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If you live in Australia, you know how hot it can get in the sun, even if you’re only standing in its direct light for just a few minutes.

So if you feel the heat, your garden feels it too.

With the climate getting warmer and warmer and the frequency of hot days increasing, your plants have a heightened risk of getting damaged in the summer months.

In saying this, with a bit of forward thinking, there are a few simple, sustainable and inexpensive ways that you can protect your garden. In our article below, we outline 10 of these.

Ready?

Let’s dive in!

1. Water deeply and regularly

This may be an obvious one, but we mention it because it’s that important. Ideally, you want to water your plants early in the morning, allowing water to soak into the soil before the heat of the summer day triggers the evaporation. If watering your plants in the morning isn’t ideal, you might choose to water them in the evening. Though this is better than watering them during the heat, night watering means your plants won’t have the opportunity to dry properly, increasing the chance of fungus and mildew to grow and fester.

In order to water deeply, apply more water to any area for longer periods of time. Even if you water every second or third day, this encourages the roots of your plants to sink more deeply into the soil, giving them a reprieve from the hot sun.

2. Raise the height of your mower blades

Letting the grass grow a little longer than usual is an important little garden hack for the summer months. Why? Longer grass blades will better protect the roots and the grass tips won’t dry out as quickly. On top of this, make sure to apply the first tip (deep watering) at least 2-3 times a week. This will ensure that the grass roots sink deeply into the soil and establish a buffer between the roots and the hot sun: which is important to maintain the longevity and lusciousness of your garden.

** Siri marble Stepping Stones

3. Add some mulch

Any organic matter, whether it’s shredded wood, straw or a mix of grass clippings/shredded leaves, when sprinkled over the top of the soil can help protect it. You see, adding a layer of mulch over your soil is one of the best things you can do for your garden in summer. Why? Because mulch blankets the ground and provides a shield for the soil from the harsh sun. This helps unnecessary evaporation of water and keeps the soil cooler for longer and ensures that the roots of your plants stay healthier.

4. Protect potted plants

Potted plants  – especially those in terracotta and ceramic pots – are vulnerable in summer because they can quickly heat up. The good news is that potted plants can be easily moved out of the peak summer sun. While moving the potted plant out of the direct sunlight is the optimum solution, we understand that sometimes this isn’t possible. So if you want to ensure your potted plants stay cool, place them on a saucer of sand and keep the sand moist at all times. The reason sand is better than a water-filled saucer is because water can cause root rot and attract mosquitoes – neither of which are ideal for your garden. In the event that the potted plant’s soil completely dries up, remove the plant and place it in a bucket of water for 30 minutes. Drain the water afterwards and watch your plant come back to life.

** Melba Limestone Pavers

5. Be careful of hot water

Though this might seem like it goes without saying, it is very important to drain your hose of water right after watering your garden or prior to starting. Why? Because leaving your hose filled with water means that it will heat up overtime (especially if left in the sun) and so if you use this hot water on your garden, it will scold your plants and lawn, creating more damage.

6. Shield your patio

We know you love (and are proud) of your patio and want to indulge in your new outdoor living as much as possible. However, we want to warn you that unless you factor in the strong Aussie sun, over time, it can take its toll both on you and your patio. This is why it’s important to add a shady refuge and invest in a patio umbrella. Not only will this give you a beautiful spot to relax in the shade, but it will protect your furniture and keep your tiles cool underfoot. Additionally, you might want to consider investing in installing light-coloured ‘cooling tiles’ like Limestone, which retain their cool no matter how hot it gets.

** Teakwood Sandstone Pavers

7. Beware of the wind

Hot windy air can quickly dry out soil, plants and mulch. This is why we recommend installing a living screen such as a hedge or fence. When choosing a fencing solution, ensure that it is one that allows for airflow because if the air can’t circulate through your garden, it will turn into a heat trap.

8. Cover your veggie patch

Believe it or not, some varieties of vegetables can get sunburnt in the peak of summer. This is why it’s important to install a shade cloth over your veggie patch and protect your vegetables. Other ways to protect them is by applying a soluble fertiliser every two weeks and adding some Seasol to the mix to strengthen the plants. As per the previous tips, water the vegetables in the morning and harvest them at the same time before the heat of the day wilts them away.

9. Install a rainwater tank

Many gardeners believe that rainwater is more beneficial to plants than tap water. Why? Because rainwater contains all the natural minerals and nutrients (and no added chemicals) that plants love. If you have the space in your garden and the budget for a rainwater tank, you can also save on your water bill, making it a smart and beneficial long-term investment.

10. Prevent leaf burn

If you spray water, fertilisers or chemicals onto plant foliage in the peak of hot, sunny weather you can cause your leaves to burn. The water on the leaf acts like a magnifying glass, intensifying the sunlight on the leaf and thus burning the leaf. This is similar to using a magnifying glass to burn paper. To prevent this, simply follow instructions on fertilisers or chemical sprays and only ever water in the morning or evening when the sun is not at its peak.

We hope you found these 1o tips helpful!

If you need any more help with transforming your garden into a summer haven, reach out to our experts at Armstone online or at 1300 560 560. Alternatively, check out our other gardening tips and advice  on our blog.

Planning your garden for the summer is an exciting project and the internet is full of inspiring ideas to get your garden summer-ready.

Whether you want to install DIY water features and bird feeders, or ambient lighting and cushion covers, you can jazz up your garden with a few simple steps. In saying that, the planting decisions you make are the most important because if the plants are not compatible with the local climate, then it doesn’t matter how good your garden looks with the other accessories: wilted plants will decrease the ambiance of the entire space.

So, let’s review which plants will have your garden bursting with colour and vibrancy this summer.

Portulaca

Portulaca, a ground-covering plant with beautifully succulent leaves, is a drought-tough hero. Thriving in hot, dry and coastal conditions, Portulaca presents dazzling flowers over the summer time with iridescent tangerines and pinks hues. Whether you choose to plant them under shrubs or to trail them over the rim of wall pots, Portulaca will be an attractive addition to your summer garden.

Adenium Obesum

More commonly known as the ‘desert rose’, the beautiful (and unusual) Adenium Obesum possesses 5- 7 centimetre trumpet-shaped flowers in red, pink, white and yellow shades. Unlike traditional roses, Adenium stores water in its thick bulbous roots and base trunk, which allows it to be drought tolerant and ideal for Australian hot summers. Adenium Obesum flowers are available in varying sizes and can grow as tall as 1.8 meters.

Frangipani Plumeria

Nothing evokes a tropical feeling quite like Frangipani Plumeria. As the ultimate summer scent, its sensational blooms can be easily picked and floated in a bath or bowl of water. The yellow and white Frangipani is the most common variety, however there are many other colours available and each one has an exquisite perfume.

Disphyllum Sunburn

In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet’s famous monologue asks: ‘What’s in a name that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet?’, well for the Disphyllum Sunburn, everything is in its name and like it suggests, this plant doesn’t shy away from the sun. In fact, it loves the sun so much that it needs full sun exposure even in the warmest of months. As a new hybrid succulent, it offers luxuriant green foliage and bright yellow flowers that bloom for most of the year. As a tough ground-cover plant it covers up to a meter of area per plant and is an ideal plant for locations that have higher risk of bushfires.

Teucrium Silver Box

Teucrium Silver Box is a Mediterranean plant that has a silver/grey ornamental foliage and masses of soft mauve flowers. It thrives in full sun and unlike most box plants, only requires half the amount of watering. If you choose to plant it as hedging, it’s recommended to frequently prune the Teucrium Silver Box to keep it beautifully shaped, otherwise it takes over the entire garden.

Callistemon All Glow

If we say “Callistemon All Glow’ – you might not recognise this plant. But what if we told you its more common name –  the Bottlebrush? It’s quite likely you know this beautiful and iconic Australian native. In its second year, all of its flowers bloom, offering bright pink brushes with red undertones that attract birds and bees alike.

Anigozanthos Amber Velvet

The Anigozanthos Amber Velvet is a medium-sized Kangaroo Paw that boasts brilliant orange and red flowers all year around and grows to a staggering height of 1.2 metres. The best location for Anigozanthos Amber Velvet is in full sun either positioned behind – or in between – evergreen leafy plants.

Calibrachoa

If you’re looking to shower your garden with some of the most colourful and trouble free summer blooms, you can’t go past the Calibrachoa. With a ground spread twice as wide as their 20cm height, they work brilliantly in hanging baskets or spilling over the edge of large tubs. You can find them in a wide range of colours including cream, yellow, pink, mauve, purple and red, as well as summer-perfect multicoloured mixes.

Gardenia

The beautiful perfume of Gardenia blooms will fill your garden with a sweet aroma all summer long. In saying that, they do require more maintenance with fertilising and watering, but your garden will be rewarded with plentiful flowers and lush green growth.

Taking care of plants in summer

If you want to get the most out of your garden in the warmer months, taking care of your plants is just as important as choosing the right plants to sow in the summer. Below we summarise 5 ways you can stay on top of your fauna upkeep and enjoy the beautiful garden that comes with it.

Improve soil

Though your garden needs good soil all year round, it’s especially important to use good quality soil when the conditions are dry and hot. How do you do this? We suggest adding organic matter to create a healthy home for microbes and enrich the soil. Compost or soil improver will enhance your soil’s wettability and water holding capacity, both of which will help transfer nutrients to your plants. If you have an established garden, one way to improve the soil is by adding some compost to the topsoil near the roots of the plants and gently working it into the soil.

Water often

Keeping a regular watering schedule will ensure that you have a beautiful, lush and healthy garden all summer. The best time to water your garden is early in the morning which gives the water time to soak into the soil and reach the roots before it starts evaporating with the increasing heat of the day. If you don’t like early mornings or you find you’re in a rush, install an irrigation system that uses a timer to water your garden. An irrigation system can also help you save water by setting up zones for the areas that need more water because they are in direct sunlight, get more water and the areas that are in shady spots, get less water.

Keep pots cool

Potted plants, especially those in terracotta pots, are vulnerable to overheating. This is why keeping them cool is very important. Do this by adding light mulch and when possible, move them out of the direct sunlight. Add a saucer of sand under the pot and keep this sand moist. If the pot stands in water it exasperates root rot and attracts mosquitos. If the plant dries out completely where no amount of watering helps, soak it in a bucket of water for 30 minutes and then drain the water out. This will help revive it.

Protect your lawn

If you want to keep your lawn looking lush and green, apply a handful of poultry manure per square metre just before summer starts. Once completed, give the lawn two weeks to air the odour and then throw a garden party to celebrate. Once the manure is set in the soil, we suggest applying seaweed tonic through a foliar feed to it once a month until the weather starts to cool. Another trick of the trade is to avoid cutting your lawn too short. You see, longer turf increases your lawn’s resilience to heat. If you typically dispose your fresh lawn clippings on the garden, keep these sparse because if they are too thick it will encourage collar rot on the surrounding trees and shrubs.

Boost trace elements

To keep your lawn and garden healthy, adding magnesium to the soil encourages robust growth and the production of energy in plants. Gardenias, in particular, benefit from supplemental magnesium in the summer. Add one heaped teaspoon of Epsom salts to 4.5L of water and then either spray the foliage or water its roots.

Enjoying your garden

Now that you’ve put in the hard work, it’s important you make the most of your garden this summer.

And if you need any help or assistance with creating a beautiful garden, or upgrading your pavers with luxury and sophistication, talk to our expert team at Armstone. Our majestic marble, limestone, granite, travertine, bluestone and sandstone pavers will beautifully blend with your summer garden.

Browse our selection online or visit our Sydney showroom in Glebe for ideas and inspiration.

Once complete, gather around with your friends and family in the garden, enjoy dinner or drinks around the barbeque or simply soak in the vitamin D with a good book and relax.

If you think “Australian Summer” or “Australian Way of Life”, some things that might come to mind include summer barbecues, backyard parties, dips in the pool and all other forms of outdoor entertaining.

It’s no surprise either, especially since we have the perfect recipe of warm weather, a love of food and drinking, and a relaxed laissez faire social approach to life.

All that is required to complete the picture is the perfectly landscaped outdoor entertaining area.

So if your alfresco area needs a little something to jazz it up, our article outlines seven ways you can landscape your outdoor entertaining area for summer.

Starting with…

Maintaining the lawn

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Aside from the aesthetic benefits of a well-maintained lawn, a good quality lawn also reduces the local ambient temperature of your backyard, keeping you cooler during the hot summer months and providing everyone (including kids) a chilled place to play. There are a few simple steps you can take to promote the growth in your lawn and keep it looking healthy. These include:

• Aerating your lawn: Regularly use an aerator machine and push the spikes into your lawn every 30 centimetres to create crevices in the soil for water and nutrients to enter the roots of the lawn quickly and more effectively.
• Add fertiliser: Nourish your lawn with quality fertiliser to keep it looking lush and green. Simply attach some organic fertiliser to your hose and spray evenly across your lawn.
• Apply a lawn builder and wetting agent: Along with maintaining an already established lawn, adding a lawn builder helps to promote new growth. Spread the mix evenly into the soil and if your soil seems to be repelling water, add a wetting agent too.
• Water your lawn: Watering your lawn correctly in the summer months is an absolute prerequisite in maintaining its health and lusciousness. We recommend watering your lawn first thing in the morning and giving it a deep watering to allow the roots of the grass to set deeper. This will protect your lawn from the scorching Australian summer heat. If you want to learn more on how to protect your garden through the summer, check out this blog.

Sowing low-maintenance, attractive plants

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Now that your lawn is luscious and green, the next order of business is choosing and planting a selection of flora that will beautify your yard. We recommend sowing attractive plants that are low-maintenance so that you can enjoy your outdoor entertaining area instead of spending all your hours of the day maintaining it. Here are a few simple (and beautiful) plants you can consider planting:

• Aloe Vera: The aloe plant boasts vibrant green leaves and is best known for its medicinal properties. Being part of the succulent family it requires very little water and lots of sunlight: an ideal combination for hot Australian summers. It’s also handy to have in your garden to treat sunburn.
• Snake Plant: With long, deep green leaves and yellow stripes throughout, the Snake Plant is the perfect plant for the forgetful because even through weeks of neglect, it continues to grow and keep its lusciousness.
• Bromeliad: One of the most resilient plants on the market, bromeliads are adaptable to different climates and add an instant tropical feel to your outdoor space. With thick, light green leaves, bromeliad’s have a beautiful bright flower in the centre, instantly transforming the space with colour and vibrancy.
• Bird of Paradise: Much like barbecues and backyard parties are synonymous to Australian culture, birds of paradise plants are synonymous to an Australian garden. Blooming all year round, their unusual bright orange and blue bird-like flower makes a statement addition to any Aussie backyard.

Installing the right pavers

** Siri Marble Pavers

Installing the right pavers can literally transform your outdoor entertaining area. Whether you want to get creative with multiple colours and textures, or you want to keep it simple and elegant, the right paving can bring the entire area together. Whether you lay the paving in a basket weave, running bond or herringbone pattern: the options are truly limitless! Here are a few ideas you might want to consider:

• Flagstone and pebbles: Do you like the look of big pavers? You can install large granite pavers throughout your backyard and fill the gaps with garden pebbles to create a natural, laid-back ambience.
• Bluestone: If you want your paving to compliment the aesthetic of your modern home, bluestone pavers – with their sleek and strong appeal – are an ideal solution.
• Charcoal hues: Grampian limestone pavers make a timeless pavement to any alfresco area. With beautiful, and unique, veining throughout, they blend smoothly with the natural surrounds of your home and garden. Whether you choose one colour palette, or to mix a few of them in your paving, Oyster limestone pavers will stand the test of time with both strength and style.
• Stone and grass: Create separate areas between the different sections of the backyard with Melba Limestone stepping stones. Their olive grey colouring blends easily with all landscaping and looks especially good paired with bright green artificial turf planted between the steps.
• Marble: If you’re a fan of a slight-sparkle underfoot, look no further than marble pavers. Known for their beauty, sophistication and tremendous durability, marble’s interlocking mosaic of minute crystals adds an unmistakable luxury to any space.

Adding a water feature

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Adding a water feature is one of the easiest ways to boost your outdoor space with tranquility, interest and ambience. This focal point additionally has a cooling effect for everyone who gets to enjoy it: from kids, adults and even local birds, insects and animals. Some ideas for water features include:

• Water wall: Stainless steel water walls are best suited to modern spaces, creating a moving surface and cooling element. As there is little water involved, they are easy to maintain.
• Raised pond: A raised pond with a spilling urn is a classic way to add a focal point to your outdoor space. Add ambiance by creating a living ecosystem by adding fish and aquatic plants to your pond. This helps keep the water fresh and reduce the infestation of mosquito larvae.
• Articulture feature: Installing  a modern sculpture that is also a water feature can become the talking point at your next backyard barbecue. From intimate tabletop fountains to larger scale pieces, use these to draw the viewer into quiet contemplation and relaxation.
• Bronze: Complete your garden landscape by adding a simple bronze fountain of the god – Pan. Combined with a dramatic pear tree and a well maintained lawn, your garden landscape will become the perfect place for guests and family to enjoy.

Installing the right lighting 

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Lighting can make or break your outdoor space, so it pays to plan it out with care and detail. When done right, lighting enhances and extends the usability of your space while simultaneously setting an appropriate mood and ambience. Some ideas for lighting your backyard include:

• Spike lights: Much like spotlights, spike lights are best used for illuminating trees, statues and garden features. For optimum results, angle the light in such a way that it reflects into the foliage.
• Bollard lights: These small, bronze, machined fittings can be blended amongst plants and used to light the way along pathways.
• Hanging lights: Much like Christmas lights, these string of lights add an element of magic to your backyard. Whether you hang them on the pergola, trees, or along a wall, your backyard will instantly transform into a wonderful wonderland.
• Wall lights: Installing overhead lighting directly above a dining table can be create a harsh effect. Instead, use wall lights to add ambiance to your backyard dining table from the outside in.

Creating an outdoor kitchen

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The one thing that is more satisfying than eating outdoors is preparing your food outdoors too. Use these outdoor kitchen ideas to create the ideal cooking space in your backyard or construct an outdoor kitchen from one of these ideas below:

• Rustic outdoor kitchen: Perfect for a property with a more traditional aesthetic, building a shabby-chic kitchen using whitewashed wall cladding is an ideal pairing for natural stone floors.
• Minimalist smoker: If you have a small space to work with, installing a minimalist outdoor kitchen means less fuss from a maintenance perspective and top-notch style, from an aesthetics perspective. Spice things up by adding a ceramic smoker and replacing your sink and tap with a water dispenser.
• Clay pizza oven: Pizza is – more often than not – a people’s favourite choice of food. So why not give yourself (and everyone you entertain) something worth talking about by installing a clay pizza oven. Additionally, a pizza oven gives warmth during the cooler summer nights and creates a beautiful golden glow too for your garden.
• Prep station with pergola: Installing an open pergola over your kitchen area, not only adds a touch of luxury to it but is also a good way to really complete the area. Add some ambiance with a few lanterns off the side and voila – your outdoor kitchen is good to go!

If you want more ideas for an outdoor kitchen, read our complete outdoor kitchen guide to learn everything you need to know about designing and landscaping the ideal backyard space for you.

Adding the best furniture

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Bring your outdoor space together by investing in quality outdoor furniture. Here we suggest considering how often you’ll be using your outdoor space and the type of entertaining you will be doing. Suitable options to consider include:

• Modular sofa: If you are consistently switching between inviting guests and hanging out as a family, a modular sofa – coupled with a few side tables – is an ideal item to transition between the two.
• Extension dining table: If your outdoor dining space is limited, an extension table is the best solution because it keeps the space compact and practical. Alternatively, you could invest in two smaller tables and push them together when necessary.
• Cafe table: Create a “breakfast patio” feel by adding some French-style cafe chairs and a stone table.
• Patio fire bowl: Turn up the heat on a cool summer night with a relaxed seating area around a stone fire bowl.

There you have it: 7 summer landscaping tips to bring your outdoor area to life!

In case you have any questions or need some help with choosing the best pavers for your landscaping, reach out to our natural stone experts online, call us at 1300 560 560 or visit our Sydney showroom in Glebe.

We have helped thousands of home owners bring their backyard to life for an Australian summer and we would love to help you too!

If you’re looking for an environmentally responsible paver, our suggestion is to choose a permeable paver.

Why?

Because, like the name suggests, permeable pavers are made from a particular type of stone that allows fresh, clean water to drain through them and flow into aquifers and groundwater supplies. As such, permeable pavers stop the rainwater from draining off into stormwater drains or onto your neighbour’s properties.

How Permeable Paving Works

Permeable paving is made from porous stones. This means that when it rains, instead of the water pooling on top of your pavers or running off them, it seeps into the stone is and drains into the ground. The water percolates, such as it would in a coffee pot, through the paving into a layer of gravel that acts as a natural filter, cleansing the water of any pollutants.

The main function of permeable paving is to reduce the pressure on ageing and overloaded drainage systems by handling rainwater in one of two ways: either by dispersing it quickly into the ground or by holding onto it and letting it seep out gradually.

Why is Permeable Paving Needed?

During long-spells of dry weather, pollutants such as heavy metals, hydrocarbons, oil, rubber, fertilisers, pesticides and detergents build up on your pavers. When it rains, these pollutants end up being washed downstream into rivers and drainage systems where they cause damage to wildlife habitats. During heavy downpours the speed at which these pollutants get washed off can be quite rapid, causing flash flooding, erosion and great levels of damage to property and the environment. When permeable paving is installed, the amount of water and pollutants entering the water cycle is minimised.

So if you are about to start a driveway, patio or any other paved surface project and want to invest in the most environmentally sensitive material, talk to us about natural stone paving options.

As well as reducing pollutants, permeable pavers also:

• Reduce overall irrigation demand
  By allowing water to seep into the ground, the direct and surrounding areas need much less man-produced irrigation. Doing this will help you save money and reduce your daily water usage for irrigation purposes.
• Reduce local ambient temperature
  Light coloured permeable stones reflect the sun’s rays, thus deflecting the heat and reducing the local ambient temperature. This helps improve the health of your surrounding vegetation and air quality.
• Control erosion
  In areas with loose soil that are prone to heavy rain, permeable paving can be used to retain soil and prevent erosion. If lawns, gardens and outdoor living spaces are not properly secured and protected, heavy rains can runoff them causing damage and erosion that will be costly and time-consuming to fix.
• Reduces peak rates of discharge
  Permeable paving helps to re-establish a more natural hydrological balance between the built and natural environments that are prevalent in your home. This happens by trapping and releasing precipitation into the ground instead of allowing it to flow into drains and rivers. By reducing the peak rates of water being discharged through the soil, this process also prevents large and fast pulses of precipitation to flow into the stormwater system.

Why Doesn’t Every Home Have Permeable Paving?

An example of installed permeable paving in a home. Image source: Shutterstock.

While there are many benefits to install permeable paving, it hasn’t become a mainstream option in Australia for a few reasons. These include:

• Lack of knowledge
  Unlike countries such as Germany, England and the United States, where permeable paving is often a prerequisite, Australia doesn’t have such strict guidelines. In Australia permeable paving is considered a personal choice. The issue is that many architects and homeowners simply don’t know enough about the benefits of permeable paving to choose it.
• Cost
  The installation of permeable paving requires a large amount of sub-grade work to be completed. This generally makes it a more expensive solution compared to traditional paving systems. Many people also believe (and fear) that permeable paving has higher maintenance costs, but this is debatable. Their argument is that oil, grease and fine organic and inorganic matter can build up within the gravel gaps, making it costly to maintain. However, regular sweeping can reduce this risk.
• Strength
  Permeable pavers aren’t as strong or durable as traditional or asphalt pavers. As such, if you put consistent pressure on them, the pores of the paving can collapse and damage the paving. This is why permeable paving isn’t recommended for highways, high traffic roads or heavy vehicles that park on driveways. Permeable paving can uphold the weight of standard sized vehicles.

Applications

Permeable paving has many applications. The most common include:

• Low-volume pavements
• Residential roads and driveways
• Sidewalks
• Parking lots
• Schools
• Low-water bridges
• Patios
• Courtyards
• Well linings
• Tree surrounds
• Walls (including load-bearing walls)
• Swimming pool decks
• Commercial and industrial environments
• Water harvesting

There are also many types of permeable paving, all of which are used for different purposes:

• Porous asphalt is used on highways to remove excess water.
• Single-sized aggregate (commonly known as loose gravel) is used for very low-speed surfaces such as driveways or pathways.
• Natural stone is used for its beauty, durability and function. The effect lends itself to an old-world, hand-crafted look that meets modern and environmental standards.
• Plastic grids allow for a 100% porous system and can help reinforce gravel driveways, parking lots, and fire lanes. You can also plant grass with plastic grids.
• Porous turf can be used for areas with occasional parking, such as stadiums or churches.
• Permeable interlocking concrete pavers are individual units that can be laid out in an interlocking grid pattern, filling the gaps with grass or small stones. This type of paving is popular in public areas due to its architectural appeal.
• Permeable clay brick pavers are similar to interlocking pavers but are composed of fired clay.
• Resin-bound paving is a mixture of a clear resin and aggregate, used for areas with pedestrian and vehicular traffic, including walkways, driveways, and parking lots.
• Bound recycled glass porous pavement is a mixture of post-consumer glass with resins and binding agents and is appropriate for both pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
• Wood mulch is highly permeable but requires regular maintenance and topping up from time-to-time. Its main application is use in pot plants and in gardens.

If you are considering investing in and installing permeable paving for your home and don’t know where to start, reach out to our expert team here. We would be delighted to help you.

If you ask someone to describe  ‘the great Australian dream’, most people will say something along the lines of having their own home with a big backyard.

However, with the population growing year on year and the available land increasing in demand and consequently decreasing in available size, this dream is becoming somewhat unattainable for the average family. As such, backyards are shrinking and most homes have little space for a barbecue, let alone a game of backyard cricket.

For some Australian’s – like iconic entrepreneur Dick Smith, a renowned sceptic of population growth – the disappearing backyard is a sad thing. However, for millions of other Australians, the new ‘norm’ of smaller yards is actually a positive – and welcomed -change.

Why?

Because much like a big house, a big garden comes with more responsibilities and also requires more time, money and energy spent on maintaining it.

The burden of the big garden

According to a 2016 survey completed by Swinburne University, the number of people dreaming of a big backyard has significantly dropped. In fact, when offered the option of a medium-density home with less space but in a good location with easy access to public transport, jobs and services, 48% of the survey participants said they would forego a big garden.

Though modern-day conveniences have made some things easier, they have had the opposite effect on the amount of free time most people have available. The average person is busier than ever and most cannot afford the luxury of spending two hours on mowing the lawn, weeding the garden or planting new vegetation. Due to extracurricular activities and increasing study load, children also have much less time available to play freely in the garden. As such, gardens are used less and – for most families -their size is not an important factor.

In saying that, you can still make the most of your smaller yard.

In the following article, we share 10 tips and tricks to maximally utilise whatever space you have available.

Let’s get started!

Tips and tricks for small gardens

Space-saving solutions, such as vertical gardens, statement pot plants and climbing vines are all great examples of how you can push the boundaries and create an ideal oasis out of even the smallest yard. All you need is a touch of imagination and a few handy tricks and tips up your sleeve, starting with:

1. Screening plants

Inner-city living usually means that houses are tightly packed together and built in such a way that one garden often overlooks the neighbours. If you’re someone who likes their privacy, screening plants are a bold (and effective) way to claim it back! Bamboo is one of the most popular screening plants and the Bambusa Textilis Gracilis (slender weavers bamboo) is typically a popular choice for homes with limited space. Bamboo has a rapid growth rate and will stay green all year round. For best screening results, we recommend planting the bamboo 0.6m to 1m apart depending on how thick you want your foliage. Just a word of caution: as bamboo sets its roots deep into the soil, make sure to check that it won’t affect any pipes or plumbing.

2. Walled gardens

Vertical or walled gardens/gardening are becoming increasingly widespread with plenty of inspiration and DIY tips that can easily found online (here’s one we wrote earlier). Installing a vertical garden can give your yard a unique touch, showcasing texture, colour and vibrancy in exquisite ways. If you want to optimise your space in the most artistic way possible and have the flexibility of creating a design as simple (or as complex) as you desire, vertical gardens are the best way to do this. You could create an edible garden using planter boxes, or hang pots from chicken wire to keep the view, or build a living wall of leaves and even make an artwork out of succulents: the options are truly endless! If you really want the foliage to pop, paint the wall behind the garden a Dulux Monument colour to create a beautiful contrast between the green and grey. And if you’re really up for a challenge, you can train star jasmine to grow up a grid of stainless steel wire. This feminine touch will soften the harsh architectural features of a closed-knit courtyard.

3. Bright colours

You really don’t need a big garden to make it bold and dramatic. One way to really utilise the space is by incorporating colour throughout your yard. Whether you choose a recurring colour as a focal point for the space or change the colour scheme depending on the season: colour can really add excitement to your garden, no matter its size. A little gardening trick from seasoned and professional gardeners is to plant your chosen flowers and fauna in layers so that whatever their chosen colour, it runs horizontally through the space. Outdoor rugs are another excellent way to give the space warmth and texture and if you’re into bohemian aesthetic, you can easily re-create this design using bold colours, adding a series of potted plants or transforming your plain concrete patio into an inviting oasis fashioned with bright blues, greens and cobalt hues.

4. Compact furniture

If you have a small garden or yard, it’s important to carefully consider its main purpose and how you plan on using it. For example: will you be using it for outdoor eating, entertaining and hosting dinner parties with family and guests? Or, will you be using it mainly for your own relaxation and recreational purposes? Will kids and pets use the space? If so – how often and in what way? Answering these questions will help you choose the most appropriate furniture for your space.

There are some gardens that – despite their small size – manage to fit in an outdoor pool and outdoor furniture for different activities. It all depends on choosing the right items and then installing them in an ergonomic manner. So whether you want to have a dining table for eating, a sofa and chairs for entertaining, a chaise for lounging or even bar stools for chatting and eating at an outdoor kitchen bench: consider your space, how you will use it, and then design and invest accordingly.

5. Bring the outside in and the inside out

One way to alleviate the attention from the size of your small garden is by creating a seamless transition between the inside and the outside of your home. One way to do this is by installing large glass windows and doors that slide all the way open because they will blur the boundary between the two spaces, and often completely remove the separation. Another way to achieve this is by installing the same floors and pavers outdoors, as you have indoors. For example, if you have travertine tiles in your kitchen, installing travertine stone pavers for your patio will elongate the space and give the illusion that the backyard is bigger than it actually is. Complete the space by adding cushions in a similar style and voila! No one will even notice the size of your yard because they’ll be too busy appreciating the general aesthetic and cosy ambience.

6. Plant thoughtfully

Choosing the right plants for a small garden is especially important because the wrong species can easily overwhelm a space or crowd other plants. In saying that, don’t let this put you off planting because flowers and shrubs are a great way to have your small garden feel like it packs a punch.

One good trick of the trade is layering the plants in height order. For example, you can group low, medium and taller species together and create a garden horizontally, instead of vertically. If you have a more urban-looking garden, soften it by planting a Michelia whose beautiful flowers, ranging from white to soft pink, will really contrast the concrete jungle. For a more tropical feel, a Cycad is perfect for a medium-height plant and the Miss Muffet plant – a hardy shrub with a naturally tufted shape, glossy green leaves and fragrant cream flowers in spring – is perfect for the lower level. Whether you choose to layer Miss Muffet or not, it’s a fantastic bedding plant for small gardens because it withstands sun and shade and looks great all year round.

7. Attract wildlife

A garden without wildlife is like a body without a soul and the good news is you don’t need to have a large space to create the ideal wildlife paradise in your backyard. Simple ways you can attract wildlife include installing a DIY bird feeder or even adding a beautiful bird bath. Alternatively, create an insect hotel with a rock garden and keep fresh water out at all times for the possums, birds, butterflies and bees. You can also easily attract ladybugs, butterflies and bees by planting colourful flowers and shrubs in all sizes, scents and colours.

8. Keep it tidy

Clutter has a way of making any space – no matter how big or small – look even smaller. This is why it’s important to keep your garden neat and tidy because negative space gives the eyes a place to rest and instantly gives the illusion of spaciousness. Some ways to keep the place tidy are by planning your storage into the design and keeping hedges and shrubs regularly trimmed. In Autumn, remove any loose leaves and refresh plants with fresh fertiliser. Prune any damaged limbs on trees and always put your gardening tools away when you’ve finished using them. When designing and planting your garden, make sure to space them out so they’re not overcrowded either.

9. Raise planting areas

A very simple way to create more space in your small backyard is by elevating your plants using natural stone retaining walls. Combine your natural stone feature wall, with a stone staircase and use this space to plant vegetation, allowing the eye to naturally travel from one plane to another. This simple trick creates a visual illusion of space.

10. Cultivate a kitchen garden

Contrary to what you might believe, growing a vegetable patch doesn’t require a lot of space. As long as your garden gets sufficient sunlight (roughly six to seven hours a day), you can pack a heap of edibles into a small garden. In case you want to simplify your life, 20 small pots are much easier to maintain than vegetation planted across an acreage. You can also save space by planting runner beans and peas on upright frames and growing tomatoes and herbs in a vertical garden setting using planter boxes.

And there you have it: ten simple and effective ways to make the most of your small garden.

All you need to do is apply a little planning, carefully consider your design, and add the appropriate colour, plants and furniture and your small space will transform into the perfect oasis for relaxation and entertainment.

If you want any more information on the above tips, or would like some guidance with choosing the natural stone pavers to install in your small garden patio, contact the team of stone experts at Armstone. We have over 10 years of experience with helping everyday homeowners like you bring their projects to life.

We love this stuff and would love to help you in whatever way we can.

So …

You’re planning a new outdoor dining area – how exciting!

Not only does an alfresco area extend your living space by utilising your back or side yard, it enhances your life and increases your property value. It’s like a triple win!

Now that you know you’re on the right track with your idea to create an ideal entertaining space, before starting your extension or renovation project, it’s important to ask a lot of questions.

Some good starting points include: Are you planning to use your outdoor alfresco dining area all year round? Will you use it to host dinner parties? Or is it just an extra dining space for family only? Will the space be an extension on your living area and therefore require living room comforts such as sofas and a TV? Will drinking beverages be a big part of your alfresco area? What space do you have to work with? Does your alfresco area need to easily connect with the house to encourage your family or friends to get outdoors? Does the area have (or need) privacy, shade and/or path access?

If it seems as though there are a lot of questions, that’s because they are all important. You see, when designing an alfresco area, there really isn’t a ‘one size fits all approach’, so the design depends on what’s right for your home and lifestyle and answering these questions can help with the process.

Below we outline 8 more steps to guide you with your ideal alfresco design.

Ready?

Let’s get started!

1. Sketch it out

Creating an outdoor living space requires thought and time. To get started, sketch out your ideas and list any key points that you’d like to include in your design. Remember to include any existing paths, flower beds, fences, and deck areas in your sketch. If you need a reminder, take a tour of your garden and make note of everything you want to keep and everything that you want to remove. Remember to observe how much of your garden is in the sun and how much of it is in the shade and also where the best view is located.

Once you have a rough idea of what you’d like your alfresco area to look like, we suggest finding and consulting a landscape designer. While you could definitely DYI, an expert will be able to transform your sketch and vision into a real life oasis without as much headache as it would take to do on your own. If you’d like a referral to a landscaping company, reach out to us at Armstone. We are connected with a few quality designers and can recommend the best contact based on your budget and style preferences.

And in case you’re not sure where to start with your sketch and inclusions, we suggest doing a quick search on Google, Pinterest and Instagram for inspirational ideas. Another excellent source is browsing landscaping design posts, speaking to friends and family, or visiting the Armstone showroom in Glebe where one of our expert staff can help you

2. Plan for all weather

The challenge with designing an outdoor alfresco area is definitely planning for all weather situations. Ideally, you want your outdoor area to have a balanced amount of space in the sun and shade. You also want it to feel comfortable enough that you’re protected from the elements like wind and rain. You can achieve this by installing tiled roofs, pergolas, shade sails, umbrellas and screens. A word of caution before you decide: a fully constructed roof can be expensive to build and will probably require council approval before you get started. In saying that,  it’s a great asset for your home. If you’re on a budget, we suggest checking out polycarbonate roofing as it’s an economical material and protects your area from both sunlight and weather. If you want a cheaper (and more environmentally friendlier solution), incorporate plants and well-positioned trees and voila! Shade problem solved!

In the case that you want to use the alfresco area in winter, consider some heating solutions like installing a cosy fireplace or pizza oven. Here is an article we wrote with some ideas on how to design the ultimate backyard stone fire pit.

3. Add services

If you intend to use your alfresco area for dining and entertaining, you need to consider adding some vital services to your grand plan. These can include electricity, gas, outdoor speakers, water and lighting. Once you’ve decided what you want (or need) included, contact a qualified electrician about installing general purpose outlets (GPOs) in strategic spots. Also consider connecting your gas barbecue to the mains so you’re not forever refilling gas bottles. Here it is super important to note that if your area requires cabling, plumbing, lights, music and other installations like a sink or water feature, these must all be secured before laying the pavers and installing the flooring.

4. Choose appliances

If you’re planning to build your alfresco area from scratch and use it for dining and entertaining purposes, do you know what is nice? Treating yourself to a new barbecue! If you choose to do so, decide earlier rather than later and definitely ensure to include it in your plans. In terms of positioning it within your alfresco space, most people congregate around a barbecue for a chat, so we suggest placing it where it has its own enclave and is slightly separated from the main entertainment area. This allows barbecue conversations to be kept separate from table chatter.

Another appliance people add to their alfresco is a fridge. In case you choose to add one, make sure to incorporate it into your plans from the beginning because (like we mentioned in the third point about services), it will require cabling and all this needs to be organised before you start paving.

** Payton Limestone Pavers 

5. Reflect your style

As with all home improvement projects, choose materials for your alfresco area that reflect your style and home aesthetic. While you might be on a budget and it will be tempting to choose materials you can afford, we suggest choosing materials that work well together and create an effective, long-lasting and safe outdoor area. A good place to start is to look at everything you have inside your home and note which elements you’d like to bring outside. Consider how you’d like the indoor and outdoor aspects of your home to work together and complement each other.

Though you want your alfresco area to look good, we recommend choosing materials that will be functional as well. For example. if your alfresco space experiences excessive winds, a lightweight aluminium dining table could be dangerous because it can easily blow away. In this scenario, you might want to consider something a little heavier (and more on trend) like a purpose built concrete, stone or wood table.

Fancy something bright and bold for your alfresco? picture above is the Jura Grey Structural Porcelain paves 

6. Consider contrast

Did you know that contrast is the secret ingredient that designers use to create memorable spaces? You see, when something contrasts against a backdrop or overall design it creates visual interest and adds a unique element to its personality. Depending on the mixture and medium, this effect can be subtle or stimulating.

Contrasting colour and texture brings natural stone to life in an awe-inspiring way. Too much colour, however, will create a busy space that feels cluttered and uneasy. For example, if your alfresco area is mostly paved with rectangular-cut flagstones (which can make the area look quite formal), you can contrast this by adding smaller pieces as a border or in ad-hoc locations. A dark brick alfresco area edged with white crushed stone appears crisp and tailored – again a wonderful way to use contrast to create visual interest.

When applying contrast, remember to keep it simple. Installing mint and mango coloured floors such our Himalayan Sandstone Pavers is a great way to start.

* Himalayan Natural Sandstone

7. Planting

Plants and greenery really complete an area. When choosing plants for your alfresco, consider your local environment and climate conditions before choosing the flowers and plants you want to install. Some things to think about is adding plants for varying purposes. For example, architectural character, cooking supplies (herbs, chillies, fruits) or even shade. You might even want to plant a lemon tree in a pot and add mint to the base for all those refreshing cocktails you’re going to make.

Before choosing your plants or flowers, consider how you will use your alfresco area and the type of fragrances that will suit it. For example, day-lilies, frangipanis, lavender and mock orange all have strong fragrances and might not suit your particular lifestyle or the purpose of your alfresco area.

8. Size matters

While the size of alfresco area largely depends on what you want to put in it, we suggest that a minimum width of 3.5m is a good starting place. A design that is any smaller than that won’t leave you with much room to move around your table and chairs. When choosing the seating furniture, consider not only the length of the table but also how many guests you intend to entertain. Once you decide on the table size – whether it’s a 4-seater, 6-seater, 8-seater or 10-seater – add at least 1m to each end to allow for ease of movement.

** Silver Travertine Pavers

There you have it!

8 important tips to get your alfresco design started the right way.

And in case you’ve found the space you need and are ready to start creating your dream outdoor space but still need some guidance around choosing materials or pavers, reach out to our expert team at Armstone.

We have an extensive range of beautiful natural stone or porcelain pavers. Our selection includes marble, granite, limestone, travertine, bluestone and sandstone and we would love to help you choose the best one to complete your new alfresco area.

Summer is fast approaching and you know what that means?

That’s right!

Pool time!

Australian summers – known for their scorching heat – can be beautifully balanced with a the cool reprieve of a backyard pool.

As well as its cooling benefit, a pool can enhance the health and happiness of everyone who gets to enjoy it. In a way, a backyard pool creates a ‘staycation’ vibe: an oasis where you can relax and unwind from the concrete jungle. It also promotes family time with oodles of smiles, splashing, and laughter for hours on end. But it’s not just fun and games: a pool encourages fitness and outdoor activity and is an ideal reason to invite your friends over for a barbecue. And if these reasons aren’t enough, installing a pool is also excellent for stress relief, entertaining family and friends and it adds value to your property.

In saying this, it’s extremely important to maintain your pool correctly. Otherwise, it can become riddled with bacteria and an unpleasant focal point for your garden.

In today’s article, we will review 5 ways you can instantly spruce up your poolside area, just in time for summer merriment.

How to enhance your pool area ahead of summer

Before we start, we’d like to invite you to take a look at your pool area and take note of everything you see.

You’ll probably notice things like shoe traffic, weight stress, dirt, debris and much more.

When unattended, all of these factors (and prolonged exposure to the elements) can make your pool area look embarrassingly unattractive and aged. Which is why it’s very important to stay on top of your pool upkeep so that everyone can enjoy the space.

So let’s start preparing your pool by ….

1. Cleaning your stone pavers

The quickest way to transform your poolside is by cleaning your stone pavers.

Choosing the right products to use on natural stone pavers is equally as important as cleaning them because the wrong product can cause more harm than good. We suggest steering clear of harsh cleaners that are acid or vinegar-based because they can eat away at the stone. here is some of the recommended stone cleaners.  It’s also important to pay attention to the water ratio when mixing your product and ensuring that it is correct for the amount of soil buildup. It might go without saying (but we will say it regardless) – never use a cleaner that’s not designed specifically for natural stone.

Using the right products will ensure that your pavers retain their aesthetic appeal, stand the test of time and look as good as new. Depending on the nature of the stone, your paver cleaning collection might include products for stain-removal, polishing creams, pre-sealers, deep sealers, concentrated cleaners and many others. Finding the correct product can become a cumbersome and confusing exercise and the last thing you want to do is to damage your pavers because of poor research or information. So if you need any help, call our Armstone team of natural stone experts at 1300 560 560. We can easily guide and help point you in the right direction.

Once you’ve sufficiently cleaned your pavers and grouting, we recommend applying a sealant to complete the job. The purpose of applying a quality sealant that is compatible with your specific stone pavers, ensures a layer of protection to the pavers and gives you time between maintaining them. A good sealant also reduces the risk of stains seeping in and stops water from getting into the tiny fissures of the stone: both of which can cause damage to the stone over time.

Now that you’ve cleaned and sealed your pavers, keep the pool area clear and dry for 24 hours to allow the sealant to set. While you do that, let’s see how else you can prepare your poolside area for the summer …

2. Giving your pool tiles a facelift

** Frostine marble pavers

Giving your pool that all around shimmer rests on the responsibility of your pool tiles and in case they are a little loose, it will break the reflection of the water and reduce the overall aesthetic. So if your pool tiles look a little rough around the edges or outdated, it’s a wise decision to replace them.

Now, you might be thinking that replacing loose, worn, and broken tiles or stripping them altogether – is going to be a big project, but it might not be. This really depends on the tiles you installed in the first place, looking at how many of them need to be replaced and then contacting a professional to quote it up. If you’re unsure with any of this, reach out to us at 1300 560 560. Our experts can talk you through the requirements and what to look for with pool tile quotes.

3. Bringing a little light to your pool

The Australian summer sun can razzle and dazzle everyone gathered by the poolside during the day, but what happens when the sun sets and the cool night sets in?

Easy! Simply install low voltage lights in your pool and your garden will shimmer through the dark without the cost mounting up.

Adding lighting to a pool has more benefits than just safety. When correctly executed and designed, poolside lighting is an excellent way to enhance and highlight the pool’s beauty with different effects and colours.

4. Giving your outdoor furniture some love

Installing outdoor furniture can be quite a conundrum: on the one hand, it completes the backyard space and on the other hand, it can be badly affected by weather and looked weathered and worn with time. Luckily, most materials can be freshened up with a good clean. For example, you can scrub timber with a stiff brush and wash it with a combination of dishwashing liquid and bleach. You can further protect it for the rest of the season by applying a sealer, stain or finish to it.

Wicker furniture can be cleaned by spraying it down with a regular a garden hose and wiping it down with soap or detergent. Rinse the cleaning agent off and then let it dry in a light, sunny area.

If you have a patio umbrella near the poolside, check it regularly for mould and mildew which can form as a result of exposure to moisture from the pool. For a quick clean, open your umbrella and wash it down using a mixture made with warm water and white vinegar. Give the umbrella a scrub, hose it down and then leave it open to dry.

5. Replanting and rejuvenating your greenery

Vegetation, being a living and breathing organism with a mind of its own, can grow fast and haphazardly if not maintained properly. Which consequently, makes your entire garden look a little worse for wear. So to counterbalance this, start by reviving your potted plants with some basic weeding. Simply tip the plant out of the pot and remove any weeds. Lay new compost at the bottom of the pot, place the plant back into the pot and pat it down with new soil and compost. Nourish the newly repotted plant by brewing some compost tea and pouring it into the pot and finally, lightly mulch the top of the pot to prevent moisture loss and future weeds from growing.

In case your pool needs some more greenery, plant some striking agapanthus or no-fuss evergreen camellias – both of which will instantly transform the space – along the pool surrounds. If you prefer your plants in tubs, consider eye-catching features like ornamental cumquats or dwarf lemon trees.

** Avatar Bluestone Stepping Stones

More practical tips for outdoor living

And there you have it!

Apply these 5 simple steps and instantly spruce up your poolside for the summer.

Remember, preparing your pool for the summer doesn’t need to be an expensive endeavour, so set a budget and work around it. Start with the cleaning tips above because you’d be surprised (and pleasantly amazed) by how transformative a good clean can be!

If you want more practical tips on landscaping, gardening and other home improvements, check out our Armstone Blog for topics ranging from natural stone, styling and how to make the most of your space.

For more information on natural stone pavers and pool tiles, contact our experts online or at 1300 560 560. We have helped thousands of home owners like yourself transform their poolside for the summer and we would love to help you too.

An outdoor kitchen is quite simply a kitchen built in an outdoor living area.

The set up can be as simple as a barbeque/benchtop or as complex as a fully functioning kitchen with appliances, storage, lighting, heating and plumbing.

The benefit of having an outdoor kitchen means you can cook and dine al fresco all year round. Quite nifty right?

So if you want to join the growing Australian trend of outdoor entertaining through the summer months and beyond, we collated this article to help you design your own outdoor kitchen space. Unlike an indoor kitchen, there are a few specific design considerations you need to consider and get them right, and so long as you do, you can soon have a fun new area in your home that adds value to your garden and has your guests inviting themselves over all year around.

Outdoor kitchen design considerations

The first (and probably most important) point to consider when planning your outdoor kitchen is: location, location, location! Choosing the ideal location for your outdoor kitchen depends on a few factors such as:

1. The size of your backyard – if you don’t have a lot of room, you’ll need to build your kitchen in whatever space is available.
2. How often you plan to use it – if you intend to use the kitchen for meals and entertainment for all seasons of the year, we suggest that you locate it as close to the house as possible.
3. Where are your utilities located – if your outdoor kitchen requires electricity and plumbing, the further it is from your home, the more it will cost you.
4. Which way the wind blows – yes this seems like a strange consideration however you’ll want to locate your outdoor kitchen in such a space where the prevailing winds do not blow smoke and kitchen odours back into the house.
5. The outlook from your house – if you have a garden or other features in your backyard, you might want to position your kitchen in such a way that it doesn’t block the view.

What size do you want your outdoor kitchen to be?

The next decision is choosing the size of your outdoor kitchen. This will depend on factors such as:

1. How many people you plan to entertain – the number of guests you expect to cook for will determine not only the size of your kitchen but also the size of the entertainment area around it.
2. Your budget – building a kitchen from scratch and filling it with the latest appliances can be an expensive business, so make sure your plans meet your budget.
3. Your local by-laws – if your kitchen is to be a substantial construction, you may need to obtain a building permit from your local council.

Choosing hard-wearing materials

Your outdoor kitchen will be exposed to the oftentimes unpredictable environmental factors, so it’s imperative to build it using durable and hard-wearing materials. Some things to consider:

1. Bench tops – choose stainless steel or granite for work surfaces.
2. Cabinetry – glass or stainless steel make durable doors. Alternatively, treated timber such as jarrah (rated for outdoor use) is ideal.
3. Other surfaces – for flooring: Durable Stone-look Structural Porcelain Pavers to handle the oil staines, food and alcohol spillage. these pavers never required to be sealed and you will never have any permanent stains.

** Grey Travertine Porcelain Pavers 

Choosing appliances

Choosing your appliances, and the quantity, largely depends on whether your want to include plumbing and wiring through your outdoor kitchen. If you don’t want to extend the plumbing and wiring outdoors, you may need to rely on a gas bottle and extension cords from the house. In this case, your appliances may be limited to a barbeque and bar fridge.

On the flip-side, if you choose to go ‘all out’ with your outdoor kitchen design, then the sky’s the limit on what appliances you can incorporate into your kitchen, with everything from a pizza oven or eye-level grill with rotisserie, to a full sized fridge, freezer and dishwasher. Providing that you have the space, these are all possibilities you can consider.

The layout and dividing your kitchen into zones

One commonality you can apply when your outdoor kitchen design that is used for designing indoor kitchens is creating ‘zones’. For example hot zones are for cooking, cold zones for refrigeration, wet zones for sinks and washing up and prep zones with bench-tops and storage for cooking. An ergonomically designed kitchen allows for an easy and uninterrupted flow between all these zones and creates an almost triangular point of access.

How many mod cons do you need?

The number of mod cons (modern conveniences) you choose to install, largely depends on how elaborate you intend to make your outdoor kitchen. Some options you might want to include are:

1. Lighting – this is essential if you plan to entertain at night. Important considerations include task lighting over work and traffic areas, ambient lighting to light a defined seating and entertaining area and accent lighting for visual interest.
2. Climate control – if you plan to cook outside in the cooler months, installing gas heating or a fire pit give warmth and comfort. Meanwhile, ceiling fans and mist sprayers are ideal for warmer climates.
3. Furniture – even though you are outdoors, you want your guests to feel comfortable when seated. Luckily, there is a huge range of quality outdoor furniture available these days made from durable materials that are ideal for all weather conditions.

A beautifully designed stone feature wall adds a rustic appeal to your outdoor kitchen.

Landscaping your outdoor kitchen

As your outdoor kitchen will be a prominent feature, the way it blends with the rest of your backyard is important. Just as you don’t want it blocking the view of the garden from the house, you also don’t want it to be an eyesore that doesn’t fit with the overall look and feel of garden aesthetic.

To create a seamless design between your garden and your outdoor kitchen, consider incorporating similar landscaping materials used in your patio or paved area. Natural stone pavers are an ideal flooring solution because they are strong, durable and weather resistant. Add sealing and they’re also stain resistant!

** Paytone Limestone Pavers

If you want to go the extra mile, you can install stone feature walls and countertops to complement the aesthetic of the main house and hardscaping, making your outdoor kitchen feel like an original part of the overall design. If this idea tickles your fancy, check out our blog featuring 10 more great outdoor stone bbq ideas.

A few more tips on planning the space

To finish up, here are a few more important points to keep in mind:

1. All electrical wiring and plumbing must be done by licensed tradespeople, so check the requirements with your local council first and then hire a licensed tradesperson to complete the installation.
2. Make sure your kitchen is sheltered from the elements, including shade from the sun and protection from wind and rain.
3. If you are building your kitchen close to the house, keep cooking areas a safe distance away from vegetation or overhanging eaves.

We hope you found this article insightful and helpful.

To find out more about building your dream outdoor kitchen, contact your local supplier.

For ideas and inspiration on landscaping and materials, reach out to our experts at Armstone.

We would love to answer your questions and help you bring your dream outdoor kitchen, to life.

When it comes to creating an outdoor space in your backyard, many people think this involves planting trees and flowers.

However, for a space to have a WOW factor, incorporating and installing natural stone landscaping can give a striking touch to any area.

Natural stone is beautiful, primal and straight from the earth and all of these features can add impact to an existing space or serve as a unique focal point on in its own right.

In today’s article we will check out 5 popular outdoor spaces that successfully utilise natural stone and also share insights and tips on how to achieve the best look for your backyard oasis.

Fire pits

Installing a fire pit or outdoor fireplace allows you to use your backyard for entertaining in the cooler months as well as throughout the warmer summer nights. When built from natural stone, a fireplace retains heat for longer than other materials and a fire pit decorated with stone will provide an elegant focal point in your backyard. Additionally, if you add a flagstone surround or even a retaining wall with stone or wooden benches, your friends and family won’t want to leave the cosy atmosphere and will enjoy gathering around it for a drink or meal at any time of the year.

** Mica Quartz Stone panels

Rock gardens

A rock garden is where plants are interspersed amongst rocks and stones of various sizes, often in a hill formation. If you don’t have a natural hill in your backyard, you can easily create one using a few large boulders as a base and cover it with stones and soil. This type of garden structure is known as a ‘berm’ and when you cover it with plants growing in and around the stone, it makes for a very appealing garden feature. The best plants for rock gardens are small hardy plants such as bulbs and succulents, with creeping plants such as mosses and grasses to soften the edges of the stones and blend with your plants over time.

** Snow White Garden Pebbles

Water features

Whether it’s a full sized swimming pool or a tiny pond draped with willows and surrounded by moss, a water feature can add a special element to any backyard with natural stone being a complimentary star in its own right. Whether you place large boulders  for effect in and around the water or you use them to create a waterfall – the applications are truly endless. Similarly you can circle the area with stone paving or flagstones to provide easy non-slip access for visitors. Bluestone pavers or quartz flagstones are particularly striking in swimming pool settings, while limestone and marble have the natural, earthy tones ideal for a trickling stream or a backyard pond.

Courtyards

A courtyard serves as a connection to the home, so it must be visually pleasing enough to draw people outdoors to enjoy it. As this area is typically surrounded by walls, it’s important that these walls are both welcoming and aesthetically pleasing and also durable to withstand the test of time and environmental factors like rain, heat, and wind. This is where natural stone comes into its own. A courtyard is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the unique characteristics of stone, including its texture, colour and patina. Contrasted with greenery and with comfortable seating and a central focus such as a water feature or artwork, a stone landscaped courtyard can be a wonderful retreat for quiet contemplation and alone time.

** Grampian Limestone Pavers

Outdoor kitchens

Outdoor kitchens are all the talk these days and the modern stone bbq has found its place among a full stove, fridge and dishwasher ensemble. But, unlike an indoor kitchen, this space is exposed to the elements, so the materials used need to be durable, hard wearing and able to withstand all environmental factors like the ever changing weather. Enter natural stone; the perfect and practical material for your outdoor kitchen’s flooring, main structure and bench-tops along with the ideal decorative finish for cabinets and splash-backs. For food preparation and service areas, choose a non-porous stone such as granite or bluestone and protect it with a sealant to minimise permanent stains and help it retain its natural patina.

** Payton Limestone Pavers

Tips on achieving the best look for your space

If you want to create an outdoor area that is unique to your home, here is a collection of practical tips for using natural stone that will help you achieve the best affect for your backyard oasis.

1. To build a pathway with a truly rustic look, use stepping stones rather than sawn pavers, as they have a more organic feel and available in more variations of both shape and colour.
2. Loose pebbles are too round and smooth underfoot to be suitable for paving, but if you set them in concrete with their flattest sides up, they make a great pathway with an interesting texture.
3. When surrounding a flower bed with stones, rather than using rough or sharp rocks which can seem jarring, use smooth river rocks or polished stones for a softer, more blended appeal.
4. The colours of your plants should determine the colour of the pebbles and stone you use around them. For example, the best place to plant red, blue or violet flowers and foliage is against warm grey or off-white stones and then planting softer pink, yellow and white flowers against darker natural stone hues like greys or blacks.
5. Consider making terraces at different levels and putting small plants on each level to create an elegant botanical feel and the illusion of more space (especially if you are limited in outdoor spacing).
6. Every good garden path needs an intriguing destination, so put something surprising out of sight – like an ornament, plant, statue or unusual rock formation – at the end of yours.
7. To get rid of unwanted lawn areas, rather than paving them over entirely (which can result heat and glare) lace paving stones with ribbons of native grass to create a soft patterned effect.

And there you have it – you are now equipped with 5 ways you can utilise natural stone in your outdoor landscape and 7 tips you can add when creating your own design.

If you are need any more help, please reach out to our team of natural stone experts at Armstone either online or at 1300 560 560. We love everything about natural stone and even more so, helping people like you bring their backyard designs to life with quality products!