Larry Smith and the Riverside Gardens team talk all things pots, plants and pruning in their weekly gardening column.
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There’s a lot more to a great garden than just the plants.
We spend plenty of time deciding which tree should go where, what to plant along the fence, which colours will look best in the garden bed, and how much lawn is enough, but sometimes it’s the little extras that bring a garden to life.
A well-positioned statue, a colourful piece of wall art or even a simple bench seat can turn an ordinary corner into somewhere you want to stop and enjoy.
Garden art has certainly come a long way.
Traditional statues still have their place, particularly in formal or cottage-style gardens.
Classical figures, stone-look ornaments, urns and animals can look wonderful surrounded by greenery, especially when plants are allowed to soften their edges.
On the other hand, modern garden art can give you an opportunity to have a bit of fun.
Large rusty metal butterflies can make a fantastic statement among flowering perennials or against a green hedge.
Australian-themed pieces such as large frill-necked lizards, emus and kangaroos are another way of introducing some character.
The warm, rusty tones of weathered metal art also tend to blend beautifully among foliage, against weathered timber or stone, or even as a feature piece in a gravel area.
Don’t feel that every garden ornament needs to be serious. Gardens should make us smile.
Movement is another interesting element to introduce. Wind spinners can provide an ever-changing feature as they gently turn in the breeze.
Position one where you can see it from a favourite window, outdoor entertaining area or garden seat.
A spinner surrounded by relatively simple planting will generally stand out more effectively than one competing with lots of other decorations.
Wind chimes can add another dimension to the garden, particularly in a quiet courtyard or verandah.
Choose a tone and pitch you enjoy, because you may be hearing quite a lot of it.
Hanging wind spirals and reflective decorations are another option.
As they turn, they catch changing light and provide movement without taking up valuable garden space.
Just be careful not to overdo it. One or two carefully chosen features usually have more impact than a garden overflowing with decorations and bits and pieces.
Birdbaths are one of my favourite garden additions because they are decorative and useful.
Rather than hiding a birdbath in the back corner, make it part of the garden design.
Position it where it can be viewed from the house, patio or favourite sitting area.
Surrounding it with bushy plants can help it settle naturally into the landscape while giving the smaller flighty birds somewhere to hide.
Keep the immediate area open enough, though, to enjoy watching the visiting birds and to allow them to see any approaching predators that may be lurking nearby.
Keeping the water fresh and the birdbath clean will make it a more attractive garden feature and an inviting place for birds to visit.
Bird feeders can also bring activity into the garden.
Instead of thinking only about the feeder itself, consider how it looks as part of the overall setting.
Hanging feeders can work beautifully from a sturdy branch or purpose-built stand, while decorative feeders can become garden features in their own way.
Of course, sometimes the most useful garden feature is somewhere to sit.
A bench seat tucked underneath a shady tree can completely change the way you use an area of the garden.
Suddenly, that forgotten corner becomes somewhere for a morning coffee or a quiet break.
Small café settings are ideal for courtyards, balconies and compact gardens. In a larger garden, consider creating several little destinations rather than having all the furniture beside the house.
A chair or bench at the end of a pathway gives you a reason to wander through the garden and enjoy it from a different perspective.
Walls and fences are another often-overlooked opportunity.
Outdoor wall art can transform a plain fence, brick wall or alfresco area.
Metal flowers, birds, butterflies, decorative panels, mirrors and colourful pieces can all be used to break up a large blank surface.
A feature mounted among climbing plants can look especially attractive as the foliage gradually frames it.
Old garden items can become decorations too. A weathered watering can, vintage wheelbarrow, old timber ladder or interesting pot can be given a second life in the garden.
Fill them with colourful annuals, succulents or cascading plants and suddenly something that might have been thrown away becomes a talking point.
Decorative pots are another simple option. Try grouping three pots of different heights rather than lining up a dozen identical ones.
Lanterns, garden stakes, decorative plant supports, outdoor clocks, sundials and small water features can also provide those finishing touches.
Garden lighting is also well worth thinking about.
A few solar lights along a pathway or a soft light highlighting a favourite tree, statue or piece of garden art can give the garden an entirely different personality after sunset.
The secret with garden features is not to decorate every available space.
Choose pieces that suit you and give each one room to be the feature.
Some people love contemporary metal artwork, while others may prefer traditional statues, colourful pottery or quirky animals and there is nothing wrong with that.
We spend so much time choosing the right plants to make our gardens beautiful.
There is no reason we shouldn’t add a few things that reflect our tastes, make the garden our own, or simply make us smile.
After all, a garden should reflect the personality of the people who call it home.