Backyard and Outdoor Living

So far it’s been a long, hot, dry summer for huge swathes of the country, and many people are still recovering from the devastation of terrifying fires and catastrophic drought. There’s no doubt our land is struggling as the climate changes but, Auss

A beautiful boab tree can be a dynamic focal point, even in a small space. This petite courtyard garden features a striking robust tree, stretching skyward, drawing the eye up. Drought-hardy succulents and mondo grasses with larger rocks also feature

Is it a stove? Is it a barbecue? Is it a pizza oven? Is it a firepit? Meet the Noori Rocket Stove, all those things and possibly even more, in one moveable piece. Meaning “my fire, my light” in ancient languages such as Arab and Hindu, Noori was crea

Woiwurrung and Maneroo man Christian Hampson and Mindjingbal-Bundjalung man Clarence Slockee envisioned a hub for community as well as a central source of sustainable food when they founded Australia’s first Indigenous rooftop garden. Yerrabingin, on

Nestled in an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, the owners of this garden wanted a peaceful and secluded oasis from the hustle and bustle of their area. The extensive foliage and ornamental grapevine around the pergola make the space feel lush and peac

Cathy Apps, landscape designer at Catnik Design Studio, created this unique English/Australian garden at a South Australian residence. Cathy says it’s important there’s a reason behind your design ideas and that they suit the clients’ needs. “Our cli

For this Melbourne property, Lisa Ellis Gardens faced a challenge: create a relaxed atmosphere with areas for entertaining and a space that incorporates the client’s five rescue dogs into the design. Yes, five! With assistance from Diverse Landscape

The young owners of this New South Wales home craved an outdoor space that not only catered to their family lifestyle, but also preserved the native flora surrounding them. Gerrad Everson, creative director at Octopus Garden Design, had a plan for ma

The family living in this Melbourne home are in love with its modernist, 1970s architecture, so they naturally sought a backyard that complemented the aesthetic. Anna Maskiell of Public Realm Lab was able to deliver. “We are architects who are in lov

When building a home, all elements need to be considered — architecture, interior design and landscape design. A house doesn’t look complete without a landscape and a garden is best enjoyed with family. Janine Mendel of Cultivart Landscape Design has

Building a new home that meets all of today’s environmental standards is enough of a challenge, but creating a sustainable garden next to the home in these tough water-strapped times can be just as difficult. Clients of Phillip Johnson Sustainable La

The term “waterwise” is very much a part of gardening vernacular in Australia. Google the phrase and you’ll be inundated with corporations, government agencies, products and plant lists all promoting its principles. As a nation, we’re finally startin

This is an excellent question, and something an environmentally conscious gardener might wonder. With changing rainfall patterns, drought and an increasing average temperature in Australia many people are looking for ways to save water in their garde

No watering, mowing or weeding certainly sounds appealing and for many, artificial grass is now regarded as a viable, even desirable, alternative to natural turf. Some are attracted by its waterwise qualities and others by the thought of less mainten

When planning a dry-tolerant garden, the first thing you should do is put on your walking shoes and stroll around your local area, noting which plants seem to be flourishing regardless of dry spells or water restrictions. This will give you a good id

What’s more important in a backyard than the grass beneath your feet? A soft and lush lawn is the backdrop to your home and the place to hang out on the weekend all summer long. Whether you’re entertaining on warm nights or simply enjoying the sun, t

It has never been easier or more affordable to cut the cord and experience the freedom of being able to work around your home and garden without a long extension cord trailing behind you. Ozito's Power X Change platform is a game-changer for home DIY

Backyard entertaining is a fundamental way of life in Australia. We love having friends over for barbies, playing in the pool, backyard cricket or just lazing back on a Sunday arvo with a cold beer or wine. What has also become a way of life is the s

With many parts of Australia seeing consistently warmer-than-average temperatures, keeping lawns and gardens lush and thriving throughout the year can be a challenge. Choosing a watering system that gives your lawn and garden the best chance of succe

Creating an eco-friendly garden is important for each project designed by Andrew Beck, principle of Sustainable Garden Design Perth. His recent brain child, a garden in Nedlands, Perth, reaches new heights of playful design. Spanning a generous 1800s

Choosing the right fruit tree was once a minefield of decisions — which variety will fruit well, taste great, fit in my backyard and be low-maintenance? So many questions, so many decisions. That’s why Fleming’s Nurseries developed its “Pick of the C

Soil depth and type are two of the biggest factors in determining how drought-hardy your garden will be. Soil stores water for plant growth. The more water it can store, the more waterwise your garden can become. However, not all soils are the same.

More and more householders are opting for sustainable ecogardening practices. Reticulated watering systems, drip watering, tanks to harvest rainwater, mulching to retain soil moisture, pool covers to minimise evaporation and the planting of drought-t

In many households, greywater is a large and untapped resource. Reusing at least some of your waste water on site fits in with permaculture principles, reducing your impact on the environment as no resources are being used to process it off-site. For

As one of the most severe droughts in history is experienced across the country, it’s now more important than ever to ensure our gardens are drought-proof and the most water-efficient they can be. There are simple measures you can take to keep your g

The goal for gardeners should be to be as sustainable in their practices as possible, which means reducing reliance on mains water for irrigation. One very effective way you can do this is by installing one or more rainwater tanks. There are above-gr

Maintaining your own compost heap is a cheap and effective way of ensuring a ready supply of soil-enriching organic matter — and you’ll reduce the amount of garden clippings and food waste that need to go to landfill, which is good for the environmen

Love your lawn with the Ozito PXC cylinder push mower. Perfect for maintaining well-kept small to medium lawn areas, this mower has a cordless motor that can be powered by any 18V Power X Change battery that automatically spins the blades at the pres