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Landscaping ideas for big backyards

Landscaping idea 1: 

Level up

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Ideal if you have an already sloping backyard, but also great for those who want to break up large areas of lawn.

Think raised garden beds…Not the aluminium Bunnings type, but a true landscaping feature.

Retaining walls can be designed and installed in a variety of aesthetically pleasing materials suited to your surroundings.

Landscaping idea 2:

Level out

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Retaining walls make sloping yards, once inaccessible, dangerous or prone to flooding, a thing of the past.

Not just a practical solution; as shown (above), retaining walls are great landscaping features.

However, these are stabilising structures that need to be correctly engineered and installed to withstand the pressure of the soil they retain. Avoid DIY jobs.

Landscaping idea 3:

Step up

low res retaining wall

If you want raised areas, like those shown above, to remain accessible, stairs are a fabulous idea.

Not only will they allow you to make the most of your space, they will quickly become the focal point of your yard.

They may even lead to your outdoor entertaining area, which brings us to our next point…

Landscaping idea 4:

Entertain outdoors

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If you have the space, those stairs could lead you up the garden path to a place that used to be inaccessible but is now a small sanctuary or fabulous outdoor entertaining area.

Imagine sitting here, in the sun, reading a book, cup of tea in hand, or roasting marshmallows in the fire with friends, while sipping wine.

Bliss!

Landscaping idea 5:

Create an outdoor living space

Reduce the mowing, weeding and general gardening, while increasing the value of your house by adding square metres to the floor plan. How? Get on deck!

If you home lends itself to it, create flow between internal and external spaces by having your outdoor living area lead off an indoor entertaining area. You’ll get more use of the deck if it’s accessible from a communal space.

Close it in, maybe with bistro binds, so you can still appreciate the great outdoors, and you basically have a whole other room happening!

About Empire Walls

Providing complete landscaping services to residential and commercial clients for more than 10 years, Empire Walls are the retaining wall specialists in Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula. We ensure each client receives personalised service, their retaining wall is fit for purpose and we guarantee our retaining walls from the ground up. Retaining walls are just the start – offered as part of our complete landscaping services.

For examples of our work or If you’re after a service not listed here, please see www.empirewalls.com.au.

For more information and/or a free quote, call Adam on 0421 573 001 or email empirewalls@live.com.au.

For free landscaping tips and to stay in touch, follow us on Facebook.

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Preparing your garden for spring

We’re in the depths of winter and it is bloody cold, there’s no doubt! It seems like spring is far, far away, but it will be here before you know it. So here are four things you should do in August to prepare your garden for spring and ensure your little pocket of the great outdoors reaches its full potential.

1. Check for repairs. Exposed to the elements, retaining walls and decks take a beating during winter. And some of the damage caused to these structures can be dangerous, so be sure to check if any maintenance is required.

a. Here are some tips on:

i. What to check your retaining wall for; and

ii. How to protect your deck.

2. Plant and prune. It’s time to trim your fruit trees and roses, and transplant deciduous trees and shrubs while they’re still dormant. Plant fruit trees, top up the veggie patch and consider a sustainable, low environmental impact mulch that will enrich your soil as it breaks down. If you’d prefer flowers over food, it’s time to plant your annuals.

a. Tip: Prune at a 45 degree angle. This helps the plant heal better and therefore limits the chances of pests or diseases taking hold. If you have pruned plants that are infected with pests, sterilise the tools used to avoid spreading disease.

3. Weed and feed. It’s time to rip out the weeds, maybe throw down some wood chip so you can reduce their regrowth. Treat your plants and your lawn to a slow release fertiliser. If you’re laying new turf, the end of August is a good time to do so.

a. Tip: If you have a furry friend, be sure to get a pet friendly fertiliser.

4. Complete landscaping projects. The fourth and final tip to prepare your garden for spring, but by no means the least important. By the time spring/summer rolls around, you want your outdoor entertaining area to be fully established, not a construction zone. Now is the time to install landscaping features like retaining walls, decks, fencing, brickwork etc.

a. Tip: We offer complete landscaping services and specialise in retaining walls. Contact us for an obligation free consultation and quote.

About the author: Empire Retaining Walls offers residential and commercial customers, including builders and architects, practical and aesthetically pleasing landscaping services and solutions. Whether you’re looking to make a big impression, add value to your home, improve your lifestyle through the creation of an enjoyable (perhaps even enviable!) outdoor space, or just maintain that space, we’ve got you covered with our complete landscaping services. For examples of our work, please refer to the Empire Retaining Walls online ‘Portfolio’.

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Protect your deck

A deck doesn’t just add space to your home; it can also add value, as discussed in our previous blog, ‘Boost property value by $100,000+ by adding a deck’. To make sure your deck withstands the test of time while enduring the elements, regular care and maintenance is required. Here are our top tips to protect your deck.

Clear the deck:  Don’t let leaves accumulate and if you have potted plants on your deck, elevate them or move them periodically. It’s also a good idea to keep shrubs from growing close to your deck.

Prep your deck:  Deck preservatives  do not work effectively unless applied when the deck is clean and dry. Remember to clean between decking board cracks.

Seal your deck: The only way to protect your deck successfully over time is to apply a deck preservative. Remember these products lose their ability to protect wood over time and have to be reapplied.

Repair your deck: Check regularly for loose boards, nails or moisture damage. If you have significant damage, consult a professional regarding repair to make sure the result is structurally sound.

Empire Retaining Walls offers complete landscaping services in the Mornington Peninsula Shire and surroundings. This service includes decking and repair work.

We ensure each client receives personalised service, are fully licensed and fully insured

  • For examples of our work, please refer to the Empire Retaining Walls online ‘Portfolio’.
  •  If you’re after a service not listed here, please all Adam on 0421 573 001 to discuss your needs.
  • To obtain a free quote, call Adam or email empirewalls@live.com.au.
  • For free landscaping tips and to stay in touch, follow us on Facebook.
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