Table of contents for Issue#14.5 2017 in Backyard and Outdoor Living

After recently returning from a month-long honeymoon in Europe, it was goodbye down jacket and hello Havaianas. While the honeymoon was over (literally), thankfully there was a silver lining — after a month of beanies and boots, I couldn’t have been happier to come home to our balmy weather. There’s nothing like a few sunny summer days to cure your post-holiday blues. However, like our insects and sea life, the Aussie sun has a reputation of being brutal, so if you love spending time outdoors, investing in some outdoor shade is paramount. Luckily, our backyard shade story has you covered (sorry, I couldn’t resist). From permanent structures such as pergolas to more temporary solutions such as umbrellas, there is something to match every situation and budget. Just as the word…

“In a good year, with lots of rain and heat at the right time, our forest garden is one big party of flowers, fruit, leafy greens, nuts and berries” The edible forest garden at Milkwood Farm is a place of beauty, shade, flowers and year-round food. With a focus on perennial foods, over the past five years we’ve planted a wide range of fruit and nut trees, under which grow shrubs, berries, herbs and greens, which all flower, fruit and seed at different times of the year, ensuring a four-season supply of goodness to our kitchen. A forest garden, or food forest, is a magnificent addition to any backyard or farm. If you have just a little space you can plant a micro forest garden, which can be as small…

“Japan has inspired the world with its distinctive approach to garden design, and this influence is evident here” Although it’s a long way from Queenstown, New Zealand — the location of this picturesque property — Japan has inspired the world with its distinctive approach to garden design, and this influence is evident here. Inspired by their time living in Japan, the homeowners didn’t just want a structured native garden; they wanted a Japanese-themed courtyard, too. Therefore, the brief for their garden, situated under The Remarkables mountain range and overlooking Lake Wakatipu, was for a native planting theme with a Japanese twist. “It was to be a native garden with structure and a Japanese-themed courtyard that utilises the outer garden,” says Joe Nutting, managing director of Southern Landmarx Ltd, who constructed…

“Having the vegies out the front ensures easy access for the owners and has given the entrance to the home a unique look” Anew house doesn’t really feel lived in until it has a garden. After moving from their established family residence in Melbourne’s outer eastern suburbs into a stunning double-storey new build in a quiet, leafy street in Toorak, the couple who now call this property home had important family gatherings to host so they turned their focus to the garden. In consultation with Phillip Withers Landscape Design, they decided what key features they wanted in their garden. Their must-have list included creating an inside-outside feel that would help connect the house with the outside spaces, privacy from neighbouring properties and an easily accessible vegie patch. “I describe this…

While Australia is blessed with a temperate climate, there are times when the elements need to be kept at bay. The heat of summer, for instance, is pleasant enough if you’re in the shade, and sometimes it’s pleasant to have somewhere to sit outside when it’s raining. While a pergola is a great option if you have the room, smaller areas may benefit from an awning system — and these days there are even fully retractable options which extend to automatic and motorised roofing, blinds and screens. AWNINGS Awnings can provide permanent or temporary shelter to any space, offering protection from the weather and allowing you to use your outdoor area regardless of the conditions. Retractable and foldable options are becoming more popular, particularly for small areas. For example, a…

Clay gets a lot of bad press so we forget it does have some positive qualities. In fact, it’s fantastic to have some clay content in your soil because it has good water-holding capacity and a high nutrient content, which sandy soil does not have. The other positive is clay has structure, which sandy soils don’t have, either. It’s the heavy clay soil that gardeners curse because it is so difficult to work. Clay is formed through the process of weathering, when rock is broken down into tiny particles. The rock usually contains silicate, which is derived from silicic acid. Clay is constantly being formed by the movement of water and mineral acids through rock surfaces. The particles are attracted to each other by positive and negative charges on their…

FRESH START The Cellar Room, a business combining a bar, restaurant and shop, has become a mecca for Melbourne lovers of fresh food and fresh air. Located in the town square area of the revamped Eastland Shopping Centre in Ringwood, The Cellar Room has a rooftop vegetable garden, designed by Phillip Withers, planted with vegies, herbs and fruit trees ranging from citrus to olives. This provides fresh produce for the restaurant and a serene space where local workers lunch during the week and foodies flock on the weekend, drawn by the chance to relax beneath a rustic timber pergola and dine surrounded by an abundance of edible plants. This is the perfect space to get your daily dose of vegies and vitamin D. phillipwithers.com TAKE A SEAT If you’re the…

Warrah Farm came out of the founding impulse of Karl and Hannelore Kaltenbach, who wanted to start an initiative that would provide skills and work for adults with disabilities. It was established in the late 1960s on what is now a 30-acre (just over 12ha) property in Dural in the north-west of Sydney. The biodynamic industry was indeed very small at that time but has grown exponentially over the decades. Despite ups and downs and staying small, the name of Warrah Farm continues to carry authenticity in the organic/ biodynamic industry. Warrah’s primary task has always been to provide services and support to people with intellectual disabilities. There are long-term residents who have called Warrah home for many years — some, in fact, have resided here since Warrah’s early days.…

“The homeowners were after a luxurious look, but they didn’t want to waste precious time with maintenance” After a patio extension was added to the front of their home, the owners of this garden in Carindale, Queensland, decided the existing tired landscape had to be updated to match. This would ensure their new space had the appropriate surroundings to allow them to fully enjoy it. I started the design process by getting to know the homeowners and developing an understanding of exactly what they wanted to achieve. I quickly discovered that as well as pleasant surroundings for their new patio area, they wanted additional casual seating, a dedicated entry to the property, and screening from passing pedestrian traffic. After further discussion, it was agreed that a lush colourful planting scheme…

There’s nothing quite like scrunching the blades of a soft, leafy lawn between your toes — but a healthy lawn isn’t just about indulgence. An expanse of grass will entice the kids outdoors, away from their technology, to play. Lawns offset hard landscaping elements with their soft, natural beauty, and they bring a cooling element to the garden. Lawns also provide a natural framework which you can use to divide spaces within your landscape. Whether your lawn needs a little extra attention, there’s a lawn problem you’ve been pondering, or you’re starting from scratch by laying turf, we’ve prepared the ultimate lawn care guide to get your lawn looking green, lush and vibrant. CHOOSING TURF The first step is to choose the right turf type for your needs and the…

The most troublesome caterpillar in the vegie garden is that of the Cabbage White Butterfly (sometimes simply known as the Cabbage Butterfly). It’s so named because its velvety green caterpillar (larval) stage feeds on cabbage and other edibles such as cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, radishes and turnips. The Cabbage White Butterfly — different from the Cabbage Moth — is prolific in temperate climates around the world. In Australia, it’s very common in urban areas and occurs in all states but is more widespread in southern areas. GAIN CONTROL In the home vegie patch there are a number of organic measures you can take to eradicate this leaf-chomping glutton: • Try companion planting in your brassica section. Rather than have neat rows of cabbages or other brassicas, intermingle crops from different…

Of all the vegetables you can choose to grow in the backyard, beans are among the most rewarding. They are generally quick-growing, easy to care for and prolific in their yields. Beans are great for gardeners with limited space and they can add a decorative focal point for your vegie garden by growing them up interesting trellises, tripods or supports. Most varieties need warm weather and dislike frost. PLANTING SCHEDULE When to sow seed: From spring to early autumn in most climates, all year round in subtropical climates. Spacing: Plant dwarf beans every 10cm in rows 50cm apart and climbing beans and runner beans every 15cm at the base of a support. Depth: Sow seeds in position 3–5cm deep. For best supply: Sow every two and a half weeks throughout…

HEAD EAST An outdoor sitting room equipped with a fireplace and decorated with Eastern-style art, an elegant pond with bubbling water jets, a planting palette that is lush and green — the landscaped surrounds of this contemporary Sydney residence are designed to draw you outside and provide life-affirming views when looking out from inside the home. Of modern design, the truly extensive hardwood deck, which is accessed via bi-fold doors, is a crucial linking element of the design and ensures an easy flow from inside to out. One part of the deck features a large rectangular pond that sits flush with the decking boards. The pebble-filled pond has three water jets and a backdrop of leafy tropical-style plantings. The pond has three water jets and its bottom is lined with…

“We wanted to show that plants can and should form the foundation of a great garden and that hedges and evergreens can provide the bones for a year-round look that supports and highlights flowers and edibles” As the 2016 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show was celebrating 40 years of “greening” Australia, Joby and Carolyn Blackman of Vivid Design knew they had to create an unforgettable space — hence, The Greenery Garden. The brief for their display garden revolved around designing a space that would flourish throughout the seasons, ultimately presenting a space that is quintessentially Melbourne: clean, sophisticated and stylish. Opting to use tried-and-true greenery, Joby and Carolyn were keen to demonstrate that plants can still play a starring role in a garden’s design. “We wanted to show plants…

“With a love of French, Mediterranean and Mexican styles, Sandra and Scott chose furnishings that reflect these influences” After a proposed two-year stint living in America turned into 12 years for Sandra Delaney and Scott Wilson, they finally returned to Sydney and their former neighbourhood in the trendy Inner West. Having spent the past two years in the States living on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, they were keen to find a character-filled warehouse property which they could turn into their Sydney home. On one of Sandra’s regular visits back to Australia, she found the ideal property. It was a large, spacious former industrial building which had been converted into a home some years previously. There was a spacious — by inner-city standards — courtyard that had been planted…

Pots have come a long way since their humble beginnings more than 3000 years ago. Back then they played a very different role to today’s pots and planters and were originally used primarily for decorative and religious purposes. Back then, clay was used in the development of pots and planters. One of the earliest recorded uses of clay was the construction of bricks; they would be dried in the sun and then used to build homes. The material was later used “for ritual purposes and to adorn temples”, explains Martin Kellock of Martin Kellock Pots and Planters. Pots were later used as storage vessels and decorative items. “More than 3000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians and Chinese used terracotta to make containers for food, oil, burial urns and also garden…

Grown in pots or garden beds, these plants put on a great show Some plants are great for pots, others are best in the garden, but some lucky plants thrive in both environments. Of course there are differences in how you manage your plants, depending on whether they are potted or in garden beds. With pots, versatility is a big plus. You can move them around, there is a range of styles and shapes to match your requirements, and you can take them with you if you move. On the con side, potted plants dry out more quickly and suffer more easily from over-feeding or over-watering. To get the best result when growing plants in pots, use good-quality potting mix and mulch, add water-saving granules, install an automatic irrigation system…

If you have one of these leafy climbing vegies growing, you won’t go short of greens. Ceylon spinach is vigorous, productive and good for you. It grows quickly from seed and is attractive in a lush, tropical way, with heart-shaped leaves and reddish stems. As it is so prolific, Ceylon spinach is a clever addition to any backyard. Until recent years, however, it was growing under the radar, well known to tropical gardeners but rarely seen in southern states. In tropical and subtropical climates, seeds germinate throughout the year but particularly in spring and summer. In colder areas, treat it as an annual for the warmer months. Plants are pest and disease free but do not thrive in cold weather. Gardeners tend to share seeds of this versatile plant —…

Unglazed terracotta has a distinctive natural clay colour. While this has its appeal, if you want your potted garden to have a style that is all your own, applying a colourful painted finish is easy. We have chosen three Dulux finishes for our terracotta pots — Design Rust, Design Limewash and the Weathershield range, which offers lots of lovely bright colours. THE NEED TO CLEAN Whether the pots are new or used, the preparation is the same. First make sure the pot is clean. Pre-used pots will need to be scrubbed inside and out with warm soapy water and rinsed. New pots may need just a wipe with a damp cloth to remove any dust or debris. The cleaned pots will need to dry completely before any sealing or painting…

LIVING WALLS Create a stunning living wall with the Holman Vertical Planting Kit. This vertical garden unit enables you to grow a herb or vegetable garden near your outdoor kitchen or barbecue area and, at the same time, make a colourful and welcoming statement in your backyard. This simple-to-install modular system comes complete with inbuilt adjustable drippers that water each pot so you can have an edible wall of herbs all year round. The Vertical Planting Kit allows full design freedom with the option to extend your living wall vertically or horizontally. Now you can turn your blank space into a vibrant flourishing garden feature in next to no time.holmanindustries.com.au SEE ME RIDING Husqvarna has launched a nine-model range of garden tractors, which boast excellent usability, performance and efficiency. Whether…