Down to Earth: How does your garden grow?

2009/11/27

DESMOND HO encourages you to breathe new life into old gardens, whatever the budget. CREATURES of habit, we thrive on routine to take us through the daily grind. After living in the city for some years now, I can almost make it through the day on auto. What was new and exciting once is now familiar and safe.

Remember when you moved into your new house? All the planning and budgeting, flipping through countless home décor magazines, drives round the new neighbourhood looking for renovation ideas and all the hustle and bustle of change?

Well, chances are that, like me, you’ve settled in, become comfortable with the cracks in the wall, worn out curtains, peeling paint, and of course, the tired old garden.

While the walls can always be spruced up with a fresh coat of paint and old furniture replaced, what do you do with your garden?

Old houses usually share a common characteristic in their façade — an old garden. The tree is two storeys high, the shrubs are “leggy”, parts of the lawn are exposed and rocky, and your garden is not a pleasure anymore.

Many people forget that a garden is alive and grows over time. The question is: will your garden age gracefully or become an eyesore with ill-designed features such as this cement pond?

So when you plan for the new paint job and new furniture, why not breathe new life into your garden at the same time?

Think about it for a moment. That green patch has always been the least utilised space in your home. Sprucing it up not only creates a beautiful façade, it can reinvigorate your surroundings and life.

So how do you go about it?

For starters, assess the situation from all angles. Is there a new highway or an unsightly apartment block in front of your home now? Or has the view improved over the years? Do you have children without a garden to play in? Or do you need a more relaxing environment at home?

Remember, each garden has a unique owner and attendant environmental needs. Consider them carefully and then set aside a budget.

Okay, a tricky question is how much you should spend. The misconception is that landscaping is expensive. Expensive compared to what? Just like a living room with only a carpet, a garden with only grass is unappreciated space.

On the other hand, while it’s nice to have exotic flower beds and lots of shrubs, it will go to waste unless you invest time and skill in caring for them.

Be realistic with your budget. There are lots of garden designs you can adopt on a shoestring budget, although mostly of the DIY variety. That said, don’t expect a Taj Mahal with a few hundred ringgit.

Garden ponds with water features are becoming popular even in link houses. Such water gardens cost in excess of RM5,000, some 10 times more.

Common problems such as overgrown shrubs or trees can be easily tackled. A leggy shrub has an unusually long bark, with all the leaves at the top. This is the result of a sun-loving shrub which does not get enough sunlight. It is best to replace it with a shade-loving variety.

Bare patches of lawn can be filled with pebbles or stone slabs. Overgrown trees should be pruned or cut down.

An important point to note is that if you plan on having a more flamboyant garden, make sure you engage reputable landscape designers. They cost more than the run-of-the-mill variety, but you gain in the long-term. You don’t want to fork out thousands for an ill-designed pond, or poorly planned garden that will become an eyesore in the future, do you?

A well-designed garden is one you will enjoy spending time in, even if it’s a small link-house lawn. Consider a decorative garden lamp or two, or a knick-knack such as a birdhouse, or even a trickling fountain if you can afford it.

Then throw a party to celebrate your new garden. A pleasant garden may enhance the value of your home but the pleasure that can be derived from it is immeasurable.

Wishing all Malaysians Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha.


■ Desmond Ho has a vision: to forge a truly distinctive and instantly recognisable Malaysian garden identity. For more information, log on to www.terragarden.com.my. You can also contact Desmond at info@terragarden.com.my or call 03-7725-8698.