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4)      Mulch and colourful flowers are an inexpensive way of reviving an outdated garden bed.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

How to Give your Garden or Terrace a Block Inspired Makeover

As we wait with baited breath for reveal of The Block Glasshouse terraced areas, we take a look back at some of the best garden features from past contestants. Here are our two  favourites, a vertical garden and a hanging herb garden, along with some simple, cost-effective tips on how to re-create a similar look yourself.

Alisa and Lysandra’s Vertical Gardens

Not only are vertical gardens extremely eye-catching, they also are a wonderful way to add a bit of green into a small space. 



















DIY:  If you are new to  the idea of vertical garden and want to test the water first, why not start by using a 1m x 1m pallet (yes pallet) as your frame.

• Ensure that it has been well scrubbed down before you start. 
• Sand and varnish. A shade of darker varnish gives a classy look to your pallet. Remember, it will be covered up as soon as the plants grow.  So think about how much/little of the pallet you would like exposed before you plant.
• Cover the back of the pallet with some landscaping paper and staple in place with a staple gun.
• Laying the pallet down flat, pour in some potting soil.  
• Native Plants such as the beautiful white and pink Hoya and the orchid like Rock Lily. Hoya is best to be used in sheltered or indoor vertical gardens.  Rock Lilies flower in spring and add depth and interesting dimension.
• Greens such as ferns work well in our humid climate. The Acacia Cognata or ‘limelight bower wattle’ will create beautiful texture and depth. It is best to leave this one until last for those important finishing touches.

Watch this video by L.A based Urban Dirt, on how to create a whole wall of vertical plant pallets

Lara and Brad’s Hanging Herb Garden

This herb garden could be integrated with your  vertical garden. Or as it is, it would easily slot into the corner of any green space.  We also love how there is an outdoor pizza oven beside the herb garden! Imagine using some fresh herbs from your garden to sprinkle on your pizza. Pizza ovens scream outdoor entertainment and make for a fun alternative to a barbeque.

DIY:  

·      Secure a timber frame to your selected wall.

·      Fill galvanised pots (or why not recycle old coffee tins)  with soil and plant your herbs of choice.

Images via Channel Nine