Maintenance

No time l i ke the present

W h e n i t c o m e s t o o u t d o o r m a i n t e n a n c e a n d c a r i n g f o r y o u r g a r d e n , d o n ’ t p u t o f f u n t i l t o m o r r o w w h a t y o u c a n d o t o d ay

word s karen booth

We’re all guilty of it. Turning a blind eye to the peeling paint on the fence, the gutters sprouting sticks and leaves, or the hedge that is so unkempt and snaggly it’s star ting to look rather sinister. Af ter all, if it’s a sunny weekend, we have more enjoyable things to do than cleaning the gutters, and if it’s raining, well, best to stay inside all warm and snuggly.

Some outdoor chores are about aesthetics, some are about safety. Either way, they can’t be ignored forever because if you do, it could be at your own peril — and I can attest to that. Quite recently, ignoring an ever-growing mossy patch on the paving in my cour tyard led to a rather ungainly slip and a hard, painful landing on the concrete. Once my full range of motion returned (and my dignity), cleaning the paving was fi rst on my to -do list.

Deferring maintenance on any thing outdoors may not always lead to danger, but once you do fi nally get around to doing what needs to be done, the tasks tend to be harder and take longer.

ACCE P T TH E IN E V ITA B LE “It seems that the days when spending a couple of hours pottering about in the garden was considered relaxing are becoming a thing of the past,” says Georgia Harper, landscape designer and founder of Georgia Harper Landscape Design. “ With all of the pressures and distractions of modern life, many people are fi nding they have less time to spend in the garden than ever before. This is not to say that we don’t enjoy time spent in the garden; it’s just that most of us want this time to be about relaxing with a cool drink and a book rather than fer tilising, pruning and pulling up weeds.

“ The popularity of low-maintenance gardens has never been higher. And while there is no denying that more people are making the decision to go ‘low maintenance’, we need to ask ourselves, what does this really mean? In some people’s minds low maintenance means no maintenance, but is this realistic?

“ The shor t answer is no. Ever y garden needs some degree of maintenance. The goal, then, is to create a garden that meets all of your needs while requiring the minimum ef for t to maintain it. A s with any thing wor thwhile in life, ef for t is required — and a garden is no dif ferent. This is something you just have to accept, but with good planning and the right selection of plants and materials, it is possible to make any ongoing maintenance a lot easier.”

H A PPY PL A NT S Just like us, when plants get stressed, they are more likely to get ill — and they ’re more likely to struggle and waste resources. “ The golden rule is to pick the right plants for the space,” says Georgia.

“If a plant is right for the area it’s going into, it should require ver y little attention. Most plants need a lot of care only if they are under stress , which is usually caused by being placed in the wrong location — for example, a plant that requires sun being planted in the shade, and vice versa.

“Mulch is by far the ver y best tool to keep maintenance in any garden to a minimum. It means less watering, less weeding, and as it breaks down, mulch is an excellent soil conditioner for ongoing plant health. If you also ensure that the soil is properly prepared before any planting takes place, which might mean the addition of nutrients in the form of compost, then your plants will become established faster and be healthier, which means less ongoing care.

“ There’s a multitude of irrigation systems on of fer for the time-poor gardener, but drip line is the most water- ef fi cient. By installing a drip irrigation system under a layer of mulch (or a sub -sur face s ystem beneath an area of lawn), connecting it to your water supply and linking it all to a seven- day timer, you need never think about watering the garden ever again. Include a rain sensor that automatically switches the s ystem of f when it rains and you’ll be low maintenance and water-wise.”

DON ’ T FAN THE FL AME S In Australia, outdoor maintenance is not just about happy plants , it’s of ten about reducing the impact of bushfi res . “ There’s no way to entirely fi re-proof your proper ty, but proper ty owners shouldn’t underestimate how much a good garden clean-up, prune and some clever plant choices can potentially make in reducing bushfi re risks to your home,” says Matt Leacy, founding par tner and principal designer of Landar t. “A s much as it may seem an obvious and tedious task , one of the best things you can do is to thoroughly prune and tidy up around your gardens and proper ty. Clean gutters , especially if your house is surrounded by large trees . Also ensure all old dr y leaves from autumn and winter are cleared out and away from your proper ty and that dead branches are cut away and trees and other plants are trimmed right back away from your house.

“It’s useful to have at least some knowledge of how fl ammable the plants and trees are on your property. Trees that are known to ignite quickly include tea tree, Cyprus, pines, eucalypts and various other natives,” says Matt. “Obviously, if you have a beautiful, well-established eucalyptus tree, which is also an important wildlife habitat,

R E N D E R I T

Render is an easy way to rejuvenate tired or neglected ex terior sur faces . Render straightens out walls and gives sur faces a fl at fi nish, so you can instantly change the look of a house — or outdoor structure. A s a bonus , a rendered sur face requires minimal upkeep. Cleaning can be done with a low-water-pressure cleaner ever y couple of years .

A s well as instantly improving your home’s appearance and adding value, render has the abilit y to help prevent corrosion caused by the sun, wind, rain, frost and sea salt. If you live near the ocean, use highper formance acr ylic render as it has a membrane base that stops the salt from eating away the mor tar. Acr ylic render is more expensive, but it is long-lasting and you can also include a waterproof additive to fur ther protect the building.

Render can be tinted to practically any hue and you can opt for smooth or brushed fi nishes . And aside from raw brick , render can be used to cover painted brick , Blue Board and fi bro. If you choose the right colour, much like applying a fresh coat of paint to a home, it can add value to a proper t y.

M o s t p l a n t s n e e d a l o t o f c a r e o n l y i f t h e y a r e u n d e r s t r e s s , w h i c h i s u s u a l l y c a u s e d b y b e i n g p l a c e d i n t h e w r o n g l o c a t i o n — f o r e xa m p l e , a p l a n t t h a t r e q u i r e s s u n b e i n g p l a n t e d i n t h e s h a d e a n d v i c e v e r s a

S P R I N G L AW N C A R E

Star t by clearing the lawn of any fallen leaves and branches. It is best to do this when conditions are dr y as moisture will make leaves and debris stick to the lawn. While a rake will do the job, a leaf blower or vacuum will speed up the process. “Make sure the lawn is clean from any thing that’s too large for the leaf blower or vacuum to handle, such as larger branches and sticks,” says Joel Hawkins, Victa categor y manager, Lawn and Garden Products.

It’s best to get rid of weeds while they ’re young and their roots are still weak; at this stage they can be removed by hand. Once weeds have taken hold, they have to be dug up, leaving unsightly, grass-free patches in the lawn. A light application of weed killer is a good idea to prevent fur ther sprouting, but be careful not to overdo it as this can burn the grass.

Give the grass a boost in spring by aerating the lawn. This will promote new root grow th as air, water and nutrients can circulate freely. “Aerating can be done using a garden fork. Dig the fork 10cm into the soil and gently move it back and for th. For larger lawns, save time by hiring an aerating machine from a local hardware store or machiner y hire centre,” says Joel.

Mow the lawn at least once a for tnight. “Infrequent mowing can cause a lawn to become stalk y and less attractive,” says Joel. “Use a line trimmer for garden borders and hard-to-reach places.” Look out for any problem areas, such as bare spots where new lawn needs to be planted, or high-traf fi c areas where fer tiliser can be used to improve the grass.

Apply fer tiliser to the lawn to break winter dormancy and give the lawn a helping hand. A slow-release fer tiliser will help the grass grow stronger and healthier in preparation for stressful summer conditions.

Above Reg u la r maintena nce w i l l give you a n im macu late ga rden a nd outdoor enter taining env ironment . ghld .com .au L ef t Sea l pav ing for optimum stain resista nce a nd ensure a l l timber str uct ures a re st urdy. kingsland scaping.com .au you won’t want to remove it entirely. But you can prune back any deadwood and maintain it (check with your local council’s restrictions/ guidelines fi rst), as well as control what’s around it to reduce the associated fi re risks.”

IT ’ S NOT A LL PL AY Regular checks of swings, slides, cubby houses, tree houses, climbing frames and trampolines is impor tant. Nails that have worked their way loose in a cubby can snag rompers and pierce delicate little fi ngers, while broken trampoline springs or missing safety padding can be a real hazard for kids of all ages.

“If you haven’t used your trampoline in a while, it is always a good idea to check it over — in fact you should inspect your trampoline before each use,” advises Shane Helm of Oz Trampolines. “ Things to look out for include missing, faulty or improperly positioned safety padding; punctures, tears or holes in the safety net, tents, roof padding or mats; deterioration of the stitching or fabric of the mat or safety padding; broken or stretched springs and bent, uneven or unstable frames. If you notice any damage, change the par ts immediately.”

You can prevent most of these things from happening with general, ongoing maintenance. “ When your trampoline is not going to be used for an extended period of time, it is best to disassemble and store it in a safe, dry place,” continues Shane. “To protect your trampoline from foreign objects and to keep it clean, use a cover. When cleaning, especially mats and frame pads, don’t use aggressive cleaning products. Trampoline surfaces are best cleaned with mild soapy water and thoroughly rinsed with water af terward. For the best maintenance of your trampoline, also make sure no animals are allowed on the trampoline as they could damage both the frame pad and the jumping mat.”

K E E P A SOLID FOOTING “Paving instead of garden beds (or lawn) might sound like a great idea, but it heats up, can get slippery and requires maintenance (sweeping and sealing) to keep it looking its best, so choose carefully. Plain, solid-coloured pavers show every mark and leaf drop, and you’ll be sweeping it of ten to keep it looking good. Natural stone’s irregularities disguise any marks, leaves or debris resting on the pavers and look nice with much less ef fort,” says Georgia.

“In damp, shady areas, decking may be the answer as it is elevated above ground level. This means rain, leaves and debris can pass through

more easily. Of course, timber decking needs to be oiled and stained to prevent it from going grey. The other option might be one of the decking board alternatives made of recycled wood and plastic, which don’t require any thing but the occasional wash or sweep.”

Leon Travis, general manager, sales and distribution for Boral Timber, says if you have timber decking, regular inspection and maintenance is recommended to ensure any splits, cracks or unpainted areas are attended to early on. “Any loose or damaged boards should be resecured or replaced, loose nails hammered back in or screws refi xed,” he advises. “If the damage is ex tensive and boards or the entire deck needs replacing, Australian hardwood timber is an ideal choice as it can withstand harsh weather conditions, including rain, humidity, wind, salt and intense heat.”

PA INTING POINTE R S “Cleaning your home’s ex terior will help maintain the appearance of your paint fi nish and remove the build-up of dir t, salt deposits, bird droppings, mould and other contaminants,” advises Erin Por ter, Dulux categor y manager — Ex terior & Speciality Coatings. “ We recommend washing your painted ex terior sur faces annually ; not only will this maintain the life of the paint, it will also keep your home looking fresh. The best process for cleaning these sur faces without damaging the paint is by preparing a bucket of warm water mixed with a moderate amount of household detergent and apply to the painted area with a sof t bristle brush, broom or sof t cloth. Then, before your painted sur face can dr y, hose it down thoroughly with clean water.”

To reduce maintenance, choose the right paint to begin with and properly prepare the sur faces before painting. “Finding a paint that can withstand ever y thing the Australian weather throws at it is ver y impor tant, which is why we recommend using a high-quality acr ylic ex terior paint,” says Erin. “ When painting the ex terior of your home, preparation is the key to success. To star t, make sure your sur face is clean by thoroughly washing away any chalk y residue, dir t, dust or mould from the sur face, as the presence of contaminants can cause loss of adhesion to the new paint. Using sandpaper to even out, smooth, degloss or remove existing paint from the sur face is another crucial step in preparing for a quality fi nish.”

Do regular checks to see what needs work and get stuck in — it's always the better option.

O R N A M E N TA L A LT E R N AT I V E S

Desperately seeking a low-maintenance solution to give your garden tex ture and colour? Or perhaps a tough, easy-care plant to cover a hard-to-reach slope where lawn would be a nightmare to keep trimmed? If so, ornamental grasses have a lot to of fer in these time-poor days.

There are so many dif ferent ornamental grasses — many of them natives — in such an array of shapes, sizes, leaf form and colour that you are guaranteed to fi nd something suitable to fi t your growing conditions … and decorative needs. Consult your local garden centre or plant nurser y about what types of ornamental grasses are likely to thrive in your area, but some of the more popular choices include Festuca, Poa, Pennisetum, Carex and Miscanthus. Then there are the grass-like plants such as Lomandra and Ophiopogon japonicus (mondo grass).

Designing with ornamental grasses can be a lot of fun, but always remember to keep ever y thing in scale and as natural-looking as possible. For impact, you can jux tapose sof t grasses with strongly geometric hard-landscaping features such as a rendered feature wall.