Termites do eat hardwood, and garden timber that touches damp soil is where they find it first. Here’s which timbers last longest in the ground, how to keep termites away from garden timber, and when to call a pest controller.
Plan the route first, then pick the surface: how gravel, stepping stones, pavers and decomposed granite compare, how to keep gravel in with edging, and why drainage under a path matters.
Wood-fired, gas or multi-fuel, portable or built in: how to choose a backyard pizza oven, where to put it, and what total fire ban rules mean for each fuel.
How to get outdoor pots right: matching pot size and material to the plant, why potting mix beats garden soil, drainage and pot feet, and keeping containers alive through a hot summer.
Growing on an apartment balcony: what to check in your strata by-laws first, lightweight pots and potting mix, plants that cope with wind, and watering without dripping on the neighbours below.
How to make a tight courtyard or townhouse yard work harder: a change of level, built-in seating, outdoor mirrors, vertical planting, a short material list and plants that stay in scale.
Where to put an outdoor shower, where the water has to go, cold versus hot options, and which parts are a licensed plumber or electrician job.
Pavers or a deck for your new entertaining area? How slope, upkeep, heat underfoot, drainage and council rules decide it, from a build-stage point of view.
Which outdoor power and lighting jobs you can do yourself, which ones legally need a licensed electrician, and how to brief your sparky so the job goes smoothly.
Where to put a kitchen herb garden so you actually use it, what goes closest to the door, and how to keep herbs producing through the seasons.