Whether you have a huge garden or a small courtyard, there’s lots you can do to make it more inviting and usable for meals, gardening or just hanging out. With Sydney’s balmy climate, it makes sense to treat your garden as an extension of your living space. Here’s how to get started.
Assess your space
The first thing to do is look at where and when your outdoor room receives sun throughout the day. This will guide your choice of plants and also any shading or screening you may like to add. For sunny spots, choose sun-loving, hardy plants such as geranium and marigolds. For shady areas, try ferns, cane palms, ficus, hydrangea and sansevieria.
It’s also worth paying attention to your vertical space. Trellises, beams and pillars can all be put to work to hang baskets or support climbers such as jasmine and native wisteria. This makes your space look lush and feel cooler.
Enclose a space with screening and a pergola
Once you’ve assessed where the sun falls, think about adding some tall, bushy plants where necessary to create privacy or block views. These can also add a sense of enclosure and wind protection without the heat of hard surfaces such as brick.
A timber pergola is always a great choice for an outdoor room, particularly if you train up a climber to cover it. If you want winter sun, choose deciduous climbers such as grapevines that will provide shade in summer and colourful leaves in autumn.
Bring in some scented plants
Lavender, rosemary and jasmine are all wonderful in pots or, with jasmine, climbing up trellises to add scent on warm nights. Position them strategically near seating areas so their fragrances can be enjoyed.
Right plant, right place
Choosing native species is not only good for local wildlife, it can also mean less watering and care as you’re working with plants that are long established in the area. The Northern Beaches council has a list of native plants that grow well in the region to choose from.
Four Seasons Nursery in Belrose has a wonderful range of plants that grow well in the region, along with many tropical plants, pots and even water features. Drop in with some photos of your garden and ask for advice from the knowledgeable staff.
Group your containers
Once you’re created an enclosed space, add some container plants. Larger pots with a few complementary plants work better than lots of smaller ones. Watering is also easier and plants look great when placed together in a series of containers. Choose high-quality potting mix or make your own compost to ensure they stay healthy.
Let there be light
Fairy lights, edison bulbs and strings of solar panelled lighting are all wonderful on summer evenings.
Final touch – bring in some furniture.
There is no shortage of stylish outdoor furniture to choose from for your Sydney garden, Timber never goes out of style, and matching your colour scheme to your plants and pots will make the whole area look pulled together.
Sticking to a few colours with plants, pots and furniture will create a more serene look and draw attention to the garden. Black will contrast well with greenery, white looks cool and summery, while terracotta and timber never go out of style.
Again, understanding the amount of sun your area receives should guide you here – you want robust items that don’t fade or weather quickly. Domayne has some great lounges and dining sets, and Freedom always has an extensive range. For a more personalised service, Outdoor Elegance in Mona Vale is a great place to get advice on exactly how you’ll use your space and what might suit.
While traditionally people will opt for an outdoor dining set, in reality, a couch and coffee table might be used more regularly, especially now that many feature modern fabrics that withstand the weather but are as comfortable as indoor couches. Finally, add some cushions, an outdoor rug and an outdoor umbrella or shade sale and you’re good to go.
Are you thinking of selling your Northern Beaches home?
Feel free to get in touch with the team at JDH if you have any questions about selling your home. We’re always happy to advise on the market and what buyers are looking for, and as a local boutique agency we offer a personalised and friendly service and will get you a fantastic result. Give us a call.
