Lawns A lush, green lawn adds beauty and value to any home, but many backyard lawns are thin and patchy, and struggle to survive. The problem is that most of us are ordinary gardeners, not greenkeepers, and we don’t have time to give our lawns constant care and...
Low Maintenance Garden People often write to Don asking for his advice on setting up easy care gardens. They explain that they love gardens, but they lead busy lives and don’t have much time to spend on maintenance. Over the years many experts have claimed that...
Don reworked an azalea hedge that had grown so tall it was blocking the light and obscuring the view from the house. It is very difficult to keep a hedge at exactly the same height. Even when hedges are trimmed regularly, they gradually grow taller and eventually need...
The sound of running water is wonderful to have in a garden. The downside is that water features are difficult to fit together, they sometimes leak and they can be a nightmare to maintain. The pillar fountain shown in our segment is a very attractive solution to the...
Water is wonderful in the garden, but many people simply don’t have the space for waterfalls, lakes or large water features. In our segment Don showed that where space is limited, it’s still possible to have a water garden in pots. Pot preparation Choose pots without...
[metaslider id=31327] Many people love growing plants in pots, but potted gardens can be a lot of work. Choosing the right plants is half the battle. Some plants (such as roses, most Australian natives, most fruit trees and most vegetables) hate growing in pots....
Don looked at some of the materials commonly used to build retaining walls. Treated pine log or sleeper walls are popular, cheap and easy to erect, and they are used for both small and quite substantial walls. However, they don’t last well. Examples shown in our...
Revving Up the Lawn in Spring Spring is a good time of the year to give your lawn some attention, particularly if you have any bare patches that need replanting. Sowing seed in the bare patches is an option for some lawn varieties such as cool climate grasses, but it...
Sanders Scott Cam, the builder from Backyard Blitz, looks at the best sanders for the home handyman. There are many different kinds of sanders, and your choice will depend on the type of job you are doing. Scott recommends including both a belt and an orbital sander...
Sharpening Tools Don showed how easy it is to sharpen tools using a bench-mounted grinder. Spade A spade is a cutting implement, just like a knife, a pair of secateurs or a saw. Spades are much easier to use if they are kept sharp. Sharpen the bottom side only, by...