Before lockdown ends, you might want to think about re-vamping your neglected backyard!
Your ‘outdoor room’ is the perfect place to entertain, relax and enjoy the company of loved ones, so why not transform it into the favourite spot in your home?
Australian brand Charlie Carp ambassador and landscaping expert, Jason Hodges, has the best tips and tricks for turning your yard into an urban oasis.
- Grow your garden
Your garden can determine the look and feel of your whole outdoor room and is the foundation to creating a welcoming space.
“Trees are fantastic as a habitat and food source for wildlife and as a source of carbon capture. They also give structure and architecture to a garden,” Jason says
He suggests starting with structural plants that can be infilled with smaller plants, such as evergreen shrubs at the end of each border and to fill in the gaps with pretty, flowering plants.
- Get your lawn into shape
The four tenets of a great, green, grassy lawn are sunshine, fertiliser, water, and soil aeration. As well as a comfortable place to relax and enjoy the sun, green lawns help to reduce the temperature outside.
Jason suggests: cutting back excess shady branches, use Charlie Carp fertiliser, water the grass once a week during the morning, and poke holes in the ground with a fork for aeration.
- Plant edible gardens
Fresh from your garden to the dinner plate, there’s not much better than chemical-free, homegrown produce. Urban, edible gardening is becoming increasingly popular, and for good reason.
With so many of us spending extra time at home, it’s a great activity to get the kids’ hands dirty, teach them about the Earth’s resources and feel proud eating your own organic fruits and veggies. Plus, it’ll give your backyard an extra pop of colour!
- Transition indoors to out with paving
Stylish paving has the power to transform your outdoor room, making a seamless transition from the house to your urban area. Jason suggests connecting the spaces with French doors or bridging the internal tiles into external pavers to make the space easily accessible.
“By ensuring your paving is the same level as your indoor flooring, you can blur the lines between the interior and exterior of the property,” Jason says.
The right style pavers can completely change the look of your space, especially your entertaining and barbecue areas.
- Add furniture to create zones
The most popular style of outdoor future right now is statement pieces that are multi-functional depending on the type of party you’re hosting and how many guests you have. Jason suggests making sure the furniture is flexible and easily moveable with a layout that makes for easy conversation. But of course, grab up items that fit your personal style and backyard theme – whether that be colourful, neutral, modern or vintage.
- Outdoor ambience
Enhancing the aesthetic appeal of your entertaining area is instrumental in creating a welcoming space where people enjoy spending their time. A feature firepit is a great way to add a cozy and warm vibe, as well as being a perfect excuse to enjoy the outdoors even when it’s still a bit chilly.
If a firepit isn’t your go-to, a tranquil water feature provides a beautiful focal point and can add a peaceful ambiance to your space.
- Lighting the way
To ensure you can use your outdoor area both day and night, lighting is an essential feature that sets the scene for your space. Jason suggests small, discreet solar lights either hidden underground or attached to outdoor features such as trees or sculptures to create subtle mood lighting. Just make sure it suits the style of your place. Even hang up some fairy lights or place colourful battery-powered spotlights around the edges of your yard, if that’s your aesthetic!
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