Lawns, Trees & Gardens

A practical guide to attracting bees and birds to an Australian backyard with the right plants, water, shelter and a lighter hand on sprays.

A good backyard play zone comes down to three things: sun, surface and equipment that survives the weather….

Every kitchen throws out a bin bag’s worth of vegie peels, coffee grounds and eggshells a week, and…

How to green a small or courtyard yard with vertical planting: the right structure for your space, why drainage is where most wall gardens fail, and what actually survives against a hot Australian wall.

A native bed that looks after itself comes down to drainage, grouping plants by water need, and spacing for mature size. Here is how to set one up.

Pergolas give dappled shade, patios and verandahs give shelter. How to pick the right backyard shade structure for your yard, your sun and your budget.

Where a fire pit sits, what it sits on and the fire ban rules to check before you light it, for Australian backyards.

Outdoor furniture fails because it was the wrong material for the spot, not because it was cheap. A material by material guide to sun, salt and rain, plus the care habits that add years.

Before you dig or build near an established tree, sort three things: what is buried underground, whether the tree is protected by your council, and how much root zone it needs to survive the works.

A lawn that survives an Aussie summer is made in the cooler months. Pick the right grass, mow high, water deep, and read the brown patches before you reach for a bag of anything.