LATEST BLOG POST:
April 14, 2022
Dream gardens and movie magic: How pop culture can inspire your next outdoor project
Our relationships with gardens are often more complex than we realise. Beyond the basics of providing outdoor entertaining spaces, a pool or room for the kids to play, they are places where we seek solace, daydream and make memories…
LATEST BLOG POST:
Dream gardens and movie magic: How pop culture can inspire your next outdoor project
Our relationships with gardens are often more complex than we realise. Beyond the basics of providing outdoor entertaining spaces, a pool or room for the kids to play, they are places where we seek solace, daydream and make memories…
When people come to the garden design experience for the first time, it can be strange to think of gardens as having a style, or being in or out of fashion. But a quick glance over the past 20 or 30 years reveals a distinct shift…
The idea of sculpture in the garden conjures up images of grand European estates with sweeping vistas punctuated by neo classic figures or larger-than-life abstract shapes cast in bronze…
Your front facade might be about putting your best foot forward, but in many parts of Sydney, the rear lane is where it’s at. Once the sole domain of the night cart man and garbage trucks…
We’ve been underestimating the importance of trees in the urban landscape. And it’s time to stop. From sources of solace during lockdown to battling the damaging effects of urban heat…
As the great architect and designer Charles Eames once said, ‘the details are not the details, they make the design’. The thought of creating your own slice of outdoor…
It makes for alarming reading. The latest global warming report released in August by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change paints a bleak picture…
Everything tends to run more smoothly in life when we know what to expect – and that’s absolutely the case when you’re hoping to create an idyllic garden…
Far from being an academic pursuit, biophilia is something we can practice daily…
Things have changed in the garden industry…
There has never been so much interest in growing food at home than there is right now. Even before COVID, vegetable garden supply retailers once frequented by older men and committed permaculturists have…
While Sydney is under lockdown, to a greater or lesser extent depending on where you live, leaving the house for an hour’s exercise is one of the few things we’re all still allowed to do…
It’s been a rough old time, these last 18 months. The impacts of COVID have forced those who can to work from home, sometimes for the first time…
Not just for balconies and courtyards, pots can be the icing on the cake of a beautiful backyard, dotting a landscaping scheme like eye-catching jewels. And while one large…
You can’t go wrong with a beautiful pot as a present. Here at Secret Gardens, all our Christmas (and birthday, and Mother’s Day) presents are covered by our own Hibernate range…
A well designed outdoor dining area is a wonderful thing, bringing family and friends together in the great outdoors and, ideally, allowing us to enjoy our gardens all year round…
Coastal gardens are high on the list of looks we love in our beach-loving country and it’s a style that suits us for more reasons than one. Loose and laidback, a seaside garden…
When running through their must-haves and lust-haves, clients rarely consider adding an outdoor shower to the list. But, while not as high profile as a pool or a built-in barbecue…
Before you can dig for foundations or plant a single tree, you need to know what kind of soil you’re dealing with. A loamy, basalt-based soil is the gold standard of soils, not too fine, not too coarse…
The indoor plants trend is here for the long haul and we hope it never wanes. Bringing a little of the outdoors inside not only helps us to feel connected with nature, potted plants…
No matter how visually stunning our gardens are, we still need to consider where to put the clothesline and the bins. Incorporating these ugly bits in a creative way is essentially…
Winter can be an unexpectedly productive time in the garden. Though the rampant new growth and budding blooms of spring are yet to arrive in the majority of the garden…
Covid and the associated lockdowns and restrictions have made us all into reluctant (to one degree or another) homebodies. But if we’re looking for a silver lining to this whole crazy situation…
As an increasing number of homes become multigenerational, we’re seeing more granny flats down the bottom of the garden – but when you’ve got a second little home…
Every garden design needs to start somewhere and the first thing we usually look at is the age and style of the home itself. While the design should not be a carbon copy…
Water features are an enduringly popular element of landscape design. Their appeal right now ties into the latest trend in architecture, biophilia, which essentially means…
Privacy is a common concern in Sydney’s densely populated inner suburbs, but even in more luxuriously spacious properties, adjacent buildings – especially apartment blocks…
When it comes to greening our indoor and outdoor spaces, we’re increasingly looking upwards and installing hanging gardens. Whether it’s a small group of hanging baskets or a veritable…
An irrigation system is one of the cornerstones of a healthy garden, taking human error out of the equation to make sure plants get all the moisture they need – and none they don’t…
Nothing heralds the arrival of spring like a joyful burst of blooms. Whether it’s the first magnolia blossoms crowning an otherwise bare tree or the heady whiff of Jasmine…
Bricks are back in both architecture and landscaping, and we’re on board. You only have to wander through some of the more established neighbourhoods in Sydney…
A tropical garden is among the most requested themes at Secret Gardens, and it’s easy to understand why. With visions of waving palm trees and lush…
A tropical garden is among the most requested themes at Secret Gardens, and it’s easy to understand why. With visions of waving palm trees and lush…
The concept of an outdoor kitchen means different things to different people, but at Secret Gardens we prefer to put the emphasis on the word ‘outdoor’…
We love indoor plants for so many reasons – they help us connect with nature, purify the air and blur the boundaries between inside and out – but plenty…
The Chelsea Flower Show is over for another year and, as always, has been a rich source of inspiration for the team at Secret Gardens. Though it’s on…
Pots are favoured tool of garden designers everywhere–and for good reason.Not only are they practical, allowing one to add greenery to tricky…
Building storage into the garden is not so much a luxury as a necessity. As our homes get smaller – and our accumulated stuff not so much – architects…
Though lacking the showy displays of spring and summer, with the right planning and planting, winter can be a beautiful time of year in the garden…
Texture is an infrequently discussed element of garden design, but an essential feature of any well-crafted landscape. Just as in interiors, where texture is used…
The ebb and flow of trends in the world of landscaping might not be as furiously fast-moving as that of fashion or even interiors, but we certainly do…
The trend towards outdoor living has been around for a while, but what we’re seeing now is an extension of that, as people venture deeper into the garden…
A well-designed garden is beautiful during the day, but with the right lighting, the same garden can be magical at night. With a thoughtful lighting…
We’re all for living and entertaining outdoors, but as our gardens become semi-public spaces towards which guests gravitate, it’s nice to carve…
Going on holiday? Getting the garden ready before you go will ensure it survives and hopefully thrives in your absence. The end of the year…
Designing a garden for the whole family includes considering the needs of its smallest members, with the ideal backyard luring the littlies…
To avoid unnecessary frustration and expense, it’s a good idea for dog owners to plan their garden with their pet in mind. Man’s best friend…
Shady garden areas are a reality for almost all gardens, whether it’s an entire dimly lit backyard or an otherwise sunny area with just one…
More than just a means of getting from A to uphill B, steps in a garden are a golden design opportunity. The primary purpose might be as simple…
When building a brand new home or embarking on a large-scale renovation, the ultimate plan of attack is to get a landscape architect in as early as possible…
Choosing a colour scheme for the garden is an essential part of planning the perfect outdoor space. Do you want a wash of vibrant tropical colours, or the gentle pastel hues…
The problem of planting in a windy garden is a common one, with so much of Australia’s urban landscape hugging the coast and therefore exposed to brisk ocean breezes…
Garden edging – the styles, shapes and materials used – is one of the less glamorous, but no less important, features of good garden design. While statement plants and structures steal the limelight, good garden edging…
There might be less gardening to do in the winter months, but we’re not resting on our laurels or hibernating on the couch! Though most plants are dormant, there’s still plenty to do in the garden; from pruning to planning…
Designing a courtyard garden is a challenge we relish at Secret Gardens. While larger gardens grant the freedom to include everything, including the kitchen sink, the tighter confines of a courtyard encourage so much creativity…
We love concrete in gardens, which might come as a surprise to some. To be clear, we’re not talking about turning the backyard into a carpark, but instead incorporating concrete as a key element in a greater garden scheme…
When buying a house, it’s important to remember you’re also buying a garden. It doesn’t need to be exactly the garden of your dreams before you move in – a blank canvas is no bad thing – but existing…
The front garden is the public face of the home and an opportunity to set your house apart from the mundane streetscape. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to front gardens – a Californian bungalow…
There’s nothing like a tree for making a strong statement in a garden. Even in the tightest of residential courtyards, there’s almost always room for a lofty specimen or two…
Paths can be pretty, but stepping stones achieve the same practical purpose while delivering a dose of whimsy and adding another design dimension to a garden. As designers, we’re always banging…
Rooftop gardens or a green roof can turn an ugly, sterile space into something truly special. As space gets tighter in our cities and inner suburbs, landscapers are looking outside the backyard box for places to plant…
Is a hedge the best way to define your garden’s boundaries? At secret gardens, we’re suckers for all things green, but there are plenty of sound arguments to support our love of the humble hedge…
Where to start with your pool design? A pool is a lovely thing to have on a scorching hot day, but it can be more than just a source of entertainment. A beautifully designed pool can be the jewel in a garden, a harmonious addition to the landscape…
Native wildlife can add a delightful dimension to your garden, providing a sense of life and movement, and a feeling of connection with nature. Closing your eyes and listening…
Sydney summers can be hot as Hades, but with a bit of forethought, you can build a garden that will be drought tolerant and keep its looks through the scorching months. It’s all about preparation…
Green walls or vertical gardens are a visually spectacular addition, but more complicated to achieve than you might expect. We have a love/hate relationship with them for the following reasons…
Garden art might not be the most common client request, but it’s a surefire way to turn a good landscape design into something spectacular, adding an element…
Outdoor furniture is the most eye-catching – and probably the most practical – feature of your new garden scheme, so you want to be confident in your selection. But with so many options, choosing…
Succulents are often-unsung heroes of a gardener’s palette of plants, they are hardy little rippers, able to survive in conditions where lesser plants wouldn’t stand a chance, while still looking lush…
Just as with fashion and interiors, there are garden trends, with certain plants or styles of landscapes falling in and out of vogue. From globally inspired…
Whether you’re growing enough crops to feed the whole tribe or just experimenting with a couple of edible plants, growing your own fruit, vegetables and herbs is one of the most satisfying things you can…
Creating a balcony garden certainly has its share of challenges, with a fraction of the footage of the average garden, no soil and likely no irrigation. The good news is, with a bit of planning, it’s easy to…
When people come to the garden design experience for the first time, it can be strange to think of gardens as having a style, or being in or out of fashion. But a quick glance over the past 20 or 30 years reveals a distinct shift…
The idea of sculpture in the garden conjures up images of grand European estates with sweeping vistas punctuated by neo classic figures or larger-than-life abstract shapes cast in bronze…
Your front facade might be about putting your best foot forward, but in many parts of Sydney, the rear lane is where it’s at. Once the sole domain of the night cart man and garbage trucks…
We’ve been underestimating the importance of trees in the urban landscape. And it’s time to stop. From sources of solace during lockdown to battling the damaging effects of urban heat…
As the great architect and designer Charles Eames once said, ‘the details are not the details, they make the design’. The thought of creating your own slice of outdoor…
It makes for alarming reading. The latest global warming report released in August by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change paints a bleak picture…
Everything tends to run more smoothly in life when we know what to expect – and that’s absolutely the case when you’re hoping to create an idyllic garden…
Far from being an academic pursuit, biophilia is something we can practice daily…
Things have changed in the garden industry…
There has never been so much interest in growing food at home than there is right now. Even before COVID, vegetable garden supply retailers once frequented by older men and committed permaculturists have…
While Sydney is under lockdown, to a greater or lesser extent depending on where you live, leaving the house for an hour’s exercise is one of the few things we’re all still allowed to do…
It’s been a rough old time, these last 18 months. The impacts of COVID have forced those who can to work from home, sometimes for the first time…
Not just for balconies and courtyards, pots can be the icing on the cake of a beautiful backyard, dotting a landscaping scheme like eye-catching jewels. And while one large…
You can’t go wrong with a beautiful pot as a present. Here at Secret Gardens, all our Christmas (and birthday, and Mother’s Day) presents are covered by our own Hibernate range…
A well designed outdoor dining area is a wonderful thing, bringing family and friends together in the great outdoors and, ideally, allowing us to enjoy our gardens all year round…
Coastal gardens are high on the list of looks we love in our beach-loving country and it’s a style that suits us for more reasons than one. Loose and laidback, a seaside garden…
When running through their must-haves and lust-haves, clients rarely consider adding an outdoor shower to the list. But, while not as high profile as a pool or a built-in barbecue…
Before you can dig for foundations or plant a single tree, you need to know what kind of soil you’re dealing with. A loamy, basalt-based soil is the gold standard of soils, not too fine, not too coarse…
The indoor plants trend is here for the long haul and we hope it never wanes. Bringing a little of the outdoors inside not only helps us to feel connected with nature, potted plants…
No matter how visually stunning our gardens are, we still need to consider where to put the clothesline and the bins. Incorporating these ugly bits in a creative way is essentially…
Winter can be an unexpectedly productive time in the garden. Though the rampant new growth and budding blooms of spring are yet to arrive in the majority of the garden…
Covid and the associated lockdowns and restrictions have made us all into reluctant (to one degree or another) homebodies. But if we’re looking for a silver lining to this whole crazy situation…
As an increasing number of homes become multigenerational, we’re seeing more granny flats down the bottom of the garden – but when you’ve got a second little home…
Every garden design needs to start somewhere and the first thing we usually look at is the age and style of the home itself. While the design should not be a carbon copy…
Water features are an enduringly popular element of landscape design. Their appeal right now ties into the latest trend in architecture, biophilia, which essentially means…
Privacy is a common concern in Sydney’s densely populated inner suburbs, but even in more luxuriously spacious properties, adjacent buildings – especially apartment blocks…
When it comes to greening our indoor and outdoor spaces, we’re increasingly looking upwards and installing hanging gardens. Whether it’s a small group of hanging baskets or a veritable…
An irrigation system is one of the cornerstones of a healthy garden, taking human error out of the equation to make sure plants get all the moisture they need – and none they don’t…
Nothing heralds the arrival of spring like a joyful burst of blooms. Whether it’s the first magnolia blossoms crowning an otherwise bare tree or the heady whiff of Jasmine…
Bricks are back in both architecture and landscaping, and we’re on board. You only have to wander through some of the more established neighbourhoods in Sydney…
A tropical garden is among the most requested themes at Secret Gardens, and it’s easy to understand why. With visions of waving palm trees and lush…
A tropical garden is among the most requested themes at Secret Gardens, and it’s easy to understand why. With visions of waving palm trees and lush…
The concept of an outdoor kitchen means different things to different people, but at Secret Gardens we prefer to put the emphasis on the word ‘outdoor’…
We love indoor plants for so many reasons – they help us connect with nature, purify the air and blur the boundaries between inside and out – but plenty…
The Chelsea Flower Show is over for another year and, as always, has been a rich source of inspiration for the team at Secret Gardens. Though it’s on…
Pots are favoured tool of garden designers everywhere–and for good reason.Not only are they practical, allowing one to add greenery to tricky…
Building storage into the garden is not so much a luxury as a necessity. As our homes get smaller – and our accumulated stuff not so much – architects…
Though lacking the showy displays of spring and summer, with the right planning and planting, winter can be a beautiful time of year in the garden…
Texture is an infrequently discussed element of garden design, but an essential feature of any well-crafted landscape. Just as in interiors, where texture is used…
The ebb and flow of trends in the world of landscaping might not be as furiously fast-moving as that of fashion or even interiors, but we certainly do…
The trend towards outdoor living has been around for a while, but what we’re seeing now is an extension of that, as people venture deeper into the garden…
A well-designed garden is beautiful during the day, but with the right lighting, the same garden can be magical at night. With a thoughtful lighting…
We’re all for living and entertaining outdoors, but as our gardens become semi-public spaces towards which guests gravitate, it’s nice to carve…
Going on holiday? Getting the garden ready before you go will ensure it survives and hopefully thrives in your absence. The end of the year…
Designing a garden for the whole family includes considering the needs of its smallest members, with the ideal backyard luring the littlies…
To avoid unnecessary frustration and expense, it’s a good idea for dog owners to plan their garden with their pet in mind. Man’s best friend…
Shady garden areas are a reality for almost all gardens, whether it’s an entire dimly lit backyard or an otherwise sunny area with just one…
More than just a means of getting from A to uphill B, steps in a garden are a golden design opportunity. The primary purpose might be as simple…
When building a brand new home or embarking on a large-scale renovation, the ultimate plan of attack is to get a landscape architect in as early as possible…
Choosing a colour scheme for the garden is an essential part of planning the perfect outdoor space. Do you want a wash of vibrant tropical colours, or the gentle pastel hues…
The problem of planting in a windy garden is a common one, with so much of Australia’s urban landscape hugging the coast and therefore exposed to brisk ocean breezes…
Garden edging – the styles, shapes and materials used – is one of the less glamorous, but no less important, features of good garden design. While statement plants and structures steal the limelight, good garden edging…
There might be less gardening to do in the winter months, but we’re not resting on our laurels or hibernating on the couch! Though most plants are dormant, there’s still plenty to do in the garden; from pruning to planning…
Designing a courtyard garden is a challenge we relish at Secret Gardens. While larger gardens grant the freedom to include everything, including the kitchen sink, the tighter confines of a courtyard encourage so much creativity…
We love concrete in gardens, which might come as a surprise to some. To be clear, we’re not talking about turning the backyard into a carpark, but instead incorporating concrete as a key element in a greater garden scheme…
When buying a house, it’s important to remember you’re also buying a garden. It doesn’t need to be exactly the garden of your dreams before you move in – a blank canvas is no bad thing – but existing…
The front garden is the public face of the home and an opportunity to set your house apart from the mundane streetscape. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to front gardens – a Californian bungalow…
There’s nothing like a tree for making a strong statement in a garden. Even in the tightest of residential courtyards, there’s almost always room for a lofty specimen or two…
Paths can be pretty, but stepping stones achieve the same practical purpose while delivering a dose of whimsy and adding another design dimension to a garden. As designers, we’re always banging…
Rooftop gardens or a green roof can turn an ugly, sterile space into something truly special. As space gets tighter in our cities and inner suburbs, landscapers are looking outside the backyard box for places to plant…
Is a hedge the best way to define your garden’s boundaries? At secret gardens, we’re suckers for all things green, but there are plenty of sound arguments to support our love of the humble hedge…
Where to start with your pool design? A pool is a lovely thing to have on a scorching hot day, but it can be more than just a source of entertainment. A beautifully designed pool can be the jewel in a garden, a harmonious addition to the landscape…
Native wildlife can add a delightful dimension to your garden, providing a sense of life and movement, and a feeling of connection with nature. Closing your eyes and listening…
Sydney summers can be hot as Hades, but with a bit of forethought, you can build a garden that will be drought tolerant and keep its looks through the scorching months. It’s all about preparation…
Green walls or vertical gardens are a visually spectacular addition, but more complicated to achieve than you might expect. We have a love/hate relationship with them for the following reasons…
Garden art might not be the most common client request, but it’s a surefire way to turn a good landscape design into something spectacular, adding an element…
Outdoor furniture is the most eye-catching – and probably the most practical – feature of your new garden scheme, so you want to be confident in your selection. But with so many options, choosing…
Succulents are often-unsung heroes of a gardener’s palette of plants, they are hardy little rippers, able to survive in conditions where lesser plants wouldn’t stand a chance, while still looking lush…
Just as with fashion and interiors, there are garden trends, with certain plants or styles of landscapes falling in and out of vogue. From globally inspired…
Whether you’re growing enough crops to feed the whole tribe or just experimenting with a couple of edible plants, growing your own fruit, vegetables and herbs is one of the most satisfying things you can…
Creating a balcony garden certainly has its share of challenges, with a fraction of the footage of the average garden, no soil and likely no irrigation. The good news is, with a bit of planning, it’s easy to…