Table of contents for Issue#15.1 2017 in Backyard and Outdoor Living

There’s no doubt that the backyard, outdoor room, patio, courtyard or whatever you want to call it has taken centre stage in recent years. It’s no longer the afterthought of a renovation or new build but an extension of indoor living spaces — a place to relax, play and entertain. This is super, of course. My only concern is that backyards are becoming a bit heavy on the hardscaping while planting is being left by the wayside. Planting imparts mystery, romance and even a little bit of magic to the backyard and I really think this is something we should keep in mind when designing a space. The Makers in this issue shows how you can add romance to your backyard with some simple tips. Outdoor lighting is a great…

When we opened our own garden to the public a couple of years ago through Open Gardens Australia we watched to see what people gravitated to. The answer was unexpected and it made me think a lot more about the relationship between children and natural spaces. Over the weekend the garden was open, visitors — adults and children alike — were attracted to the bits specifically incorporated for our kids’ sakes. If you’re like us, keen to encourage natural play rather than hours spent indoors in front of a screen, you might find the following helpful. It’s what we’ve done, and done cheaply, and it seems to be working. As a professional, I’m often asked to design and build landscapes with children in mind. As I’m also a parent, I…

“A mandala is a tool for spirituality, one th at helps its user create a sacred space” An outdoor space that so effortlessly provides a feeling of harmony to its visitors is a special thing. Built in Japan for the Gardening World Cup 2016, this garden by Paal Grant Landscape Design — in collaboration with Yamamoto Landscapes Japan, builder Mayhew Netherway and landscape contractor Kazuta — does exactly that. Paal Grant Landscape Design’s intention here was to base the space on a mandala, a spiritual symbol often used in Buddhism or Hinduism and commonly thought of as representing the universe. A mandala is a tool for spirituality, one that helps its user create a sacred space. It is believed to aid meditation and wisdom. Specifically — and in its most…

“A house should look like it’s been planted in the garden,” says Janine Mendel, landscape designer and owner of CultivArt Landscape Design. “Create a great structure but don’t forget about the plants because without them it’s just an artificial space. Make it beautiful with planting, give yourself a reason to turn off the air conditioner and go outside.” Contemporary and well structured, this backyard in Karrinyup, Perth, is in keeping with the architectural design of the home. While the hardscaping of the property is indeed magnificent, planting and lawn have become a feature throughout, breaking up the man-made elements and softening the space. Still under construction when Janine first visited, the home was on a steep slope and the site was 10m from front to rear. Some of the house…

"When planning an outdoor area, carefully consider how much time and effort you want to put into th e maintenance" Your outdoor area is as much a part of your home as the rooms inside. A beautifully crafted outdoor space can add value to your home as well as making your lifestyle easier and more enjoyable. Think dinner parties at sunset in summer, lazy afternoon barbecues with friends, Sunday morning coffee and newspaper sessions, pool parties for the kids, or a roaring flame to cosy around in colder months. A multifunctional space that melds with your lifestyle can be easy to create and can be done costeffectively, too, with a little careful planning. Here are some of our top tips to help you create an outdoor oasis. FIRST THINGS FIRST…

Adding character and style to your outdoor space can be achieved with authentic natural stone. The matchless variations of colour and texture within stone will provide a classic look to outdoor areas that is visually interesting and impossible to replicate, making it unique to your space. Stone is a safe and appropriate surfacing material for hard landscaping that will not fade in extreme weather or wear under general use, remaining attractive and solid for years to come. And, being a product of the earth, it is naturally eco-friendly and recyclable. An excellent choice for outdoor paving, pool coping, steps and floor tiling, stone is available in a range of types. Some of the most common include bluestone, limestone, granite and travertine, as well as limestone, sandstone and slate. BLUESTONE Bluestone…

Have you ever taken a bite from an organic or homegrown vegetable and thought how different it tastes from the produce at the supermarket? There’s no doubt commercial fruit and vegetables have lost flavour and quality over the years, but you don’t have to settle for an inferior product. You can grow quality fruit and vegetables in your own backyard that simply burst with flavour without using chemical fertilisers or bug sprays. Seagold is a soluble seaweed extract made from fresh seaweed (algae) such as Ascophyllum nodosum, Sargassum and Laminarials, which are rich in micronutrients and natural hormones. Put away all those chemical fertilisers with technical names that you can’t even pronounce and smell like they would be more at home in a paint factory, and take the first step…

NASTURTIUM (TROPAEOLUM MAJUS) Other common names: Indian cress, monks cress Parts used: Leaves, buds and flowers particularly for their peppery taste Harvest and storing: Harvest flower buds, flowers and young leaves in the cool of the morning Uses: Add whole flowers or petals to salads; add any part to stir-fries and pasta; flowers can be stuffed Flowering plants are not only attractive, usually long-blooming and fast-growing, but their flowers, and sometimes leaves, can be edible. Some, of course, can also be used for medicinal or cosmetic purposes The first recorded mention of the culinary use of flowers dates back thousands of years, some say to 140 BCE. Many different cultures have incorporated flowers into their traditional foods. The Romans used mallow (Malva sylvestris), rose and violet. Italian and Hispanic societies…

Turf experts recommend lawn treatments as early as autumn to avoid a repeat of summer’s bindii invasion. Throughout 2016, Australians have trodden on more bindiis than usual due to wet conditions followed by quick changes in the weather. This created ideal conditions for bindiis to flourish and led to more prickles in our lawns. When bindii seeds dry out they’re dispersed by sticking to people’s feet and can easily be transported to new spots. So let’s stop this unpleasant infestation in its tracks. Turf Australia president Ross Boyle says bindiis develop in winter then drop hard, prickly seeds in spring and summer when it’s too late to treat them. Homeowners need to prepare now to rid their yards of this summer’s barefoot nightmare with these top tips. SPRAY FROM MAY…

A few weeks ago an old gardening friend phoned me, asking at one point, “What are you growing this year?” She’s someone who really knows our garden, because we’re always fooling around with new plants, especially new veggie varieties, in our small, green patch in Sydney’s inner west. We’ve been here 22 years now and our story is a happy one of constant change. During the first 10 years, the lawn shrank and shrank as the garden beds grew ever wider. Then one day the lawn finally disappeared altogether — replaced by a pathway down the centre of the yard, with little tippy-toe paths off to the side here and there to let us access the small beds. That was the “big renovation”, but since then we’ve been happily growing…

It’s difficult to believe that this reinvigorated outdoor space was once a completely overgrown courtyard with an existing pool that had become a duck pond due to broken plumbing. “The space that we faced was outdated, overgrown and out of control,” admits Jamie Clapham, of Clapham Landscape Architecture, who was asked to design the new outdoor room and garden. “It was a mess when we first visited. It looked like suburbia meets jungle, but the jungle had its own plans!” A retrofitted pool fence also limited the use of the area. “Immediately we recognised that there were obvious issues with function and usability,” says Jamie. The homeowners wished for a more usable space with outdoor lounging and dining areas and a smaller pool and spa. Constructed by Avoca Landscape Construction,…

You can grow most things from seed, including perennials, annuals, vegetables, fruits, trees, vines and shrubs. There are many good reasons to grow plants from seeds: it connects you to nature, it teaches you to be more self-sufficient and it’s a rewarding, productive activity the whole family can enjoy. Mat Pember from the Little Veggie Patch Co says there’s also more variety in what you can grow. “There is a diverse range of seed stock available — go to a nursery and pick seedlings and it’s usually just the more generic varieties,” he says. “With seeds, you can grow more exotic or unusual vegetables you might never have tried before.” “If you’ve never grown plants from seedlings before, start your journey with simple seeds,” suggests Mat. Radish, carrots, and beans…

WOOD WISE Regardless of which type of wood you choose, always make sure it is ethically sourced. This means it needs to have been harvested from sustainable, managed plantation forests — not precious old-wood forests or rainforests in countries such as Malaysia or Indonesia. Timber should have full Chain of Custody certification aligned with the Australian Forestry Standard (AFS). There’s plenty to think about when it comes to choosing the right wood for your outdoor area. What does it look like? How durable is it? And what sort of maintenance does it require? There are some basic rules to go by, such as choosing hardwood for decking and floors, and timbers like teak for furniture, but not all woods are equal — and making sure you choose the right timber…

The extreme temperatures we’ve experienced during summer this year will have done a lot of damage to gardens around Australia. With some areas experiencing very little rain and temperatures of more than 35 degrees, there’s no doubt the strain on our gardens and soils has been high. Toowoomba-based company Earthlife understands this issue all to well and has developed some simple solutions to help Aussies grow healthy gardens and lawns. The company aims to minimise the impact of hot weather and nurture great gardeners who no longer need to stress when the temperatures climb. To achieve this you must first break the waterrepellent crust that forms on all soil types then open up and condition the soil and, finally, create a pool of nutrients in the soil. Earthlife rock mineral…

When you compare the different appearances of the many brassica varieties, it’s hard to believe that cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, mustard greens and even Asian leafy greens all originate from the same wild greatgranddaddy, Brassica oleracea. Centuries of selection for a preference towards flower buds created broccoli, while breeding for leaf growth led to the many forms of cabbage, and a focus on stalk growth saw the birth of longer-stemmed brassicas such as kale. There is a brassica variety for every season, but it’s in the winter garden that they are the real stars. There’s also a reduced risk of attack from the brassicas’ main nemesis — the white cabbage butterfly — in the cooler months, although you’ll still need to monitor for eggs and caterpillars on autumn-planted…

WHAT YOU NEED FOR WOODEN NUMBERS • Wooden numbers (available from craft shops, hardware stores or you can carve your own) • Tile to stick the numbers/letters on • Short piece of dowel (timber rod) • Weathershield or enamel paint • Ceramic tile primer • Sponge • Paintbrush • Paint roller • Craft knife • Glue (we used Selleys Liquid Nails, high-strength) • Sandpaper The first thing visitors notice when entering your property is the house number. Often, these house numbers are mundane and unremarkable; boring, in fact. And as most house numbers are store-bought, yours will probably look like all the others in the street. But this doesn’t have to be the case. To get design ideas keep a lookout when you travel; lots of houses and letterboxes have…

The part of the potato plant we eat is familiar — an ovalshaped, thin-skinned, pitted tuber — but the top growth of the plant may not be so recognisable. It grows to around 75cm high and 45cm wide with rigid, slightly hairy stems and green leaves. The clusters of white to mauve nightshade flowers hint that potatoes are part of the large Solanaceae family. After flowering, round green berries form, but the plants are grown from tubers, not these seeds. In their native South America, potatoes come in a staggering array of shapes, sizes and colours. In just four centuries, they’ve conquered the world to become one of our most important food crops. SITE AND SOIL Potatoes flourish in a rich, friable soil tilled with well-composted animal manure or added…

Landscape design is all about making a space more usable and, of course, more beautiful in the process and there’s no doubt this property in Bardwell Valley, NSW required more than a little TLC. “When the homeowners first walked into their finished garden, they said it was the first time they’d seen the new extension from the rear of their house as they’d been too scared to enter the garden before,” recalls Kevin Quelch, landscape designer and owner of inovasis design. Due to the steep slope of the property, the rain run-off from the house and driveway presented a major issue, flooding the garden and turning it into a “dangerous, weedinfested bog”. Often nature itself provides the best solution to a problem and here was no exception — with a…

With the perfect mix of greenery and built environment, this striking project in New Zealand fulfilled the clients’ dream for the ultimate outdoor kitchen, dining and entertainment area. The project was a collaboration between Celia Visser from Celia Visser Design, who designed the outdoor kitchen and dining area, and landscape designer Andrew Barrowcliffe, who worked on planting and paving. Three distinctive cooking appliances were incorporated into the design: a wood-fired pizza oven combined with a fireplace, a gas barbecue with hobs and a charcoal barbecue. The clients now have multiple cooking options to choose from. The outdoor kitchen is highly functional, complete with a double sink as well as drawers and cupboards under each bench. Extra preparation space is provided on either side of the pizza oven and fireplace. In…

Sometimes garden lighting is a bit of an afterthought. A lot of care goes into choosing the paving, plants and pots but how much attention is paid to what should be illuminated and what type of fittings are used — let alone important issues such as where will the wiring go and how many power sources will be needed. Thinking about how you will light your garden during the design stage makes all the difference to how it will look — and feel — at night. Integrating lighting into your original garden design plan means the end result will look intentional rather than like a late addition. Moreover, it can save you money and hassle in the long run. “Lighting is a major factor in any garden and is what…

HANDY HINT Not all ceramic, porcelain or cement tiles are suitable for outdoor areas. While there are manufacturing standards, not all tiles meet international standards. Tile products are generally wear-rated from low to high (1–5). Be sure to check the wear-rating and waterabsorption rating of your tile selection before laying. For more information on ratings visit colourtile.com.au One of the oldest tricks in the book is to use tiles as a bathroom or kitchen feature, but this versatile and decorative tool has far more potential. Bringing this historic material to the outdoors can add a unique and modern design feature — just as it can indoors. When done well, patterned tiles create a sense of openness and light that can completely transform outdoor spaces. Patterns that have a Californian flair…

Greenhouses are designed to provide a controlled horticultural environment where you can adjust the temperature and humidity. This allows you to grow plants, fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers and herbs with ease. The beauty of greenhouses is that whatever you grow is protected from the harsh summer sun, drenching rains, cool frosts and high winds. Within the structured environment, seedlings sprout faster and you can grow a more diverse range of plants than you might otherwise be able to in your climate zone. Sproutwell Greenhouses is a family business that has enjoyed helping gardening enthusiasts and commercial growers alike to achieve their vision of an efficient and flourishing garden. Based in Victoria, it has two display locations in Geelong and Officer, though interstate customers can view its range of greenhouses…

The hottest trend for outdoor spaces is inc orporating a modern structure to really give the area that wow factor. Teaming pergolas and pavilions with impressive combinations of plants can really transform a space, adding both interest and function. The key to creating a standout space is employing an experienced landscaper and horticulturalist who is not afraid to think outside the box. With more than 12 years’ experience, Ross Goodman from Ross Goodman Design has worked with some of the best in the industry and is a member of the Housing Industry Association and Australian Institute of Landscape Designers and Managers. Making use of the latest 3D computer-aided drawing software, the company presents plans as a model in animation to allow clients to really visualise the space well before it…

If you’re bowled over by the beauty of fowls and want to keep hens with different plumage patterns and colours, you cannot go past Wyandottes. They are fowls with coats of many colours. It’s likely you will find all the plumage patterns you fancy on varieties of this charming breed. Wyandottes originated in America in the 1880s, reputedly named after a powerful tribe of American Indians. The initial variety was the beautiful Silver Laced, with both Black and White varieties appearing as chance mutations. Additional varieties were later developed. A century ago, Silver Laced Wyandottes were popular Aussie farm birds. Stock was imported from overseas with small-scale farmers keen to keep them because they offered an income from eggs plus additional money if the cockerels were raised and sold. They…

HELPFUL TIPS • A good-quality potting mix should be the only medium you use for planting. Garden soil is not the right blend for pots or containers and therefore should not be used. Always read the recommendations on the bag. • Liquid soil-wetting and water-storing granules are agents that have been developed to facilitate water movement and water absorption in soil. You can add them to potting mix before planting. • Regular fertilising is essential for all plants living in containers to replenish the nutrients needed for good and healthy growth. Use slow-release liquid or organic pelletised fertilisers. • Indoor plants and those likely to need regular repotting may be better in plastic pots placed inside a more decorative pot, as it can be hard to repot plants in large…