The Art of Functional Landscaping: A Guide for Aussie Homeowners

Landscaping is one design endeavour with endless options and opportunities. Beyond aesthetics, design eras, colour tones and furniture choices, you’ve got to create an outdoor space that works for your household and your outdoor entertaining, leisure, and gardening needs.

That’s essentially the definition of functional landscaping – it’s the art of finding a balance between the layout, plants and aesthetics of your outdoor space to create an environment that supports your outdoor living habits. With the right approach, you can design your backyard to provide ample space for all your outdoor living needs without sacrificing on security or safety. In other words, the best functional garden designs also help keep your family and kids safe.

Designing functional gardens requires analysing how you plan on using your space and stitching elements that will improve your day-to-day life into the design. Below, we provide some tips to help you master the art of functional landscaping in your Aussie outdoor space.

• Incorporate a boundary fence that doubles as a privacy screen
• Plant trees and vegetation strategically
• Use decking alternatives that won't fade, stain or warp
• Secure your pool in style
• Incorporate outdoor dining options

1. Incorporate a boundary fence that doubles as a privacy screen

Fencing is a necessary part of landscape design, no matter whether you’re in the suburbs close to neighbours or if you have a little more space in a rural setting to work with. Boundary fencing serves many functional purposes. You can use it to line the perimeter of your garden, keeping your land secure, private and contained. However, if you opt for taller, solid panel fencing, your fence panels will also boost the privacy of your backyard and deliver peace of mind and comfort to live carefree in your private outdoor space. The solid panel style of Colorbond fencing also provides superior wind protection when compared to traditional timber picket fences.

Colorbond fencing is perfect for this dual functionality. Alongside being highly durable, low-maintenance and designed expressly for performing well even in hot weather conditions, these Australian-made fence panels can provide an attractive and functional boundary fencing solution for your property. Plus, Colorbond fence panels come in 22 stylish colours that cater to a range of aesthetic styles. 

2. Plant trees and vegetation strategically

No outdoor space can call itself a garden without some nature. You get to be the master of your garden portrait, with plants and trees acting as the paint on your paintbrush. But, think strategically when you plant your vegetation because you use plants to support your garden’s functionality as well as add a refreshing breath of nature.

One of the ways that strategically planting vegetation offers functionality is through plant selection. Choosing plants that will thrive in their conditions is both a functional and aesthetically wise decision. When you create a garden of plants, try to stick to a theme and use plants that are suitable for the climate, like Australian natives. If you need help selecting your plants please visit Exotic Botanic they will be more than happy to help with your selection.

Shade protection is another benefit of strategic planting. If you have a lot of space to work with, you can plant a tall, semi-mature tree near an outdoor sitting space which will act as a natural shade as well as add character to the space. For privacy benefits, you can also consider planting trees next to your fence and around the boundary of your property to create an even more private and lush garden while keeping wildlife to the edge of your property.

Other methods of functional vegetation include wind protection and sound insulation. If your space is smaller, planting trees and taller vegetation along the fence is again a great idea because you can layer shorter plants in front of them for a tiered effect. Evergreen trees and scrubs are very low-maintenance and act as a natural insulator and wind control, sustaining a livable environment in your garden.

Finally, you can use plants to frame your garden and provide visual structure. For example, use garden planter boxes in corners, at the edge of decks, next to steps or at the entrance of pathways to create contained garden beds that can be moved around to get the design of your dreams.

3. Use decking alternatives that won't fade, stain or warp

Decking is a timeless classic when it comes to aesthetically pleasing gardens. But the timber commonly used in deckings isn’t exactly functional, as they age quickly due to the rain and solar heat they face day in and day out.

Instead of wood, go for a modern alternative like Trex Composite Decking. It's easy to clean and its composite materials are much more durable and versatile than wood and will last a lot longer without heavy maintenance or the need to replace it every few years.

In addition to this functionality, composite decking can also come in a wide variety of colours, while wood is restricted to different wooden finishes. This allows you to complement your fence of furniture colours through the decking, enabling a more thoughtful and successful aesthetic design. If you have a front outdoor space, don’t be afraid to utilise this area too with decking that delivers a front garden design for functional use.

4. Secure your pool in style

Pool fencing is functional in and of itself, providing safety around water bodies. But it's about time we shake up our idea of what a pool fence needs to look like. For a long while, they’ve stuck out from the ground like a sore thumb, hindering many garden designs. Instead, invest in stylish pool fencing that serves the safety and comfort elements while also elevating the design.

You could go for a modern perforated pool fence, which features perforations through the metal material. Perforated pool fences are another functional style that balances visibility with debris protection. You can see through the fence to help you monitor children and keep them safe, while the small perforations mean debris and materials cannot pass through the pool fence and into the pool.

Designer pool fencing offers an architectural feature that safely secures your pool and looks stunning from all angles. You can choose a colour and shape that will suit the rest of your garden and blend the pool with other aspects of your functional landscaping design. With the addition of a stylish pool fence, you can harness a modern design that balances both aesthetics and functionality.

5. Incorporate outdoor dining options

While it’s not a necessity to cook outside, sometimes it's just better and easier – there is nothing quite like cooking under the great Australian sunset. Whether you want to incorporate a full outdoor kitchen, bar and dining area or a simple barbecue or wood-fired oven for a budget-friendly option, planning this early will help you stitch it into your landscaping design to support its functionality.

Design a cooking preparation area near the door to your house but off to the side so that you don't have to travel across your garden when transporting food and equipment. This will also help you integrate the outdoor kitchen into the house’s electrical system, and keep the cooking area under the verandah so you don't need an extra patio or shade area.

Next, you need somewhere to sit, eat and socialise. Again, it’s a good idea to have a dining area near the door and your outdoor kitchen, so that it’s under the verandah and it’s easy to step in and out of the house to access. You might want to incorporate built-in seating to fit in with the outdoor relaxation vibe, a fireplace nearby for cosy gatherings and a dining table that matches the style of your garden.

Functional Landscaping Design: It’s All in The Material Choice

For functionality, it’s important to structure the garden and outdoor space in a practical way. You want your dining spaces close to the house, you’ll need ample shade and it’s best to keep the vegetation to the edge of the garden.

However, a lot of functional landscaping design boils down to being clever about the materials, and choosing top fencing and garden materials. Choose taller fences that can withstand the Australian weather, so you have longevity, privacy and security. Steer clear of outdated wooden decks, and swap them for a composite decking material that makes maintenance much easier and provides a better return on investment. Finally, upgrade your pool fence to replace the eye-sore of traditional pool fencing with a sleek, modern design that adds to your garden, rather than subtracts.

Outback Fencing are experts in fencing design and installation. We can help you select fence sizes, colours and styles and install them wherever you’re located. As the name suggests, we’re also no stranger to rural and regional properties, with expertise in fencing on different soils and Australian fencing standards.

Want to know more about how to optimise and refresh your garden design to boost functionality? Then contact us today for more insights into how to optimise your garden and property using our quality fencing supplies here at Outback Fencing.