Suburban BLISS

This large garden was given a brilliant makeover by savvy homeowners on a tight budget

- LOREN SHIRLEY-CARR

When Perrine Williams and her family moved into their Fairland home in 2013, they were faced with a totally overgrown garden. The large trees were creating shade and many of the plants, the roses, and Duranta ‘Sheena’s Gold’ in particular, were desperate for a bit of sun. “Although there were quite a few different plants, most of them weren’t in the right areas, and the garden had no structure at all,” recalls Perrine.

“I wanted a garden with lots of colour, with a touch of formality. I also wanted to include a tropical feel so I could incorporate the existing cycads and tree ferns. My aim was to make the most of the existing hydrangeas, agapanthus, and clivias and combine them with the plants I brought from our previous property.”

The couple’s first step was to remove alien and invasive plants and trees and those that weren’t thriving. As there was no budget to bring in professional assistance or to purchase the plants needed to fill the gaps, the couple had to be creative. “I had very little gardening experience and had never tackled a garden of this size before, but I consulted gardening books and magazines, including Garden and Home,” explains Perrine.