Table of contents for Issue#15.5 2018 in Backyard and Outdoor Living

Imagine the havoc an errant broody hen and chicks could create in a picture-perfect veggie and flower garden. Though not a regular catastrophe for Ian Nash, it’s one of the challenges he works with on his two-acre (almost one hectare) house block in Teesdale in rural Victoria. Ian has combined his love of horticulture with an equal passion for purebred fowls. His stunning Silkies and Hamburg chickens have spacious, well-maintained yards and, in the main, the birds are kept separate from the gardening area. LANDSCAPE ROOTS A landscape gardener, Ian specialises in the restoration and maintenance of traditional homestead gardens. From this he has learnt the clever use of hardy plants and waterwise techniques that are as as relevant today as when originally established a century ago. Ian credits his…

This commercial landscape build is bold and innovative. It’s low key, but at the same time it’s also a little bit highbrow. And it’s raising the bar to dizzy new heights for inner-city commercial outdoor spaces to cater for employees and select events on site. The outdoor space is surrounded by monolithic towers, yet it sits comfortably within the landscape. Of course, this is testament to the skilled design team who delivered the project. The garden and surrounds are located at Barangaroo South, on the Sydney Harbour foreshore, an emerging and vibrant inner-city hub and commercial precinct. The first organisation to take residency at Barangaroo South, Westpac’s new workplace features an expansive communal terrace and barbecue area overlooking Sydney Harbour. When designing outdoor spaces like this, aesthetics are key. This…

“Bluestone paving adds timeless charisma to the space” Nothing ruins the fantasy of a grand and functional yard faster than an awkwardly shaped block of land. Dreams of a lap pool are dashed and the expansive veggie patch you planned needs rethinking. The same was true of this Keilor Downs property in Melbourne. The clients’ brief was to design and build a series of functional, low-maintenance entertaining spaces that blur the line between indoor and outdoor living. Apex Landscapes designed and constructed a series of creative solutions to promote usable space without compromising on comfort or aesthetic appeal. The use of an off-set spa in the pool and an open landscaped courtyard in the rear outdoor room helped to cleverly fulfil the brief. “The clients wanted somewhere visually stunning to…

For most of us, our gardens are places of retreat — somewhere we can go when we want to relax. But outdoors is also where we head when we want to entertain, which is why we need our outdoor living spaces to be inviting, practical, versatile and trans-seasonal, all in equal measure. Get the balance right and you’ll have an outdoor living zone that will quickly become your family’s new social hub, and add value to your property. At the heart of many alfresco living spaces is a structure of some kind. It might be a vine-clad pergola, poolside cabana, rustic hut, charming gazebo or custom-built outdoor room. But socialising and relaxing are not the only things we like to do in our gardens. As each year passes we’re seeing…

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, low-maintenance black bamboo screening panels. Black bamboo adds a richness of colour to a garden or alfresco living space and is…

Backyard entertaining is a fundamental way of life in Australia. We love having friends over for a barbie, playing in the pool, backyard cricket or just lazing on a Sunday afternoon with a cold beer or a chilled glass of wine. What has also become a fundamental part of our lives is the struggle to get our backyards looking good and staying good, especially for those big occasions when friends and family come over. Earthlife, a company based in Toowoomba, Queensland, understands these struggles and has developed some simple solutions to help Aussies grow fantastic-looking, healthy gardens and lawns. Best of all, Earthlife can help turn lazy gardeners into the envy of their guests. Earthlife rock mineral products create conditions that allow plants to grow as they are meant to.…

Timber provides a way to enhance any home or garden; also any commercial or retail property. Hardwood timber can be used to create comfortable, attractive and flexible features ranging from internal flooring to outside decking and beams. When renovating a home, you eventually come to that pivotal point in the design process when you have to choose your flooring and decking. Enter Abbey Timber. Trading since 1976, Abbey Timber is a family-owned Australian business with more than 40 years’ industry experience. The company specialises in the supply of timber products and building materials, including timbers for decking and flooring. With the largest range of decking timber available on the east coast, Abbey Timer offers more than 25 different types of timber in several sizes and grades, so you’re certainly spoilt…

Many gardeners and orchardists living in the northern and eastern states of Australia will have woeful tales to tell of infestations by a small beetle that leaves their crops, orchard trees and ornamentals totally skeletonised. The culprit is Monolepta australis, commonly called the red-shouldered leaf beetle, a member of the mainly leaf-eating Chrysomelidae family. Although these beetles occur only sporadically, they arrive in their millions, often sneakily by night, and work so quickly it’s sometimes too late to do more than simply mop up after the event. However, knowing the characteristics and life history of any pest species can be the essential first stage in dealing with it. DESCRIPTION AND BEHAVIOUR The eggs and larvae of the red-shouldered leaf beetle aren’t usually seen, so for most purposes it is only…

At the risk of stating the obvious, a coat rack or hat rack is simply a wall-mounted device for holding coats or hats, although it can of course be used for keeping umbrellas, raincoats or whatever you’d like off the floor of your verandah, deck or patio. But just because the rack performs a rather mundane function, it doesn’t have to look boring. Most homemade hat or coat racks are merely a length of timber with wooden pegs or store-bought hat hooks spaced along its length, onto which an object is hung. Even though you can buy antique or decorative hat hooks, we are going to show you a few imaginative ideas to glam-up what would otherwise be a mundane piece of wall furniture, and to express your creativity. You…

FLOWER POWER Governor of New South Wales, David Hurley, and wife Linda Hurley have dedicated a new rose in honour of all the wives of Governors of New South Wales throughout history. “Our nation was founded on many qualities and one often overlooked is the strength, resilience and dedication of the Governors’ wives, who contributed greatly to the building of our modern nation,” says Linda. The Governor’s Wife rose was bred by Richard and Ruth Walsh and The Rose Society of NSW, who collaborated with Linda Hurley, as co-patron, to create a small but attractive grandiflora rose with clusters of blooms which are a blend of pink, red and orange. “The blending of such colours is symbolic of the blending of the many skills, activities, beauty and personalities of the…

Dan and I moved to the mid-north coast of NSW 14 years ago when we purchased an 810-square-metre block, home to an old fibro cottage and a magnificent mango tree. Over the years we have removed, planted, transplanted and replanted many trees and shrubs to create what is now a densely populated garden. From the beginning we were blessed with good topsoil that has slowly been delivered to us from Big Brother Mountain, which sits directly behind us to the west. In summer, he protects us from the westerly heat and winds (our block faces east-west). Over the years I have collected all my neighbours’ grass clippings, which would have been thrown into the bush, and redirected them to our garden as mulch. This, in turn, has built a couple…

Susan Cummins’ garden boasts an abundance of begonias, bromeliads, geraniums, ferns and native orchards. A green wall with more than 150 blooms borders the backyard, complemented by colourful flower beds and whimsical tree ornaments. After seven years of development, and thanks to their avant-garde approach, Susan and her partner saw this garden flourish beyond recognition. In 2011, Susan and Michael Jack became the owners of the property, situated in Sydney’s leafy North Shore suburb of Cremorne. The couple were under no illusions that the backyard would be the biggest challenge in their design overhaul. Decrepit and overlooked, the garden comprised random sheds, a lone jacaranda and a macadamia nut tree. Rather than opting for a design perfected by architects, the pair took a hands-on approach to landscaping, breathing new life…

The garden that surrounds the rustic home and its cottages is a riot of colour: fuchsia, magenta, hot pink and burgundy prevail, with splashes of white, sunny yellow and vibrant orange. The leafy green foliage that seems to envelop it creates its own resplendent and enviable sanctuary on top of a hill in California’s Santa Monica, with a glorious vista beyond it. The main residence was designed by Kathryn Ireland and her team at KMI Interiors. Marc Appleton was the architect of the cottages and the landscape design was by Art Luna. The gardens, furnishings and outdoor decor combine to create an inspired space that’s colourful and cohesive — a blend of global style infused with rustic touches. Katherine says the project echoes the effervescent atmosphere found in the souks…

Nature is well known for contributing to feelings of relaxation and wellbeing. The practice of gardening itself can have positive effects on physical and mental health from heart disease to depression. “Without plants, the sense of wellbeing to any garden is lost,” says Chris Slaughter, lead designer at Scenic Blue Design. He also says that even incorporating the wrong plants into your outdoor space is better than relying on hard structures. Appropriately placed plants can soften an outdoor area, tie different elements together and add that finishing touch. Chris is asked to design gardens for a range of different houses, from federation and colonial to contemporary and beach, and he says that while there are no definite trends in garden style, the common theme is overwhelmingly the element of tranquillity.…

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or 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 garden systems, tap timers, sprinklers and raised garden beds. Featuring the latest technology, Holman’s products are truly one of a kind — and they are manufactured for the Australian market and weather conditions. What's more, the company prides itself on designing products that complement the homeowner’s garden. They do this by using neutral, modern colours that create a natural, fresh and contemporary feel. The latest offering from the company is an app-operated Bluetooth range of garden lighting that allows you to…

Many Australians have fond childhood memories of time spent in the backyard bouncing on a trampoline with siblings and friends — long, leisurely days spent jumping and learning new tricks. Now your children can create their own lifelong memories with Oz Trampolines’ safe trampoline range. Trampolines have changed a great deal over the years and are now available with many handy accessories, including nets, safety pads and roofs. Oz Trampolines believes in ensuring your children have an enjoyable yet safe jumping experience. Exclusive products that encourage a safe yet fun trampolining experience can be found in Oz Trampolines’ Premium range. This range includes the Pinnacle, which the company says is the best bouncing trampoline on the market, and the very popular in-ground trampoline, which is a perfect addition to any…

Stone fruits include almonds, apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches and plums, all botanically related members of the genus Prunus. Their fruit can be eaten fresh or dried or can be used in cooking and preserves. The fruits contain a hard, often pitted seed. Stone-fruit trees can be added to the garden year round but are best planted during early winter as grafted, bare-rooted plants. Autumn is the ideal time to prepare the ground for planting and order your trees. The selection of cultivars during winter is often better than at other times of the year. Certain stone-fruit trees are self-fertile but others need a pollinator — meaning another tree of a different cultivar needs to be planted nearby for pollination — so it’s wise to find out which varieties are best…

YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND Get a helping hand in the garden and keep your fingers protected with Glovax. This great product is made with a revolutionary yarn material that is equipped with abrasion resistance, blade cut resistance, tear strength resistance and puncture resistance. The material is moisture-absorbent, skid-resistant, water-resistant and oil-proof. It’s also lightweight, comfortable and flexible, so is suited to all of your needs. Keep those green fingers protected with the essential, hard-wearing Glovax that is set to become your new best friend in the garden. indiegogo.com PESTS BE GONE Insect pests can cause havoc in the garden, destroying flowering and cropping plants if they’re not controlled. Yates Rose Gun Advanced is perfect to keep your garden bug-free all year round. The spray kills insect pests and mites on…

IT’S TUB TIME If you have a claw-foot bath tub that has outlived its usefulness, why not turn it into an outdoor sofa or chair? Just such a thought occurred to three landscape design students from Melbourne’s Swinburne University of Technology — Dale Johnson, Liz Beale and Ross Peck — whose tub-turned-backyard-seat was the highlight of their Awash With Nature display garden for the 2017 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. The tub’s rusted exterior adds character while the white enamelled interior provides a cool, smooth back rest which is a blessing in summer. The final touch is a custom-made, well-padded seat cushion with some scatter cushions for maximum comfort. If you Google the topic, you’ll find online tutorials that will guide you through the process of transforming an old…

NATURE AND NURTURE What do you get when you combine an outdated 1920s California bungalow with the talented architects from Sydney firm Utz-Sanby? You get a seriously modern upgrade with an envy-inducing, neighbour magnet of a backyard. The home sits on a gently sloping block on Sydney’s Lower North Shore where the clients — a family of four — enjoy a covered deck, barbecue, firepit, sunken spa, pond, abundant garden beds, lawn and all-round happy outdoor family times. “The clients saw the potential to have a beautiful garden and renovated the house to take advantage of the sloping block, while retaining the character and details of the original home,” says architect Kristin Utz. “We were all in agreement that the established trees (eucalypts and crepe myrtle) were to be retained.…

Creating an outdoor entertaining space in a small courtyard can be challenging; however, this inner-city terrace proves that it is not only possible, the result can be idyllic. The owner of this urban home wanted to create a luxury garden space featuring a vertical garden, a pool, a lawn area and a covered dining space. As it needed to fit within a small courtyard (154sqm), the garden had to maximise function as well as evoke a feeling of spaciousness. The exterior also needed to match the industrial style of the property. To create this space, Jordan Glover from Winshore Building was commissioned. “We were able to create a private oasis in this area, which is set within a dense suburb of terrace living,” says Jordan. “This was further enhanced by…

Lounging in the backyard with friends and family is commonplace in Australia’s Sunshine State, whether by the pool or stretched out on the lawn. So when it came time to update their tired garden and pool area, this busy Queensland family wanted to create a place to relax and unwind that also tied in with their newly renovated, contemporary home. They commissioned Aaron Worth from Utopia Landscape Design to create a serene living space that would provide a balanced union between their home and garden while expanding the use of the pool area. “The outdoor entertaining space needed to extend the functionality of the pool area and provide a physical and visual connection to the house and backyard,” says Aaron. “It needed to complement the style of the house and…

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 and always choose the correct-size pot for the plant. Garden beds, on the…

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. With Greenlines Gardenware’s FormBoss range of no-maintenance, Australian-made steel garden edging, you can be the boss of your own garden design. Greenlines Gardenware offers a large array of easy-to-install domestic and commercial-grade steel edging solutions, ranging from flush edges to 450mm-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 garden project. FormBoss edging systems allow you to create curves and angles with ease and, thanks to the rounded top edge and…

Choosing the right lawn for your climate can be tough! You don’t want to install a beautiful turf only to find that it has died off or is looking patchy just six months later. Despite your best maintenance efforts, this could happen simply because the grass you chose doesn’t suit your climate or your needs. Installing turf is a big job and something you only want to do once. If you’re looking for the best type of lawn for your local climate, engage with the experts at Turf Finder. Turf Finder assists homeowners and industry professionals to select a turf variety that meets their specific needs. Your preference may be for lower maintenance, shade or wear tolerance. Turf Finder spells out the differences between every turf variety sold across Australia.…

It’s every Australian’s birthright to have a beautiful lawn in their home for hosting barbecues, playing games of backyard soccer and letting the kids and pets roam free around the yard. This means that choosing the correct lawn for your home is crucial. There are a number of environmental factors to consider when purchasing turf, including how much sun or shade it’ll receive, how much water it will need, if anyone in your household has grass allergies and more. And while there is a range of different turf variants, there’s only one lawn choice best suited to all of Australia’s varying environments: Sir Walter DNA Certified buffalo grass. Sir Walter DNA Certified is versatile and hardy. Many factors that cause most other lawns to deteriorate or become difficult to manage…

Hops are the flowers of the climbing plant Humulus lupulus. The climber grows each spring, sprouting from a rhizome beneath the soil to produce many twining stems, rough but handsomely lobed leaves and the flowers that brewers covet. A curious feature of the hop plant is they produce male and female flowers on separate plants. The pendulous female flowers — clusters of small, green bracts — are used in beer making. The male flowers form open panicles but, as fertilisation isn’t required for beer hops, these are not grown. Hop flowers are abundant and appear in summer. They are ready to harvest in early autumn as they become ripe and start to dry. Established vines produce bigger crops. Each female hop flower is made up of many tiny flowers concealed…

I will never forget driving through rural Greece for the first time and seeing grove upon grove of ancient olive trees, trunks gnarled and twisted with age, some growing in impossible locations but always with canopies laden with tempting fruit. Since olives are said to live 1000 years, I wouldn’t like to guess the age of some of the trees, but many of them must have been well over 100 years old. Maybe it’s something in the Mediterranean air or maybe it’s the way the Greeks celebrate olives in everything they cook, from baked bread and fish to the fresh Greek salad that accompanies most family meals, but it is truly one tree that gets better with age. Olives are among the earliest cultivated fruits, with records of agricultural use…