Outthinking
When Outside Living first visited this semi-detached house in Bondi the small backyard was uninviting and not suited to family living. The owners were at a loss about how they could make the area work for them. Items on their wish list were a covered outdoor entertaining area, a BBQ and a pool.
"Offering a rich tapestry of texture, form and colour, this steep front garden simply oozes street appeal".
Learn how Outside Living used a variety of materials and plants to turn a steep lawn with old paths into a masterpiece. The variety of materials, steps, shaped retaining walls and a variety of plants provide an interesting journey up the steep slope.
Article published in issue 040 of Outdoor Design magazine by Universal Magazines
"Offering a rich tapestry of texture, form and colour, this steep front garden simply oozes street appeal".
Learn how Outside Living used a variety of materials and plants to turn a steep lawn with old paths into a masterpiece. The variety of materials, steps, shaped retaining walls and a variety of plants provide an interesting journey up the steep slope.
Article published in issue 040 of Outdoor Design magazine by Universal Magazines
Hedges can take many forms, from the very formally pruned box hedge, to an informal loosely pruned row of the same species to shaped forms. Hedges can also range in size from a very small garden border to a very tall wind break on a farm.
Read on to find out more about hedges ...
Find out how Karen Staunton-Ross of Outside Living transformed this suburban block with a now disused battle-axe driveway into a resort-style tropical oasis.
Article published in issue 041 of Outdoor Design magazine by Universal Magazines
With the move away from lawns towards using plants to introduce a sculptural and artistic flavour to gardens, there are some interesting plants to consider for those tricky uneven sections, between steppers and places calling for a statement plant.
Corymbia ficifolia hybrids, commonly called Flowering Gums, are a medium sized tree with stunning flowers which bloom mostly in summer followed by large sculptural gum nuts. Flowering Gums make for a beautiful feature tree in an open sunny position with low humidity and well drained soils with reliable irrigation.
Read on for more tips ...
"Offering a rich tapestry of texture, form and colour, this steep front garden simply oozes street appeal".
Learn how Outside Living used a variety of materials and plants to turn a steep lawn with old paths into a masterpiece. The variety of materials, steps, shaped retaining walls and a variety of plants provide an interesting journey up the steep slope.
Article published in issue 040 of Outdoor Design magazine by Universal Magazines
There are few garden features with the power to draw people’s attention like a fire pit. People are not only drawn to the warmth but also to the atmosphere fire pits generate.
Seating around a fire pit is a great idea. Having a mix of built in and flexible seating is probably the best option.
Read on for more tips ...
Thinking of adding some productive elements to your garden but struggling to find space? Not all edible gardens need to have plants grouped together in a formal vegetable garden with a label for the possums – great dining options here. Herbs and veggies can be included in general garden areas. If you'd like to know what to plant in Autumn read on ....
Colour choices can make a huge difference to how we perceive a space or object. Painting a new timber paling fence a dark colour will make the fence appear smaller and further away, therefore making the outdoor area seem larger. Plants will look greener, ... read on ...
Autumn is the best time of year to introduce new plants to your garden. We have put together a few tips on planting techniques to give these new plants the best chance of surviving and thriving in their new home. Read on ...
Are you loving the beautiful colours of the deciduous leaves at the moment? We’ve noticed Maples, Liquidambar, Pears and Gingko trees looking stunning.
Autumn leaves are not only stunning but can also make a useful mulch, with care. Read on ....
Imagine this space without the water feature. Walking through the door we naturally look ahead to what we call a focal point. Focal points provide the opportunity to create a point of interest, a place to rest your eye and draws your view out into the garden. A well selected feature can even make the garden look bigger.
During a hot, dry summer in Sydney, Outside Living watched how plants responded to weeks without rain. Some plants did well while others didn't cope so well. Read more in our article Hot in the City
There are many situations when lawn just doesn't work well - too little water, too much foot traffic or insufficient sun. Thankfully, there are other options.
A variety of styles and plants can replace lawns, depending on the use of the area. Some lawn areas are never walked upon apart from mowing, others are part of a thoroughfare. Read on ....
Ornamental grasses can lift a garden from ordinary to stunning – introducing texture, structure and movement in a way other plants cannot.
Bring the shaded areas of your garden to life with interesting and beautiful plants. Textural interest can be created by layering a variety of foliage shapes, sizes and colours.