This weekend

Ideas and inspiration for your next garden project

Breaking the clay

Stop being a slave to your garden

Contrary to popular belief, clay is actually a brilliant base for growing gardens. Once clay is opened up for drainage and aeration, it can become a thriving playground for benefi cial soil microbes. Unfortunately, the advice we are given is to dig in gypsum. The use of gypsum is an old agricultural practice dating back to the 1880s, used to leach sodium from dispersive sodic clay soils, or clay that is highly erosive and that almost dissipates in water.

Gypsum is not technically a clay breaker as it does not work on hard compacted plasticinetype clays. In fact, too much can create what is known as gypsiferous conditions, which can cause crusting and hardpan compaction.

Gypsum is a water-soluble mineral, sourced from the arid and semi-arid regions of Australia where only a small variety of lowgrowing plants survive. Over-application can be detrimental to soil fungi that is necessary for the formation of good soil structure. As a fertiliser it adds only two elements and as a soluble salt it should only be applied if soil is lacking calcium or sulphur, so care needs to be used on acidic soils.

Dolomite is another option often recommended to help break up acidic clay soils. In agriculture, dolomite is only recommended if the soil is below pH 6.2 and defi nitely not 7 or higher as it can burn plant roots. Dolomite is a water-soluble mineral that has a 2:1 calcium to magnesium ratio which can lead to excess magnesium in the soil, resulting in hardpan compaction.

When we use these products and our plants struggle to grow, they are never blamed as potential culprits, but they clearly could be. What we need to be adding is water-insoluble volcanic minerals and introducing benefi cial soil bacteria and fungi to solubilise those minerals, letting them do the work of breaking up the compaction, stabilising the pH and working with the plants to grow and thrive.

Earthlife has mastered this process by combining pure rock minerals with broadspectrum soil biology. These microbial rock minerals will break up soil crusting, hardpans and any form of clay, helping to reverse damage done by overuse of gypsum or dolomite. Plus, it doesn’t even need to be dug in, meaning it’s never been easier to create a friable, living, breathing soil ecosystem perfect for growing beautiful, healthy gardens.

WANT MORE INFO?

EARTHLIFE phone 1800 819 003 email enquiries@earthlife.com.au website earthlife.com.au

Feeling edgy

Overhaul your garden and create a customised outdoor oasis with a steel edge makeover

Defi ne your garden and create a visually stunning centrepiece with quick and easy-to-install steel edging. Whether it’s large-scale feature terracing or raised planters, steel edging is a simple solution to a variety of outdoor projects. All you need is a weekend and some sunscreen.

FormBoss metal garden edging is made locally in Melbourne from high-quality Australian BlueScope steel that is structurally guaranteed for 10 years. One of the company’s steel fi nishes, and one that is growing in popularity, is Redcor. Boasting a long life expectancy, the subtle colour variations within the steel make each piece unique. Redcor’s protective layer develops over time as it is exposed to the elements, revealing a rich patina bound to constantly delight the viewer. Once exposed, it will take between four and 16 weeks to achieve maximum rustic appeal. This natural weathering eliminates the need for painting or galvanising, so maintenance is a breeze.

FormBoss is the benchmark in safe, durable, strong and fl exible steel garden edging. Quick, easy to install and available throughout Australia, steel edging creates professional results with strong, seamless lines. Established as the preferred choice in commercial and public spaces, FormBoss has now become a proven favourite in domestic garden design.

Steel edging offers precise lines for a formal “designer” look, while also blending seamlessly with a relaxed rustic setting. This product is very

popular for D.I.Y. projects and major backyard renovations due to its versatility, and also for being a product a beginner could work with. Its fi re-resistant qualities have also become an important consideration for many households.

If you’re looking to add something special to your garden, whether that be a veggie patch to supplement the grocery shop, a clear garden path, large-scale feature terracing or raised planters, steel garden edging is a versatile option for many landscaping needs.

What are you waiting for? Mark out those lines and start edging!

WANT MORE INFO?

FORMBOSS phone 13 11 37 website formboss.com.au

Shade for days

Superior shading is a sure thing with the cantilevered Shaderunner® Retractable Sail

photos chameleon photography

Creating a functional and usable outdoor space is high on the list of improvements for many homeowners, where our love of the outdoors and spending time with friends can be brought together. The owners of this lovely home in the Adelaide suburb of Malvern have created a wonderful outdoor seating area near their pool, perfect for relaxing after a swim or spending time with loved ones.

To maximise use of this seating area, the homeowners opted to install this stunning Shaderunner® system supported by a customdesigned cantilevered frame. The framework supports the Shaderunner® with running wires beneath two of the rafters, and the system extends out over the seating area as required.

The owners elected to have the manually operated Shaderunner®, which features an easyto-use endless looped cord system with tie-off

horn cleat. Increasing in popularity is the option to motorise the Shaderunner® with an RTS remote-controlled Somfy motor housed in a powder-coated slimline headbox.

The Shaderunner® Retractable Sail provides the ultimate convenience for enjoying outdoor spaces in the Australian climate. Controllable shade enables the user to manipulate the amount of shading required. During summer, the Shaderunner® can be fully extended to provide maximum shade, UV protection and thermal comfort on demand. In the cooler months the system can be retracted back, enabling winter sun to be maximised, making the most of the available light and solar gains.

When designing outdoor areas and entertaining spaces, practical shading should be at the forefront of the design process. A welldesigned space should consider shading, and in particular retractable shading. The combined effect of reducing the impact of the sun during the summer and making the most of available light and warmth in the winter enables greater use of outdoor areas.

The Shaderunner® Retractable Sail System is ideally suited to a range of applications around the home, from outdoor entertaining spaces and patios to swimming pools and courtyards. With a wide range of fabrics and colour options available, the Shaderunner® complements all architectural styles, from contemporary suburban homes to traditional country residences. The cantilevered frame used in this application shows the wide range of support options available for the Shaderunner® , which can also be installed between walls, to an existing or purpose-built pergola, house fascias or support posts.

The Shaderunner® is manufactured from a range of rigorously tested fabrics, from 95 per cent polyester mesh to waterproof PVC. Each fabric is mould resistant and offers protection from glare and the sun’s harmful rays, with a wide range of colours available. Constructed using only the most durable marine-grade yacht fi ttings and Ronstan ball bearing pulleys, the Shaderunner® Retractable Sail provides years of trouble-free shading with minimal maintenance. The unique qualities of the Shaderunner® enable it to be utilised for a multitude of applications, from the smallest domestic setting up to largespan commercial projects such as aquatic parks and hotels.

With distributors available in each state, the Shaderunner® is available throughout Australia.

WANT MORE INFO?

SHADERUNNER® AUSTRALIA phone Free Call 1800 495 645 email enquiries@shaderunner.com.au website shaderunner.com.au

Now that’s clever!

Versatile, eco-friendly composite decking provides the look of real timber without the ongoing maintenance

Now with two distinctly different composite timber decking ranges and four types of board to choose from, Futurewood has a product to suit every need.

CleverDeck Original composite timber decking has long been a best seller due to the fact it looks like timber but is more ecologically sustainable and lower maintenance. Finished with a coarse sanded texture that makes the product look and feel like a timber plank, it is supplied in long lengths with grooved edges that work seamlessly with Futurewood’s concealed fi x clipping system. The long boards and easy-to-use clips add further value by reducing installation time, which leads to substantial savings on labour costs.

Made from recycled plastic, rice husks and hardwood sawdust, CleverDeck Original composite timber decking has colour pigments running through the decking board, eliminating the need for oiling or painting. It will not rot, splinter or cup, which makes it a great option for any garden, plus the concealed fi xing provides a clean fi nish with no nails or screws to catch any toes!

The second option is CleverDeck Eco- Pro. This has all of the features of the Original product but in a scalloped-back, single-sided board to reduce weight and heat. With four standard colours in the Original range and two in the Eco-Pro range, the 138mm wide x 23mm thick x 5400mm long solid composite timber decking boards can be easily matched to any garden decor.

Then there is Futurewood CleverDeck Xtreme “capped” composite decking board. This is a co-extruded board, meaning it has a hard outer shell made from virgin polymers that completely encapsulates a traditional composite timber core. The Xtreme cap is made from a blend of different polymers that make it super tough and much harder to scratch than traditional composite timber. It is virtually waterproof, which means it is very hard to stain and easy to clean.

The cap’s virgin polymer blend allows the creation of vibrant colours with subtle streaking to create a totally new decking look. CleverDeck Xtreme is available in both a 138mm wide and a 185mm wide decking board — and in up to six amazing colours. The boards are scallopedbacked with a grooved-edge profi le. Both boards are 23mm thick and 5400mm long, allowing the Futurewood deck clip system to work seamlessly between either the Eco-Pro, Original or Xtreme decking products.

Futurewood also offers a simple way to transform your backyard entertainment area with its low-height sub-frame featuring aluminium joists and adjustable-height pedestals. Simply combine the sub-frame with one of the CleverDeck composite timber decking boards and create a new deck over an unsightly concrete patio, even if it is close to an internal door height.

Futurewood offers quality alternatives to traditional timber products and the range of options gives you plenty of reasons to talk to Futurewood about your next decking project.

WANT MORE INFO?

FUTUREWOOD phone 1300 484 308 email info@futurewood.com.au website futurewood.com.au

Feel the heat

Innovative, high-performance electric heating technology for outdoor and indoor areas

The HEATSTRIP® collection of electric radiant heaters is perfect for the outdoors and hard-to-heat indoor spaces. As there is typically constant air movement in an outdoor or open indoor area, many conventional heaters rely on convection heating that works by heating the surrounding air. This can be quite impractical, as the heated air can easily blow away with natural air movement.

Radiant-style heaters transfer heat directly to objects through infra-red waves. While convection heaters heat the air between objects, radiant heaters heat the surface of the objects themselves.

HEATSTRIP® electric radiant heaters are more effective in an outdoor or uninsulated indoor area because they provide targeted warmth directly to the people and objects in their path.

Years of research and development, along with a fruitful partnership with the coating technology experts at Thermofi lm, a world leader in electric heaters, have resulted in a unique composition to produce the new generation of outdoor heaters. HEATSTRIP® Elegance, with remote and app control (THE-RA Range), is one of the most popular models thanks to its superior technology and unbeatable style.

Joining Elegance in the HEATSTRIP® family of products are the Indoor, Classic, Intense and Max models. Using the radiant heating principle, HEATSTRIP® Max DCR can provide effective and energy-effi cient comfort heating for outdoor (undercover and open) and indoor open areas.

HEATSTRIP® has successfully enabled many entertainment venues such as restaurants, pubs and clubs to utilise their outdoor dining areas day and night, through all seasons. In your home, HEATSTRIP® can provide comfort heating for undercover alfresco dining and barbecue areas, patios, verandahs, courtyards and balconies. For a more comprehensive overview of the entire HEATSTRIP® range, jump online and check it out today.

WANT MORE INFO?

HEATSTRIP phone (03) 9562 3455 email sales@thermofi lm.com.au website heatstrip.com.au