Garden makeover? Make it marvellous

Planning a full garden makeover? This article describes some of the steps involved and the things you'll need to consider before beginning the process.

Whether you've just moved into a new house with a bare or neglected garden or you have an outdoor space that's tired and bland, a garden makeover may be on the cards. But before you begin ripping out plants and digging up soil, it's important to do some planning.

1. Sort out what you want to achieve

The first step in a garden makeover is to work out your priorities for the new space. A garden makeover design is always a matter of balancing priorities, whether it's making children's play spaces smaller to accommodate a vegie patch, or sacrificing some lawn to make room for the entertaining area. And don't forget to incorporate the basics, like clothes lines, utility areas and drains.

2. Set a budget

Once you've decided how you want to use the space, you should examine your garden makeover budget. Can you afford that expensive natural hardwood deck or should you opt for cheaper pine? If a 'wow' factor is high on your agenda, why not consider a gorgeous water feature or some impressive feature plants. Think about how you can use colour, contrast and textures in your new garden.

3. Decide what landscaping (if any) needs to be done

For a serious garden makeover, some earth moving may be required. You might like to transform a gradually sloping lawn into a series of terraces, for a sculpted garden landscaping effect. Serious excavations, along with any other hard landscape design, should always be done early in the piece, before any plants are decided upon.

4. Think about garden features

The same goes for paths, driveways, patios, rock gardens, substantial water features like ponds or billabongs, and pergolas and other 'outdoor rooms'. These hard landscaping features must be in place, or at least planned on paper, before you can begin to look at the garden makeover planting.

5. Choose your plants

When it comes to choosing plants for your garden makeover, you'll need to balance your taste with how much maintenance will be required. The choice is yours, as long as the plants you choose suit your climate and soil. You may want a theme throughout your garden - perhaps Japanese plants among carefully raked gravel, with bamboo water features gently trickling.

The safest way to ensure all your garden makeover desires are met is to consult a landscape designer or landscape architect. They have been trained to create outdoor living spaces that look great and serve the needs of the people using them. Find one in your area and get started: