Australian Vertical Gardens Create an Artful Outdoor Retreat

We have seen vertical gardening earlier, but in this residential remodeled backyard near Perth, Australia, picture designer Andrew Beck explores an alternate to the verdant, living tapestries we have come to expect.

A home remodel left the backyard in shambles, with a recycled brick wall because its sole survivor. Beck jumped at the opportunity to depart the vernacular norm, envisioning a garden inspired by natural and low-impact components that would meet the clients’ wishes to entertain and to enjoy a personal escape.

“Our mantra is the fact that every home requires a backyard space which acts as a kind of living meditative sanctuary to keep us,” says Beck. “The clients were very generous and open in their allowance of experimentation.”

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Three different vertical gardens now playfully punctuate the area, addressing unique microclimates and design ideas. Starting at the brick wall, Beck stacked gutter-like copper vessels across its surface, coated with waterproof pond sealer, with pre-drilled holes and galvanized dynabolts; The oxidized aluminum is colorful and complements the red brick. A vibrant selection of shade-loving foliage plants matches the planters, flourishing in this secure, shady location.

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Plants consist of Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’, variegated Bromeliads, Sedum ‘Gold Mound’, Chlorophytum comosum (nonvariegated form), Rhoeo spathacea and Muehlenbeckia complexa.

Of the nonedible plants used in the backyard, Beck focused on with at least 50 percent natives. “We should educate ourselves to appreciate the aesthetic of the regional species and learn how to plant them creatively,” he states. “I’ll always try one new plant on every job to try to familiarize myself with new species.”

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The next garden doubles as a privacy screen for an outside shower. Copper vessels reappear, suspended by a custom-made arrangement of threaded rods and bolts and curved circular fence posts.

Water drains between every tier through small drilled holes. “It is essential that you check the effectiveness of the drainage in connection with how often the irrigation is set to proceed on to avoid root rot,” says Beck.

An opaque corrugated backing protects the shower and filters sun like a greenhouse wall, says Beck.

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A sunnier and more vulnerable portion of the garden necessitated an alternate plant palette. Tough, hardy succulents, including blue chalk sticks, Jelly Bean sedums and Crassula erosula, fill these figurines.

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A hanging pebble backyard rounds out this vertical garden series and introduces another class of plants: climbing vines and tracking succulents. The arrangement is an aesthetic statement, a visual screen along with an ingenious trellis.

Railroad ties, suspended river pebbles and terrazzo bowls kind unusual but appealing garden pendulums that proceed slowly and subtly in the backyard breeze. “It produces a surreal sense of rocks dangling in midair,” says Beck.

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The suspended terrazzo bowls are planters in addition to water features. The soothing sound of running water adds another experiential layer to the backyard and welcomes birds to bathe and drink.

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Vines grow across the arrangement, including a decorative avocado for seasonal color and a native wisteria (Hardenbergia comptoniana) for year round color and screening.

The suspended bowls are filled with tracking lotus (Lotus berthelotii) and String of Bananas (Senecio radicans).

Underneath the screen a mixture of native sedges (Lepidosperma gladiatum and Lepidosperma longitudinale), cardboard palm and ornamental potato vine blanket the ground along with ground covers, including native purple, wide-leafed Myoporum parvifolium and silver dichondra.

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Edibles have ample space in the backyard by design, allowing fresh produce yearlong.

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While the vertical gardens exhibit Beck’s innovative approach to the native Australian backyard, the hardscape and pavers refer to his time respecting the minimalism and simplicity of Japanese garden design. Hexagonal concrete pavers imprinted with initial organic forms are accompanied by plain curved pavers.

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Another route diverges from natural shapes and patterns, having irregularly put granite rectangular pavers rather. While the two avenues seem sparse at this time, ground covers will probably fill in the vacant spaces, reconciliation and balancing their borders.

Granite, limestone, aluminum, railroad ties and glacial riverstones reappear through the project, joining the hardscape together.

“I’m very attached to this backyard, because it includes many hidden and surprising components that will never be imagined when entering the home,” says Beck. “The most beautiful thing about the clients’ response to the backyard renovation was how they developed a passion for gardening, and how they’re out in the backyard regularly and continue to manicure the lawn lovingly on a daily basis.”

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“I still think the most beautiful thing about landscape design as an art form is that a garden never remains the same,” he adds. “In fact it is continually shifting, and we can only control it to a stage, and it does the rest for itself.”

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