Table of contents for Issue 13.5 2015 in Backyard and Outdoor Living

“The space allows the family to enjoy the built-in lap pool as well as the fresh fruit and vegetables from the garden” — Mark Paul On a mission to clad built structures with living, breathing plants — and with a brief to create a self-sustaining garden — Mark Paul and his team from The Greenwall Company have created something special for a family in Mosman, Sydney, where sustainability is key in this stunning space filled with unique and rare plants. Containing sandstone instead of soil, the backyard posed a challenge for the Greenwall Company, which instead embraced this obstacle and made it into a feature of the space. “We built the garden around these challenges and it has helped shape and become a unique aspect of the outdoor area,” says…

“Native plants were used around the creek and pond. They give the garden an authentic bushland look and feel and attract native birds to the space” At the end of a hectic working day, or come the weekend, could you imagine anything more relaxing than spending time in the bush surrounds of a front garden or amid the tropical splendour of a stunning backyard? For the rear garden of this home, designer Paul Trotter, managing director of PTA Landscapes, explains, “The brief was to create a backyard oasis, a place of retreat and escape with a warm, natural resort-style feel. This outdoor haven features a natural freeform plunge-style pool with beach areas for sun worshipping, a thatched gazebo from Bali, a wood-fired pizza oven for relaxed entertaining, and tropical plants…

Plants with colourful foliage, blossoming flowers or simply elegant green plants can make a backyard shine. If you walk into any retail nursery, you will find them in abundance but most are short-term gardening plants that won’t stand the test of time. If you’re after a more durable, long-lasting variety that really has that wow factor, there are several options out there. Here are some of our favourites. PURPLE AND MAROON Little Ruby™ Alternanthera dentata ‘LRU30’ PBR This plant tops the list with its gorgeous, deep-purple foliage and compact, low-growing form. It is more cold tolerant than the common varieties, suitable for Brisbane, Sydney and Perth, as well as in Adelaide and Melbourne either near the coast or in sheltered areas with some frost protection. Variegated Tanika™ Lomandra…

Looking to add some greenery to your backyard but don’t have a lot of time? Lomandras may be the answer If you’re after an easy “plant and forget” option for your garden, a Lomandra may be exactly what you need. These drought-tolerant plants require hardly any trimming, fertiliser or any other chemical treatments. While most varieties are tough, beautiful and suitable for the Australian climate, not all lomandras are the same. You will need to select the right one for your situation. First, you should consider the size of your garden bed and select a plant that won’t outgrow it. Another determining factor is the microclimate of your garden. Is the area you’re planting in mostly arid or moist? Or do you need a plant that will work in both…

Kale is a cultivar member of the brassica family and is treated as an annual or biennial. Most kale varieties have upright, green to deep blue-green leaves with fringed or wavy edges and long petioles (leaf-stalks). IDEAL CONDITIONS Kale prefers a nitrogen-rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0–7.0. If the soil is too acidic, add lime. If the soil isn’t rich, dig in organic compost or well-rotted manure. Ideally, choose an area in full sun. PLANTING Kale likes cool temperatures, and frost will sweeten its taste. Cultivate in February for a winter harvest by either sowing seeds directly into the garden or transplanting seedlings. GROWING Keep young plants well-watered to encourage tender, sweet leaves. Apply mulch to keep soil moist and cool, control weeds and protect plants from the…

Permaculture is guided by three ethics: care for the Earth, care for people and fair sharing of resources. Designers and practitioners aim to work with nature, which saves time, money, energy and natural resources such as water. It’s also about reducing work. Don’t dig! Digging is hard, physical work and can damage the soil. Gardening above ground level encompasses a host of different techniques, including no-dig gardening, lasagne layering, raised garden beds, mounded beds and deep, portable garden containers. Each has the same principle: you do not dig into the soil, you create a garden space by raising the soil level. It’s easy, practical and sustainable. No-dig gardening involves building up a garden bed on top of the existing soil, lawn or concrete or even building a garden bed off…

With the growing interest in Middle Eastern food, the pomegranate is coming under the spotlight in all manner of culinary applications. Punica granatum has been valued as a symbol of fertility, prosperity and abundance since ancient times. The health-giving properties of its roots, leaves, bark, flowers and fruit have been recognised and used in folk remedies throughout Asia, the Mediterranean and North Africa for millennia. In recent times, modern medicine has rediscovered the potent anti-ageing and disease-fighting properties of this ancient fruit with ongoing studies into its use for many ailments including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and breast and prostate cancers. The pomegranate is today’s new wonder fruit due to its high concentrations of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, though ancient populations were aware of its benefits thousands of…

CREAM OF THE CROP Doing Australia proud at the 2015 Japan Flower and Garden Show, Melbourne-based landscape and sculpture designer, Paal Grant, was awarded best garden design for his project, The Garden of the Little Wattlebird. Drawing inspiration from the raw elements of the Australian landscape, this interesting design features a curved decking seat that hugs a stone paved “conversation area” and fire pit. Stratums of plants skirt the space, creating a feeling of sanctuary and seclusion. Featuring the dramatic flight of the Australian Wattlebird, Paal’s unique sculpture makes a striking backdrop to this tranquil garden design. paalgrant.com MADE IN THE SHADE The Aussie backyard can certainly benefit from some shade in summer but you don’t want to lose all your light. Instead of incorporating man-made shading solutions such as…

Debbie and Paul Aitcheson and their sons Cooper and Bailey are all involved in their family business, The Chilli Patch. She says it has been a rewarding experience raising her two boys and establishing The Chilli Patch. “Growing plants and selling them at markets has taught the boys valuable life lessons such as responsibility, caring, giving, looking after each other and learning how their food grows.” The Aitchesons’ two-acre patch is a cornucopia of edibles and they all love nothing more than to step outside and pick a bowl of greens for a salad for the evening meal. In the 20 years they have lived there they’ve battled through the weather extremes Queenslanders know too well. “Summer days of 40°C are a frequent occurrence and winter nights that plummet to…

“The architectural nature of the plants perfectly complements the design of the home, which is striking yet restrained” — Micki Stewart Featuring an abundance of lush grass and a variety of textures, this expansive garden is the pièce de résistance for One Wybelenna, an impressive new home just outside of Brisbane. With the residence located approximately 14km away from the CBD in the peaceful and leafy suburb of Brookfield, the team at Boss Gardenscapes had plenty of land to play with. However, they had to be sympathetic toward the humid, subtropical climate typical of the area and ensuing water restrictions. The clients were keen to create an expansive lawn and garden with plenty of native screening trees and shrubs, but were conscious of the need to balance this with efficient…

“The vegetable bed’s location close to the kitchen allows the children to easily see the growing process happening before their eyes — from seed to plate, as the family grows, harvests and cooks their produce” If you have a small inner-city garden or courtyard, you may be thinking that a flourishing vegetable garden is out of reach. However, as this garden shows, space need not be a hindrance and an attractive and productive garden can go hand in hand — even by incorporating a water feature, a barbecue, seating area and ornamental plants. When the owners of this garden approached Steve Warner of Outhouse Design, they had a clear design brief. They wanted a functional space that would suit the family — which includes young children — with a productive…

Thanks to our temperate climate and laid-back attitude, outdoor entertaining has become a fundamental part of the Australian lifestyle. In the warmer weather, an outdoor area is the preferred spot for a relaxing sun-drenched breakfast, weekend lunches and garden parties. However, the harsh Aussie sun means outdoor areas should benefit from some type of protection. A beautiful and functional outdoor entertaining area is a great way to add extra living space to your home and obtain that sought-after indoor–outdoor living environment. However, choosing a design that complements your home and your lifestyle can be tricky. MAKING A SELECTION AWNINGS Awnings can be installed as permanent, demountable or retractable sources of shade over the exterior of windows and doors. They can be cut to a variety of sizes and shapes to…

There’s truth in the saying, “Soils ain’t soils.” Another truth of gardening is that not all soils mix well together. Soil is one of our most precious assets and yet we really don’t give a lot of thought to it. Gardeners often say, “This soil is old, so it’s time to buy in new soil to regenerate it.” A misunderstanding about soil is that all you need to do is add compost, animal manure and organic fertiliser and that will regenerate the old soil and make it like new. If you must buy in soil to help raise the level of the garden, it’s important to understand what you are purchasing. There are lots of landscape suppliers who have been around for generations with a great reputation and, unfortunately, there…

There are slight variations to the method of building no-dig raised gardens. Sydney-based no-dig pioneer Esther Dean perfected a method she used extensively for building raised beds for disabled and elderly gardeners using recycled materials. She has even built gardens on concrete driveways and up high on old bed bases to allow access for people in wheelchairs. Permaculturists use a technique called “sheet mulching”, which has been used to grow food all over the world. American gardener Patricia Lanza coined the term “lasagne gardening” to describe the multi-layered approach she developed for increasing soil fertility and food production without tilling. While some minor differences exist, the main process remains the same: Build the raised garden bed of bricks, blocks, stone or timber — preferably recycled materials. We used second-hand railway…

The owners of this serene inner-city courtyard sought to create a contemporary, private and low-maintenance garden space that was suited to outdoor entertaining. They also wanted the living area to incorporate a centrepiece that drew the eye, which, in this case, was a custom-made floating stone bench seating and elegant water element. They called on boutique landscaping company Bell Landscapes to design and construct the entire project and bring their vision to life. “Being an inner-city terrace, privacy was critical, so we endeavoured to create a private sanctuary where the owners could relax, entertain and enjoy the space with minimal maintenance,” says Mark Bell, director of Bell landscapes. In order to create a sense of privacy, bamboo and Elaeocarpus plants were used to provide height and seclusion while also protecting…

“Plant design and final selection were to replicate a deep-sea coral garden when viewed from above” After our initial consultation and meetings with the clients, the brief was to create an outdoor design that addressed existing privacy issues and formed a strong and seamless connection from the interior to the exterior spaces. They sought a design that was sophisticated, contemporary, timeless, sensual and functional. The design layout was to embody asymmetrical aspects incorporating strong biomorphic and fluid organic forms. This would serve to soften the static and rigid framework of the enclosing walls. Some of the challenging aspects relating to this project were the external environment and the microclimate, which has a heavy coastal exposure and salt-laden winds, mixed with extreme weather conditions. Cold winters follow extreme heat and penetrating…

No matter which material you have a preference for, outdoor furniture is subject to every force of nature so it needs to be constructed from quality, durable materials and cared for properly. CHOOSING YOUR MATERIAL METAL Stainless-steel and aluminium are the most commonly used metals in the production of outdoor furniture. But don’t be fooled, even though these materials are advertised as being low-maintenance, the occasional wash is required and discolouration will most likely occur after prolonged periods of use and exposure to the elements. When purchasing stainless-steel pieces, check with the supplier what grade it is — marine-grade steel would be the ideal option. Aluminium, although it is slightly more expensive, is a great alternative to stainless-steel. Lightweight but sturdy, aluminium furniture is available in a range of trendy…

Closely related, aphids, scales, mealybugs and whiteflies are all sap-sucking insects. They also produce honeydew, a sweet, sticky liquid that oozes from them as they suck plant juices from various plant parts. One problem is that wherever the sugary honeydew solution lands (leaves, fruit or stems), sooty mould can take hold. This ashen-looking fungus does not infect plants but can interfere with photosynthesis, affecting plant growth and causing leaf drop and unsightly, sooty-coated foliage and fruit. Aphids are especially common on roses but can also affect plants in the vegie garden. They particularly like beans, peas, melons, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, potatoes and cabbages. Apart from sucking, they can transmit diseases to many edible crops when they move from plant to plant. Their actions can result in young foliage looking…

When it comes to growing edibles, summertime can be a real challenge — the temperatures we experience remind us why it’s called a sunburnt country. Whether you’re in Hobart or Darwin or anywhere in between, success in the vegie patch this time of year means careful planning. Bitter vegies, hydrophobic soils, sun-scorched produce, split fruit, fruit fly and grasshopper damage: does this sound like your summer vegetable gardening experience? Despair no more. With sensible planning and a few hours of preparation, you can be on the road to successful summer harvesting; to healthy plants and good produce. So how can we keep those edibles going and protect them from our sizzling summer sun? Here are a few tips. THE SCIENCE First, we’ll look at the reasons why summer gardening can…

Many native birds rely on hollows in trees for nesting and breeding. As suburbia expands, trees are often removed, reducing the number of havens birds can find for breeding. The introduction of one or more nesting boxes into your garden space is a wonderful way to provide shelter for birds and a safe place where they can lay eggs and raise chicks. SUITABLE MATERIALS Timber is the best material for a nesting box because of its insulating properties. Ordinary building or pressure-treated pine is suitable. Western red cedar is another good choice or you can use Australian hardwood species, though these are heavy and solid to handle. Marine ply can be considered, too, as it is waterproof and durable. Never use CCA (copper chrome arsenic) or other chemically treated pine…

A TOUGH CHOICE Acacia ‘Dazzler’ is a hardy, dwarf native shrub, which grows to approximately 80cm high and 1m wide at maturity, with vibrant green foliage that creates the illusion of a soft, compact mound. This plant is a valuable addition to any garden as its fine foliage adds texture and its rounded shape, a softening effect. With a low water requirement once established, Acacia ‘Dazzler’ is easily maintained — simply prune as required and fertilise annually with a slow-release native fertiliser. This shrub prefers a sunny or partly shaded position in free-draining soil and is frost hardy and drought tolerant. While looking spectacular in domestic landscapes, Acacia ‘Dazzler’ is also well suited to commercial projects because of its hardiness. (03) 5629 2443 CHICKEN’S DINNER While having chooks in your…