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A greener patio begins below the foliage. In the Australian makeover published by Better Homes and Gardens Australia on January 22, 2021, a south-facing garden and deck gained a more usable, layered look after compacted soil was improved with organic matter, shade-tolerant plants were added, and vertical elements were used to hide an unattractive view without cutting off light.
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The useful lesson is not to copy a plant list blindly. First match the planting and screening to your soil, light, climate and circulation. Then use containers, hanging plants and a restrained screen to connect the garden to the patio without creating obstacles.
What changed in the patio makeover
The starting point was a south-facing garden and deck with compacted soil and limited visual appeal. The makeover treated the site as a set of related problems rather than simply adding more plants.
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| Patio element | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Soil | Compacted ground that restricted lush growth | Organic matter incorporated before planting |
| Planting | Little greenery connecting the garden and deck | Shade-loving plants in beds and containers |
| Deck space | Underused vertical and corner areas | Hanging ferns and trailing plants positioned above or beside circulation routes |
| View | An unattractive outlook from the patio | A vertical timber screen that conceals the view while allowing light through |
| Garden-to-patio relationship | A hard visual break between outdoor areas | Planting extended toward the patio to soften the transition |
The article presents inspiration, not a priced renovation or a controlled plant trial. Its species and techniques are examples from an Australian garden; local climate, nursery availability, frost, rainfall and actual light exposure should determine what you plant.
Start with a site diagnosis
Measure light instead of relying on the word “south-facing”
Orientation is a useful starting clue, not a complete plant specification. The featured garden was south-facing, and the makeover selected shade-loving plants. In another location, hemisphere, season or setting, a south-facing area may receive a different pattern of direct sun. Watch the patio and bed through a typical day and note which areas receive bright indirect light, filtered light or direct rays.
- Record morning, midday and afternoon exposure separately.
- Notice reflected heat from paving or walls, which can make a nominally shady corner stressful for foliage.
- Mark seasonal changes if a nearby building, tree or roof edge casts a moving shadow.
- Check whether hanging positions are shaded by rafters or exposed when the sun angle changes.
Use those observations to place the most shade-sensitive plants in the most consistently protected positions. Do not assume that every part of a south-facing deck has identical conditions.
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Compacted soil was one of the reasons the original garden failed to look lush. Soil pressed by foot traffic, construction or repeated drying and wetting has fewer air spaces for roots and may drain poorly. Before planting, inspect whether water pools on the surface, whether a hand trowel meets a hard layer, and whether existing plants have shallow, struggling roots.
Keep the diagnosis separate from the remedy: adding plants to hard, poorly structured ground can increase competition for the same limited water and nutrients. The makeover first treated the soil with organic matter, then planted for the available shade.
Improve the soil before adding more plants
Incorporate organic matter into compacted beds
Work organic matter into the compacted planting area as the Australian article describes. The objective is to improve the root environment before asking new plants to establish. Follow the directions for the material available in your region and avoid creating a thin layer that roots cannot enter.
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- Clear weeds and loose debris from the bed.
- Break up the compacted surface without damaging nearby tree roots or buried services.
- Blend organic matter through the planting zone rather than leaving it as a surface-only blanket.
- Allow the bed to settle, then check drainage and moisture before planting.
- Plant only after the soil is workable and the chosen species match the measured light.
The source does not give a universal application rate, soil test result or promise of a particular growth speed. Those details vary with soil type and the organic material used, so treat the improvement as a preparation step rather than a guaranteed formula.
Account for competition around established trees
Large or thirsty trees can compete with patio plants for water and nutrients. The makeover suggests shallow-rooted cordylines around such trees, including black-leafed Cordyline fruticosa ‘Negra’ and red-leafed Cordyline ‘Rubra’. Their foliage adds color while avoiding the need to place deep-rooted plants immediately beside the tree’s main root zone.
Do not dig through major roots to force a design. Leave enough room for the tree, keep irrigation practical, and confirm that the cordylines are suitable for your local conditions before buying them.
Build a shade-loving plant palette
The makeover’s plant choices show how to combine foliage height, texture and habit rather than filling every gap with the same species. Use them as examples to investigate locally, not as universal recommendations.
| Plant or feature | Role in the makeover | Important condition or care note |
|---|---|---|
| Boston fern | Hanging greenery above the deck | Placed in self-watering pots and kept in shade; vary hanging heights for an informal effect |
| Bridal veil plant (Gibasis geniculata) | Trailing accent in a corner and down deck steps | Sensitive to direct sunlight |
| Orange jessamine (Murraya paniculata) | Small, fragrant hedge | Grows quickly; wait until fragrant flowers have finished before trimming |
| Black cordyline (Cordyline fruticosa ‘Negra’) | Foliage contrast near thirsty trees | Use only where local growing conditions suit it |
| Red cordyline (Cordyline ‘Rubra’) | Red-toned foliage near thirsty trees | Confirm local suitability and protect circulation space |
| Neoregelia | Patterned foliage among the planting | Choose a locally appropriate type and position it for its light needs |
Use hanging Boston ferns to save floor space
Boston ferns make the deck greener without consuming the walking surface. The source recommends self-watering pots hung from rafters, with the heights varied rather than aligned in a rigid row. A staggered arrangement gives the canopy an informal look and lets you keep the lowest foliage above shoulder or head height where people pass.
Before drilling or hanging anything, confirm that the rafter and hardware can support a fully watered container. Place pots where they can be reached for inspection and refilling, and leave clearance from doors, lights and cooking areas. Self-watering reservoirs reduce the frequency of watering, but they do not remove the need to check moisture, especially during hot or windy weather.
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Let bridal veil plant trail from a protected corner
Use bridal veil plant (Gibasis geniculata) as a soft edge where a corner meets the deck steps. Its trailing habit can draw the eye downward and make the steps feel connected to the garden. The article specifically cautions that it is sensitive to direct sunlight, so reserve a shaded or filtered-light position rather than placing it on an exposed, sunny stair edge.
Keep the stems out of the tread line and trim or redirect growth before it becomes a trip hazard. A corner is useful because it provides a visual cascade without asking people to walk through the plant.
Shape orange jessamine into a small hedge
Orange jessamine (Murraya paniculata) provides a compact hedge with fragrant flowers and, according to the source, quick growth. Use it to define the patio edge or frame a view without building a solid wall of foliage.
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Use vertical screening without losing daylight
A vertical timber screen can hide a dull outlook while still allowing light through. This is a more useful solution than treating privacy as an all-or-nothing wall. Set the screen where it blocks the specific sightline from the seating area, and keep open gaps or a slatted arrangement if daylight is important.
“Hide a dull view with a vertical timber screen that still lets in light.”
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That recommendation appears in the Better Homes and Gardens Australia article published January 22, 2021. The article does not specify a timber species, spacing, dimensions, finish or structural system, so those decisions must follow local building requirements, wind exposure and the amount of privacy you need.
Choose screen placement by sightline
- Sit where people normally use the patio and identify the unattractive view at eye level.
- Mark the narrowest screen position that hides that view while preserving the desired outlook elsewhere.
- Check the screen from standing and seated positions, because a gap that works from one height may expose the view from another.
- Confirm that the screen will not block a required walkway, window, drainage route or maintenance access.
- Use a qualified installer or follow applicable structural and property rules for anchoring the timber.
Connect the garden and patio visually
The makeover extends planting visually toward the patio so the two areas read as one usable outdoor room. This softens the hard line between indoors and outdoors and can make the space feel more welcoming in adverse weather or strong afternoon sun.
You do not need to cover every edge. Repeat one foliage color or texture near the patio, then carry it into the garden with a second planting group. Keep the densest planting at corners and edges, leaving the center clear for chairs, tables and movement. A few well-positioned containers can create the connection without permanent construction.
Keep everyday movement clear
The source advises keeping plants high or in corners so they do not obstruct daily movement. Apply that rule to every layer:
- Hang baskets above head height and away from door swings.
- Place trailing plants beside, not across, steps.
- Keep hedge growth inside its intended boundary.
- Leave a continuous route between the house, seating and garden.
- Check mature spread, not only the size of a newly purchased plant.
Clear circulation is part of the transformation. A patio that looks lush but is difficult to cross will not become more usable.
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A practical installation sequence
Use the following order to prevent rework and protect the plants you add.
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- Map the site. Draw the patio, steps, doors, trees, existing beds and the view you want to hide. Add notes for direct, filtered and indirect light.
- Resolve access and structure. Decide where a timber screen could stand, verify clearances, and install approved anchors before hanging containers.
- Prepare soil. Remove weeds, address compaction and incorporate organic matter through the planting zone.
- Set the large forms. Position the screen, hedge line and any tree-adjacent cordylines so later plants do not need to be moved around them.
- Add the vertical layer. Hang Boston ferns in self-watering pots at varied heights, checking load capacity and access for watering.
- Plant the soft edges. Place bridal veil plant in a shaded corner and direct it down the side of the steps, never across the tread.
- Finish the visual bridge. Add containers or low planting that repeats the garden’s foliage near the patio.
- Inspect from real use positions. Sit, stand and walk through the space. Move or prune anything that interferes with sightlines or movement.
Maintenance and troubleshooting
When plants still look thin after soil preparation
Recheck light and moisture before adding fertilizer or more plants. Compaction may remain below the amended layer, or a plant may be receiving direct sun where it needs shade. Around trees, competition can continue even after planting. Correct the site mismatch first.
When hanging plants dry out
Inspect the reservoir and growing medium, then compare the basket’s exposure with the protected position you intended. Wind and reflected heat can increase water demand. Move the container if necessary, but retain a secure support and a clear walkway.
When a screen makes the patio darker
Check the screen from the seating area at different times of day. If it blocks more light than intended, adjust the viewing angle or use a more open spacing pattern, subject to structural requirements. The goal is to hide the specific dull view while preserving useful daylight.
When the hedge loses its flowers
Review pruning timing. Orange jessamine should be trimmed after its fragrant flowers have finished, as recommended in the source. Repeated cutting before flowering can remove the feature that makes the hedge useful in the first place.
How to adapt the ideas responsibly
The named plants come from an Australian inspiration article, so availability and performance will differ elsewhere. Ask a local nursery or horticultural service whether each species tolerates your winter temperatures, humidity, rainfall pattern and pest pressures. Substitute a locally suitable shade plant when necessary while preserving the design role: a hanging fern for vertical softness, a trailing plant for the step edge, a small flowering hedge for definition, or patterned foliage near a tree.
Likewise, adapt the screen to local rules and weather. A light-permeable timber design may suit one patio, while a stronger or differently spaced structure may be required in a high-wind location. Preserve the underlying decision: block the unwanted sightline, keep daylight where possible, and maintain safe access.
Quick Recap
Patio transformation checklist
- Light exposure has been observed rather than guessed from orientation alone.
- Compacted soil has been improved with organic matter before planting.
- Tree roots and competition for water have been considered.
- Plants are selected for local conditions and the actual shade available.
- Boston ferns are supported securely in accessible self-watering pots.
- Trailing plants stay beside steps, not across them.
- Orange jessamine is pruned after flowering.
- The timber screen hides the chosen view without unnecessarily blocking light.
- Planting extends toward the patio while keeping doors, paths and seating clear.
- The finished arrangement has been checked from both seated and standing positions.
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