Table of contents for Issue#15.2 2017 in Backyard and Outdoor Living

1 Lord Howe Island was declared a World Heritage Area in 1982. 2 This island idyll is 600km southeast of Brisbane and about the same distance northeast from Sydney. 3 At 11km long and, at its widest, just 2.8km wide, it is easy to get around. Cycling and walking are the most popular forms of transportation. 4 Its pristine reef is Australia’s most southerly reef, abounding with 500 species of fish and 90 glorious corals, making snorkelling and diving spectacular. 5 The LHI Board governs the day-to-day important aspects of island life, including sale of property and ownership of pets. 6 A maximum of 350 visitors are allowed at any time, so if you visit you’ll feel pretty special. 7 Access to Lord Howe Island is by regional Dash 8…

• Mexican anise tree: (Illicium mexicanum) — Mexico. This is related to the star anise and has glossy green leaves and fragrant burgundy flowers. It can grow from Hobart right up to southern Queensland. • Black chokeberry: (Aronia melanocarpa) — USA. It has white spring flowers and plump dark berries that are a rich source of antioxidants. The leaves turn scarlet in autumn, making it a striking specimen plant. You can use the tart berries in cooking. Peter says they make a tasty marinade on roast meats. • Tea plant: (Camellia sinensis) — East Asia. This slow-growing evergreen has fragrant flowers that bloom in spring and are creamy white. There are also dwarf forms that have pink flowers. New flushes of leaf growth are purpletinged. The leaf buds and leaves…

“A barbecue brings the family together and turns the chore of producing a meal into a joyous occasion. Every important family gathering in my home involves a great meal prepared on the barbecue,” says John McGann from Lifestyles BBQs. To get the best value for your money, John advises, “Buy Australian made, that’s my numberone tip. And ask the person you’re buying it from what the last recipe was that they did on the barbecue — this is to help you find out if they know the product they are selling. “Always go for stainless-steel plates and grills for a better and healthier result and make sure the barbecue is going to get hot enough and that it has a simple fat drainage system. You should only buy a barbecue…

Outdoor blinds can act as sun shades and privacy screens. “The most popular options tend to be vertical-drop roller blinds in sunscreen fabrics which can come as simple strap-down, cable-guided, sidechannel or zip versions,” says Simon Meyer, managing director of Blinds by Peter Meyer. Pivot-arm and retractable folding-arm awnings can also do double duty. “Pivot arms tend to be used to shade a window with a projection of about 1.5m, whereas folding-arm retractable awnings can have projections of up to 4m and are ideal for shading outdoor decks,” continues Simon. “If you already have a pergola or timber structure you can always install a conservatory awning, which mounts above the roof and can be an excellent sun and privacy solution. Pair this option with exterior roller blinds and you have…

People love laser-cut steel screens for many reasons, but high on the list is their versatility. Standing alone in a garden, fixed to a fence or backlit to create a night-time focal point, these laser-cut panels can be found gracing all manner of gardens, from the highly contemporary to the charmingly rustic. Another bonus is being able to coordinate the screens with other decorative elements in the garden, such as complementary metal wall art, planters and sculpture — and the fact that there is precious little maintenance is, of course, another big plus. Just as you have a choice of patterns, ranging from funky geometrical designs to captivating botanical motifs, you also have a choice of finishes. The options are plentiful and include brushed or polished stainless-steel, powder-coated aluminium in…

Larger, lighter-coloured pavers create more of a spacious feel than small or narrow, darker-coloured pavers. If you want to add a little interest, you can create a sense of flow from one area of the garden to the next by using various tones of one colour. Bold, contrasting borders or decorative inserts tend to break up a garden into sections, which can make the whole space seem busier and, hence, smaller. “Paving should be simple and without bevels or recessed joints that collect dirt and can make the pattern too busy,” says Janine Mendel of CultivArt Landscape Design. “To make an area appear larger, lay paving on the diagonal or at an angle. Also, work out how much space you need for your required outdoor leisure activities and then give…

• Dark colours provide a sense of greater depth and can make a fence or boundary wall seem to recede. • Cool colours (green, blue, purple, grey) have the effect of making a space seem a little larger than it is. • Warm colours (yellow, orange, red, pink) will make a wall or feature seem closer so use judiciously. • Too many different colours can make a space seem busy. Use similar colours for a calmer effect. • Too much white in a sunny area can cause glare and increase heat load, making the space uncomfortable. • Use vivid colours as accents. If you love red, use it for cushions or flowers, but too much would be overwhelming.…

• Seasoned and dressed hardwood — we used blackbutt, two pieces 35mm X 140mm x 110cm in length and two pieces 75cm in length (you can get this cut to size at a timber yard or hardware store) • Marine ply, High-density polyethylene (HDPE) or Alupanel sized to fit the frame (this is the backing board) • Tasmanian oak moulding coverstrap 40mm x 8mm to fit the circumference measurement of your frame • Tape measure • Pencil • Stanley knife or sharp knife • Sandpaper • Silicon (optional) • Cordless or electric drill • Metric drill bits • Wood screws — 12G x 50mm countersunk head Phillips drive • Countersink bit 13mm • Clamps (optional) • Speedbor woodboring bit at least 25mm (for drain holes) • Paint or stain (optional)…

If you want to make your own aloe vera juice, you’ll need to use one of the large, mature leaves at the bottom of the plant and be sure to remove the green rind and all of the bitter yellowish layer just under the skin. Once you have done this and you are left with only the clear inner gel, place it in a blender with a little vitamin C powder and blend quickly at low speed. Add a few tablespoons to your favourite fruit or vegetable juice. It’s not advisable to make large quantities as aloe vera gel oxidises quickly, though the vitamin C will help to stabilise it.…

FOLLOW US facebook.com/BackyardGardenDesignIdeasMagazine http://www.completehome.com.au/outdoor-living ROUGH AND READY There’s no doubt the rustic look is in and lucky for those green thumbs out there, an abundance of planting ties in well with this look. The great thing about this style is there are so many simple and inexpensive things you can do to achieve it. Pop a few candles in some mason jars, grab yourself a linen tablecloth and let your vines run wild over your pergola and Bob’s your uncle. We particularly love the tree stump stools in this garden as they add so much character. Stringing up a few festoon lights will finish off the look and add some romance and whimsy to your outdoor dining space. All you need now is a bottle of preservative-free wine and a…

We love to reuse or recycle bits ’n’ pieces throughout our garden. Recycled builder’s reo is excellent, providing the perfect support for the espaliered apple trees. It’s strong enough to carry the apple trees and gives an earthy, rustic look to the vegetable garden. We have also used it for the chook run and espaliered fruit in other parts of the garden. Another ingenious idea we had was to reuse the forlorn and idle cubby house by transforming it into an amazing chicken “palace” for our little flock of hens. Entry to the chicken run is through a magnificent recycled iron gate I picked up from a local old-wares dealer and it is hugged beautifully by two old and wonderfully flowering camellias.…

If you have family and friends who prefer physical pursuits, there are things you can integrate into a garden design, from a tennis court (if space allows) to a basketball hoop (all you need is a paved area and a solid wall for the hoop). Of course, a lawn can become a badminton court or a mini soccer field. And if you want to practice mental focus, a garden chess set or chequerboard can be a great idea — all you need is a patch of dead-level ground. For those who want to get in a little golf practice or simply give guests something to do when they come over for a few beers, consider a putting green. This can be installed in your back garden where it becomes a…

• Bamboo panels: Best used as screening or as cladding against an existing fence or wall, bamboo panels look fabulous and are ecofriendly. You have a choice of heights, pole thicknesses and colours. • Reed cladding: Natureed, available from House of Bamboo, is a good example of reed cladding. It is used to give new life to drab garden walls and dated fences. • Latte poles: Available from Touchwood, Latte poles are made of a sustainably grown hardwood. They come in bundles of 10 sticks/ poles and three lengths. There is slight variation in colour and pole thickness, adding to the natural charm. • Brushwood: When you want a natural look and privacy is needed, brushwood panels (made from melaleuca) are a great option. It also has great acoustic properties…

In the small garden, lighting is essential for myriad reasons, including aesthetics. “With the right outdoor lighting, you can accentuate the natural flow of the garden design and emphasise key features. This makes the space more appealing to use and highlights focal points, such as specimen trees,” says Calley Crosswell from Gardens at Night. Task lighting is another key element. This needs to be adequate for all the functions you need to perform outside, so includes such things as lighting for a barbecue area or outdoor kitchen. “You also need to consider safety,” says Calley. “Ensure level changes and steps have adequate lighting; the same applies to garden paths. Your garden needs to be easy to navigate at night.” The key to lighting in any small garden is to be…

Water features bring natural tranquillity to a garden and attract birds, frogs and insects. Add a small fountain and you can also enjoy the sound of moving water. Creating a “pond in a pot” can provide a water feature for the smallest of spaces, such as on a balcony or deck. POTS AND CONTAINERS You will need a pot that will hold water. Most plant pots are made of ceramic, plastic, metal, terracotta or cement, but use your imagination — perhaps an old laundry tub or claw-foot tub would look great. Pots or containers that have been previously used in the garden are ideal once thoroughly washed. Some terracotta and cement pots are porous, which means they will need to be sealed on the inside to prevent water leakage. Use…

There are two types of tubestock plants. The small, shallow ones are suitable for retail sale or bought by nurseries and planted in larger pots. Larger, deeper tubestock are specially grown so that they can be planted straight into the soil. The latter are suitable for purposes such as landscaping and bush regeneration. The plants’ roots are trained to grow straight to the base with special internal ribs inside the tube. The base is comprised of open mesh to enable air pruning of the roots, which prevents root spiralling around the base — this is a major problem with the larger, round pots found in many retail nurseries. allnatives.com.au…

Plants can become rare because they are no longer sought out by home gardeners. Perhaps they may be challenging to grow and require a little extra care to thrive. Of course, not all rare plants require extra care. But if you choose a plant that does, why not rise to the challenge? You’ll own a rare specimen that few others do. Before you rush out and buy (or order online) unusual or quirky plants to add a splash of individuality to your outdoor landscape, it’s important to understand which plains suit the environment in which you live. “As much as you might love it, there’s no point putting a plant in a landscape that will die or won’t perform well,” says David.…

When buying outdoor speakers, there is a fair bit to consider. Gardens, decks, poolside entertaining areas … these are all wide, open spaces (unlike an indoor room where walls serve to reflect and contain sound) and there can be a fair bit of background noise (from traffic to wind). You need to look for speakers that are weather resistant but some are more robust than others, so find the most durable ones you can. Even then, experts suggest locating speakers in protected positions to ensure longevity and achieve even better results. Also, look for good performance. Given the challenges of open spaces, it can be difficult getting a strong enough bass output. The trick is to find speakers with good low-frequency response and mount them on a wall. For best…

First and foremost, fencing around swimming pools is about safety, which is why there are stringent rules governing height, width, location, gating and engineering methods. Information on this can be obtained from your pool builder, fencing supplier or by contacting SPASA. Having acquainted yourself with your legal obligations, you can consider design and materials. It sits at the higher end of the price spectrum, but glass fencing is the most popular choice for very good reasons. Glass allows unobstructed views from your home and any outdoor entertaining areas to the pool. This makes it easy to keep an eye on the kids and in smaller gardens, clear sightlines make the space feel larger. Glass also gives a pool area a clean, modern look. Glass fencing can be semi-frameless or frameless.…

“When you find small outdoor spaces difficult to do anything with, outdoor mirrors may just be the answer,” says Siita Rivas of Rivas Design. “They are one accessory that allows you to take advantage of the limitations small spaces present and turn them into features that work for you. “Solid end walls on balconies or plain walls in courtyards are often overlooked as makeover opportunities, but outdoor mirrors work perfectly to style these spaces. Mirrors give small spaces a feeling of being intimate but not claustrophobic. They bring light to dull areas, create an increased sense of space and as night falls, they continue to catch light beautifully, reflecting the glow of garden lights. “Like reflections on water, views captured by mirrors can be seen from a variety of angles.…

There are a lot of elements that can harmoniously fit into a small space; however, it requires thorough planning,” says Paul Pritchard of Paul Pritchard Landscape Design & Construction. “Make a list of your requirements and rate them in order of importance. Measure out the realistic areas required for the elements on the list and plot them on a plan. Move the areas around until everything fits well. Prepare to compromise and to think outside the square. When I design for small areas, I like to keep at the front of the design the notion that we are building gardens. Plants are the major elements that tie the hard surfaces together. We are happier as people when we see, smell or touch a flower or plant. Maximise the space without…

WHY VERTICAL? • More people are living in apartments or townhouses and suburban backyards are shrinking, so what better way to create a lush garden than on a wall? • A vertical garden doesn’t take up much space, it’s easy to build and it can be any size, shape or colour to fit your needs. • You can have a productive garden chock-full of leafy salad greens and herbs, or you can plant succulents, annuals, ferns or other non-edibles. If you visit the amazing Kai Market restaurant at the Sheraton Hotel, Waikiki, Hawaii, you will be swept away by the impressive living work of art hanging near the buffet and omelette stations. While you may not need a vertical garden on such a colossal scale, something more “backyardsized” is easy…

NATURAL PRIVACY SOLUTION Do you want to hide an unsightly area of your garden, such as a utility space or shed? Or perhaps you want to create more privacy from your neighbours? Either way, House of Bamboo has the perfect solution. Natureed is a multifunctional screen that comes in a range of sizes or, if need be, can be custom-made to give you a tailored solution. Natureed has fixed feet or coasters for moveability and is light and easy to install. House of Bamboo specialises in creating natural privacy solutions for its clients; however, Natureed can be used for more than just screening. Use it to clad an old wall or fence, or place it on top of a pergola to provide filtered shade. houseofbamboo.com.au PLASTIC THAT’S FANTASTIC Martin Kellock…