Move pots into shade, water when it's cool, protect new seedlings and take care of budding plants.
Good preparation is critical for your garden to survive the wilting effects of the Aussie summer. Summer means different things to different gardeners. While many southern and central regions bake dry, for instance, the steamy Top End is rejuvenated by drenching storms. But for all of us, summer brings common challenges, such as dividing time and effort between keeping our gardens in good shape, and enjoying them during the summer holidays.
1. Take care of budding plants
Does your camellia drop its buds and flowers? As camellias (pictured) initiate budding in summertime, sudden loss of buds and flowers is often a consequence of the plants drying out, particularly when they are growing in containers. Mulch and water deeply once or twice weekly during hot, dry weather to limit this common and irritating problem.
2. Help pots to stay cool
Potted plants, especially those in terracotta pots, are vulnerable to overheating. Lightly mulch and, where possible, position them out of hot western sunshine. Remember that standing potted plants in saucers of water encourages root rot and mosquito breeding. Instead, stand them in saucers filled with sand, and keep the sand moist. This ensures roots stay cool and plants remain healthy. If potted plants dry out to the point where re-wetting is hard, soak them in a bucket of water for half an hour, then drain.
3. Water early to avert mildew
Water in the cool of the day. The best time is morning but, if you water in the afternoon, allow enough time for foliage to dry out before sunset. This reduces the risk of mildew and other fungi attacking leaves, and there's less chance you'll get caught by the evening shift of mosquitoes or sand flies. Mildew frequently attacks roses, pumpkin, melon, zucchini and cucumber. Spray plants weekly with a solution made from one part cow's milk to 10 parts water. Repeat after heavy rain or irrigation. This remedy won't reverse mildew damage, but it's an effective preventative.
4. Add nutrients to the water
If you can only water occasionally, try to water plants deeply and use that opportunity to simultaneously feed and correct mineral deficiencies. Apply a soluble fertiliser with added seaweed. Water in potash around the base of fruit trees, especially citrus, banana and lychee, to improve fruit flavour and juiciness. The potassium in potash is also important for controlling anthracnose disease of avocado and mango, and it generally helps to improve plant vigour and resistance to foliar fungi.
5. Keep the lawn long and lush
Brown, bare, weed-infested lawns are symptoms of scalping, which means cutting lawns too low. It's a misconception that cutting lawns low reduces the cutting frequency. Instead, mow lawns as high as your mower permits. Longer turf wears better, but most important of all, a thick sward suppresses pernicious weeds such as oxalis and bindii. Fresh lawn clippings are great for activating compost heaps and mulching
shrubberies, but only when applied in a thin layer, up to 5cm deep, as thicker layers can burn leaves and encourage collar rot on trees and shrubs. Keep lawn lush by foliar feeding with seaweed tonic once monthly and applying one handful of poultry manure per square metre each season, before rain or irrigation. Allow two weeks for this to green your lawn - and for the odour to disappear before having a garden party!
6. Keep the water flowing
Check that hoses and irrigation systems are free of leaks, and unblock the nozzles. Clear debris from gutters so that every shower funnels extra water into your rainwater tank. Do you need another, bigger rainwater tank? Use mosquito mesh to stop mosquitoes and frogs from entering tanks and pipes.
7. Do hard work when it's cool
It's safer, and you're more likely to do a better job, if you complete energetic work such as mowing in the cool of the day - either before 10am or after 4pm. A good drink of water and a smear of sunblock are prerequisites, because that one five-minute job often leads to another, and another. Sunblock takes 15 minutes to create its protective layer, so use that time to plan your day in the garden. Don't forget your hat (or umbrella) and sunnies too, and if you do get burned, nothing beats the cooling, healing effect of fresh, home-grown juice of aloe vera. In my Brisbane garden, a tea tree oil-based mosquito repellent is also essential. Save some light tasks, such as weeding or propagating, to complete in the comfort of a shady spot.
8. Protect new plantings
Freshly planted vegetable and flower seedlings are likely to need a bit of sun hardening. Shelter them with 50 per cent shade cloth, old net curtains, dead palm fronds, or leafy branches for a week or two. This helps them establish without harm.
9. Plan shade strategically
Northern boundaries may benefit from some extra shade, but will this make a solar panel or hot water system inefficient? Strategically placing a deciduous tree, vine or some clumping bamboo to shield your house and garden from searing western sunshine is often a better option. For more information on using plants to shade exposed areas of your home, visit Your Home Design Guide and choose Shading' in the technical manual.
10. Boost trace elements
Magnesium encourages robust growth and the production of energy in plants. Gardenias and roses in particular benefit from supplementary magnesium in summer. Also apply it to cymbidium orchids to help initiate flower buds. Add 1 heaped tsp of Epsom salts to 4.5L of water. Either spray the foliage, or water it in at the roots. If the leaves of citrus, banksia, grevillea, camellia or azalea become stunted and mottled yellow, now is also the time to boost the iron content of soil by applying iron chelates. This acidifies soil and adds iron necessary for healthy growth. It takes a month or so to see a result.
11. Look out for pests
In northern Australia, termites perform the same beneficial environmental services as earthworms, and activity increases where soils are warm and moist. Most species are disinclined to attack household and garden timber. But be on guard for pest species and keep garden tools with wooden handles, hardwood stakes and other timber temptations off the ground. Avoid spreading woodchip closer than 1m to houses or timber sheds, and keep soil dry in this zone to help divert their foraging. Protect untreated timber, such as benches and garden bed edging, from decay. There are some non-toxic products around that are safe for making kids' play equipment and raised vegie beds.
12. Use your time wisely
Sometimes it's just not possible to do everything you want to do in the garden. If you're short of time but like your garden to look cared for, some fresh mulch, a few strategically placed flowering plants and a freshly edged lawn will give your garden a lift. If you have a bit more time, and live in a moist region, place granular fertilisers such as poultry manure on the soil and cover with mulch. Apart from keeping soil cool and conserving water, mulch stops stormwater washing fertiliser away. If you have plants growing among hungry trees, give the plants a foliar feed so they can absorb the nutrients directly, rather than the tree roots getting to them first.
How much water is enough?
In my Brisbane garden, I don't have enough water to survive long, dry spells, so I water by priority. Thirsty citrus and banana top the list as, without enough water, they won't fruit. But how else can you tell if a plant is parched? Moisture-loving plants, such as pumpkin or impatiens, may wilt at noon, simply because they can't absorb soil moisture as fast as it evaporates. Gingers are better indicators of dry soil, because they roll their leaves when stressed. Always inspect your soil to see if more water is really necessary.
Reproduced with permission from Century 21 Life @ Homehttp://www.century21.com.au/life-at-home/
Think about the "Work Triangle", entertaining areas, where doors open, how you clean-up after a meal and how you unpack groceries.
Rule 1: The Work Triangle
The Work Triangle - the triangle made by the stove, the sink and the refrigerator - should be compact enough that it allows convenient and effective circulation for the chef, but generous enough that two people working in the kitchen aren't bumping into one another.
Rule 2: Make it social and functional
The kitchen is the heart of the home, a space people naturally gravitate to. With this in mind, gathering and entertaining areas in the kitchen should be independent of the Work Triangle so that guests can nibble on appetisers, enjoy a drink, and watch the chef without getting in the way of the cooking.
Rule 3: Think about every door and how you'll use them
Architectural drawings should include the geometry of appliance doors. This typically includes the swing of the refrigerator door(s), the oven and dishwasher in their open positions, and any other key operations like pull-out rubbish bins. While these operations will most likely overlap in some areas, it's important to control which ones overlap. For instance, the oven door and dishwasher door can have overlapping operations as the two are typically in use at different times.
Rule 4: Smooth clean-up after a meal
The sink, rubbish bin and dishwasher have an important linear relationship. The design of a kitchen should take the sequence of meal clean-up into consideration. Most households clear, rinse and place dishes into the dishwasher in that order. Subsequently, the kitchen design should locate the bin, sink and dishwasher in a linear order with the bin closest to the eating area.
Rule 5: Easy unpacking of groceries
Kitchen ergonomics should address more than just cooking. How you enter your home and unload groceries is an important, and often overlooked, design consideration. Locating the refrigerator and pantry near the entry of the kitchen (and preferably near some countertop) makes a kitchen work much more smoothly in general.
Reproduced with permission from Century 21 Life @ Homehttp://www.century21.com.au/life-at-home/
LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, have become smaller, cheaper and longer lasting than ever before making it a much more affordable option over incandescent lights.
As traditional incandescent light sources are being phased out and the application of LED lights has developed, the selection of well-designed lights that are available has increased.
LEDs are better at placing light in a single direction than incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. Because of their directional output, they can be installed under counters, in hallways, and in joinery or furniture.
They produce more light per watt than fluorescent or incandescent bulbs and their efficiency is unaffected by shape and size. They emit a light of an intended colour; so do not require a colour filter, which allows them to become a part of the design from the very beginning.
In contrast to many light sources, they also radiate very little heat in the form of infrared that can cause damage to sensitive objects or fabrics and this also helps reduce cooling costs in summer.
One of the biggest advantages of LEDs is their long life up to 50,000 hours compared to fluorescent tubes, which only last around 15,000 hours, or incandescent light bulbs which last as little as 2,000 hours.
By lasting longer and using less energy to light, they can save a household up to 90 per cent on lighting costs.
When LEDs start failing, they dim slowly over time, rather than suffering rapid burnout, and because they don't
contain mercury like fluorescent lights, they can be eventually disposed of more easily.
LED lighting has a longer life span and is by far the most power saving and energy efficient option for your next
building project.
Reproduced with permission from Century 21 Life @ Homehttp://www.century21.com.au/life-at-home/
As investors, we often find ourselves in situations where we need to make a judgment call about a property's value. Of course, there is no definitive way to determine exactly how much a piece of real estate is worth: it's not like a car in the sense that a certain make, model and condition equals a certain value.
In saying that, there are certain characteristics you can use to help determine a property's true wealth.
This can be particularly valuable when you're trying to decide between two properties.
If both properties are similar and they're both priced in the same range - say, within $10,000 of each other - then a little more research needs to be undertaken in order to make a decision.
There are certain factors you can consider when evaluating which property is the better choice:
1. Position and aspect
Is one property facing north? Is one on a corner? Are either properties located in a quiet cul-de-sac or on a busy main street? Any and all of these can impact a home's appeal and value.
2. Quality
This includes both the quality of the fixtures and fittings, and the care that has been taken to make sure the maintenance has been kept up to date. If one property is going to need extra money spent on it in the near future for repairs and renovations then those costs should be included in your budget.
3. Access to amenities
Is one a little closer to public transport than the other? This is especially important if you're looking at investing in an apartment that doesn't come with parking.
4. Layout
Does one property have a slightly better layout than the other? Consider spaces, nooks and crannies that can be converted into storage or study areas, as these can improve the property's appeal considerably.
5. Neighbours
What are the adjacent properties like - including the homes located directly next door and within the same street? Even if your house is in perfect condition, if the street is full of dwellings that are unkempt and uncared for, it can detract from your property's value.
Reproduced with permission Century 21 Life@home http://www.century21.com.au/life-at-home/
For the inexperienced, decorating a home can feel like an overwhelming task. Before you begin, take note of what not do to when styling your new home.
1. Over-cluttering the bedroom
The bedroom should be a restful, uncluttered space - a sanctuary from daily life and a peaceful place to start and finish the day.
The colours and textures used in a bedroom should also reflect those moods and not be too loud and overbearing, says Natalie James, interior stylist at The Stylesmiths.
2. Choosing monotonous flooring
Many people are told that there should be a single flooring solution in a room to make the space seem cohesive and bigger.
This comes at great expense to the homeowner, and can actually work against the design intent by creating a vacuous space. It often also means that good quality flooring, such as original floorboards, are hidden under cheaper flooring options like laminate or carpet, says Rohan Little, Principal of Oxide Design.
3. Placing carpet on carpet
High up on Julia Green's list of decorating mistakes is placing thick rugs on thick carpet. It's counterproductive, a tripping hazard and looks ridiculous, says Julia Green of Greenhouse Interiors.
4. Selecting an overly dark palette
Dark, bold or strong colour schemes can often make spaces appear smaller.
My advice is keep things bright and clean and integrate those eclectic items you like in small doses; that way they can be seen and shown off, says Georgia Ezra of G.A.B.B.E Interior Design.
5. Pushing furniture against the walls
Contrary to popular practice, bringing furniture in from the walls creates intimacy and balance. Never push furniture right up against the walls, particularly in small spaces, says Bec Astrinakis of Nathan + Jac.
6. Placing carpet on carpet
High up on Julia Green's list of decorating mistakes is placing thick rugs on thick carpet. It's counterproductive, a tripping hazard and looks ridiculous, says Julia Green of Greenhouse Interiors.
7. Placing gloss on gloss
When thinking about kitchen finishes, gloss finishes should not be used on every surface but rather as highlights. Gloss on gloss on gloss tends to look a bit tacky, says Fei Chau, Associate at ClarkeHopkinsClarke.
8.Not going the extra mile
Adding a final layer of decoration gives your room personality.
The key is mixing like' items together from various sources to avoid the showroom look. Mix decor according to materialor arrange by colour or theme, says Lauren Macer of Sisalla Interior Design.
9.Not choosing a theme
Successful interior decorating and styling has a strong sense of purpose and continuity that brings a space together.
The most common decorating mistake people can make starts with not having a sense of the story or theme the decorating will follow, says Nicholas Travers, Director at Techne Architecture + Interior Design.
10.Hanging art too high
Homeowners should arrange art at eye level to attract the most attention.
The average eye level is 150 centimetres from the ground up and this is where you should be centring your artwork on your walls. You don't want to strain your neck to see your beautiful artwork, says interior stylist,Emma Blomfield.
Always hang the middle of the art at eye level. Or, for a modern take, lean your artwork instead of hanging it, says Bec Astrinakis of Nathan + Jac.
11 Going overboard on the trends
Your scheme will generally work better by choosing only a select few on trend' pieces. Think about walking off the runway in full Gucci; it looks amazing on the catwalk but not so great in real life, says Fei Chau, Associate atClarkeHopkinsClarke.
12.Pancake flat cushions
Invest in feather inserts for your scatter cushions.
Polyester-filled inserts will flatten down within moments of stuffing your new cushion covers, plus they aren't comfy to snuggle into. Feather inserts make your cushions look better and mould to your body, says interior stylist, Emma Blomfield.
13.Not being clever with colour
Rooms with strict colour schemes run the risk of looking predictable and unimaginative. Stick to a colour story but add depth and visual interest by working with a mix of lighter and darker shades in your chosen colours, says Jessica Bellef of Temple & Webster.
14. Selecting disproportionate furnishings
Achieving the right proportions to a room is vital, but can be very tricky business. You can achieve the right proportion with layers - furniture and accessories of varying heights and sizes, the placement of artwork, layering soft furnishings, throws and animal skins, says Bec Astrinakis of Nathan + Jac.
Reproduced with permission from Century 21 Life @ Homehttp://www.century21.com.au/life-at-home/
Though your house may look and feel good to you, it won't necessarily to others, regardless of what your friends tell you. Here's 10 of the most common blunders people make when presenting their home for the market.
Sometimes it's the details that let you down, other times, it's so obvious you simply can't see it yourself.
Remember it's essential to appeal to the widest possible cross-section of your target market, and don't fall into these simple, very common traps.
1. No house number
This seems like such a minor detail, but it's essential!
Not only should you make sure you have a house number, it should be easily visible, in good repair and in keeping with the feel of the home.
The last thing you want is a buyer's experience of your property starting in frustration because they were unable to locate it.
2. Polarising linen
In a bedroom, the bed is generally the largest piece of furniture and the focal point of the space. Hence the linen and the dressing of the bed can have a huge impact on the way people feel about that room. Make sure that your linen is neutral and mainstream.
3. Too much furniture
It is essential to remember that when a home is open for inspection, in many case there are multiple parties viewing the property at any one time.
Too much furniture will make a room feel smaller than it is. Space furniture out, and remove it temporarily if you have to.
Allow for lots of foot traffic, good flow through the house for potential buyers, and walk common paths to check for obstacles.
4. Pet smells
Research tells us that one of the biggest factors that impact negatively on a potential buyer are pet smells and mess.
Many property owners do work very hard on removing all smells and evidence of furry friends, however it is difficult to completely eradicate when you are accustomed to the smell on a daily basis. Ideally you need to get a friend who does not own pets to inspect your property and be brutally honest with you!
5. Heavy window coverings
Heavy window coverage can turn buyers off. Leaving heavy window coverings in place can make a room feel dark and cluttered.
I often see older homes with multiple heavy drapes that contribute directly to making the room feel small, dark and cold. In these cases they have to go, if the window condition and outlook permits. Getting the balance right between privacy, style, mood and light is important.
6. Cleanliness
Another huge mistake by sellers is assuming that the buyers can look past an unswept floor or dirty bathroom. When the mess and dirt is not their own, many buyers find it to be an extreme turn-off. Remember you're used to the way your property looks, but others will be seeing it for the very first time. You
may have long since stopped seeing how much dirt is around. Get someone other than yourself to give it a once over.
7. Selling a house empty
Empty rooms appear smaller and are uninviting to the potential buyer.
The only thing you want to leave for the buyer to imagine is themselves in the home. Take control over how your property is viewed and perceived and add thought starters to help buyers see themselves there, living the life they want.
8. Over-decluttering
There is a fine line between a well staged home and a home that has been decluttered to the point of being vast and empty.
Once the line has been crossed, the space is no longer inviting and appealing, instead it is cold and sterile. We're all working so hard to declutter, that sometimes we can take it too far. Again, get a hand from someone
who can cast an objective eye. You want your property to portray an ideal lifestyle that a buyer aspires to, and that includes a bit of heart and soul.
9. Setting the table
Setting the table with a full dinner setting passes over that fine line of styled and goes into the overstaged look!
It runs the risk of turning the buyer off and the table setting being the most memorable aspect of the property; certainly not what a successfully staged home wants! There are so many more subtle ways to create a welcoming and lived in feel. Potential buyers shouldn't feel pressure to take their seats.
10. Roadside collections and rubbish runs
Roadside collections are a wonderful service and really come in handy when you are cleaning up and preparing your property for sale, however it is essential that the roadside collection period does not overlap in any way with the property going on the market. The last thing potential buyers should have to see or navigate is mountains of rubbish on your footpath or near to your property. Organise it well clear of inspections and manage rubbish disposal so the smell or sight never hits a newcomer.
Reproduced with permission Century 21 Life@home http://www.century21.com.au/life-at-home/
There are several types of lighting available. Most fit into two categories:
Accent lighting
Accent lighting draws attention to areas you wish to highlight in your landscape, such as trees and sculptures,
(and helpfully) can draw attention away from potential eyesores like the clothesline or garden shed.
Task lighting
Task lighting refers to lighting your landscape for practical reasons.
Examples include:
- preparing food
- moving safely around your garden across level changes
- stairs
- security
Read more: Choosing a patio heater for outdoor entertaining
Decorative lighting
Decorative lighting is not only aesthetically pleasing, but enough decorative lighting can also aid vision over
evening dinner and drinks.
Power sourcesGenerally you will be choosing between solar power and mains power electricity, (and perhaps even a few
candles).
Solar
Solar energy is better for the environment given that it's a renewable resource. Outdoor solar powered lights charge during the day and can be put into use when the sun sets.
Pro: No unsightly cables. Generally, you just need to stick the lights in the ground and away you go
Con: Generally not as bright as electric lights, making them unsuitable as spotlights or in climates that receive little sunlight
Electricity
If you want bright light then electricity is the way to go.
You'll most likely need a transformer, which acts like a power board. The transformer is plugged the power point and lights are plugged into it (think of Christmas tress lights).
Make sure you follow the instructions, or ask a professional, about the number of lights you should attach to one single transformer. You may need more than one in your outdoor space to ensure you don't blow a fuse.
Electric lights generally require wiring and cables. As long as you use a 12 Volt transformer, installation can be satisfying a DIY project.
Outdoor lighting types
Halogen lights and LED lights come in two basic options:
Halogen
Halogen lights are the original landscape lights. They produce a yellow light, use more energy than LED lights and can become hot to touch.
Light Emitting Diode (or LED)
LEDs produce a much purer white light, which portrays a truer colour of the landscape. LEDs are up to generally more cost effective and are not hot to the touch.
Lighting designs
The options are endless. For inspiration take a look at gardens in Home Ideas and browse some listings on the site.
The main lighting designs are:
Uplighting: light is directed upwards to highlight a feature such as a tree. They also provide a bit of light for the surrounding areas.
Spotlights: spotlights are a bright light aimed at one particular feature such as a tree, sculpture or water feature.
Downlights: as the name suggests, downlights are positioned at a high level and light downwards. An example would be a light in the roof of a carport, shining down on the car.
Path lights: path lights are used for safety and security. Place them at intervals along your path or walkway.
Surface lighting: surface lights are built into walls, highlight deck and step surfaces and can be put in the ground. They enhance security and visibility.
Wall lighting: wall lights are flat panels built into the wall. They can illuminate feature walls and can highlight your boundary as a security measure.
Reproduced with permission Century 21 Life@home http://www.century21.com.au/life-at-home/
