When it comes to outdoor maintenance and caring for your garden, don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today
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 starting to look rather sinister. After 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. Delaying the chore of garden maintenance further.
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 courtyard 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 first on my to-do list.
Deferring maintenance on your garden or anything outdoors may not always lead to danger, but once you do finally get around to doing what needs to be done, the tasks tend to be harder and take longer.
Accept the inevitable
“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 finding 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 fertilising, 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 short answer is no. Every garden needs some degree of maintenance. The goal, then, is to create a garden that meets all of your needs while requiring the minimum effort to maintain it. As with anything worthwhile in life, effort is required — and a garden is no different. 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.”
Happy plants
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 very 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 very 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 offer for the time-poor gardener, but drip line is the most water-efficient. By installing a drip-irrigation system under a layer of mulch (or a sub-surface system 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 system off when it rains and you’ll be low maintenance and water-wise.”
Don’t fan the flames
In Australia, outdoor maintenance is not just about happy plants, it’s often about reducing the impact of bushfires. “There’s no way to entirely fire-proof your property, but property owners shouldn’t underestimate how much a good garden clean-up, prune and some clever plant choices can potentially make in reducing bushfire risks to your home,” says Matt Leacy, founding partner and principal designer of Landart. “As 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 property. Clean gutters, especially if your house is surrounded by large trees. Also ensure all old dry leaves from autumn and winter are cleared out and away from your property 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 flammable 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, 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 first), as well as control what’s around it to reduce the associated fire risks.”
It’s not all play
Regular checks of swings, slides, cubby houses, tree houses, climbing frames and trampolines is important. Nails that have worked their way loose in a cubby can snag rompers and pierce delicate little fingers, 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 parts 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 afterward. 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.”
Keep 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 often 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 effort,” 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 anything 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 refixed,” he advises. “If the damage is extensive 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.”
Painting pointers
“Cleaning your home’s exterior will help maintain the appearance of your paint finish and remove the build-up of dirt, salt deposits, bird droppings, mould and other contaminants,” advises Erin Porter, Dulux category manager — Exterior & Speciality Coatings. “We recommend washing your painted exterior surfaces 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 surfaces 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 soft bristle brush, broom or soft cloth. Then, before your painted surface can dry, hose it down thoroughly with clean water.”
To reduce maintenance, choose the right paint to begin with and properly prepare the surfaces before painting. “Finding a paint that can withstand everything the Australian weather throws at it is very important, which is why we recommend using a high-quality acrylic exterior paint,” says Erin. “When painting the exterior of your home, preparation is the key to success. To start, make sure your surface is clean by thoroughly washing away any chalky residue, dirt, dust or mould from the surface, 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 surface is another crucial step in preparing for a quality finish.”
Do regular checks to see what needs work and get started on your garden maintenance — it’s always the better option.
