How to give your clothesline a gorgeous makeover

How Aussie is the rotary clothesline out the back! So practical. But, instead of treating it as just a utility – or even a makeshift swing for the kids – make it part of your ornamental display, too. Have your garden finish off the cleaning process by planting drifts of sweetly perfumed lavender or other plants, so their fragrances waft up into your clothes!

Step 1

Remove wires then cut up your old clothesline, using an angle grinder fitted with a metal cutting blade. Dig out of ground.

Step 2

Use post-hole shovel to dig a deep hole for post of new clothesline in selected spot. Make the depth 50mm greater than needed for clothesline.

Step 3

Fill bottom of hole with a 50mm pebble layer, insert post so the ground socket is slightly above lawn level, then add another 50mm pebbles to drain water from around post.

Step 4

Use spirit level to make post plumb, then concrete in place.

Step 5

Use tape measure and setout paint to mark a circle with a radius to suit clothesline. Excavate. Make depth the thickness of stones plus 30mm below finished level of paving.

Step 6

Bend garden edging into semicircles. Bring together. Screw with 20mm screws. Slip over post; centre on ground.

Step 7

Lay blob of mortar mix on ground near centre ring, then place flagging on top. Tap it down with mallet so it’s flush with top of ring.

Step 9

After each barrow of mortar, haunch paving stones with small trowel to make sure they are fully supported by mortar.

Step 10

Continue mixing mortar and laying pavers, making sure outside meets your marked circle. Use spirit level to ensure pavers are flush with each other.

Step 11

Plant creeper between paving stones and lavender in centre ring. Half fill with potting mix. Follow up with pebbles, finishing them flush with stones.