JOBS DONE IN A FLASH

GARDEN PLANTS Take out the weeds and most of the greenery, including the banana tree that’s blocking out so much light. A banana tree is, in fact, a giant herb and its trunk is a thick mass of leaf sheaths growing from a fleshy bulb that grows up through the centre. But it’s still tough, so you’ll need to a ack it with your power tools.

GARDEN BEDS Remove crumbling beds and replace with planters using the method in Project 2. You only need about 30cm of quality growing media, so fill the base to 35cm from the top with light, volume-packing Styrofoam – ask your local greengrocer for foam crates and break them into chunks. Cover with geotextile fabric and top with growing media.

FENCE

The colour is Mission Brown, which went out in the 1970s. Clean it down with dishwashing liquid and water and, when dry, give it a light sand. Hose it to remove traces of detergent and grit, allow to dry, then repaint with a water-based acrylic made for exterior conditions. Grey works well with other colours and makes your greenery glow.

THE DECK Update the tired, old timber deck to create a refreshing backdrop for your makeover. Hire a floor sander to get rid of the old, weathered coating and expose the raw timber of the decking. Give it a good sweep and hose down and, when it’s dry, apply a couple of coats of charcoal decking stain for a brand new look.