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For some people, gardening is a hobby, while for others, it’s an art form.

Though most gardens are at the mercy of your climate and area styling your garden is a way to channel your passion and imagination, and add value to your home at the same time.


The Zen Garden
 


Japanese garden design is an art that has been refined for more than 1000 years and it’s all about creating a peaceful and harmonious space. It’s a great style for those who use their garden as a refuge and a place to contemplate, meditate and unwind.   

Likes: Reading, water features, bird watching and chess.
Dislikes: Loud noises, American sitcoms, bad manners and large dogs. 
Tip: Australian natives suitable for Zen Gardens include Birds Nest Fern, Red Bottlebrush, Dogwood, Moreton Bay Fig, Tea Tree, Wattle Mat Rush, Coastal Salt Bush, Small-leaved Lillypilly and a variety of gum trees.

The Mower’s Garden
 


Did someone say backyard cricket? This is the perfect garden for outside activities – football, lawn bowls, backyard camping and kiss chasey – and despite the upkeep required, it’s a great garden to bring the family outside, together.

Likes: Golden retrievers, BBQs, Palametto grass (so soft underfoot!) and team sports.
Dislikes: Stilettos, museums, excessive flower beds and jazz music.
Tips: A non-grass lawn, such as Dichondra (kidney weed) gives a smooth, green lawn that doesn’t need mowing. Consider adding a feature to your garden to add interest, such as seating or a cluster of trees.

The Entertainer’s Garden
 


The backyard for entertainers, this chic space is perfect for hosting dinner parties and events, and acts as an alfresco extension of the house.

Likes: Red wine, a good deck, mood lighting, Facebook and bubble baths.
Dislikes: An empty social calendar, garden maintenance and science fiction.  
Tip: Composite decking is a popular, environmentally friendly alternative to natural wood as it’s weather resistant, stain resistant and lightweight.

The Boho Garden
 


This quirky garden is for the inner hippie and has a playful mix of laid-back and romantic vibes. A jumbled collection of potted plants and succulents is textbook boho, with the secret to success being to curate a space that feels un-curated. 

Likes: Fairylights, outdoor rugs, daisies, green tea and splashes of colour. 
Dislikes: Organised sport, unrestricted water use, large corporations and reality TV.
Tip: Bring ordinary household items, such as lamps and couches, outside.

The Royal Garden
 


This stately and majestic garden is all about grandeur, and as well as impressing visitors, uses repetition (referencing visual elements over and over again) to create a sense of harmony. It should be pleasant to be in, but it should also be visually interesting to look at from outside or above.    

Likes: Princess Catherine, hedges, the BBC channel, cricket and symmetry.  
Dislikes: Nail biting, 'sharers', weeds and clutter.  
Tip: the white cypress pine works well as a formal screen or windbreak and rosemary is ideal for a hedge or border.

The Vegie Garden
 


A practical use of backyard space, this garden is for those who like the ‘simpler life’ and prefer to live sustainably. The Veggie Garden is also a good friend of the Boho Garden, because there is something a little bit retro-cool about sticking your hands in the dirt and pulling out carrots.   

Likes: Salads, fertiliser, Jamie Oliver, lady birds and saving money.
Dislikes: Genetically modified foods, aphids and too much shade.
Tip: Before starting a veggie garden, you should prep and turn the soil. Adding rich organic matter like compost, manure and fertiliser will add body and nutrition to your garden bed.