil to drain freely, whilst also minimising staining underneath the pot. The wine barrel garden is an ideal addition for those eager to use recyclable materials to spruce up their garden.

Practical outdoor furniture

Introducing outdoor furniture into your garden is a simple, yet effective way to add comfort and style to the space. Factors to consider when purchasing outdoor furniture should be, manoeuvrability, weight, the amount of maintenance needed to keep the furniture in good quality. Matt recommends purchasing weather resistant furniture such as teak, cedar, eucalyptus and redwood-if cared for properly these materials can last up to fifty years. To maintain your furniture, treat the timber with oils/ sealants to increase their lifespan. Tiki torches are another man made instalment which look great in any garden space, they can line the pathway, or surround the outdoor eating area to add extra lighting.

Inventive displays

Hanging baskets are a great temporary installation that can add interesting bursts of colour to your garden. Hang the baskets against blank walls, or in empty corners to expand the look of your garden. Matt suggests choosing plants wisely- succulents are a suitable choice for hanging plants because they require less water and cope well when exposed to the sun. Petunias, fuchsias, miniature camellias also work well, to create an eye catching display of rich colour. Sort herbs and leafy vegetables are another favourable option because they require little maintenance.

Matt recommends using a premium soil for your hanging basket; he also suggests adding fortnightly applications of liquid fertilizer. Watering your hanging plants daily is essential to keeping them healthy, because the soil in hanging baskets tends to dry out very quickly. Cupcake stands are another inventive way to display herbs- place mint, coriander, oregano in the cupcake stand and place in the centre of your outdoor table for a unique and useful centrepiece.

Follow Matt Leacys clever tips on how to give your garden a simple and effective makeover.

Have you given your garden a makeover? Tell us below!…