The Gold Coast Bulletin

How to fix a troubled spot in the garden

- KIRsten JAKuBenKO

Most of us can relate to those troubled spots in the garden where either nothing seems to grow or no matter what you try and do to make it look enticing it just turns out… well, drab.

There are a number of common problems, however these need not stop you from having a beautiful garden. tith a few simple upgrades and some love and care, you can have the garden you envision. Garden Screen

A smart aesthetic solution to hiding unsightly bins, compost areas or garden equipment neatly is a garden screen. aepending on the size of your garden and the size of the area you need to screen, there are a variety of options available. You could build a timber screen yourself, there’s step by step instructio­ns online at Bed and

Bunnings. Modular walls offer an easy installati­on solution and can be custom-made to suit your needs. There’s even modular greenwall panel kits available for an instant vertical garden screen.

Uneven Surfaces

Nice landscaped areas will eventually become marred with uneven surfaces which are not only unsightly but can pose safety issues. ff potholes, cracks or broken pavers have become a focal point in your garden you need to stabilise the ground as priority. This can be done either by filling in potholes with soil or sand or by replacing tiles and pavers. There’s a few suppliers who make heavy duty landscape fabric too which are not only ideal for blocking weeds, but also helpful to stabilise soil.

Zen Garden

An easy solution for garden shade areas is a tranquil yet affordable zen garden. Very durable with next to no maintenanc­e needed, they’re great if you don’t have a green thumb but want to look like you do. The best plants to use include topiaries, dwarf conifers, japanese maples and bonsais. Creeping ground covers and moss are also a nice addition. Take your backyard meditation to the next level and install a water feature.

Creative Flower Beds

Add a new dimension to your garden with a creative and colourful flower bed. Whether you want to line a zone or spruce up a space, you can create a flower bed with just about anything! Besser blocks, upturned umbrella, old tyres, wheelbarro­w or rustic cart. Then it’s simply a matter of choosing the right flowers for your style of garden and maintenanc­e needs.

Clean up

And if nothing else, get your hands dirty and get stuck into a good garden clean up. ft’s very easy to let piles of this and that mount in the yard, but don’t let them sit any longer. Take a walk around the yard and suss out what you need to tackle and get yourself organised for a working bee this weekend. The most it will set you back is a trip to the tip.

 ?? ?? These options are all it takes to get a new garden that will entice you to step back outside and enjoy it all over again.
These options are all it takes to get a new garden that will entice you to step back outside and enjoy it all over again.

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