Table of contents for Issue#15.4 2017 in Backyard and Outdoor Living

Grab your hat and your sunscreen, it’s time to get out into the garden. We’ve got plenty of inspiration this issue, all you need is a clear day and some trusty gardening equipment. There’s nothing more satisfying, healthy and delicious than eating veggies grown in your very own yard. If you’ve been dreaming of starting your own vegetable garden for a while now, our veggie patch feature is a good place to start. Packed full of information, including the type of garden bed to select, planting seedlings, watering and conditioning soil, this feature will have you growing your own produce in no time. Later on in This Weekend, we show you how to create a sustainable garden, grow more nutritious plants, improve your soil and keep pests at bay with…

Meeting enthusiastic gardeners is never less than rewarding, especially when they want to learn and share. I met John Scott a few years ago at a garden show, where he told me all about his productive garden and invited me to visit. As you can see, I did just that. John had wanted to grow his own organic food because he’d become disillusioned with commercial food production, its delivery system and the fall in its nutritional value. “I got tired of so-called fresh food coming from the other side of the world,” he says. “I want fresh food to come from as close to home as possible.” He wanted to be able to get food he knew had been grown in nutrient-rich soil — without the use chemicals. And he…

This home renovation encompassed significant interior and exterior remodelling, with the overall aim being to increase liveability and space. The homeowners wanted a generous living area that stayed within the home’s existing footprint and to introduce some innovative design elements, while also respecting the historic integrity of the home’s Edwardian character. The project team was made up of Pleysier Perkins Architects, who designed the hard landscaping elements, and Cheeky Nature Landscapes, who were responsible for the soft landscaping features. The project was constructed by Wade Builders. Together, they’ve achieved an elegant, seamless look that smoothly connects the home’s luxurious interior to the modernised and relaxed exterior. For the outdoor design’s structural elements, timber was chosen; its natural warmth beautifully complementing the weatherboard cladding of the period home. One of the…

A gem in the French Riviera’s heavy crown, Cassis is home to one of our favourite gardens in all of Southern France: the Riviera Hideaway. Tucked nonchalantly between Marseilles and Toulon, the coastal town of Cassis is more laid-back and less crowded than surrounding tourist hubs, and this garden reflects a sense of whimsy of which we can’t get enough. The best gardens are those special spaces that surprise you every day; from new blooms to tiny buds, the designers of the Riviera Hideaway found more than just long forgotten vines and neglected trees when designing this spectacular garden. “We discovered an old greenhouse — half concealed underground — that had been completely overgrown with vegetation. Nobody knew it was there!” explains designer and owner of landscape company Néopaysages, Benjamin…

VERTICAL GARDENS If you want to grow veggies and herbs near your outdoor kitchen or barbecue area, a vertical garden can be a good solution. Systems such as the Holman GreenWall planting kit allow you to do this with ease. This is a simple-to-install modular system that comes with in-built adjustable drippers that individually water each pot. It also gives you design freedom to expand by adding more units. Vertical gardens are suitable for many different herbs (parsley, mint, chives, coriander, marjoram, thyme, sage and basil among them) along with quite a few vegetables but, as with ground-level gardens, how much sun and shade the vertical garden will receive will affect your choice of plants. For example, in a partshade spot, silver beet, radishes, dwarf cabbage and lettuce would fare…

Create an outdoor kitchen with style. When the weather cooperates, there are few meals more pleasant than those you can enjoy in your own backyard. Fresh air and a hot barbecue have a way of conjuring up a holiday mood — even if you are only grilling a quick weeknight dinner. The outdoor entertaining area has become a must-have item on a homebuyer’s checklist. As Australians, we love to entertain and it’s usually not limited by the seasons. Alfresco living spaces are now an extension of the home and, if well-designed, will seamlessly integrate with the home’s interior. It pays to invest in a durable, locally made barbecue that will go the distance, rather than settling on a cheaper import that may only last a year or two. Many cheaper…

For instant tropical or resort-style appeal, it’s hard to go past the allure of bamboo screening. Whether you’ve gone for a Balinese-themed backyard or just want to add a touch of the exotic to your garden, bamboo screening is the ideal choice. Bamboo screening can be used in a broad array of ways — as cladding on an existing fence, to screen out neighbours, as an architectural feature or as the perfect backdrop to tropical foliage plants or a garden bed full of flowers. And if you’re looking for a backdrop for a sculpture or water feature, bamboo screening is perfect for that, too. Infinity Panels specialises in high-quality, lowmaintenance black bamboo screening panels. Black bamboo adds a richness of colour to a garden or alfresco living space and is…

Make the most of every inch of outdoor space that you have with a stylish table and comfy chairs. The goal? To make entertaining a breeze without making guests feel cramped. ‘Tis the season of sunshine after all, and with the warmth comes more opportunities to entertain outdoors. Before you send out those invites, make sure your outdoor area is party ready. Durable, easy-care outdoor furniture is the quickest way to dress up a garden, deck or patio. An outdoor setting, comprised of a table and matching chairs, is the best way to accommodate up to a dozen or so people during a backyard barbecue or a family get-together. Swifts Furniture has a range of outdoor furniture that is so comfortable and stylish you would swear it was meant for…

Crop rotation is the system of growing a sequence of different crops in the same soil or position in your veggie patch to help feed the soil and in turn control weeds, pests and diseases. The practice dates back 8000 years to the Middle East — they wouldn’t have known the science behind the method at the time, but being good gardeners they observed their crops and noticed improvements. If you plant the same crop in the same bed season after season, the soil becomes tired and less fertile, as the crop draws on the same nutrients each season. It’s a bit like sucking on an icy pole — eventually all the flavour is gone and you are left with only ice. Changing crops routinely allows the soil to remain…

REPOTTING TIPS • Water the plants well several hours before repotting and moisten the new potting mix. • Invert the old pot and knock the plant out of the pot, holding the plant carefully. • Tease out a few matted roots if they are really thick. Remove one-quarter of the old soil. • Put a layer of fresh potting mix on the base of the new pot, place the plant on top and then check the height. • Water the pot well and place in a shady spot for a few days until the roots are properly settled into the new soil. A portable gardening workstation can be easily created by transforming a used or perhaps derelict barbecue trolley. It will take a little effort and a bit of imagination,…

Joe Paola started gardening around the age of three in Conflenti, a small Calabrian town just above the foot of Italy. His inspiration and guiding lights were his parents, Antonio and Giovanna. “We were passionate about how we lived and how we farmed animals and grew vegetables,” Joe recalls. “I owned a small patch of soil and grew beans and potatoes. It was exciting and fun. “Mama and Papa grew tomatoes, capsicum, cucumbers, chestnuts, grapevines, Morello cherries and especially wheat. We milled our own flour from it. We had plenty of livestock growing up that included goats, cows and chickens.” It was a beginning that led naturally to a lifetime commitment to organic gardening. “If you have the opportunity to grow an organic, healthy food source, in the end you…

“The front boasts a deep, red brick facade, a romantic perennial planting palette, a stained-glass arch window and heritage detailing” In this home in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda, heritage architecture competed with a modern family and a contemporary lifestyle. So, the homeowners drew on the expertise of Ian Barker Gardens to transform their outdoor space and restore balance and harmony to their home. Not only this, they also wanted to integrate as much colour and texture into their otherwise minimal front and rear gardens. As one of the homeowners is a florist, it was important that the garden had colour and character, without looking out of place. Upon commencing, Ian Barker and his team had no idea of the design feats they would achieve while working on this…

A successful entryway sets the tone for the rest of the house and if the front courtyard of this home in the exclusive Melbourne suburb of Toorak is anything to go by, we can only imagine the serenity that awaits within. Gardens With Style landscapers Ben Knapp and Jan Fisher were tasked with creating a statement entryway that would work sympathetically with the contemporary architecture of the home. Undertaking both the design and construction of the project, the duo’s attention to detail and quality workmanship is evident. Prior to courtyard’s transformation, the area was predominantly gravel and sparsely planted. Three existing trees were retained and an underground rainwater tank — with a multitude of pipes and wires — needed to be avoided. The brief required a garden that could be…

If you spend any amount of time outdoors, furniture is a must — but you need to think about the practicalities, not just the looks. “Firstly, the function of the space you plan to furnish needs to be considered. Is the area mainly for dining or lounging or both? How many people need to be accommodated? Then there are other considerations, such as will the furniture be under cover or open to the elements,” says landscape designer Aaron Worth of Utopia Landscape Design. Adds David Walker of Swifts Outdoor Furniture, “It’s also important to know the size of your area as it’s very easy in a big showroom to buy something that will be too big for your space. Another factor is upkeep. If your area is roofed, you can…

If a product can withstand the daily wear and tear of a commercial environment such as a school, you know it will stand the test of time in your own backyard. Emmanuel Anglican College (EAC) in Ballina, NSW is a centre of academic excellence that promotes environmental responsibility. While working on a major upgrade at EAC, the team at Bennet Constructions took stringent measures to reduce wastage and promote sustainability. Due to its eco-friendly construction and waste minimisation, Futurewood solid composite wood decking was chosen for the large deck/walkway that connects a new junior classroom with other components of the building. Made from 90 per cent recycled material, Futurewood’s composite products are a low-maintenance timber alternative. The project involved more than 400sqm of Futurewood CleverDeck solid composite wood decking, fixings…

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener, or you have a barely green thumb, there are practical tools that will help you step up your game this summer. Enter Holman Industries, a proud Australian, family-owned business that specialises in watering, gardening and plumbing products. Its major products include retractable hose reels, GreenWall vertical gardens, tap timers, sprinklers and raised garden beds. Featuring the latest technology, Holman’s products are truly one of a kind. What's more, they are manufactured for the Australian market and weather conditions. The company also prides itself on designing products to complement the homeowner’s garden using neutral, modern colours that create a natural, fresh and contemporary feel. The innovative and stylish product designs are leaders of the pack. Case in point: the Holman Bluetooth tap timer. Controlled through an…

Now is the time you need to think about how you want your garden to look for the year ahead. Mulching is a really important aspect of gardening as it keeps the roots of your plants cool and helps to retain moisture in the soil. Many plants feed at the interface between the mulch and the soil surface. Ideally, you want plants in your garden that not only look good during the cooler months, but will thrive through Australia’s hot summers. Here we look at some tried and true plants that can handle our demanding Aussie climate. Australian-bred Spanish Lavender Sensation Blue (L. pedunculata ‘Senblu’ PBR) and Sensation Rose (L. pedunculata ‘Senros’ PBR) are ideal choices for low, colourful borders. Both are low maintenance and drought tolerant once established, and…

LIFE SUPPORT Saffron crocus can only survive through cultivation. It is no longer found in the wild and the flowers are sterile, so it can only be grown by dividing the clumps of corms, which are divided and replanted in late summer or autumn. For commercial production, clumps are lifted, divided and replanted each summer, but in home gardens it is enough to divide clumps every three years. To ensure strong growth, allow the thin, reedy foliage to die down naturally. Saffron is a spice used to flavour and colour foods such as rice and chicken. Its red threads impart a rich yellow colour to food. Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world and, gram for gram, pricier than gold. Saffron can retail from $10/gram, with local or…

Sweet, juicy and delicious, peaches are nature’s dessert. To me, there are few pleasures greater than sitting under the shade of a tree, juice dripping down your chin as you treat yourself to a feast of garden-ripened peaches. Peach trees are deciduous, relatively compact and display pretty blossoms as well as fruit — so they are a welcome guest in any garden, big or small. Most varieties are self-fertile, so you need only one tree to produce a good crop. They perform best in cool–temperate regions of Australia, but there are low-chill varieties that can be grown in warmer areas. In the kitchen, their mouth-watering flavour is the perfect accompaniment to both sweet and savoury dishes. Think grilled pork tenderloins with peaches; peach and blueberry crumble; or frozen peach margaritas…

PIPE DREAMS This one-of-a-kind boutique garden was designed to be a hidden oasis in the midst of the city; a place where you could stop, relax and just breathe. The relaxation zone of the garden centres on the moon gate-style built-in daybed. From the cushioned comfort of the daybed, you can let the stresses of the day melt away as you watch the gentle flames of the firepit and the rippling water of the raised pond. The firepit, which is built into the pond, was constructed out of a concrete pipe, as was the pond itself and the surrounds of the daybed. The concrete contrasts with the reclaimed timber cladding used in the construction of the daybed and complements the built-in planters that flank it. Bamboo screening adds a Japanese…

CHATSWOOD CHARM Homeowner and architect Fadi Fadhil is responsible for ushering what was once a very tired four-bedroom semi, located in Chatswood on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, into the 21st century, while simultaneously bringing the outdoors in and vice versa. The renovated home has become a sculptural masterpiece that includes a rear garden conducive to alfresco family living. The two children of the house are aged six and 16, so the swimming pool is an ideal addition for both the kids and their parents. A frameless glass pool fence gives the illusion of space in what is a fairly restricted area and the Di Lorenzo pool tiles tie in with the cute little furnished corner where the kids can chill and chat. With nature as his muse, Fadi…

Renowned for its rows of restored terrace homes, Paddington in Sydney offers many design treats, including this property that sets the benchmark for modern multi-level outdoor living. Designed by Adam Robinson Design and implemented by The Garden Society, the terrace’s north-facing, exposed exterior has been transformed into a modern space where the owners can unwind and relax. “The stylish clients inspired the overall design of the project,” explains Lyndall Keating of The Garden Society. “The outdoor design was created to continue and expand on the contemporary atmosphere of the renovated interior.” The fresh design of the interior, with its emphasis on elegance, helped inspire the creation of a contemporary, low-maintenance outdoor environment using a clean, crisp and structured white and green plant palette. The Victorian property was in a sad…

In 2003, Neil and Libby Harrison purchased the ground-floor apartment of a six-unit, two-storey Federation block in the northern Sydney suburb of Cremorne. The block was built in 1910 and originally named after a mythical Maori god — Rahiri — by its New Zealand owners. While Rahiri possessed the kind of beauty and character that can only be gained from just over a century of existence, the building, as well as its surrounding gardens, were in desperate need of some tender love and care. As avid gardeners, Neil and Libby set upon refurbishing the sloping, rugged communal garden and restoring Rahiri’s spirit. As a retired school teacher, Neil had no formal training in garden design to draw upon, just experience gained through various personal projects and his inherent love of…

Decks are a beautiful and valuable part of homes today and are considered as much a part of the home as the rooms inside. Whether you’re installing a deck for the first time or are considering a deck repair project, knowing the proper steps for maintenance will make a huge difference for your deck’s longevity. Instead of just talking about what a product or service does, case studies allow us to show our readers why a particular product or service is useful and the positive experiences past clients have had. Exhibit A: this two-storey executive home in Brisbane that is an entertainer’s paradise. The timing of the project was dictated partly by safety concerns, according to homeowners Tim and Julie. “We had been aware that we would need to replace…

Today, sustainability is a factor for most gardeners — and rightly so. Put simply, sustainable gardening means designing, constructing and maintaining garden spaces in a way that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations. With today’s busy lifestyle, most of us don’t get much time to get in tune with our environment — and gardening gives us a chance to do just that. It also helps create healthier surrounds. Enter Break Down. This natural, non-toxic, environmentally friendly product is ideal for sustainable gardening. It consists of enzymes and fermented acids sourced directly from the soil bacteria that breaks down decaying organic matter, meaning vital nutrients are more readily available for the plants in your garden. The benefits don’t just end there. This nifty product…

When it comes to garden edging, you need a product that is strong, versatile and weather resistant — and you can’t get anything that fits the bill better than steel. Greenlines Gardenware’s FormBoss range of low-maintenance steel garden edging lets you be the boss of your own garden design. Greenlines Gardenware offers a large array of easy-to-install domestic and commercialgrade steel edging solutions ranging from flush edges to 400mm-high retaining walls. You also have a choice of galvanised steel, ZAM (exclusive looking and ultra durable) or Corten steel (that boasts a weathered finish), and various gauges to ensure the edging is the appropriate strength for your landscaping project. FormBoss edging systems allow you to create curves and angles with ease and, thanks to the rounded top edge and hidden stakes…

A thriving, green backyard to call your own has long been a staple of the Australian dream. But how many of us are really in touch with the life beyond our back door? In Australia, we are lucky to have some of the most diverse wildlife in the world. Our geographic isolation has meant that over many millennia, our native flora and fauna have evolved to be uniquely adapted to our landscapes. More than 90 per cent of the country’s plant species, 89 per cent of marsupials, 87 per cent of mammals and 45 per cent of birds are endemic to the country and found nowhere else in the world. Unfortunately, Australia also has the worst record for vascular plant and mammal extinctions in the world. However, according to research,…

Attracting wildlife to your garden is wonderful and we all love to see birds flitting through the shrubbery in our backyards as they busily feed or make their homes there. Sometimes, creating a wildlife-friendly garden attracts other native animals, too, such as possums, frogs, geckos and lizards. There is, however, another group of native visitors you might like to think about attracting to your garden: butterflies. Australia is blessed with an enormous variety of butterflies, many of which are found nowhere else. Worldwide, there are some 28,000 species of butterflies and new species are still being discovered. The butterfly is a distinct insect and comes in a kaleidoscope of colours, shapes and sizes. Butterflies perform a hugely important role in nature and are among our top pollinators, helping to pollinate…

NOW SCREENING Tombo Design specialises in beautifully designed architectural and decorative metal screens, perfect for creating a sense of privacy and seclusion in your urban environment. Its screens are available in a variety of finishes, from powder-coated to oxidised metal and more. Not only that, pieces can be customised if you’re looking for something unique for your outdoor living space. Tombo Design also produces a wide range of metal wall art, garden features, firepits (pictured) and illuminated decor designed to suit any budget, style or space. tombodesign.com.au MAKE A STATEMENT Serralunga’s 1825 collection reinterprets the humble plastic pot through the use of colours, iconic shapes and natural finishing touches. The collection is lightweight, UV and impact resistant, non-toxic and suitable for interior use as well as exterior landscaping. The illuminated…