Gardening: Charlie Albone’s top spring gardening tips

If you’re thinking of selling your home or simply planning to entertain again this spring and summer, it’s easy to get your garden sorted.

Low angle view of flower garden and greenery in front of white picket fence with New England style house in the background. Picture: iStock

Whether you’re looking to take advantage of the booming real estate market and list your home or just want to clean up the garden in time for spring and summer and the likely easing of health restrictions for entertaining, these simple tips from gardening guru Charlie Albone will help you get your backyard looking just right.

“Many Australians fall in love with a garden at first sight and become attached to a home,:” Mr Albone said.

Gardening guru Charlie Albone. Picture: Supplied

“Making sure you present your garden well to attract buyers will be well worth the time and money investment you make.

“A well-presented garden will complement a well presented home.”

A landscape designer by trade, Mr Albone became a household name on Foxtel’s hit show Selling Houses Australia. He has since joined Better Homes and Gardens.

He also served as the guest judge on our exclusive list of Australia’s Top 100 Cool Pools earlier this year and has earned a gig as a STIHL Ambassador.

CHARLIE ALBONE’S TOP GARDENING TIPS

High pressure clean

Homemakers spend hours cleaning and dressing the inside of their home, apply the same to your garden. A great way to freshen your hard surfaces is with a high-pressure cleaner. They are easy to use, quick to cover a large area, and are affordable to purchase. The clean concrete or paving areas will show your property in their best light and ensure your home looks clean and well kept inside and out.

A high pressure clean can work wonders. Picture: istock

Prune trees and hedges

Whilst trees near your home can provide many benefits, ensure they haven’t grown over windows and don’t block natural light coming into your home. Trim trees to ensure windows capture the full vista available and the natural light on offer to your home is maximised. Make sure you use an appropriate tool for the job, you want the trees to be cleanly cut and to remain healthy for new growth to start shooting.

Mulch your garden

Weeds are unsightly at the best of times in your garden. Spreading mulch is a great way to prevent weeds from growing, keeping moisture in your soil, and providing a uniform appearance across your garden.

Garden mulch can prevent weeds.

Mow your lawns

The smell of fresh cut grass is positively intoxicating to many people. A STIHL Battery powered mower is easy to use, lighter weight, and will provide a beautiful finish to your lawn. Most importantly, your lawns will look clean and well kept, showing how much you have cared for your home and providing a great space for families to use.

Showcase your garden’s space and versatility

Buyers will view your garden differently. Some will connect and love the plants, some will see areas that their children can play in, while others will see a lot of hardwork and dred. Showcase the versatility of your garden, from spaces to entertain friends and family, to a rewarding vegetable garden, or a beautiful lawn for the kids to play on. Use your garden strengths to show why your property stands out.

First impressions count for gardens too. Picture: iStock

Bring the outdoors inside

Even if you have the smallest of gardens or no garden at all, adding plants and flowers into your home will provide fresh air and beautiful perfumes for prospective buyers. Just as some buyers love the smell of freshly baked bread or biscuits, the perfume of flowers can have a similar effect on buyers.

Indoor plants are extremely popular, whilst some beautiful cut flowers will add colour and perfume to your home when open for inspection.

Employ an expert to help

If you haven’t worked in the garden for a while, you might see a lot of work to do to prepare your garden for sale. Don’t be afraid to engage an expert who can help you prepare your garden or provide you ideas on how best to showcase your space.

More: STIHL

GARDENING TIPS: HOW TO BOOST YOUR HOME’S STREET APPEAL

Traditionally, spring is the property market’s busiest time of the year and much of that is due to how good gardens start to look in the next few weeks.

The experts, such as Selling Houses Australia’s Andrew Winter, spruik an immaculate, well-tended front garden can boost your chances of a quick sale.

So if your plan is to sell up this spring, or even if it’s not, now is the perfect time to create a stunning front yard. Here’s how.

Spring is the perfect time to create a stunning front yard.

SET THE SCENE FOR YOUR FRONT GARDEN

The first thing many of us look at as we walk around our neighbourhoods is the garden. Then the house. Or vice versa. If it’s tidy and neat, it gets a nod of approval.

Next, the creative design of garden beds and a streamlined flow via paths, paving and features draw you in.

For landscaper designer Lee Gray creating an enjoyable journey up to the house and a warm, inviting ambience is key to making a front garden have wow-factor and appeal.

“The most effective concept to consider when designing an entrance to your home is how to draw visitors from the street to your front door,” she says.

To do so, you need to ensure an easy flow from the verge to the door with paths. Recessing a pedestrian gate is one way to make guests and passer-bys stop and look as they enter the property too.

“When your visitors arrive, they’ve stepped into your property while waiting for your reply on a intercom or while they’re opening your gate,” she says.

“This takes visitors off the footpath and welcomes them to your home, taking the urgency out of the wait.”

Lee Gray, of Lee Gray Landscape Design suggests recessing a pedestrian gate.

CREATING A GARDEN ‘JOURNEY’

While a large front garden is always enviable as much can be done, Lee says a shallow setback can be filled with interest too.

“In one project we were aiming to bring guests through a garden, creating a journey. To slow our visitors down and enhance the experience, we created beds of interesting plants that wrapped around the entrance steps,” says Lee.

The use of planter pots, feature trees and a meandering path can turn what would otherwise be a short walk from the street into a mini parkland experience.

“We will also use plantings such as hedges to draw and direct visitors through a garden,” says Lee.

“This is particularly helpful if our front pathway is long or has twists and turns.”

KEY TO A FRIENDLY ENTRANCE

Where the lay of land is sloping or uneven, large steps are practical, but they can also take your zone to the next level, literally. Plan it carefully and it becomes an architectural feature that complements a home’s entry and makes it feel like you have arrived in style.

“Often, we will incorporate large easy to negotiate steps into a layout,” says Lee.

“To keep the steps manageable for all visitors, it’s best to work on a step riser of 150mm.”

The width of your path matters too.

A wide pathway is best. Picture: Lee Gray, of Leegray Landscapes

“Consider an overly wide pathway that allows two visitors to walk side-by-side to create a friendly open entrance that is easy to navigate,” she says.

Where the ground is flat, but requires visual interest stepping steps, placed within lawn or surrounded by stones, can be a design element that breaks up a larger area, especially in yards with minimal or repeat plantings.

“The most important aspect of stepping stones is to design them with a nice pace that can be walked along without concentrating. It’s best to avoid little fairy steps or giant strides,” Lee advises.

HIGHLIGHT PARTS OF YOUR GARDEN

Nothing defines a path or lawn better than a well-kept hedge or ground cover, but lighting also comes into its own after dark. Practical, so you don’t trip over in the dark, task path lighting provides homeowners with a safe passage, while welcoming you home.

Highlighting parts of the garden with glowing warm light will also add ambience, and no doubt, value too.

“I have had great success using beautiful garden path light fittings to border pathways and assist in creating the welcoming effect,” Lee says.

The welcoming effect.

NESTLE YOUR HOME INTO THE LANDSCAPE

A planting plan that complements the style of your home is essential to create a good first impression.

“Framing your home with well-proportioned trees will showcase your facade,” says Lee.

“Drawing inspiration from the facade and features on your home into your front fence or street interface will give the impression that your home is nestling into the landscape.”

 But Lee warns against heavy, thick foliage that can detract from your home’s looks or hide its best features, and make the garden appear smaller. Instead, frame a house with layers, and furniture such as a bench seat, garden art and low plants. Lee also says don’t forget about the street verge, which spatially, will extend the feel of your front yard.

TIPS TO CREATING WOW FACTOR IN YOUR FRONT GARDEN

1. Slow things down

Think about slowing your guests down by creating a journey through your entrance. Little pockets of gardens or interesting paving can help achieve this.

2. Frame your home with trees.

Trees will soften your frontage and separate you from your neighbours. When selecting trees, look at trees that grow 5m or under for a single-storey home. Double-storey homes will benefit from taller canopies.

3. Consider pathway lighting

Pathway lighting will ensure guests can safely make their way from your property. Look for fittings that also look beautiful during the day. These help guide your guests to the door.

4. Boost your street appeal

Boost your home’s appeal from the street.

Your street verge is an important contributor to your street appeal. Lawn will always look amazing, but consider ground covers like ivy or myoporum if you’d like a lower maintenance option.

5. Feature a pot

A feature pot either side of your front door or a singular pot positioned on your veranda or porch will frame the front door and draw your visitors in.

6. Plant a hedge

If your pathway is long or bends, a hedge planted with avenues of narrow trees will welcome and guide your guests to your front door.

7. Feature a bench

Consider including a garden bench as a focal point or feature in your garden. Garden benches create a warm homely feel.

8. Shallow steps

If your property requires entrance steps, consider keeping the risers shallower than your interior steps.

Source: Lee Gray Landscape Design

Originally published as Gardening: Charlie Albone’s top spring gardening tips