Garden
Bottlebrush Another tough Australian native, bottlebrush (Callistemon) will tolerate strong winds as long as they’re not too salt-laden. Soil should be well-drained and it needs plenty of sun to flower well. Birds love the nectar of bottlebrush flowers, which can be white, red, pink or purple depending on the species. Trees range in size from dwarf types to those over 5 metres. GARDENER’S TIP: Prune off seed capsules when flowering finishes to keep plants bushy and encourage more flowers.
Paving is one of the most expensive materials in a garden, but it doesn’t mean you should miss out on a stylish solution. In this garden, very simple and inexpensive concrete pavers have been combined with gravel in a simple pattern to create a standout path. The gravel has been taken into the rest of the front garden, where fewer people will walk but where it gives access to all the planted beds. The design is simple, effective and great for drainage.
Composite decking An environmentally sustainable alternative to timber decking is composite decking, such as the ModWood used here. An Australian-made composite product, ModWood is a mixture of ground wood waste and recycled plastic milk bottles. It contains no formaldehydes and comes in a range of sizes, colours and finishes. Like timber decking, it suits most gardens. PROS: ModWood is sustainable, versatile, easy to install, durable, splinter-free, resistant to insects such as termites and requires low maintenance. It’s also just as stable as timber. CONS: However, it’s not real timber, just a lookalike, but is more expensive than most decking timber.
Reconstituted stone Made from concrete mixed with stone aggregates, reconstituted stone is a great way to get the look of natural stone without the price. It works very well when laid in a traditional stone pattern such as the Ashlar used here; these Granite Range Vega pavers are made with reconstituted Australian black granite flecks within a light grey base. PROS: It’s cheaper than natural stone and is available in a wide range of colours, while also coming in consistent thickness and texture. CONS: The pavers can fade (although the weathered look is often seen as a plus) and become marked.
Aubergine. Get all the goodness of eggplant in your garden without having to grow any with the application of this dusky shade to create a sense of drama. WHY IT WORKS: Mauve and aubergine add warmth in cooler areas of the country by soaking up the sun. It offers the boldness and fun of purple without overwhelming an area. WHERE TO USE IT: Exteriors, sheds, landscaping features and outdoor eating areas. It could look murky if used indoors.
Create texture The ornamental grasses planted in this Sydney garden are an important feature in natural gardens, adding dramatic textural and foliage contrast. They also provide seasonal interest with their lovely seed heads and flower spikes, as well as food and shelter for wildlife. Australian native grasses such as pennisetum (make sure they’re a cultivar of Pennisetum alopecuroides, which has a much wider plume than the exotic variety, and is non-invasive), lomandra and dianella are perfect plants for the natural garden, as are New Zealand flaxes and flax-like plants such as astelia and libertia.
Obtain privacy with hanging plants and ornaments When neighbours are very close to the boundary, as in this Perth garden, hanging plants and other decorative pieces can create a layered screening effect. A climbing plant trained horizontally along the wooden archway adds another layer to the screen. The great thing about this idea is that it lets light penetrate while ensuring the garden still has a sense of privacy and seclusion.
Build the biggest deck you can Dinky platform decks feel cramped and can make a small space feel even smaller. Make the most of your plot with the largest deck or patio you can fit. To get a bit more green, leave space along the edges of the hardscape to plant vines to cover the fences, and add some big containers with lush foliage.
If you want a filler Nothing screams Australian native more than ornamental grasses, and with so many species and cultivars to choose from – within genera such as Dianella, Lomandra, Pennisetum, Poa and Themeda, just to name a few – these grasses are just the answer when you don’t know what to plant. Use them as fillers or even to mass plant out an entire bank. They create interesting texture, colour variation and movement within the garden. TIP: As a general rule of thumb, ornamental grasses should be cut back every one to two years, just before spring. This will allow for fresh growth and will keep them looking fresh.
Midgen berries (Austromyrtus dulcis) This is a low-growing shrub that originates from coastal regions of Australia, including New South Wales and Southern Queensland. It can survive in colder climates, but needs to be protected from frost. The plant pictured above is a close relative to the midgen berry called the narrow leaf myrtle (Austronmytus tenuifolia). Stewart likes to eat both types, and grows a row of midgen berries as a boarder plant along the edge of his garden bed. “They double as an ornamental plant and form sweet berries that I eat fresh, straight from the bush, or sprinkle on my yoghurt for breakfast,” he says.
With no fence it is a nice idea to make a feature of the letterbox. Draw on the architecture of the home and have a go at trying something a little bold and different. It could be the only structural feature you are able to fit in and, if done well, it can be the recognised landmark for the property. With no fence, planting will then need to be the hero, and again your plant selection works best if it reflects the architecture/style of the home
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