Site Planning

Where vegetable beds sit on a bushfire-prone block, what to build and mulch them with, how to water them, what to clear before the season, and what fire authorities and health departments say about produce after smoke, ash or firefighting chemicals.

Zinnias for colour, lavender for scent, lamb's ear for touch, snap peas for tasting and nigella pods that rattle. Here is how to sow a sensory garden that children, wheelchair users and people living with dementia can enjoy, and which plants to leave out.

Wind does most of the damage on a coastal or exposed block and salt finishes the job. How to read your site, build shelter that actually works, improve sandy soil, and pick crops that cope.

Not every yard gets six hours of sun. Here is which vegetables and herbs cope with part shade in Australia, and how to make the most of the light you have.

A raised bed, a grid of 30 cm squares and a plant count per square: the square foot method suits small Australian yards well, with a few local tweaks.

Most backyards hold several microclimates, from a warm sunny wall to a cold frost pocket. Here is how to read yours and plant to suit each spot.

Raised garden beds can make growing easier, but they are not for everyone. Here is the honest case, the trade-offs, and how to build one well.