WESTERN ADVOCATE, Monday, September 23, 2013 11www.westernadvocate.com.au

FOR many, the traditional quarter acreblock is a thing of the past, with ahost of lifestyle changes seeing gar-

dens shrink in size. Expensive land and higher density city

living often result in the garden beingrestricted to a balcony or courtyard.

Ageing baby boomers, who form thatgreat bulge in the population, are retiringand moving into easy-to-manage town-houses, units or retirement villages.

And, on the outskirts of cities, largerhouses on smaller blocks have seen thebackyard reduced to a narrow stripbetween the house and the steel fence.

But these changes haven’t meant thatwe’ve given up gardening. We’re just learn-ing to garden in different ways.

Here are some useful tips:■ Vegetables and herbs can be grown

even where space is limited. The bestvegie choices for pots are baby carrots, sil-

verbeet, non-hearting lettuces, springonions, radishes, Chinese cabbages, dwarfbeans, dwarf peas and snow peas.

■ Herbs for pots include basil (duringthe warmer months), mint, thyme,oregano, parsley and chives. These can allbe grown from Yates seeds.

■ The larger the pot, the less likely it isto get hot and dry out, so use the biggestpot you can fit.

■ Choose a good quality potting mix.

This will give the vegies, herbs or flower-ing plants the best chance of performing attheir peak. Apply a soil wetter to the mixto help prevent surface runoff.

■ Check pot drainage. It’s best if potsare raised up on pot feet to allow water tomove away from beneath, but sometimesit’s necessary to have a saucer under thepot. If so, it’s a good idea to put a layer ofpebbles in the saucer. This allows the potbase to sit above the stored water.

Learning to garden in many different ways

Increasing your living space with a deck

Mayfield Garden goes on show this spring

How to add appeal to your landscaping

AWELL-DESIGNED deck is arelatively easy way toincrease family living space

around your home. It’s like adding on an outdoor

room that can be a perfect link forrelaxed indoor or outdoor living.

And it will also add value toyour home.

If you wish, you can even coveryour deck by adding a pergola asyou build it.

While design is largely a matterof personal taste, the deck youchoose will depend on such factorsas the shape of your land and itsrelationship to your home.

Decks can be broadly classifiedinto three main types: hillsidedecks, which take advantage ofuneven or sloping blocks.

Low-level decks, that extend outat floor level on flat land, adding

spaciousness to a family room orliving area. Isolated decks are usedaround swimming pools and othergarden features such as gazebos,ponds and rockeries.

You will also have to decidewhich way you want your deckingboards to run.

You can easily adapt our designsto run parallel, diagonally, or awayfrom the house.

Whichever type of deck youchoose, building it is well withinthe capacity of the average homeimprover.

And you’ll get real enjoymentout of doing it yourself with thehelp of our step by-step guidefound at www.mitre10.com.au andyour local Mitre 10 specialist.

Before starting any work, findout if a building permit is required.

MAYFIELD Garden near Oberon is open tovisitors once again this spring and it’s anexperience not to be missed.

Covering more than 160 acres the gardenincludes private family areas, the breathtakingMayfield Water Garden and numerous follies andfeatures, and visitors are welcome to linger allday in this unique landscape.

This spring Mayfield Garden adds a touch ofdrama to its open weekends, with the Locksleyfamily theatrical group moving through the gar-den, bringing Shakespeare’s sonnets and songs tolife.

Talented local musicians Aaron Hopper andAvril Bryant will return once again for their mid-day complement to the scrumptious food andgourmet coffee on offer.

This spring let the bright colours, birdsong andlush green growth draw you outdoors for aleisurely wander through Mayfield Garden.

Open October 19-20, 26-27, November 2-3.Gates open from 9am - 4.30pm.

Visit mayfieldgarden.com.au for ticket pricesand more information.

WHY not letAppealingLandscapes

revamp your existinggarden or create a newone on your property.

Their servicesinclude: ■ all general garden-ing; ■ replanting andmulching;■ fertilising andinstalling drip irrigationto save time and water;■ garden edging;■ all paving work, bothnew paving and repair-ing old paving;■ retaining walls.

For all your land-scaping requirementscontact Stuart for aquotation.

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GREAT GARDENS