Garden makeover

Raised beds and fruit trees bring new life and order to this family garden

Carol helps a Titirangi family create a versatile, easy-care garden with room for both nightcaps and howzats

01

BED TIME

Build raised beds around the perimeter of the back lawn, keeping the beds reasonably level. Where the ground slopes down, make the fence side deeper than the front, and step the sides down too. Raised beds should be 1-1.2m wide so all the plants can be easily reached from the front.

04

VIEWPOINT

In the centre of the rear boundary, build an arbour with trellis for the back and sides. Grow climbing plants up it and include a bench seat for watching cricket on the lawn.

02

GAME PLAN

The raised beds will give a more defined look and better shape to the lawn, while making it faster to mow. The plants will also be easier to maintain and better protected from the dog and ball games.

05

SCREEN TIME

For extra privacy and to soften hard surfaces in the terrace area, add another screen above the brick planter and train scented climbers onto it. This structure will help to balance the height of the adjacent barbecue and connect the terrace to the garden.

03

FOOD FOREST

Move existing fruit trees into beds if possible and plant more, along with veges, herbs and ornamental and pollinating flowering plants. Use taller fruit tree varieties to screen the neighbouring house on the left, close to the terrace. Smaller fruit trees will preserve the most desirable aspects of the view.

06

BE SEATED

Build bench seats along one edge of the terrace to give it a better sense of enclosure and provide storage below.