Backyard and Outdoor Living Issue #50 - 2020

I recently had my first child and when he was six months old, we moved from an apartment in the city to a house in the suburbs. As the editor of Backyard, I’m ashamed to admit that initially there was so much to do that the backyard kind of got left by the wayside. All of a sudden, I had this great big backyard to look after with a pool, pergola and tonnes of grass! Having lived in an apartment for 12 years prior to this, I was a bit overwhelmed to be honest. Now that I had the space, my dream was to finally have my own veggie garden, but where do you start? Well I finally have one, but not in the traditional sense. I got a contained, raised…

FLOWER: EXPLORING THE WORLD IN BLOOM ANNA PAVORD (INTRODUCTION), SHANE CONNOLLY (CONTRIBUTOR) PHAIDON | $79.95 Get your green thumbs on a copy of Flower to learn about the incredible beauty and diversity of plants. Containing 300 pioneering botanical images, it’s a feast for the eyes with a combination of photos and innovative micrograph scans with watercolours, drawings and prints. Curated by a panel of experts and structured to provide exciting combinations, the compilation welcomes iconic work by renowned artists, photographers, scientists and botanical illustrators. Indulge your love of the natural world with Flower and feel your passion for blooms boom. THE AUSTRALIAN BEEKEEPING MANUAL (2ND EDITION) ROBERT OWEN EXISLE PUBLISHING | $49.99 Accessible and detailed, The Australian Beekeeping Manual is a comprehensive reference tool for both amateur and experienced beekeepers in Australia. More than 350 vibrant photographs…

SNAKE IN THE GRASS The White Snake garden hose brings a touch of glam to your watering escapades. The eggshell-white coating is dirt resistant and UV protected, so it will look good for years to come. Most importantly, the deluxe PVC hoses are compatible with all Garden Glory nozzles and wall mounts. The 20m Snake is available in a number of colours, and each is carefully housed inside an elegant designer bag. mrandmrsdesigner.com.au THRIVING EDIBLES Create a prolific garden with Yates Top 50 Edible Plants for Pots and How Not to Kill Them! Authored by Angie Thomas, the book teaches readers how to grow their own food in modest domestic spaces. From balconies and courtyards to windowsills and small backyards, it offers information on which edible plants grow well in pots and how…

TINY TIM This adorable tomato produces masses of delicious cherry-sized fruit. They’re ideal for tossing whole into salads and pasta, or you can go full gourmet and roast trusses of them with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Tiny Tim is also a favourite with kids, who love snacking on these little tomatoes out in the garden. Don’t tell them they’re healthy! It is a pint-sized dwarf plant, so it doesn’t take up much room, and is perfect for growing in a pot on a sunny balcony or patio. TOMMY TOE Flavour-packed Tommy Toe has bright-red, small apricot-sized fruit that are renowned for their rich flavour. It’s an heirloom variety that grows to around 1.5m tall, so it needs staking and is perfect for growing in a sunny veggie patch. Healthy, well-fed Tommy Toe…

By developing a regular maintenance routine in the garden, you’ll cut down on the work required to keep it looking good year-round. Preventative maintenance is key and will save you time and money in the long run. Horticulturist Colin Purnell from Earthlife says it pays to get to know your garden and keep a close eye on any changes. “I always say 50 per cent of gardening is observation,” he shares. So grab your morning cuppa and take a stroll around your garden from time to time. This will allow you to see what jobs might need doing and to assess the health of your plants. READY, SET, GO Getting started on the right foot is important. When planning a garden, good design is crucial. This means what you’ve planted is getting sufficient…

The once rambling landscape of this property is now a series of captivating garden rooms, designed by Michael Cooke and built by KMD Outdoor Construction. Kieran Devlin from KMD says the complex construction was completed over three stages in 2016, 2017 and 2018, with KMD returning in 2021 for the final stage. The work completed so far has transformed the property into a beautiful rural sanctuary. “The garden was previously disjointed, disorganised, dishevelled and run-down,” says Kieren. “The new design has transformed the garden into a magnificent open, flowing, interesting, eye-catching garden where each major element is linked.” The garden flows as a cohesive whole because of the clever use of beautiful organic materials such as cobbles, stone walling and blade walls that serve to define, segment and yet visually link spaces.…