A previously neglected backyard was transformed with a new paved area and garden beds.
The project
I moved into a neglected house last year, and there was a crumbling, termite-infested shed in the backyard.
We ended up tearing down the shed (and treating for termites) which left a sunken pit in the garden bed of sand and weeds. Given that I was on a tight budget, I had to work out the most cost-effective way to transform the space.
At the time, the house only had a three-wire, pull-out clothes line, which was not ideal. We ended up erecting a Hills Hoist rotary clothesline and filled the pit with sand from the adjoining garden bed. We used 600 x 600mm cement pavers and basalt stones to create an eye-catching, functional and cheap floor cover for the area.
We then moved on to the garden bed. After lots of weeding, soil conditioning and love, we managed to create a neat and inviting area. We built the cantilever out of H4 Pine posts, reo mesh and wire. The bench was a Facebook Marketplace steal, and the plants were all marked down, or clippings.
The festoons certainly create a great atmosphere.
I planted a couple of bougainvillea under the cantilever. The garden bed gets afternoon sun, so I’m hoping the bougainvillea can eventually create a canopy to shade the area.
All up, the garden bed and clothesline area cost under $1000.
Before and after
