Aussie, Aussie, Aussie; prep, prep, prep.
Real Estate In Motion | According to the National Australia Day Council Annual Report 2010-11, the first recorded Australia Day celebrations were held...
Dreim

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie; prep, prep, prep.

According to the National Australia Day Council Annual Report 2010-11, the first recorded Australia Day celebrations were held in 1808 to mark the 20 year anniversary of Captain Arthur Phillip raising the flag at Sydney Cove. Over the years, Australia Day has become a beloved Australian tradition. It is a day that friends and family can get together for a barbie, some drinks and some backyard sports. If you are thinking about hosting a party at your place this year, here are some helpful tips and party ideas to get your home and garden ready for Australia Day activities.

Prep the lawn


A key to a great Australia Day is backyard sports and a good old slip and slide. Whether you want to set up a slip and slide or play some backyard cricket, volleyball, touch footy or AFL, you need to have your lawn looking its best. In the midst of summer, Australian lawns often dry out from the heat and become dead and brown. Not only does this look unsightly, but if people are playing games or running around on the lawn, dry grass can become unpleasant, and even painful, to walk on barefoot. To keep your lawn green and healthy, give it a quick water each morning, before it is too hot. Also raise the cutting height of the blades on your lawnmower throughout summer to prevent it from drying out. To make your lawn even healthier, purchase some Bindii and Clover Weeder to ensure people don't get bindiis stuck in their bare feet.

Consider paving


While it's always nice to have a big lawn, in a drought-prone country such as Australia, it is a good idea to limit your lawn to one area and landscape the rest of your garden with pavers, cement or tiling. Paved or tiled areas can provide a perfect location for outdoor living and outdoor furniture, such as outdoor lighting, sun lounges and outdoor dining sets. These areas are essential if you want to eat and entertain outdoors. Paved areas also provide a perfect place to set up the barbecue, and throw on some traditional Aussie foods, such as sausages, lamb chops, prawns, grilled onions, charred corn and other vegetables. Another great BBQ idea: consider setting up platters of other Aussie favourites, such as lamingtons, scones, mini pavlovas and salads.

Plant some Aussie natives


Nothing says Australia like some native Australian flora. To make your backyard more Australian, consider planting some native plants and trees. If you have the room, plant some popular Australian trees such as banksias, eucalyptus and grevilleas. If you want to go all out, try landscaping with other Australian favourites such as bottlebrushes, wattles, lilli-pilli, tea tree, gardenias and myrtle. Not only will your backyard be the epitome of Australia, but you will also create habitats for local wildlife.