Garden design tips with Meredith
September 8, 2011
by Harvest Club
As we move from the long winter months into spring, entertaining outdoors is back on the agenda. Outdoor areas can become a little neglected during winter months, so we’ve asked resident garden expert Meredith Kirton to share some tips on how to spruce up that porch or patio, and get ready to optimise your outdoor space.
Warm days motivate us to get outside and start gearing up for BBQs, garden parties and even those Christmas parties that are not too far off. Keeping in mind some simple tips can make your al fresco entertaining all the more enjoyable. The first thing to have is adequate seating. This could be outdoor cushions that go directly onto grass and paved surfaces, built in seating that might be banquet style or even raised garden beds with broader edges for perching on, right up to standard tables and chairs or outdoor lounge suites that are now available.
Next, make sure you have lighting to take your event from day to evening and help create ambience. Ditch the spotlights in favour of softer feature uplighting of specimen trees or water features, and smaller lanterns and tea lights which add an enchanted feel. Outdoor braziers and fireplaces also add light, warmth and magnetism.
Fragrance too can transform outdoor areas. This mostly is achieved through perfumed flowers on vines (try Chinese star jasmine), shrubs (like osmanthus and murraya) and trees such as frangipanis. Consider also oil burners with peppermint scents or citronella to help control mosquitoes, and some insect repellent herbs planted around like pennyroyal and citronella geranium can also make the outdoor experience more pleasant as dusk hits.
No matter how big or how small your garden might be – from a patio to a pasture –consider having some of the cooking equipment outside, especially as the weather heats up and the last thing you want to do is get stuck inside with a stove. Built in pizza ovens, mega BBQs and even kibachi or kettle BBQs are all great in keeping the heat out of the house and keeping you where the action is outside, rather than in the kitchen.
Lastly, make sure your garden has adequate hard surfaces that will cope with foot traffic, and shaded covered areas to be able to cope with wet weather or sweltering sun….then your party and your sanity will survive, despite any summer showers or heatwaves.
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