Table of contents for Issue #52 2021 in Backyard and Outdoor Living

While I have a pretty big backyard now, I lived in various apartments for 12 years prior to this, so I am no stranger to having a small space to play with when it comes to the garden. So what did I do? Well, the last apartment I lived in actually had quite a decent-sized balcony with beautiful water views. We were able to fit a Weber on there and a tall table and chair set (which maximised the view). As for the garden, I had a lovely vertical herb garden on each adjoining wall and a massive collection of potted succulents and cacti. It was a lovely place to sit with a wine and cheese board on a Sunday arvo. Turn to our small gardens feature for more hints…

“Small garden spaces do require careful consideration, especially when it comes to the scale of the design, but you might be surprised at what can be achieved,” says Tim Samuel, landscape designer and founder of Tim Samuel Design. “An outdoor dining area can be as small as 8m x 2m and a kitchenette need only be 2.5m long and 600mm deep. There are also innovative ways to incorporate the work-a-day utilities needed in a backyard. This might take the form of a clothesline that can be easily folded away when entertaining, built-in bench seats with gas struts/accessible lids to provide ample storage, or pool filter equipment that’s hidden in the ground. “To make a space look and feel a bit bigger, you can use large-format pavers and wider decking boards…

This exquisite garden project is essentially a bespoke series of garden rooms filled with colour, texture and nostalgia that can be viewed from every room within the home. It’s an integral part of a major refurbishment of a beautiful heritage home in Subiaco, Perth, by Perth architect Beth George. It was designed for her sister who is an archaeologist. The garden is whimsical, timeless and romantic. As part of the home renovation, a void was cut into the western edge and a light-filled courtyard was built, which is now filled with swathes of vibrant living colour and texture. Christina Nicholson, founding director of Banksia & Lime, says the garden effortlessly embodies the concepts of inside/outside living. “There’s a unique garden for every room of the house to reflect different moods,…

“The hassles of gardening in dry, lifeless soils can seem endless. We regularly add products like fertilisers, wetting agents and composts, but when the dry weather hits, our gardens still struggle,” says Colin Johnson of Earthlife. “We can blame the weather but the real reason why the soil is dry is because it is lifeless and that is down to our own gardening practices. “Chemical fertilisers are toxic to the life in the soil, synthetic wetting agents can lock up moisture, which means plants have to work harder to access the water, while composting organic matter without biology can contribute to the creation of a lifeless, hydrophobic environment. Add all these factors and they lead to soils that are heavily compacted. “All of the necessary soil microbes can be introduced…

“The garden can be seen like a car that needs regular maintenance. A car needs oil, air put in the tyres and regular petrol top-ups to keep it running … similarly, a garden needs ongoing maintenance to keep it growing. If you don’t have the time to spend on the care of the garden, call in the professionals,” says Glenice Buck of Glenice Buck Designs. “After visiting the garden, they should be able to give you an idea of a yearly maintenance plan. This should outline the weeding to be done, pruning to be completed, ongoing fertilising etc. They would normally give you an hourly rate per person or a quoted price per visit. “The regularity and length of these visits may vary a little according to the season. However,…

Now is as good a time as any to spruce up your outdoor area with an eye-catching potted plant display. An easy way to get the look is with the “thrill, fill and spill” planting method. To begin, pick out the star of the show — the perfect pot. Consider the colour of your home and garden decor. Don’t go for anything too small because the pot will need to accommodate a few plants. Next, choose a “thrill” plant — the prima donna of your display. The plant should be bold and appealing, with a bit of height, so it can be positioned at the back of the pot. Colourful, strappy-leafed plants such as burgundy cordylines or phormiums work well. The “fill” plants are the supporting cast. Look for smaller,…

It’s no secret most Aussies love outdoor living. But chilly winter evenings, rainy weather and sizzling summer days can send even the most ardent outdoor enthusiasts scurrying indoors. But that doesn’t have to be the case. No matter what the weather, it’s possible to create a beautiful liveable outdoor haven in your own backyard that you can enjoy all year round. FLUID DESIGN The key to creating any liveable outdoor space is to find the balance between comfort and functionality. Claire Dowling from Sunshine Coast Interior Design says most importantly it should be inviting. “It needs to be beckoning and relaxing — a few throws, large generous chairs, and side tables for drinks will always create a welcoming space.” Claire says the positioning of furniture also adds comfort to a…

SEED TO DUST MARC HAMER HARVILL SECKER | $35 Keep the tissues handy because Seed to Dust is a life-affirming tear-jerker. Following a year in the life of professional gardener Marc Hamer and his relationship with the woman who has employed him to tend her 12-acre garden for the past 20 years, the pages are filled with gardening folklore and the story of Marc’s journey from homelessness to family contentment. It is a beautiful example of a life lived in harmony with nature. THE NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL GARDEN KATHRYN BRADLEY-HOLE RIZZOLI INTERNATIONAL | $120 Get on board the environmentally friendly gardening bandwagon with this sumptuously illustrated edition highlighting 25 gardens from around the world. Tackling issues like water conservation, avoiding invasives, reducing chemicals, supporting wildlife and reviving time-tested, organic practices, this…

WORDS: KAREN BOOTH Garden spaces are getting smaller as more of us eschew big backyards in favour of maximising indoor living spaces. A smaller outdoor area can look spectacular and be pretty much anything you want it to be, but some skill and creativity are required. Smaller gardens can be harder to design because everything is immediately visible and there isn’t much room for error. Basically, every centimetre counts. A small backyard or courtyard can be a private, plant-filled getaway, an extension of your indoor living area, a place for entertaining, somewhere the kids can play or a combination of all the above. Generally speaking, the simpler the design and the more restrained the palette of colours, surfaces, textures and plants, the more soothing the effect. There are other tricks…

Bench seats, daybeds, barbecue prep spaces … there are many ways to integrate built-in furniture to increase the functionality of a small space. According to landscape designer Adrian Swain, director of Eco Design, “Custom-designed landscape furniture can be especially valuable in smaller gardens or in courtyards. Daybeds and sun lounges are popular, as are built-in dining tables, either sunken into a deck along with bench seating, cantilevered so that they appear to float over a space or included as a breakfast bar connected to an outdoor kitchen. “One of the most popular in-built options would have to be the bench seat. These can easily be made to suit the space requirements of the outdoor area and can include storage space, which allows you to keep the space clutter-free. Usually, the…

“There’s no way to entirely fire-proof your property; however, property owners shouldn’t underestimate how much a good garden clean-up, prune and some clever plant choices can potentially make in reducing bushfire risks to your home,” says Matt Leacy of Landart Landscapes. “Clean gutters, especially if your house is surrounded by large trees. Also, ensure all old dry leaves from autumn and winter are cleared out and away from your property — and that dead branches are cut away and trees and other plants are trimmed right back away from your house. “When introducing new plant varieties into your outdoor spaces, choose plants that are fire-retardant — that is, plants that don’t ignite and therefore make the areas less flammable,” he adds. “These will help protect your property from falling embers…

Boost the biodiversity of your backyard and watch the circle of life take hold While the Coronavirus pandemic has been one of the greatest challenges we have faced in recent times, it has been heartwarming to see so many people discover gardening for the first time (or get back into it) and seeking out ways to implement more sustainable living practices. Composting is something we can all do from our own homes, and with many different systems available there’s one to suit just about any situation, ranging from large farms to small apartments. Compost units and worm farms, like those available from Tumbleweed, process biodegradable resources (that some misguided folk call “waste”) and prevent it entering landfill. When kitchen scraps and carbon-rich materials like cardboard and shredded paper are composted,…

We talk about back gardens a fair bit in Outdoor Living, but what about the front garden? For some houses, they are the star of the show, so this issue we put the spotlight on fantastic facade gardens. Take a look at six of our favourites in Best Of — you won’t be disappointed. So you’ve planned an outdoor soiree and invited all your friends and family. You’ve organised the food and drinks, the furniture and even the shading options, but what about those finishing touches that will tie it all together? This issue, we take a look at what’s new in outdoor table settings. Turn to Snapshot for some inspiration. It’s starting to cool down but no one wants to be cooped up inside for months on end. Luckily,…

With this project, designer Tim Samuel says the homeowners were looking to create an outdoor area that could be enjoyed all year round. Also on their wish list was an exterior space that was visually connected to the home, and the design also needed to include some unique elements. This latest offering, designed and built by Tim Samuel Design (TSD), certainly ticks all those boxes and more. It’s the epitome of relaxed laidback outdoor living at home. The stunning hardwood colonnade, a series of rustic earthy columns that stretch upward inside the pool area, is a striking focal point. As time passes, the colonnade’s organic form will be entwined by climbing living plants, creating a leafy canopy and offering cooling shade in the warmer months of the year. Tim said…

01: UP THE WALL Green walls and indoor gardens breathe life into Hobart’s Moss Hotel, designed by Circa Morris-Nunn Chua Architects. The bespoke design solution is teeming with plants native to the Tasmanian rainforest, particularly ferns. While the walls look effortless, it is important to note that Tasmanian natives are not known for their ability to thrive indoors. Paul Bramich at LandSolutions Tasmania was engaged to design and install the system that would best suit the plants he selected for the conditions of the warehouse setting. The planters are rigged with a comprehensive custom irrigation system to ensure the growing medium maintains optimal moisture levels similar to a damp ferny gully or rainforest understorey. Propagated by Plants of Tasmania Nursery in Ridgeway, the flora is enchanting and made all the…

“Dwarf fruit trees take up much less space in the garden so if you have a limited area to grow trees, they will be the best option. Dwarf fruit trees also grow very well in pots or planter boxes as long as the containers are reasonable in size,” says Glenice Buck, landscape designer and founder of Glenice Buck Designs. “If your only outdoor area is a small courtyard/balcony/verandah or patio, then you can still grow fruit trees with these dwarf varieties. “Dwarf fruit trees can flourish in a container as long as it’s the correct size,” says Glenice. “Select the largest pot you can fit in your space and use a pot that is squat in shape. This means one that is as high as it is wide as the…

“I find that borrowing from the connecting landscape is a great way of making a small space feel bigger, so if your neighbour has a pink flowering tree, if you also use this flower colour you will create a visual connection and blur the boundary lines, making your space feel bigger,” advises Steve Warner, landscape designer and founder of OUTHOUSE design. “Colour on boundary walls is also important. A dark colour tends to visually extend a space, while light colours tend to make an object such as a wall seem a bit closer. However, warm natural pigments can help to reflect light in small walled spaces and make them more welcoming. Flooring material selection is another way to make a small space feel bigger, so selecting oversized pavers in a…

“The aesthetics of your lawn can be enhanced, and maintenance costs can be saved, by using the right type of fertiliser at the right times of year,” says Todd Layt of Ozbreed. “For Kikuyu, Buffalo and Zoysia the most important time of the year to fertilise is autumn and winter. If applied at these times, winter colour is greatly improved. Couch is not improved by winter fertilising unless you are in the tropics. Mid spring is the other important time to fertilise. Make sure you use slow-release fertiliser,” he advises. “The winter slow-release fertilise will carry over through early spring. By not fertilising or fertilising only very lightly in summer, you can save a lot of time not mowing turf. If it is a high-wear area, more frequent fertilising is…

01: ROOM WITH A VIEW Pamper your pooch with the Australian-made Dog Room by Michael Ong. With a minimalist design and architectural build principles, the Dog Room features a custom aluminium frame and a series of panels that are carefully detailed to create a distinctly clean appearance. The Dog Room is a collaboration with a social enterprise production partner aimed at creating jobs for those with a disability, so not only does it look good, it’ll make you feel good too. madebypen.com 02: CALI COOL The Cali sun lounger is a contemporary poolside pal with a powder-coated aluminium frame and weather-proof Textiline fabric. The back of the chair comes with a reclining mechanism that allows you to go from flat on your back to nap to upright and reading your…

New options in lighting and heating are wowing designers this winter, with a plethora of different styles and fresh new looks to tempt homeowners who enjoy the great outdoors at home. THE HEAT SOURCE Creating an outdoor haven that can be enjoyed all year round is a must for those who love outdoor living at home. On chilly winter nights, outdoor heating plays a huge part in making that a reality. Outdoor fires are warm and inviting, setting the scene for entertaining at home. You can gather your friends, fire up the barbecue, and open up a bottle of red wine while you toast your toes by a cosy fire. Jeff Collins, national commercial sales manager at Real Flame, says while there are many different types of heating fuel sources,…