Designing your garden
Go for the great outdoors!
See the 'Brief for Garden/Outdoor contractor' template.
The best living spaces are those that flow from inside to outside, helping you make the most of 'alfresco' living. If you live in a warm or mild climate, building a shaded deck can be just as good - and much cheaper - than extending your living room.
Did you know that good landscape design can actually improve comfort inside your home?
You can use plants and other landscape features to provide shelter from harsh winds, or channel cooling breezes into the house.
Planting is also a great way to provide shade.
Use evergreen plants wherever you want permanent shading, such as on west-facing walls in warmer climates.
Deciduous plants and vine-covered pergolas work well
on the north side because they provide shade in summer
and let in winter sun.
[See Your Home: Passive design; Orientation; Passive cooling.]
'Our vegetable patch is fantastic, we never run out of fresh herbs. I don't know why we didn't think of this earlier!'
Up to half the average home's water is used for the garden - of course the exact proportion will depend on your climate and whether there are water restrictions in place, as well as the type of plants in your garden.
You can save a lot of water by choosing local native plants and groundcovers, which suit Australia's dry conditions. They also look great and attract native birds.
Using mulch will help to keep moisture in the soil.
In bushfire-prone areas plant fire-resistant species
around the house.
[See Your Home: Outdoor water use;
Biodiversity on-site; Sustainable landscapes; Bushfires.]
It's important to plan your outdoor renovations upfront, just like you plan the indoors.
Think about the best location for rainwater tanks and wastewater systems. If you do this early on, you have the chance to integrate them with the design instead of having them look like an 'add-on'.
Also think about the best place for rubbish bins, recycling bins, compost bins or worm farms.
Leave space for an outdoor washing line, so you can use the sun to dry your clothes for free.
When planting trees, take care to place them so their roots won't damage walls or footings.
Use a mix of planting and paving, as too much concreting or paving can lead to pooling of water and drainage problems. Choose 'permeable' paving that allows rain to filter through to the soil underneath.
If you have a pool, shelter it from the wind and make sure it has a cover to prevent water and heat loss from evaporation.
Check for leaking outdoor taps or irrigation systems. If you have an irrigation system, install moisture sensors so it remains off during rainy periods.
