Do the hard yards before summer
Summer is fast approaching which means it is time to give your outdoor area some TLC. Natalia Didovich reports.
The countdown to summer is well and truly on, but before you pull out your outdoor cushions or fire up the barbecue, your outdoor entertaining area will need a little post-winter TLC.
Here’s the lowdown on how to prep your backyard for the warmer months ahead.
First things first
Landscape designer Tony Murrell said one of the first things you could do to bring your outdoor area up to scratch for summer was to clean your paving.
‘‘You can have it looking as good as new by sprinkling bicarbonate soda over the area and give it a little brush if need be.’’
That simple trick would not only clean the area but it was also effective at killing the surrounding weeds that grew through your pavers over the winter months.
Next up should be your outdoor furniture, Murrell said. ‘‘Kiwis are not very good at putting away or covering their outdoor furniture in winter so by the time spring rolls around your outdoor furniture will likely need a good clean.’’
To get your furniture looking as good as new, he recommended mixing sugar soap and water and using it to scrub away at grubby furniture. ‘‘There’s something cathartic about giving furniture a good scrub,’’ Murrell said.
Identify what you are trying to shelter from – sun protection, wind protection or rain protection, or a combination of all those things.
Lawn care
The piece de resistance of most Kiwi gardens is the humble lawn. Now is the perfect time to patch up your grass, kill weeds and get it in tip top shape for summer. But if you’re considering taking on a ‘‘lawn renovation’’, Murrell said he’s afraid it’s too late this year.
‘‘Don’t bother fixing your drainage or doing any other major lawn renovations at this time of year. You’re better off waiting for mid to late summer.’’
Murrell also offered his opinion on the divisive topic of fake grass.
He said fake grass worked well on high traffic areas and on the south side of properties in areas that got insufficient light. However, he warned that less was more when it came to fake grass.
‘‘It can look great with outdoor furniture and pot plants styled over it. But, remember you’ll need to get it re-sanded and weed it at least once a year.’’
Stay protected
James Adair, director at shade solutions provider Johnson & Couzins, said key points for consumers to consider when investing in outdoor protection at home were function, aesthetic and budget.
The first step in sorting out shelter for your outdoor space was to identify what you were trying to shelter from, he said.
‘‘Do they want sun protection, wind protection or rain protection, or a combination of all those things?’’
Adair said there was a solution on the market for every budget, while a $500 umbrella may be the best option for those with tight budgets, Adair said it wasn’t uncommon for his company to complete residential projects worth more than $100,000.
The key differences were that a minimum budget may buy a shade solution in a fixed colour and size, but a larger budget bought customised size, a colour of choice, a look that matched the property itself and higher-quality componentry.
An outdoor furniture hack
To ensure the longevity of your outdoor cushions, Murrell recommended replacing the cushion inners with quick dry foam.
True to its name, quick dry foam has large open pores for maximum water drainage and air circulation allowing it to dry quickly after being wet.
‘‘You can get it cut to the exact shape of your cushion and, most importantly, it’s still super comfortable to sit on and will last you a long time.’’
Light it up
Murrell’s philosophy for outdoor lighting was ‘‘not too much, spend 10 per cent more on product and if you think you’re an expert on laying out lighting
. . . think again’’.
Murrell said warm, directional spotlights were the best way to show off your garden.
What about solar lighting? Murrell said they could look great when lighting up the edges of pathways but he warned they wouldn’t offer as much illumination as other lighting options.
‘‘They’re getting better but, thanks to New Zealand weather, will ultimately only last for a few seasons.’’
For all you fairy light fans out there, now is the best time of year to start stringing them up in your deciduous trees.
‘‘Get in now while your trees don’t have many leaves on them as this will allow you to see the entire framework of the tree and where the canopy will sit.’’
Keeping warm
Summer nights bring warmer weather but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider incorporating heating into your outdoor space. During his role as a guest judge for the Block
NZ’s patio week, Murrell said he was excited to see one team use infrared outdoor heaters in their space.
‘‘They’re super efficient and work to heat you rather than the entire space, which allows you to stay outdoors for longer,’’ he said.
‘‘Natural gas heaters are also great, but they’re bulky, hard to move around and don’t actually put out that much heat in comparison with the infrared heater.’’
While infrared heaters may be more expensive than other heating methods, Murrell said they were worth the investment.