Outdoors / Terrace
bromeliad family
Guatemala garden
Gym? Polished floor / terrazzo tiles
Outdoor furniture
Lighting
Levels & texture
Definition
Topiary
1. Translucent panels If you’re looking to block an adjacent building but still would like light to pass through a screen, frosted glass can be a highly effective material. In this San Francisco home, sand-blasted glass panels create a luminous privacy screen for an outdoor dining area
Slatted screening Create a feeling of enclosure and interrupt views from neighbouring homes with a more modern take on a traditional pergola. The designers of this Los Angeles backyard used painted steel tubing mounted on posts to create a slatted privacy covering for a backyard lounge.
10. Colourful acrylic If you need a screen for privacy or to separate one garden area from another, why not have it be an outstanding feature? Here, semi-translucent colourful sheets of Perspex acrylic mounted in stainless steel frames make a statement
Choosing plants for built-in containers For the most part, use the same general rules you would when selecting plants for any other outdoor area. Look for plants that thrive in your region and in the sun or shade exposure the built-in container will receive. Most common garden plants grow best in soil that drains well. Drainage can be an issue in built-in containers, so check before you plant and solve any drainage issues. (Quick test: Soak the soil with water and see if it remains damp but not soggy after two hours.) Given that you’re planting in a confined space, there are a few additional considerations for selecting plants. Most small to medium-size plants – such as ground covers, succulents, annual flowers, perennials and vines – will grow well in built-in containers, provided they’re planted in the right sun or shade exposure. For shrubs, make sure there is enough soil to support the growth of larger varieties, such as pittosporum and viburnum. For trees, choose shallow rooting varieties and those that don’t grow too tall (olive trees, types of palm and citrus, and many dwarf tree varieties are good bets). Keep in mind that many trees will not grow well in spaces that confin...
10. Low-maintenance Depending on their placement, built-in planters can be more difficult to access than other areas of the garden. Choosing no-fuss plants such as sculptural agaves and evergreen shrubs can cut down on maintenance without compromising style. In this Perth, WA, backyard, a simple planting of foxtail agave (Agave attenuata) in front and ‘Spring Bouquet’ laurustinus (Viburnum tinus ‘Spring Bouquet’) echoes the clean lines of the decking and built-in seating area, and neither plant requires much care to look good.
9. Edible Depending on their size and sun exposure, built-in planters can also be a great spot to grow herbs, veggies and berries. Many sun-loving Mediterranean herbs, such as basil, parsley, chives, marjoram, thyme and tarragon, need a planting depth of only 30 to 45 centimetres to grow – making them good candidates for shallower built-in containers. Most tomato varieties and blueberry and raspberry plants require a bit more planting space, at least 60 centimetres deep, to thrive.
Mosquito-repellent plants Many plants deter bugs, though only within their immediate micro-climate: plant them in one corner of your garden and you’ll still find mosquitos in another. If you have window boxes or planters near your front or back door, fill them with mosquito-repellant flowers such as marigolds and geraniums, or herbs including lemongrass, lemon balm, citronella, lavender and rosemary, which are also great additions in the kitchen.
Screenings
Topiary
Built in benches
Hedge & glass
Wall - Toorak Rd end?
Privacy plants
Deck Plants
Porcelain
Wall?
Pizza oven
Casual seating, rug etc
Box seating
Terrace
Terrace / Sunroom
Living wall, focal point
Side wall
Length of "enclosure", planting wall?
Plant box seating
Q