Bunnings DIY showcase: Perth garden hacks worth copying
Event recap: the Bunnings DIY Showcase’s most replicable Perth garden hacks had less to do with grand makeovers than with ordinary fixes made well. The strongest ideas across the showcase were unglamorous in the best way: a vertical herb garden on a blank fence, a safe container full of salad greens, a patch of native shrubs and a watering line that does not waste a litre. Each could be copied in a Perth backyard, courtyard or small outdoor nook without calling in a landscape architect.
That focus suits the way many Australians live. A suburban block may hold a modest backyard, while a townhouse or rental home might offer only a balcony, paved side path or communal courtyard. The showcase’s practical tone matched the local market, where people expect clear value, familiar Bunnings hardware and projects that can be tackled with a drill, a weekend and advice from a mate with a sharp hand.
It also answered a genuine local need. Perth’s sandy ground, hot summers and bright winters demand different planting and watering decisions from many other Australian cities. The transferable message was to work with the climate, not fight it: improve the soil, reduce water loss, choose suitable plants and repair what is already there before buying something new.
What made the showcase ideas repeatable
Across the displays, reusable planters, modular timber beds and simple irrigation demonstrations made the case for incremental improvement. A narrow courtyard gained height rather than losing floor area; tired edging became a defined veggie patch; an old fence became the support for climbing plants. None of these moves required a large machinery hire or a major landscape plan.
Their appeal was also honest about trade-offs. A pallet garden needs safe timber, secure fixing and enough light. A recycled container needs free drainage. A water-wise border still needs the right species for its soil and aspect. That practical realism reflects the wider Perth design scene, where events such as the Form Wrap Party celebrate experimentation with materials while keeping questions of use and construction in view.
Soil and water: the Perth essentials
Perth’s sandy soil is the first hurdle for many garden makers. A suburban plot may contain old fill, compacted builder’s sand or a patch of beach-like loam. Digging a deeper hole and filling it with richer mix can create a sump, so improve the existing ground instead. Add well-rotted organic matter across the bed, loosen it where compacted and check how quickly water drains. A handful of compost will not rebuild a badly structured root zone.
Mulch is the cheapest way to make those improvements last through summer. Spread a loose 5–7cm layer of coarse, weed-free garden mulch to slow evaporation and soften soil temperature. Keep it clear of trunks and stems, where constant damp can encourage rot. Before laying mulch, remove weeds and check that water reaches the soil rather than running off a crust. Leaf litter can also be reused, but it should not be piled against a house during the fire season.
Watering is where local habits have the greatest effect. Perth’s sprinkler roster and Water Corporation guidance should set the routine, not a fixed shower every evening. A drip line or soaker hose placed at the root zone delivers water slowly, reduces runoff and can operate within the permitted early-morning watering windows. Inspect connections for leaks, group pots according to their needs and check the soil below the surface before watering again. Deep, measured watering generally creates stronger roots than frequent splashes.
Small plots, larger possibilities
A metre of spare wall can carry a row of herbs without turning the path into an obstacle. The DIY version is a simple slatted box fixed clear of the fence, with a waterproof liner and a drip line along the top pocket. Untreated timber or a purpose-made planter is safer around edibles than mystery offcuts. Whatever the support, secure it for Perth’s summer winds and leave enough room to lift, water and replace plants.
Trellises offer another vertical layer for beans, peas and climbing greens. Install one where the plants can reach the light without shading the whole garden, and use a broad enough container for the mature root system. Tall panels need a solid base and proper anchors; a lightweight trellis tied to a paling fence can work loose in a stiff breeze. For very narrow plots, a narrow run of shelves can hold small herbs and pots while keeping the floor clear.
Reuse was strongest where the old item had a safe, practical second life. Clean galvanised troughs and suitable buckets can become salad planters when drainage holes and free-draining potting mix are added. Avoid containers whose contents or coatings are unknown, especially for food. This systems view of the garden—structure, water and planting considered together—has much in common with the conversations at Wine in Design, where Perth’s architecture and design community compares how spaces actually perform.
Materials that suit the local climate
Material choices in WA need to account for intense UV, dry heat, occasional heavy rain and the sea air reaching many coastal suburbs. Colorbond fencing is durable and easy to clean, but its fixings and posts still determine its life. Timber edges can move as they dry and swell, concrete can crack and limestone can become slippery when wet. Choose details with expansion gaps and drainage rather than relying on a tight, sand-covered join to stay put.
Native planting is the quieter counterpart to those hard landscaping choices. Local-provenance kangaroo paw, grevillea, hakea and saltbush species can suit a sunny, free-draining garden, while dependable annual vegetables can occupy a separate, well-watered bed. Banksias and many grevilleas punish wet feet, so do not put them into a damp clay sump simply because the spot looks empty. Check mature size, eventual water demand and the plant’s tolerance of local frost or salt exposure.
Shade cloth can make a summer vegetable patch workable, but the percentage matters. Lightweight cloth can lift in a breeze, so fix it to a frame and keep it clear of foliage. Use 30–50% shade for many leafy vegetables in peak heat and adjust after watching the plants; too much shade encourages thin growth. Timber offcuts may be useful for stepping stones, yet any timber near edibles or seating needs a stable finish that will not become slippery or flake.
Compare the fixes before you spend
A quick comparison helps separate a manageable project from an attractive kit that hides extra work. The figures below are broad hardware estimates for a small garden, not quotes, and they exclude plants, delivery and specialist soil. Buy the component that cannot be improvised first: drainage and irrigation often matter more than decorative trim.
| Garden fix | Best for | What good execution looks like | Typical hardware outlay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timber raised bed | Poor or amended soil | Untreated timber, level base, open soil and a fitted drip line | A$60–150 |
| Container planters | Patios, courtyies and balconies | Clean, food-safe vessels, generous holes and potting mix | A$30–100 |
| Vertical herb or pallet garden | Narrow paths and blank fences | Secure fixing, safe liner, adequate light and access | A$40–120 |
| Native plant pocket | Long-term, low-water planting | Local-provenance species, mulch and matched soil drainage | A$50–150 |
These ranges suit a modest weekend project rather than a full courtyard redesign. The vertical option may deliver the most planting from the smallest footprint, while a timber bed costs more upfront but gives better control over roots. The cheapest option can still be the best if it starts with compost, mulch and efficient irrigation. Photograph the finished bed, keep a simple record of materials and compare the result with the space you had before.
Build a better patch this weekend
A good Perth garden plan is modest, specific and visible. Choose one outcome—fresh herbs, a salad strip, a native pollinator pocket or a shaded sitting area—and measure the available light, soil and water before buying. Pick the method that addresses the limiting factor, then set a weekend budget. It is easier to complete a small version, learn what the site needs and extend it later than to order the whole garden at once.
- Test the soil first. Check drainage and add organic matter before importing a large volume of potting mix.
- Repair the watering path. Inspect hoses, drip lines and timer settings, then adjust to the Water Corporation roster and each plant’s needs.
- Mulch after planting. Apply 5–7cm over moist soil, keeping the layer away from stems and accessible to rain or irrigation.
- Reuse one safe object. Clean a suitable trough or bucket, drill drainage holes and use a free-draining mix.
- Add one long-term feature. Plant a local native alongside the vegetables so the garden improves beyond the first harvest.
Take one idea from the showcase into your own patch this weekend. Gather the hardware, make a quick plan and build before the plants arrive; many failures come from placing a demanding plant in the wrong spot rather than from a poor product. Contemporary’s design ambassadors offer another route to local insight and community connections, useful when verge approval, coastal exposure or difficult soil complicates the job.
Start with one container or one square metre, complete it properly and use the result to plan the next change. A well-built patch can look ordinary, work hard through a Perth summer and become the part of the home the family actually uses.
