TOP TIPS FOR Downsizing your garden

Easy-care lifestyle, more time for the outdoors.

It's one of life's little ironies that, when you retire and finally have time to spend gardening, you might not have the same desire to maintain a big garden anymore.

Many retirees are loath to abandon gardening altogether, but are happy to find ways to indulge their green thumbs on a more manageable scale.

Look for a garden that's small enough to be a delight, not a chore. You might find that a courtyard or patio is all you need to feel connected to nature. With some clever planting it's amazing how much food a balcony can produce, while also providing a pleasant space for relaxing.

For ease of care, use raised beds, planters and pots whenever possible – they're easier to access without bending or kneeling.

Outsource heavy landscaping jobs, such as trimming shrubs and mowing lawns.

Moving into a retirement village gives you the time and freedom to garden as much or as little as you like, and provides peace of mind that there'll be someone there to help out if your health or circumstances change.

When you're choosing a retirement village, let the village management know that you're interested in retaining a garden and ask them to clarify their policy around independent gardening.

Whether you’re after home décor, in need of cake decorations, want to dry a sentimental bouquet, or dry flowers for a craft project, drying flowers (plus petals and greenery) is easy and fun.

It’s important to note that not all flowers dry well. Some tightly bunched petal formations will rot before they dry leaving you with a bad smell to deal with. Flowers and greenery that hold a lot of moisture in their stems also don’t