The driveway is one of those things that are hard to dress up. Unfortunately, they also tend to be one of the first things passers-by see when strolling past your house. You can increase the curb appeal of your home simply by taking the time to properly maintain your garden and front driveway. We spoke to horticulturist Darren Kerr, who has teamed up with garden power tools specialists STIHL, about his best tips and tricks for making an average drive way look amazing.
Driveway idea #1 Tidy up
“Overgrown grasses, dead shrubs and unwanted trees around your driveway should be removed using a brushcutter or clearing saw,” says Darren. “To remove, cut at ground level and put the waste through a shredder, which can then be added to a compost heap.”
Tip: repair driveway cracks as they happen.
Driveway idea #2 Trim
“If you have lawn surrounding your driveway, you can make your driveway look amazing with a little maintenance,” says Darren. “Weekly edging is advised to keep grass maintained and ensure that the front lawn has sharp lines around the boundaries of the driveway. To create a sharp edge around the driveway, stonework or pathways, vertically cut clean lines around the perimeter of the lawn using a grass trimmer.”
Driveway Idea #3 Use plants
“For a lush driveway experience plant shrubs or hedge plants along the border of your driveway. Small shrubs and hedges grow like crazy, especially in spring and summer,” says Darren. “Use a trimmer to shape your shrubs and hedges into a nice shape.”
Driveway Idea #4 Add some privacy
“For a driveway that is more private yet grand, plant tall hedges or shrubs along the length of it,” says Darren. “Taller hedges need regular trimming during the spring season to become dense and lush, but rather than using a ladder, try an extension hedge trimmer to get into the hard to reach places.”
“Just stand with both feet flat on the ground, then trim the sides and tops of the hedge – no climbing required. The adjustable head is perfect for trimming flat along the top of the hedge to create sharp corners and nice sides – making your entry a private driveway.”
Driveway Idea #5 Keep it clean
“Keep your driveway sparkling clean in two easy steps: first, remove any of the loose debris such as leaves from the driveway using a blower. Then, remove any traffic marks and stains from the concrete or pavers using a pressure cleaner, but put on some gumboots and safety glasses before connecting to a hose and power source. Move the wand over the hard surfaces to scrub off any marks and then lightly hose down the area to remove dirt on walls, surfaces and pots.”
Safety tips for your driveway
It’s important to remember that a driveway is essentially an extension of the road. Vehicles are often coming and going from driveways, and as such, there are a few driveway safety tips you should keep in mind whenever you plant hedges or shrubs around your driveway, or if you make any structural changes to your driveway. Kid Safe Victoria reports that every year in Australia seven children die from an accident in a driveway, and a further 60 are injured due to driveway accidents. Here are a few ways you can keep your driveway safe for every member of your family, big or small.
- Treat the driveway like a road. Do not let children use the driveway as a play area.
- Separate children’s play spaces from garages and driveways.
- Drivers should get into the habit of walking around their vehicle before getting into it when leaving an area where a young child is present.
- Avoid creating nooks or holes in your hedging or shrubbery where small children could hide or be obscured.
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