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It is easy to change your garden into a pretty and restful outdoor space. Here are some ideas.

• MakefocalpointsA focal point is an item in the garden that catches the eye. It can be a plant with large foliage, such as an aloe, or a tree with an unusual shape, such as a cabbage tree. Or it can be a large container, a bench, an archway, a large rock, or a sculpture. Place your focal point at a strategic place to draw the eye and lead it around the garden.

• PutinawaterfeatureIn hot climates, the presence of water adds beauty to the garden. A hollowed rock filled with water will attract birds. Or bury an old, shallow plastic container to make a pond for wildlife. Put your water feature where you can see it, if possible in a shady place where the water will not evaporate quickly.

• ChooseaperfumedplantFragrant flowers or leaves will make your garden more enjoyable. Chinese jasmine is a Water Wise plant with highly fragrant flowers, while water wise lavender, pelargonium and thyme have perfumed leaves. Yesterday-today-and-tomorrow has colourful and sweet-smelling flowers.

• PlantsomecolourfulflowersIf you plant a few brightly coloured summer annuals such as marigolds and salvia, they will add a cheerful touch to the garden. Group them together in a garden bed or in a container for added impact and for ease of watering. Strelitzia is a colourful, indigenous and water wise plant for the garden.

The decorative items you add to your garden can be Water Wise and can be useful in attracting birds, insects and animals to your garden. If you are interested in adding a water feature to your garden, read “Water Wise Water Features” for more information.

The use of containers is Water Wise and can add many interesting and creative focal points to your garden (Fig 1). With container gardening you can group the plants together that use the same amount of water. This means that you don’t land up over- or under-watering your plants. Ensure your containers are not porous, as they will lose water through evaporation. Always apply mulch to your container plants to reduce water lost through evaporation and use good quality soil high in organic matter. Remember to make sure your pot is the correct size for your chosen plant. The container must have sufficient space for root growth.

Fig 1. A creative focal point in the garden, using Water Wise principles such as container gardening.

Another wonderful and interesting idea is to create a ‘dry’ river bed as a focal point in your garden. Simply lay a pathway of different sized and coloured pebbles and gravel, along with a few well-placed boulders to create the effect of a dry river bed. Plant local bulbs such as the crinum, crocosmia and arum lilies, which will be dormant in winter but will bloom as soon as the rains arrive. Grasses and sedges can be planted along the edge of the ‘river’ and indigenous, low water use trees will provide food and habitat for insects, birds and small mammals.

Small bird-baths and bird-seed trays can be placed and hung strategically in large trees in your garden. Ensure these feeders are placed out of range of pets such as cats and dogs, as the birds these items attract can become easy targets. Owl-boxes will encourage exciting nocturnal raptors and bat boxes will provide housing for those flying mammals that will rid your garden of pests such as mosquitoes.

The finishing touches...Make your garden

attractive by adding decorative items.