I thought it was high time I updated you on where the garden is at. The truth is, we now are deep into winter here in New Zealand, so I haven’t been out there lately (well, occasionally to drop stuff in the compost bin!). I did, however, put in a few retainers and plant a few vegetables to see how they fared over winter.

The side of the section is quite sloping and was very overgrown when we moved in. I ripped up the grass and plotted out where I wanted my vegetable retainers to sit, using some twine tied to sticks. I opted for a slight angle to them both, but they can sit in any direction you choose.

Under the house were some strips of rounded, treated timber, which were perfect for the job. I cut some of the smaller lengths up into stakes, using a mitre saw to spike or point up the ends. I then used a club hammer to insert them into the ground, ensuring they were evenly distributed. Be careful not to knock the stakes out of alignment when hammering them in (this is quite easy to do!). If you do knock it out of line, gently use the club hammer to straighten the stake up before continuing its downward journey.

Once the stakes were in place, I used the saw to cut the longer lengths of wood to the required length. These were then simply nailed on, leaving me with some empty vegetable patch containers.

I spent a few long hours sieving out the soil in the garden, because I wanted to re-use it. Another option is to just buy the soil and give it a good mix with some compost. I have heard of soil being available to buy for as little as $40 (NZD) a square metre.

I started some carrots, lettuce and cauliflower from seed in the house and moved them out after a few weeks. A great tip for seeding is to grow them in those large cardboard egg trays, with a little compost in. When the time comes to move them outside, you simply have to cut the cups out and plant them as they are. The roots soon push through the damp cardboard and set themselves in the ground.

I have to say, the best thing about making these retainers is the cost. The wood was left behind by the previous owners, but even if it hadn’t, the wood would have been obtained from a builder’s yard for a reasonable price. There are loads of retaining wall styles and designs, a lot of which can be found on the internet. They are also very easy to build.

I know things don’t yet look superb in the pictures, but it is a start. When the weather picks up a bit, I think I will do some more work outside. In the meantime, let’s paint upstairs…

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Tiles can add an attractive, timeless look to just about any room in the house. A job of two parts, many people underestimate the importance of a good grouting job. Here are five great tips for grouting:

1. Always follow your grout manufacturer’s instructions when mixing up the grout. Never be tempted to add more water than specified.

2. Only mix as much grout as you can use in half an hour. Grout will begin to harden straight away and could be prone to cracking if used after this. Devise a method of accurately measuring the precise amounts of grout and water used in each mixing session, this will ensure you always end up with the same colour or shade of grout (if using coloured grouts!)

3. When grouting, scoop off as much grout as possible from the tiles, then focus on the shaping of the joints! Do not allow yourself to be tempted to start polishing the tiles yet. The joints are hardening, so these must be shaped now. Remember: If you’re using waterproof grout, you must doubly ensure that all the grout is removed from the surface of the tiles before continuing to shape the joints.

4. The main thing to remember when grouting is to not panic. If there’s a section you are not happy with, simply go back and redo it before it dries. Like in all DIY tasks, you are better off taking an extra five minutes now, than spending five minutes of every day you look at the result regretting not fixing it when you could!

5. Begin polishing when grout has dried. Glazed surfaces should polish up relatively easily. Some surfaces are porous and will have absorbed a certain amount of grout in the process. Don’t panic, all this means is you’re going to need something slightly stronger to clean it off. There are lots of after-market products that claim to remove dried grout, but these will cost a lot more than a small amount of a readily available chemical: hydrochloric acid. Simply mix a very small part to five parts water. Wear protective rubber gloves and use the coarse side of a pan-scourer to test a small, hidden area of your tiles. If the tiles suffer no reaction, then rub a small amount over the affected areas. Wipe down with a slightly damp cloth when finished and allow the tiles to dry. Repeat if necessary.

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A tired kitchen can make a nice, clean house look unfinished. People looking to buy a house look far beyond the functionality of a kitchen. They want it to look smart. A few simple changes to a kitchen can make it gleam and will bump up your home’s value by far.

Here are five kitchen renovation ideas that will turn your kitchen around, without running your bank balance aground:

1. Fit a new worktop
Perhaps the most effective way to change the look of a kitchen, bar a repaint, is to change those tired or out of date looking worktops for a newer design. If you don’t intend to change the layout of the cupboards, the measuring is already done for you, and most worktops are simply screwed down from inside the cupboards. Add a touch of silicone sealant and the odd finishing joint and you can change the look of your kitchen overnight.

2. Add a tile surround or splash-back
A neat and good value addition to a kitchen comes in the form of tiles. Constantly in fashion, tiles can be added along the worktop and help protect the walls from any water or messy accidents. Tiles also represent your chance to express some creativity, as the final design is entirely up to you. The possibilities are endless!

3. Fit a new sink
If you are going for a new worktop, it may be wise to fit a new sink at the same time. Even a bargain sink will look shiny when fitted and will add some instant attraction to the kitchen. A new set of taps will go a long way to extend this and while you are at it, I would strip out the crusty looking, leaking waste pipe and put a new one in. Even for beginners, fitting a new waste pipe will only take a few minutes once you get started.

4. Refinish the cupboard doors
If your cupboard doors are made of solid wood, either painted or varnished, consider stripping them down and refinishing them with either a new paint, varnish or stain. Your local DIY store will have a range of suitable varnishes and stains on display. Fitting a 21st century style of handle to doors and draws will also help bring a kitchen into the present.

5. Fit a laminate floor
Fitting a laminate floor in your kitchen is a great value way of adding style and functionality to a kitchen. These floors are resistant to water and easy to keep clean. No more peas squashed into the carpet! Make sure you choose a darker finish, if possible, as these are harder to stain.

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