10 tips to beautify your garden this weekend

Property owners with green thumbs will be out in full force over the Anzac Day break. With a long weekend up your sleeve, here are 10 tips to beautify your garden and add value to your property.

1. Get weeding
   
   The least glamorous part of gardening is also the first task you need to tackle this weekend. Prise the plants from the paving and cull the clover before you get to the fun parts. Weed seeds often inhabit the ground beneath existing plants, so you’ll have to regularly dig out weed sprouts in addition to applying weed killer for a fair few months.
   
   If you are tempted to let things get a bit wild, make sure you tend to the weeds before they go to seed.
   
   
2. Purge the pests
   
   Slaters, snails, bugs and birds will all take a bite out of your garden if you give them a chance.
   
   If you have fruit plants which you’re planning to harvest, try throwing some nylon netting over to keep birds away. You can take the netting off once harvest season is over to let the birds get at any spoiled or unused fruit, and they’ll also take care of lots of the bugs that plague your crop.
   
   Good planning can also keep the nasties away, with some plants deterring insects. If you’re going to try to kill some bugs, try to use natural pesticides where possible.
   
   
3. Super soil
   
   Now’s the time to get the fundamentals right. This weekend, you can set up a worm farm to aerate your soil. A starter kit will set you back about $50.
   
   You can also start a compost heap that will fertilise your soil in the months to come. Commitment is the key to good compost. Make sure you have a designated scrap bucket to contribute to the heap every day, and turn your compost regularly.
   
   
4. Feed and fertilise
   
   Most plants enjoy a good feed, but with seasonal demands, timing is everything. Research what your plants need coming into winter.
   
   Azaleas and Camellias will benefit from a small dose of watered in cow manure, but other plants will need less food before the cold season.
   
   
5. Prune those plants
   
   Now’s the time to lop off any rosehips and dead flowers. Trim back spent flower heads, and remove any branches that are clearly dead to the world.
   
   In between plants, rinse of your secateurs to prevent spreading any disease.
   
   
6. Go shopping
   
   Had big plans for al fresco dining that never quite materialised? Now’s the time to pick up some garden furniture, with demand (and prices) dipping after the summer rush.
   
   Before you head out, make sure you measure the available space and have a clear idea of what you want and can afford.
   
   
7. Plan and plant
   
   Here’s the fun part: planting. If you’re set on laying down some new plants this autumn, make sure they’ll survive the winter.
   
   What’s best will depend on your climate, so take the time to check out one of the many autumn planting guides online. For much of the country, beetroots, silverbeet and lettuce will all do well if you’re after an edible garden.
   
   
8. Be water wise
   
   Australian buyers are increasingly becoming aware of the need to conserve water. 
   
   Now is the perfect time to buy and install a rainwater tank if your property has the room. With the winter rains on their way, a rainwater tank installed now will collect plenty of water for the dry summer months.
   
   
9. Sweep
   
   Once you’ve done all the fun stuff, it’s time to clean up. Clear the garden paths, the footpath in front of your house and the driveway.
   
   You’ll be surprised what a quick tidy up can do for your home. Now that autumn leaves are starting to fall, a quick regular sweep once a week will save you a lot of time further down the track.
   
   
10. Fix up that fence
    
    Side fence sagging? Perhaps that picket fence that looked so friendly when you first moved in is starting to rot. Replace and repair any rotted or broken sections of your front fence, and collaborate with your neighbours to fix the boundary that’s been falling down for the past ten months.
    
    While you’re at it, oiling the squeaky gate will only take 30 seconds.