Deck transformation

We love spending time in the outdoor spaces around our homes, whether it’s on a deck, veranda, balcony or patio. We want them to be a weekend or after-work haven, to relax and entertain in. It’s time to give your outdoor space an easy spring facelift by including a variety of leafy, edible or colourful potted plants. You won’t need a builder – just some gardening gloves!

Choose a plant theme for your transformation:

TROPICAL RESORT STYLE

Leafy foliage plants and fragrant and vibrant flowers can bring back memories of your favourite tropical holiday destination. Lush palms, colourful bromeliads and cordylines, dwarf bougainvilleas, frangipanis, climbing mandevilla and clumping bamboo can all be grown in pots and positioned around outdoor areas. Place taller growing plants towards the back, smaller plants at the front, to create a layered effect that gives the impression of a larger space.

DELICIOUS EDIBLES

If you love cooking on your BBQ and serving meals outdoors, then growing a range of potted vegies and herbs within easy reach will help add gourmet flair and taste to your menu. Grow graceful lemon grass and use the stems for basting or kebab skewers, fragrant sweet basil for mouth-watering bruschetta and loose leaf lettuces and cherry tomatoes for fresh and healthy salads. Convenient and delicious!

COLOURFUL FLOWERS

Create an inviting outdoor oasis by growing lots of beautiful potted flowers. Colourful petunias and calibrachoa, impatiens, marigolds, geraniums and daisies can bring quick and easy colour into outdoor areas. Perhaps go the extra insta-worthy mile and coordinate flower colours with table setting plates, drinkware and serviettes.

MEDITERRANEAN

You may not be able to travel to Mediterranean countries at the moment, however you can bring a touch of Tuscany to your deck or outdoor space by growing pots of fragrant rosemary, olives, dwarf citrus, pretty purple lavender and bay trees.

It’s worthwhile using a good quality potting mix to fill your pots, like Yates ® Premium Potting Mix. It contains controlled release fertiliser to feed for up to 9 months and a wetting agent to improve water penetration to the roots.

TLC for your deck plants:

Feed lush and leafy plants with nitrogen-rich Yates Thrive ® All Purpose Liquid Plant Food. Promote lots of fabulous blooms in flowering plants with Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Liquid Plant Food.

Keep common insect pests, such as aphids, caterpillars, scale and mealybug, under control

with regular sprays of Yates Nature’s Way ® Organic Citrus, Vegie & Ornamental Spray.

And to refresh your deck, so it’s ready to enjoy with friends and family, here are two simple steps from Cabot’s ® :

STEP 1

Clean your deck using Cabot’s Deck Clean.

Using a mix of Cabot’s Deck Clean and water in your Cabot’s Deck Hand ® Bucket, scrub your timber with a Cabot’s Deck Prep scrubbing broom to remove degraded/grey timber fibres and dirt. By eliminating the impurities and surface contaminants you ensure a smooth finish when you apply your decking oil.

Once dry…

STEP 2:

Apply Cabot’s Aquadeck to your timber.

Apply Aquadeck liberally to the entire length of the timber board using the Cabot’s Deck Coat lambswool applicator, approximately 2-3 boards at a time. Cabot’s Aquadeck is a water based decking oil that will enhance the look of your timber without drastically changing the colour. If your deck is exposed to heavy traffic and the elements, we recommend an additional coat for added durability. When you’re done, wash your tools thoroughly in water. Wait at least eight hours before replacing furniture on your revitalised deck.

Please note: Preparing your deck correctly is dependent on the current condition of your timber. If your deck has an old coating that has deteriorated unevenly or is peeling/flaking, we recommend sanding back to bare timber to ensure your decking oil adheres. For advice on preparing different conditions of timber correctly please visit cabots.co.nz.