Westbrook Garden Imagine having to create a garden on a steep, rocky hillside with very little soil, low rainfall and no town water. Against all the odds, Chris Coffey enthusiastically accepted the challenge of landscaping 1.5 hectares (3.5 acres) of land in the...
In the Garden
Solve a problem, find a plant or look for a design inspiration
White Rooftop Garden
White Rooftop Garden Don discovered an ultra modern garden and entertainment area on the roof of a Melbourne office building. Jamie Loft, Landscape Designer and Company Director of the garden and pool design business ‘Out From The Blue’, gave Don a guided...
Beating Weeds
Don was faced with a gardener’s worst nightmare: a backyard completely overgrown with weeds. This thick jungle of nasties included lantana (Lantana camara), wandering jew (Tradescantia albiflora), morning glory (Ipomoea indica) and privet (Ligustrum lucidum)....
White Wall Makeover
White Wall Makeover Don looked at a classic example of a problem faced by many gardeners: a stark, white wall. The owners had tried to soften the brickwork by planting a select variety of birch tree. Betula nigra (select form) ‘Tropical Birch’ grows...
Camellia Leaf Problems
Don looked at a camellia that appeared to have quite a few leaf problems. Rounded sections from some leaves were completely missing; some leaves had yellow blotches, while others were covered in dry, silvery brown patches. However, closer inspection revealed that the...
Lilly Pilly Psyllids
Lilly pillies are tremendously popular in Australian gardens, particularly for hedging and topiary. In fact, these Australian natives are often planted as hedges instead of box. However, there is one thing you should be aware of before you put in a lilly pilly. Many...
Natural Rock Swimming Pool
Natural Rock Swimming Pool Once swimming pools were boring, rectangular things in the backyard, but now innovative designers are creating pools that are not only stylish, but also water wonderlands for children. Don visited the Wynne family and looked at their...
Pymble Garden
Pymble Garden The owners of this Sydney property gave landscape designer Anne Thomson a free hand when it came to their garden. They only had one request: that the garden should be green all year round. However, Anne was faced with one very large problem – a...
Sculpture Garden
Sculpture Garden Seven years ago Ann and Tony Emmett moved from Queensland to the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. They are keen gardeners, and had always wanted to live in a cool area and grow cold climate plants. When they bought the 1.4ha (3.5 acre) property...
Snow Pear Garden
Snow Pear Garden Guy and Jeanette Cooper asked garden designer Peter Fudge to create an instant garden that was low maintenance, and in keeping with the style of their newly renovated house. Peter’s stunning design takes its influence from the formal...
