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Create a low-cost garden

I am often asked: “How do we save costs on our landscaping?” A smart way of approaching this is by thinking about reducing long-term expenses, even if this means that the initial costs of your garden might be higher. A good approach to designing a low-maintenance, low-cost garden is a combination of hardscape and softscape. The garden can be 70 per cent hardscape (water features and paving, for example) and 30 per cent softscape (plants and trees). Flamed granite, which is sturdy and not very porous, can be used for tiling and will last for years; slate and porcelain are also good options. Keep trees and plants to a minimum. If you want a lawn, consider artificial turf – some varieties look natural and help save on water. Install an automatic or subsurface irrigation system, which is eco-friendly because it returns water to the soil. Don’t forget to add a barbecue grill, comfortable seating, and spike or pole lights. Remember: LED lights might cost more initially but consume less electricity. Make your garden an extension of the home – which the whole family can enjoy.

* Sejal Nagjee, founder of
Milestone Gardens & Interiors,
www.landscapingdubai.com

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Utilising feature lighting in the garden

By Sejal Nagjee
CEO, Milestone Landscaping and Interiors

1) Choose the correct light for each element in your garden, e.g. spotlights for plants/trees, underwater lights for water features and so on.
2) Save power, energy and money by installing solar and LED lights, which use lower power, instead of halogen lights.
3) When buying lights, think lumen not watts. Lumen tells how bright a lighting fixture is. The brightness you need may vary according to where you install it.
4) Pick the right voltage for the area where you need the lights, e.g. lights lower than 12V are safe for water features, or plants and trees near water.
5) Distance matters. Maintain a 2.5 to 3-metre distance when lighting plants. Pathways can be lit every 2 to 3 metres.Spotlights need to be at least 50 centimetres away.

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How to keep water features in tip-top shape

By Sejal Nagjee
CEO, Milestone Landscaping and Interiors

1) When building a water feature (pond, fountain, waterfall, pool), make sure you have a drainage system in place to make cleaning much easier.
2) Ideally, you should clean the water feature every 10 days to avoid algae from forming. Cleaning means replacing the water, removing leaves or reverse osmosis.
3) For pools, ensure to check its pH and chlorine levels to kill diseasecausing elements and maintain cleanliness.
4) Install the correct mechanical system for your water feature. Use filters, pumps and chlorine-dosing units if necessary.
5) Fountains and waterfalls add character to any outdoor space; thus, it is best to keep them running all the time. Not doing so can leave the area dirty, which can clog the pumps.

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Choosing the right layout for your garden
By Sejal Nagjee
CEO, Milestone Landscaping and Interiors

1) Different communities in the UAE have different styles of villas. When doing the landscaping, ensure that the design matches the architecture of the villa.
2) Create an easy path to walk around the villa. Refrain from making narrow pathways. Connect spaces to create a harmonious flow.
3) Be certain of useful areas. How would you like to use your space? How do you party? How many people attend those parties? Answering all these allows you to create spaces with apt dimensions.
4) Leave the right width for planting. Due to boundary footings, plant your trees 1 metre away from boundary walls. Tall shrubs and small shrubs can be planted closer.
5) The entertainment area needs to connect to your home so create easy access. For example, put your barbecue closer to the kitchen.

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Renovating bathrooms cost effectively

By Sejal Nagjee
CEO, Milestone Landscaping and Interiors

1)  Use the same inlet, drain, floor traps, shower mixer inlets and water closet sewerage pipes in the same location to avoid core drilling and moving of plumbing pipelines.
2)  Ensure waterproofing is done on the floor and walls, and in the shower and sink areas. You may not include walls with no plumbing.
3)  Most think marble, granite and backlit onyx make a bathroom look high-end. Try porcelain and ceramic in matte finish. The right combination is more glamorous than marble.

4)  Play around with your budget when picking fixtures. You may use expensive brands for the water closet, shower and sink, but choose mid-range brands for accessories.
5)  You do not need to fully tile the walls. Use paint on spaces that do not come in touch with water. This allows you to hang nice paintings.

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The weather is already starting to get hotter but I’m not ready to abandon my garden yet! Are there any ways I can “extend the season” and stay outdoors a few weeks longer? Edna, 29

If you do not have a shade structure like a pergola or gazebo that can have fans, build one. Having a fan can make a big difference and shade structures will reduce the heat (keeping in mind that your shade structure should be completely water-proof and sun-proof). Consider installing a moveable misting fan or even a misting line to cool off your seating area (though the former would require an inlet for water). And if you have a pool, set the pump to maintain a temperature of 28˚ to 30˚C.

I’ve recently discovered that slugs are eating my flowers. How can I get rid of these nasty little pests? Amal, 45

Surprisingly, you  don’t necessarily need to visit a garden centre for a solution. Try these chemical-free tricks: Every night for two weeks, fill jar lids with beer and place them at the base of affected plants. Slugs are attracted to the smell, and once they drink it they will die. Just be sure to empty the lids of both the beer and the slugs every morning! Budweiser has been found to be the most effective beer brand to use, but Kingsbury Malt Beverage, a non-alcoholic brew, also has great results. You can also go the direct route and simply pour salt on them; it will dehydrate and kill them quickly.