Children love playing in the dirt. Why not combine fun with learning and get the little ones involved in the garden. A veggie patch is a great way to foster an early interest in gardening. It’s simple to set up, fun to do and the results are very satisfying (and tasty!) Veggie patches afford children the opportunity to grow something in the garden, even in winter. Older children can help to design and plan out the veggie patch. Veggie patches don’t need to take up a huge area. A courtyard or balcony can provide just enough space to get started.

First things first, invest in some tools for the children. Their little hands needs gloves and gardening implements that they can easily manage.  

For veggies patches, it is best to use a raised bed, in case the soil is poor underneath or there is poor drainage. It also means less digging come harvest time. And, raised beds can make a very attractive feature in your garden.  You can opt to make one yourself from recycled materials, but be careful in case some of the products you use have been treated in chemicals which can seep into the soil.  Many DIY stores also sell raised beds, including colourful options for children. Or you can have a personally designed bed planned out by your landscaper, to flow in with the rest of your outdoor space. 

The depth of the raised bed depends on what you wish to grow, but as a rule of ‘green’ thumb, don’t use anything less than 12” deep. The raised bed needs to be placed in a sunny part of your garden or balcony. Use some newspaper to cover the grass and cover with a good quality soil.

Once that is set up and running, the children can get involved in the planting. Mix it up by growing different types  of vegetables including mixture or root, vine and salad greens. Potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, pumpkins, radishes, snow peas and strawberries as well as herbs with pleasant scents are always a hit with children.

If you are looking to create a feature piece for your garden, why not use stone instead of timber?

 

Sydney properties are worth a pretty penny now. If you are thinking about selling your home, it is worth spending time sprucing up the outside area. First impressions count.  The first thing buyers will notice when entering your property isn’t your designer bathroom or modern kitchen- it’s your outdoor space.  Any time and money that you invest into your garden and outdoor living space now, is guaranteed to help you sell your property in the future. Potential buyers will be able to visualise themselves entertaining and living in your outdoor space, instead of seeing a project that is going to cost them time and money.  If a garden is well maintained, it usually indicates that the rest of the property is also, which is a big green ‘tick’ in the eyes of buyers. It is worth speaking with a professional landscaper to ensure that your outdoor space does not feel disconnected from your home.  Here are some simple tips to give your garden an update before going under the hammer:

1)      Have a clear pathway to the front door, free from clutter and easy for people to walk through. Re lay any paving stones that have started to lift and remove and weeds from in between stones.
 

2)      Get rid  of any dead plants and weeds. Clear away fallen leaves.  Make sure your garden looks tidy. Also ensure that any existing water features, either fountains or a pool, are free from fallen leaves  and are scum free.  You may decide to do a big ‘clean-up’ once you put your house on the market, but weeding and general garden maintenance should be an ongoing job in order to keep focal areas fresh and vibrant.

3)      A few simple lights can create a modern look and feel to your outdoor space, which is ideal for entertaining during warmer summer months.  If you decide to have your property showcased at night, make sure you turn them on.

4)      Mulch and colourful flowers are an inexpensive way of reviving an outdated garden bed.

5)      Pay attention to the minor details, because they could be major turn off for a buyer. Dripping taps, broken fences, rotting timbers and  lifting paving stones should all be attended to before an open house.  This might seem costly and time-consuming, but paying a real-estate agent to market a home that won’t sell is far more pricey!

6)      De-clutter the space by tidying away garden tools and children’s toys. Clean outdoor furniture of lichen and dirt.

7)      If you have renovation cash to spend on your garden, why not add an eye-catching stone  garden bed feature.  It will be sure to wow potential buyers.

Have a property that needs a pre-sale garden facelift? Give us a call. 

You know spring has sprung in Canberra when Floriade is underway. Every year, Canberrans celebrate spring with a month long festival of flowers. This year the festival started on September 13th and will run until this Sunday, October 12th.  

What started as a one-off event in 1988 to celebrate Australia’s bi-centenary , Floriade has become an annual event in the Nation’s capital. Every year, thousands of flower lovers join to witness the colours, smell the fairy floss and ride the Ferris wheel.  This year, the festival is expected to inject over $40million into Canberra’s economy. And is now the largest Flower show in the Southern Hemisphere.

This year’s theme is ‘Embrace Passion’. And the ambassador for the festival, Indira Naidoo (a gardening author and environmental advocate) ,  has described gardening as “"best fun you can have with your clothes on".   She has hosted talks and workshops throughout the festival, giving visitors hints and tips on getting their thumbs green. 

Last Tuesday saw the first ever dog’s day at the festival, ‘Dog’s Day Out’.  It was a huge success and visitors are hoping it will be a feature in Floriade 2015. 

The RSPCA are charity sponsors of the festival and warmly welcomed the canine friendly day.

Now that it’s the final week, what’s left to catch.  This week is 'Outdoors and Adventures' week at Floriade. And it culminates on Saturday morning with the city’s largest ever free outdoor boot camp.

Saturday, October 11th:

DIY Demonstrations with Barry Du Bois: Barry will be holding  DIY demonstrations at the Bunnings Warehouse Garden (2pm & 3:30pm) and at the  Inspiration Hub (10:30am & 11:30am).

Big Boot Camp: Former Canberra Raiders Captain Alan Tongue will be holding the city’s largest ever free outdoor bootcamp. Get ready to work off all that fairy floss!  (9.15am-10.15am, Stage 88). 

Sunday, October 12th:

The Slow Show  The Roundabout Theatre Company bring us the Slow Show. Helix, a giant garden snail will be there to smell the flowers! (11:30; 1pm and 2:20pm)

Spectrum Big Band: Playing us out for the festival with a collection of big band favourites, along with  some jazz, rock and blues.  (1pm, Stage 88). 

Take a look at the official Floriade website :

http://www.floriadeaustralia.com/home/