Practical projects and tips for the backyard DIY fanatic
You may remember last year on Burke’s Backyard we did a tremendously popular courtyard makeover using blue metal dust. Recently we’ve been back to check on the progress of the plants and add a very special finishing touch to the job. Update For the...
Landscape Designer Colin Brown is currently creating a garden around a Californian Bungalow style house. Colin’s approach is to ‘keep it simple’, and to try to incorporate elements of the architecture into the design. The solid vertical lines of the...
Tap Timers Watering is more complex than many people think. Standing out in the garden with a hose is really a very inefficient way of watering your plants. You’d cut down on garden maintenance, save time and waste less water if you installed an irrigation...
Recently, Don asked viewers to send in photographs of any large or unusual vegetables and fruit they
If you don’t have the money to spend on a fully plumbed, luxury outdoor shower, there is an inexpensive alternative. Tara Dennis showed how easy it is to set up a temporary shower, suitable for a quick rinse off on a hot day. Getting started Locate your shower in a...
Scott Cam showed how to stop ‘water hammer’, or pipes that bang, clang and vibrate when you turn off your taps. As well as being extremely noisy, water hammer can cause water heaters, joints, seals and connections to fail, and taps to leak. What causes it? Water...
Tree Lanterns Rita Hill showed how to light up those summer nights and add a festive touch to your garden. You’ll need jam jars wire glass spray paint tea lights Making your lanterns Cut the wire into 50cm lengths. Twist and loop the wire to create detachable...
Updating a Lounge Rita Hill has a good eye for a bargain, so she was very excited when she found a fantastic 1930s-era Club lounge suite by the side of the road in a recent council clean up. Although the suite had seen better days, Rita thought it would be a crime for...
Garden Flags Decorative flags look great in the garden on windy days, and they are easy and cheap to make. Rita Hill made long flags or pennants about 3m long x 50cm wide using bright cotton fabric and poles made from bamboo or other suitable materials. You’ll...
Glass Painting Rita Hill gave some old glassware a fresh new look by painting it, then baking it in the oven! You will need glass jars, tumblers, pitchers or vases porcelain glass paints (45ml) porcelain outliner pens (20ml) stencils felt-tipped pen Step by step...