Table of contents for Issue #16.6 2019 in Backyard and Outdoor Living

In the lush, leafy Sunshine Coast Hinterland is a charming country garden that’s a pure delight to the senses. Strolling around the beautiful gardens, everywhere you look there’s something wonderful to discover: sweet, fragrant roses, rows of strappy agapanthus, mature exotic trees, tactile earthy timber bails that tell a story of a bygone era, and sweeping park-like gardens with archways that frame majestic mountain views. Owners Steve and Ann Robertson bought a 10-acre (four-hectare) parcel of an old dairy farm 34 years ago, after the magical mountain views sealed the deal for the couple from Townsville in North Queensland. “We had to wade through knee-high kikuyu grass to view the property, but we knew right away it was for us,” says Ann. A BLANK CANVAS The sprawling rural block was…

As our population booms, blocks of land have become a hot commodity. Houses have become bigger and, consequently, the good ol’ Aussie backyard has shrunk, becoming no more than a postage stamp size in which to place a barbecue or table to enjoy the warmer months. However, this does not mean you can’t have a beautiful entertaining space to call your own, and the owners of this modern Malvern East abode asked Ian Barker Gardens to design exactly that for their small, rear-garden space. “Our clients asked that we design a beautiful and functional rear garden to transform what was almost a blank canvas into a special place for the whole family to enjoy,” says Ian Barker, director of Ian Barker Gardens. “Their wish list included a lawn area for…

On the must-have list for this rural property were a luxury swimming pool and inviting outdoor living spaces, all of which had to be created on a site with wonderful views but a tricky slope. The brief given to PTA Landscapes was to integrate the planned pool with the new landscape, make the area around the house, which sat high on the block, useable, and to tame the severe slope through the introduction of well-managed levels and terraces. Of equal importance was ensuring that the new landscape would complement the property’s bucolic surrounds and be as easy to maintain as possible. To harmonise with the natural pink sandstone of the home’s exterior walls, textured non-slip granite paving was laid in the outdoor entertaining areas and around the pool. Granite was…

“Heating has become important to homeowners because it allows them to use their outdoor areas all year round, or greatly extend the usable period. Additionally, for those that utilise a naked flame as with firepits, fireplaces and chimineas, it provides an additional source of entertainment, just like the proverbial bush television,” says Aaron Worth, landscape designer and founder of Utopian Landscape Design. “Heating has become one of the most common requests for inclusions in outdoor living and entertaining spaces. Many people are choosing to include outdoor heating at the design stage of a project to ensure it is properly integrated into the space rather than an item that sits awkwardly to one side. Some homeowners go one step further and make the firepit, fireplace or heating source a centrepiece for…

Lifeless soils pose significant threats to your garden. You may regularly add products like fertilisers, wetting agents and composts, but the reality is if your soil is dry, even gardeners with the greenest of thumbs can wind up with a poorly plant on their hands. Beautiful, lush gardens are all the rage right now, but what do you do if you find your plants are limp, your fern decimated and orchids desperate? We can blame the weather, but a dry soil comes down to our own gardening practices. Chemical fertilisers are toxic to the life of soil; synthetic wetting agents can lock up moisture, meaning plants have to work harder to access the water, while composting organic matter without biology can contribute to creating a lifeless and hydrophobic environment. Add…

Here’s an easy growing project that even kids with no garden can try: cress eggheads. Grow your cute eggheads some hair, which you can then cut and sprinkle on your salads or sandwiches. Materials • Empty, rinsed eggshells (just cut off the very top to allow growing space) • Craft eyes (optional) • Cotton wool • Watercress seeds (kale, alfalfa, radish or mustard seeds can also be used) • Textas or paint • Egg carton or egg cups to stand eggheads in Method 1. Draw faces on your eggshells and glue on googly eyes if using. 2. Put cotton wool inside empty eggshells and dampen with water. 3. Sprinkle seeds over cotton wool. 4. Place eggheads in a sunny spot, like a windowsill and give more water as needed —…

The kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix) is an unusual-looking plant, grown largely for its aromatic leaves, which bring life and zest to curries, fish dishes, soups and salads. Imagine cooking tangy Thai chicken salad, banana pancakes with sticky kaffir lime syrup or spicy Asian fishcakes with leaves picked fresh from your backyard. I even add a kaffir lime leaf to jasmine rice before steaming to give it an extra flavour kick. The kaffir lime prefers warm tropical areas but can still be grown successfully in southern gardens if you protect young plants from frost and choose a warm, sunny spot away from cold winds. This is one plant that should not be judged on its looks alone. The dark-green glossy leaves are packed with flavour but are rather odd in appearance.…

If ever a plant were poised between heaven and hell, it would be Ocimum basilicum, otherwise known as basil. In India and Haiti, the herb is used to ward off evil. In parts of Mexico, it supposedly attracts good fortune. Some ancients believed it opened the gates of paradise for the dying, while others saw it as a symbol of the Devil. The Romans were convinced that if you chopped it up and put it under a rock, a scorpion would be born. A royal plant or a symbol of poverty, a poison or a panacea — whatever the legend, basil is believed to be native to India, where it’s considered sacred and has been used ceremonially and medicinally for 5000 years. In fact, in courts of law under British…

SEE THE LIGHT Ideal for illuminating driveways and porches, the Wide Angle Solar Wall Light with sensor comes with two additional LED bulbs angled on either side of the light to create a wider range of luminosity. With a powerful integrated rechargeable lithium battery, it will never run out of juice. The light comes with a responsive motion sensor that can detect movement from up to 6m away. The dim light will stay on continuously until motion is detected, which will then transition to a bright light that stays lit for roughly 20 seconds. Easy to mount on the wall with the supplied plugs and screws, no cables, wiring or power adapter are required. hoselink.com.au TAKE A SHOWER Take care of your hanging and potted plants with Hoselink’s premium hand-held…

Architectural marvels rarely have the pleasure of being adorned and softened by such a beautiful array of foliage. However when Bell Landscapes and architect Clinton Cole of CplusC teamed up, they created an earthy, low-maintenance escape that both complemented and served as a contrast to the surrounding landscape, providing a strong relationship between the built and natural environment. “We wanted the built and natural elements to be seen as one, rather than being viewed as separate,” says Mark Bell of Bell Landscapes. To create this symbiosis, Mark and his team divided the planting design into two parts — one theme focusing on traditional natives such as floral climbers that soften the home’s strong industrial feel, the other utilising succulents with blue, grey and silver tones to complement the home’s build…

Designing a garden is one thing, but creating a natural outdoor space within a home’s concrete floor atrium is a marvel within itself. This is exactly what EnticeScapes achieved with the help of the home’s interior design company, AgathaO House of Design. As the space is a focal point of the home’s interior — visible from the living, dining, kitchen and level above — it truly needed a wow factor. “The client brief was for the space to match with the designed interior of the property — a centrepiece of the interior,” says Troy Martin from EnticeScapes. “With the size of the space and the impact it creates, special attention to detail was required.” This marvel was constructed using platforms made from steel framing fabricated on site and clad with…

Although the rear garden accounted for roughly a quarter of the block, it was rarely used as it felt removed from the house. With three young children, the owners wanted to create an area where they could spend time with family and friends, and a swimming pool was at the top of their wish list. “The existing outside entertainment options were few,” explains Georgia Harper of Georgia Harper Landscape Design (GHLD). “On the upper level, a cramped deck off the house had seen better days and was not up to group entertaining. Also, the deck was almost two metres off the ground so it was difficult for the adults to keep an eye on any of the backyard action from inside the house. On the lower level, a cramped bricked…

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…

Having a lush green lawn is basically the Australian dream. With weekend barbecues and kids’ parties on the go, and that feeling of walking around barefoot on the grass, the benefits of having a beautiful green lawn might seem endless — and that’s because they are. If you're thinking about planting a new lawn but don’t know where to start, that's because not all lawns are the same. As with other plants, you need to consider important factors like climate, soil type, water and maintenance. After all the effort it takes to plan a great outdoor space, it’s important to purchase a top-of-the-line turf to complete the lawn. Thanks to My Home Turf, this is now possible. My Home Turf aims to deliver good looks, hard-wearing turf and a great…

As we get ready to kiss summer goodbye for another year, there is no time like the present to start planning your heating so you can enjoy the outdoors year-round. Infratech specialises in infrared electric heating for indoor-outdoor spaces, and there are plenty of attributes that make these heaters stand out from the crowd. Made in the USA, Infratech heaters are weather-proof, ecofriendly, efficient, versatile, and they create a wonderful ambience. You could say it’s where comfort and style meet. Infratech has been a pioneer in infrared technology for more than 50 years, with the company offering a wide range of products for the domestic and commercial heating market. Infratech uses the latest in manufacturing technologies to offer the most efficient infrared systems for the lowest cost in the industry.…

With the warm weather comes new growth, clouds of blossoms, emerging fruit, longer days and BUGS. Now, there are many, many tiny flying, crawling and burrowing insects and they don’t all predate on your favourite plants. In fact, the reason you may have a bug problem could be a much deeper issue than you realise. Consider these questions: • Are your plants water-stressed? • Are they planted in the right location? • Are they growing out of their climate zone or season? • Are they starving? Healthy plants growing in suitable climate zones and in the right locations and season, receiving the right cultural requirements, are less likely to succumb to pest attack and disease. Remember, insects play a very important role within our ecosystems, even the ones we consider…

In maintaining a sustainable gardening or farming system, many of the organic practices and materials most of us use already are well in line with biodynamic principles. The key element is soil fertility, which is where biodynamic preparations come into the picture. These preparations made and used by biodynamic growers are sometimes a source of amusement to those who don’t understand or believe in — and even scoff at — their highly beneficial effects on soil, plants and our environment in general. Some may find it a little hard to believe that the burying of cow horns, the various brews used to fertilise the garden/farm and even the method of spreading these preparations all draw on the cosmic energy within the universe, which impacts on everything, right down to our…

Growing conditions: Kaffir lime trees prefer a warm, sunny, sheltered position. Feed plants with an organic fertiliser through spring and early summer. Height: Plants generally grow to approximately 1.5m tall. Regular picking will keep them nice and compact. How to use it: The evergreen leaves can be harvested year-round. Strip away the central vein and shred the leaves into Thai salads and stirfries or add them whole to spicy curries and Asian-inspired soups, then remove before serving. Storage: Kaffir lime leaves can be stored whole, in a bag or container, in the freezer for several months without losing their flavour or aroma.…

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS The new Ferris 400S Series Zero Turn lawnmower is designed with a compact, entry-level body that allows users to navigate tight areas without sacrificing commercial-grade attributes — perfect for small-to-medium acreages or commercial properties. The 400S comes equipped with patented suspension technology; the independent rear coil-over shocks mean less concern for uneven ground and more focus on getting work done. Combined with a Briggs & Stratton® Commercial Series engine, built with the ultimate in dust and particle filtration, an advanced debris management system and a beefed-up cylinder block structure, the 400S is truly the best of the best. briggsandstratton.com LIGHT UP THE NIGHT There’s really no better place to utilise the humble solar light than here down under. Whether you want accent lights for better visibility…

THE ART OF BLENDING Creating a garden is an artistic endeavour in its own right, so why do we need to gild the lily by adding a sculpture? Well, a sculpture doesn’t have to be introduced in the conventional sense. Sculptural elements can be integrated by blending them with other features, and with a garden bench you have myriad possibilities open to you. There are garden benches crafted from driftwood that have a highly sculptural, organic quality, seating carved from stone, timber fashioned to look like toadstools or butterflies (fun for the kids), and for a touch of true artistry, outdoor seating that actually incorporates sculptural work. This example, to be found in Cloudehill Gardens in Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges, is a one-off from Melbourne sculptor Graeme Foote. The design is…

I left the rat race behind 15 years ago when my wife and I moved to Wingham, a rural hamlet 320km north of Sydney. Four gently sloping acres (1.6 hectares) adjacent to a dairy farm and beef grazing property provided us with the ideal platform to create a garden. Itching to get my hands dirty, I undertook several rural and gardening-based courses before any planting began. These proved invaluable and along the way my interest in organics grew as I began my plantings. With my organic interest at fever pitch, I joined the Manning Organic Gardening Group. Becoming part of an organic garden group was the best thing I could have done and I recommend it to anyone reading this. I learnt about organic gardening, garden design, organic pest management…

A breathtaking pool design like this calls for a simple garden, and that is exactly what Tim Davies Landscaping achieved for this sloping site. With the pool as the focal point of the garden, the planting palette and overall landscape design needed to seamlessly tuck into the surrounding fence line, without seeming overly simplistic. “The property’s existing swimming pool no longer fulfilled the owners’ needs and they required it to have a new location,” says Tim Davies, owner of Tim Davies Landscaping. “They wanted a deep concrete pool that considered the views and functionality from inside and the relationship to the alfresco and new turfed areas.” As it was a sloping site, Tim and his team needed to address the level change while removing the need for a pool fence…

While a construction site of hard-packed clay and rubble would be an eyesore for most, for Mark Bell from Bell Landscapes, it was a blank canvas full of exciting potential. Taking maxiumum advantage of the open space allotted for the garden, Mark decided to divide it into multiple destinations. Areas were designated for entertainment, relaxation and play so there was something for everyone — parents, children and dogs. Leading out from the back door, a raised barbecue deck was created, the first of many social hubs. The burnt umber timber used for the entertaining deck became a recurring design feature throughout the garden, fashioned into paths, fences, stairs, retaining walls and benches, visually tying together the various garden spaces. A cantilevered timber bench, which hovers over a pebbled pathway, marks…

Planning a backyard makeover? Why not create space for a firepit and surround it with bench seating to create a gathering point when entertaining? If it’s an outdoor room that’s on the drawing board, factor in some form of heating — perhaps a gas-fired, wood-effect fireplace set into a feature wall. Or maybe you just want to make your deck more inviting or your patio warmer when the weather cools. Perhaps a ceiling-mounted electric radiant heater, or a bioethanol-fuelled portable fireplace that gives you the flicker of flames without the mess and fuss of a wood-burning heat source. If you like to spend time outdoors and you want to be able to do that in comfort, summer or winter, heating is essential. Choose the right outdoor heating option and there…

The people at Fleming’s Landscapes have cemented themselves as a formidable force in the Australian landscaping scene. With three unique business divisions and supported by Australia’s leading wholesale nursery, Fleming’s Nurseries, Fleming’s Landscapes is a domestic- and commercial-scale landscape outfit that can handle even the trickiest of landscapes. Fleming’s Landscapes is a specialist in completing the full service, from design to installation for high-end, sophisticated landscape designs. The in-house design team will talk you through the process of developing the perfect concept, and with a dedicated team of professional landscapers, your dream can be turned into reality. Fleming’s unique heritage as Australia’s leading horticultural company now brings that knowledge to landscapes, from large-scale parks and gardens to high-end residential designs to make any house a true home. Bringing the finest-quality…

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. It can be used in a broad variety 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 ideal…

I strongly believe that in any child’s life, time spent in the garden is an important stepping stone to understanding the greater picture of the natural world around them. Our children are the next in line to be the caretakers of this amazing, beautiful, fragile planet we call home. Now, more than ever, there are too many distractions and entertainments that don’t involve nature at all. We are seeing children parked in front of screens for hours on end, resulting in considerable health, mental and weight issues. Nature Deficit Disorder is becoming a thing. And what of the health issues of the planet? If the next generation has no connection to it, how and why will they care? But enough doom and gloom. If you’re reading this magazine you’re on…

Lemongrass is a herb that makes such an impression it can transform a good dish into a fabulous one. So treasured is lemongrass in Asian cuisine that if you trek through the region you’ll see it growing everywhere, often in tin cans or recycled pots and most often close to the kitchen for easy picking. Cymbopogon citratus is the most common form of lemongrass grown in Australia. It is native to Sri Lanka and southern India, so understandably it enjoys a warm, humid spot in the garden. It can still be grown successfully in colder areas, but take care to choose a warm, sheltered, sunny spot. The foliage gets knocked around a bit by frost and it detests long periods of cold, wet weather, so plants can look a little…

Among the salad greens, rocket really stands out from the crowd, with a wonderful peppery flavour that adds that something extra to salads. I often make a simple rocket, pear and Parmesan salad to go with steak or pasta. I will swap the Parmesan for blue cheese or gorgonzola if I’m feeling extra-indulgent. Rocket is fast growing and simple to grow and harvest. In fact, it’s one of the fastest-growing leafy greens. It can easily be grown from its fast-germinating seed sown in the autumn or spring. Before you sow, dig some compost and a bit of organic fertiliser through the soil and rake it over to smooth out the area. Create a furrow about 3mm deep with your finger. Sow the tiny seeds in a thin line and cover…