Enjoy the outdoors rain, hail or shine: A guide to patios

COME RAIN OR SHINE

Don’t be a slave to the weather when it comes to outdoor living.

STORY: ROSA RITCHIE

Whether it's hosting a sizzling barbecue in the height of summer or a cosy garden party in mid-winter, a well-planned backyard garden and outdoor patio are an invaluable extra space for entertaining guests or savouring family time—especially when designed with versatility in mind. Kialla Lawn and Garden owner/ operator Daniel McCrimmon makes it his business to help homeowners transform their yards into appealing outdoor assets. He says simple essentials are often overlooked or poorly executed: lawns, paths, garden beds, canopy cover and a flexible patio set-up. Daniel recommended paying attention to the exterior of a property when designing and building a dream home, and start work sooner rather than later. “People forget about landscaping and patios because it's an extra cost, but it's actually much easier to include them within the overall concept of building your home,” he said. Factoring landscaping and exteriors into a building budget early on is more cost effective, and results in a more cohesive outcome. “Many people have a completely bare block and by the time they move in it's covered in weed.” The first thing the Kialla Lawn and Garden team does when it comes across a scene like this is replace poor soil with good quality stuff, and lay irrigation. “It's about establishing something long-lasting,” Daniel said. Next up it's time for garden beds, concrete paths, a patio and tree planting. “Then you have a home ready to go, you don't just have a house on an empty block.” A patio can be the heart of a garden and, depending on the budget, there is an array of options to heat, cool and protect from the elements. “What you want is a patio that you can use in summer and winter,” Daniel said. To protect from wintry weather, a freestanding or permanent fire pit, professionally installed heaters or freestanding gas heaters will prove invaluable, and must be chosen with size and budget constraints in mind. “Always be mindful that the patio is best served with a closed roof —Colorbond is what I would recommend,” Daniel said. “Other features are more flexible and are determined by budget.” For those tight on space, swap the barbecue for a portable heater when moving from summer to the cooler months. While outdoor blinds help contain heat in winter, they create cool shade in summer, which works beautifully in tandem with a mist system. “Misting kits are a complete DIY product and they're easy to install,” Daniel said. Planting the yard with trees strategically can also help keep things under control on a hot day. “During summer, tree canopy reduces temperatures beaming into your home, and is planned on a house-byhouse basis.” To avoid blocking out winter sun, think about the orientation of your property and be mindful of the mature height of a tree species when choosing saplings.