Backyard basics for 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.