Third Grape Arbor

We have had tremendous growth on our original grape vine this year and have had to prop up the piece of wire that we had used across the paved area. We had already decided that this would be a better area for food production and have moved the table and chairs into another area. Here is the next framework in place ready for the third grape arbor.



This will be the garden behind the arbor which was where we have had the table and chairs for many years. We have lifted the pavers and will use them as walls and fill the are with mulch to start with.



Here is the finished arbor with the grapes carefully placed into the wire wherever possible.



This is the latest grape arbor from the opposite direction and I have now started de-paving the area underneath and mulching.  This should assist the plants in this area by reducing the heat load and increasing the water that reaches the soil. As well when the leaves fall they will fall onto mulch and enrich the soil and we will not have to sweep them up - win/win.This should also help reduce the heat-load on the house which after a 42 degree day today is a really good goal to keep aiming for as we try to avoid using the air-conditioner whenever we possibly can.

Pavers to Gardens

 The back of the house faces east so last summer we put up an awning and shade sails to reduce the direct sunlight on the window and to shade the pavers around the pool as they trap and emit a lot of heat.

In an effort to further improve the heat sink/trap I dug up three rows of pavers under the window and placed cardboard, newspaper and dead leaves on, leaving the ferns that were already growing there.

 Then I got some wheelbarrows of sand from Danny's hole and placed that on top to weigh it all down. I have now transplanted some daisies and hope that they will like this dry and sunny area. They look terrible at the moment as we had some hot days, once they start to thrive i will add another image.

Reducing Heat- Increasing Shade

 

We have had some really hot weather here in Perth which has made us re-look at the way that we reduce the impact on our house. The porch on the front faces west and so heats ups and releases a lot of heat at night, so we have had a blind installed which stops 90% of the UV rays but lets light/air in.

It has made a huge difference to the heat coming into the front of the house, but still allows us to see out and watch the birds in the bird baths.

 One of the bedrooms faces east and gets the hot morning sun, plus the pavers around the pool heat up and release heat all day. So we have put another blind on that window and it has made a huge difference.

 We have replaced the pool cover, which reduces water loss and means the water stays warmer, but we have now also placed some shade sails over the pool, which also reduce the heat stored and released by the pavers.

We knew that it would make a difference, but to be honest we had not realised quite how much difference it would make and we wish we had done it earlier!