The peskiest of garden pests
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.’’ but have not eliminated them. Since they also provide eggs, meat and fertiliser, it is a winwin situation.
Banish them
There are numerous barriers that I have tried over the years. I found that coffee grounds, spread thickly and deeply enough to be effective against slugs, were detrimental to my plants and my soil biology. The worms were definitely negatively affected and the slug protection seemed minimal at best. Salt is commonly recommended as a deterrent and, yes, it works, but it is also very detrimental to your soil and plants, and susceptible to rain. DE, diatomaceous earth, can
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. form a barrier but is expensive, temporary and susceptible to rain. I allow my eggshells to dry out, then place them in a sack and stomp on them to crush them into small pieces. Eggshells are calcium based and ultimately good additives for the soil but, once again, need to be applied very thickly and maintained to be an effective barrier.
Copper is now my favourite barrier for all my raised garden beds. Copper tape (available at garden centres) is easy to install, effective and has provided a total barrier for two years so far. My raised gardens are made from Zincalume and I have put a circle of copper tape about halfway up them. Slugs and snails turn back when they reach the copper tape. If a snail makes contact with both copper and Zincalume at the same time, what seems to be an electric current makes them die.
Others have said copper barriers don’t work for them. I wonder if my success is because my copper tape is against the Zincalume, or because it’s upright, rather than flat, keeping it relatively dry.
If all else fails, eat ’em
If none of the above work for you, simply serve escargot instead of salad for dinner. Yes, our common garden snail, Cornu aspersum, is quite edible and (I am told) not bad with a bit of garlic or Bordelaise sauce. north of Christchurch. It’s got that holiday house feel which is an epic feeling when you actually live there.
In three words, how would you describe your style?
It’s simple, rustic and fun.
What is your favourite room in the house and why?
The outdoor deck is my favourite. It gets the sun all day, and we’ve got awesome outdoor furniture so you can just lounge around outside – so good for a wee afternoon snooze.
Finish this sentence with an anecdote. ‘‘Once someone came to my door and…’’
Because they were selling something, I hid behind the couch and pretended I wasn’t there. I’m sure we’ve all done that, right?
Tell us about your proudest DIY moment:
To be honest with you, Mum has been leading the charge with the DIY work, so you’ve just reminded me I must go out there and help her paint the fence. What’s the worst thing that’s ever gone wrong while you have been entertaining?
I fell asleep at our housewarming while all the guests were still there…
Tell us about one item you wish you had kept or not got rid of.
Hmmmm can’t think of anything to be honest.
What is your favourite piece of furniture?
The outdoor table and chairs on the deck – it’s like a big corner couch for outside. So good.
If you had $50k, what would you change about your house?
I’d re-do the bathroom.
Which home habit do you find the most annoying?
Dishes in the sink and not using Spray n’ Wipe when you clean the bench top.
What’s one domestic/ housework/gardening trick you’ve learnt over the years?
To always tidy as you go: it makes life so much easier.
The outdoor deck gets the sun all day, and we’ve got awesome outdoor furniture so you can lounge around.