Get your outdoor space ready for spring and summer
Photo: Ignant.com
Since the beginning of 2022 we’re living in Cape Town, a dream come true since we’ve been talking about it for 9 years! One the reasons we really wanted to live here is the climate. Instead of 3 months with great(ish) weather we’ve turned it around and now we have at least 9 months to enjoy the sun, pool, beaches and lots and lots of time outside. The outdoor vibes are real here in Cape Town and indoor/outdoor living as well. In this blog we’re going to talk about making your outdoor space ready. Let’s go!
Whether you’re a fan of Italy, Spain, Mexico, Portugal or Greece, in these countries you’ll find the most beautiful planters filled with gorgeous plants and flowers. One the things these planters have in common is that they often look a bit time-worn. Often painted white, terracotta colors or glazed with the most beautiful color green or blue, they are perfect to put in your garden for that instant holiday vibe. A planter with an olive tree on each side of the door(s) or groups with different sizes and colors really upgrade your garden in an instant.
Talking about plants and trees, especially in warmer countries like South Africa you have an amazing range of plants and trees to put in your garden. My absolute favorites are palm- and banana trees but I also love fruit trees. In case you don’t have them in your garden already, it’s actually quite easy to plant them. One thing to consider is to spend the extra money and buy older tree and plants who look like they’ve always been there. Otherwise you’ll be looking at baby plants and trees for the first few years. Discuss this with your landscaper/gardener to make sure they will survive the movement and they will root nicely in your garden.
Photo: Sunset Magazine
Another tip is to create seating/entertainment zones just like inside your place. Keep an eye on the sun and wind to make sure you’ll make right decisions during designing these zones.
For example, do you like to create an area where you can have afternoon drinks with friends and enjoy those last rays of sunshine, keep an eye on the sun during the weeks or even months to make sure you’re in the right area of the garden.
Last but not least, lightning. It’s such an important part of your garden. Wether it’s lights for fun, like party lights or spots to accent trees or lights to illuminate a walkway, it truly upgrades your garden. And with the amount of sunshine in South Africa, why don’t you consider solar lights for a more sustainable solution.
