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It’s warming up and mozzies are coming. Here’s how to mosquito-proof your backyard

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-webb-6736">Cameron Webb</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> The weather is warming up and that means more time in the backyard. It also means more mosquitoes. Here are five ways you can mosquito-proof your backyard that <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-battle-against-bugs-its-time-to-end-chemical-warfare-111629">don’t rely on spraying insecticides</a>. <h2>1. Get rid of water</h2> Mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycles. They <a href="https://theconversation.com/feel-like-youre-a-mozzie-magnet-its-true-mosquitoes-prefer-to-bite-some-people-over-others-128788">need blood</a> – but water and warmth are just as important. Getting rid of water around your backyard will go a long way to keeping mosquitoes away. Water trapped in blocked roof gutters, drains and tarpaulin covering boats and trailers can be a great home for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can exploit the tiniest of water sources too. It may just be the upturned lid of a discarded plastic drink bottle. If it traps water, mosquitoes will find it and lay eggs in it. Flush out your bird bath once a week to disrupt the mosquito’s life cycle. If you have a pond, installing a fountain will discourage mosquitoes. If you can’t keep water clean and circulating, consider filling it with sand and gravel to create an interesting garden bed for succulents or other plants. Mosquitoes will avoid clean and chlorinated swimming pools but will quickly move into “green pools”. If you’re not using your pool, consider <a href="https://www.krg.nsw.gov.au/Environment/Your-local-environment/Wildlife/Living-with-wildlife/Pool-to-pond/How-to-convert-your-pool">converting it to a “pond”</a> so that fish can help keep mosquito numbers down. <h2>2. Screen up – windows, doors and rainwater tanks</h2> If you can’t get rid of permanent water, at least stop mosquitoes getting to it (or you). Ensure <a href="https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/clean-and-green/natural-environment-and-water/water/water-smart-homes/rainwater-tanks/using-your-rainwater-tank">rainwater and septic tanks</a> have screens to stop mosquitoes entering. Screen windows and doors to stop mosquitoes entering the home. There are plenty of flexible screening options for windows, doors and balconies. If you live in a mosquito-prone area, creating a screened outdoor area (such as a pergola, courtyard, or balcony) will give you the opportunity to spend time outdoors without being hassled by mozzies. <h2>3. Choose your garden plants carefully</h2> Some plants <a href="https://bioone.org/journals/Journal-of-the-American-Mosquito-Control-Association/volume-25/issue-3/09-0016.1/Are-Commercially-Available-Essential-Oils-from-Australian-Native-Plants-Repellent/10.2987/09-0016.1.short">contain essential oils and other chemicals</a> that, when extracted and concentrated, provide protection against biting mosquitoes. But there isn’t a lot of evidence that the whole plant will keep mosquitoes away from your garden. Some types of plants are even marketed as “mozzie blockers” or “mosquito repelling”. But there isn’t <a href="https://www.veranda.com/outdoor-garden/a40592197/do-mosquito-repelling-plants-work/">any evidence of effectiveness</a>. In fact, some of these plants, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1440-6055.2009.00736.x">such as melaleucas</a>, also happen to be associated with <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jme/article/36/4/515/903838">hot spots of mosquito breeding</a> in coastal Australia. The plants to avoid around the home are those that help mosquitoes breed, such as <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1440-6055.2008.00641.x">bromeliads</a>, which trap water. <h2>4. Encourage the animals that eat mosquitoes</h2> Mosquitoes are food for a range of animals including birds, bats, fish, frogs, lizards, insects, spiders and <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1365-2656.13965">dragonflies</a>. But don’t expect them to eat enough to keep all mosquitoes away. Bats are often promoted as a good “biological control” options but studies have shown mosquitoes are <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0077183">more likely to be a snack food</a> for small bats, not an irresistible staple of their diet. For garden ponds, frogs will eat a few adult mosquitoes but tadpoles of Australian frogs generally <a href="https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-the-american-mosquito-control-association/volume-21/issue-4/8756-971X(2006)21%5b492%3aTOFCAF%5d2.0.CO%3b2/TADPOLES-OF-FOUR-COMMON-AUSTRALIAN-FROGS-ARE-NOT-EFFECTIVE-PREDATORS/10.2987/8756-971X(2006)21%5B492:TOFCAF%5D2.0.CO;2.short">don’t eat many mosquito “wrigglers”</a>. Australian native fish <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15532929/">will readily eat mosquitoes</a> and may be useful for backyard ponds. But not all fish are good. While “mosquitofish” (aka “plague minnow”) is distributed overseas to assist in mosquito control, <a href="https://meridian.allenpress.com/australian-zoologist/article/30/3/316/134508/Does-predation-by-the-fish-Gambusia-holbrooki">it’s a disaster for local wildlife</a> and, <a href="https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/aquatic-biosecurity/pests-diseases/freshwater-pests/finfish-species/gambusia">along with other exotic fish species</a>, should not be released into local waterways. <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13157-019-01133-2">Healthier habitats promote fewer mosquitoes</a> so the best thing you can do is create habitats for the animals that eat mosquitoes. <h2>5. Avoid traps and other gadgets</h2> There are lots of devices purported to catch, kill, or repel mosquitoes from your garden. Some may catch a mosquito or two but they’re not very effective in knocking out big numbers. “Bug zappers” with bright lights will collect lots of flying insects. It’s just that mosquitoes make up a very small proportion of collections. Electrocuting devices, again, don’t seem to attract a lot of mosquitoes. Devices that <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-buzz-from-your-smartphone-wont-stop-mosquito-bites-92611">emit high frequency sounds</a> won’t help either. The best devices are typically those that are baited with carbon dioxide. These are a mainstay of state and territory <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/mosquito-borne/Pages/surveillance.aspx">mosquito and arbovirus surveillance programs</a>. For a mosquito, the C0₂ tricks them into thinking the trap is a warm-blooded animal. The only problem is these can be expensive to run and don’t seem quite as effective for mosquito control <a href="https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-the-american-mosquito-control-association/volume-22/issue-3/8756-971X(2006)22%5b490%3aTATTFA%5d2.0.CO%3b2/Traps-and-Trapping-Techniques-for-Adult-Mosquito-Control/10.2987/8756-971X(2006)22%5B490:TATTFA%5D2.0.CO;2.short">unless used in large numbers</a>. <h2>Yes, you’ll still need repellent</h2> Perhaps the best way to avoid mosquito bites is to pick an insect repellent <a href="https://www.phrp.com.au/issues/december-2016-volume-26-issue-5/a-review-of-recommendations-on-the-safe-and-effective-use-of-topical-mosquito-repellents/">recommended by health authorities</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/mozzies-biting-heres-how-to-choose-a-repellent-and-how-to-use-it-for-the-best-protection-150183">apply it</a> to ensure all exposed areas of skin are covered. These products and safe, affordable and effective.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/212711/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-webb-6736">Cameron Webb</a>, Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Hospital Scientist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/its-warming-up-and-mozzies-are-coming-heres-how-to-mosquito-proof-your-backyard-212711">original article</a>.

Home & Garden

Room to Move: Desperate renters forced into backyard boxes

Victorian tenants have taken desperate measures in their hunt for a home in the midst of a housing crisis, turning to portable rooms set up in their parent’s driveways and backyards. The portables - described as ‘stand-alone separate rooms’ - have been seen across Facebook Marketplace for up to $180 per week, in a time when Melbourne’s median rent has reached $460 each week. The company behind the Room to Move initiative have advertised a 7.2sq m room for $150 per week, and for those seeking a little more wiggle room, a 10.1sq m room is available for $180. However, a minimum hire period of six months applies to both, as well as a bond of $500, and a one-month written notice to end the lease. And for anyone just outside of Melbourne who might be interested, the rooms can be delivered within a three-to-four hour drive from the city - for a fee of $250. The spaces don’t come with bathrooms, but do feature weatherproof electrical sockets that power two double power points, two internal downlights, and a reverse cycle air conditioner. “There’s plenty of demand for people looking for a short term solution for accommodation,” Room to Move co-founder Nick Nottle said of the decision to launch the spaces. “Typically people place [the rooms] in their backyard or on their driveway back off the street a bit.” He noted that the spaces attracted the most attention from renters who were moving back in with family in a bid to save enough for their own house deposit, and that he and business partner Mike Rose launched Room to Move when they noticed a gap in the market, and saw an opportunity for portables that weren’t an eyesore in a residential environment. “Neighbours don’t really complain because people like the look of it,” he said, “it doesn’t look like you’ve just dropped a big shipping container in your backyard.” Beyond desperate renters, however, Nick believes the ‘properties’ also appeal to parents who want something self-contained to get their teenagers out of their hair, as well as having somewhere to house visitors coming from a long way away. And last but not least, according to Nick, “the other group is people using them as an office to work from home, or for studio-type businesses like a lash salon, tattoo parlour or hairdresser - things you can do from home rather than renting a space elsewhere.” Images: Facebook, realestate.com.au

Real Estate

Why it’s so much better to explore your own backyard

Travelling overseas is very enticing. From diving into a new culture and learning their customs, to absorbing and learning a new language, it’s no doubt an incredible experience – but don’t neglect the beauty of your own country. You might be surprised at what you're missing out on right on your own doorstep. Here are just a few simple reasons why thinking local is often the best way to explore. 1. It’s cheaper Most people are eager to see the world but overseas travel is expensive! You can have your holiday with money left over if you travel locally. You can stay with friends to keep accommodation costs low and since you’re in your own country, you don’t need to worry about taxi drivers ripping you off, or if lunch comes with a hefty price tag as you are already well acquainted with currency and costs. 2. It’s more eco-friendly Road trip time! Or just shorter flights. Driving or taking shorter flights will reduce your carbon footprint compared to travelling overseas. Driving in particular is a fantastic way of taking in the scenery. 3. It’s easier You don’t need months to plan a domestic trip, and if your plans change, no worries! Last-minute changes are much easier to handle since you’re already in the country. Travelling locally also allows for far more spontaneity. 4. It’s a chance to support local enterprise Travelling in your own country will help to give your local economy a boost. You’re sure to discover hidden gems and form long-lasting relationships with small businesses, which will only entice you to return for years to come. 5. It’s never too late to go back Coming home from a holiday and realising you haven’t ticked off all the boxes on your itinerary can be disappointing because you don’t know when you’ll have the money or the time to go back! Travelling locally allows for more trips, especially if you drive, so you’ll have the opportunity to go back again and again! Image credit: Shutterstock

Domestic Travel

Only in Florida! Woman's shocking find lurking in backyard pool

Florida woman Lynn Tosi was not the only one who wanted to stay cool during the summer. Tosi came home to an unwanted guest: a 3.5 m alligator that had busted through her screened-in porch and was vibing in her pool. “I just kind of circled around, not knowing what I was going to do next. I sure wasn’t going outside,” Tossi said. The crook-a-dile waddled through a nearby forest to try and find water, and struck gold when he found Tossi’s pool. Without a care in the world, the insti-gator left a large hole in Tosi’s screened-in porch. “He busted right through there, kind of like the Kool-Aid man, you know,” Tosi shared. As the weather gets warmer, Alligators are becoming increasingly active, and Tosi, who has learned from this wild encounter, encouraged all homeowners to double-check their pools and lakes before diving in. “The professional coming to take him out was actually pacing and got on the phone and was really surprised by what they were up against,” Tosi recalled. In another image, the Alligator can be seen restrained, and they were lucky it didn’t snap. This encounter is one of three reported in Valusia County over the last five days. Trappers have reminded residents that the alligators are most active at dusk and dawn. Image: Lynn Tosi, NBC, CNN

Real Estate

4 domestic travel tips to help you explore your own backyard, safely

Domestic travel tips incoming! Now that the states have opened up after the pandemic, there’s never been a better time to explore your own backyard. There are plenty of reasons to travel domestically; exploring your own country holds a lot of benefits for the local economy. 1. Start with a staycation No matter where you live - stay at a local hotel, even just for a weekend. Take some time to relax and check out some local restaurants, bonus points for supporting small businesses. 2. Find ways to get around Instead of driving, utilise public transport. You can also try cycling or an e-scooter or simply walk around and see the sites of your own country. 3. Be a happy camper When planning a camping trip, call ahead to secure your place. There are different rules applied to different camping grounds, so do your research. 4. Rediscover wine country People connect over food and wine, and this makes vineyards a very popular destination. You can explore the beautiful ground of the vineyard, soak up the sun and enjoy a glass of vino. Image credit: Getty

Domestic Travel

8 money-saving landscaping tips

Changing up your garden can be a costly exercise (not to mention tiring and time-consuming) but a beautiful garden where you can relax and enjoy is worth the price. However, it still doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Just take on board our money-saving landscaping tips for a new garden at half the price. Do your research Look to gardening books, magazines, websites and <a href="../lifestyle/technology/2015/02/beginner-guide-pinterest/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pinterest</a> for endless inspiration! Cut out (or bookmark if you’re on the internet) pictures you like and get an idea for what you’re after. This will help you narrow the list of what you need to buy and what you need to do. Keep that in mind when you get free advice from under-trained or overzealous staff at garden centres. Trust your instincts! You know your garden. Make a plan Sketch a landscape design so you know exactly what you need and where it’s going. This will stop wastage on materials, effort and time. It will also stop you impulse buying – remember don’t buy anything that doesn’t already have a planned place in the garden. Re-arrange plants An easy way to get a new garden look without purchasing more plants is to re-arrange the plants you have now. Remember to check if plant types are compatible though. Time your purchases Price and quality can vary quite drastically at different places and different seasons. Comparison shop to see if you’re getting the best deal or wait until sale season and stock-up. Check alternate resources Look beyond stores - you can find great deals on plants, tools or bric-a-brac for decorations at garage sales, car boot sales and markets. If you’ve got a green thumb neighbour, they might be happy to share some perennials and some local council’s offer free mulch and compost. Make your own compost Compost is easy to make yourself and has so many uses for your garden. Test the soil A simple test will tell you what your soil lacks, saving you from spending money on the wrong plants. Check the pH level as well to ensure it’s not too acidic or alkaline. Choose native plants Select plants that grow naturally in your region will means less maintenance cost. Ask your local nursery and check out which plants are thriving in neighbouring gardens. Image: Getty Images

Home Hints & Tips

Family forced to live in a tent after mould infestation makes house "unliveable"

A family of five have been forced to live in a tent in their backyard after their home was overrun with an infestation of black mould that was making their children sick. Andrew Walsh-Baldwin and his wife Angalina took the drastic measure to move into the backyard of their $480,000 property in Victoria after the toxic mould in their newly purchased home caused all three of their young kids to fall ill. Their home has been rendered "unliveable" by construction experts, who said their home has not allowed for proper drainage during the unprecedented amount of rain. Ms Walsh-Baldwin broke down in tears when talking to Nine News, as she said "it's been freezing" living in the tent. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> A family of five is living in a tent, after heavy rain caused black mould to flourish in their home. Serious building defects in the newly purchased property are also contributing to the spread, which is making the kids sick. <a href="https://twitter.com/reid_butler9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@reid_butler9</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9News?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9News</a> <a href="https://t.co/IR1AqLNpI3">pic.twitter.com/IR1AqLNpI3</a> — 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) <a href="https://twitter.com/9NewsMelb/status/1594595429681098759?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2022</a></blockquote> "This was supposed to be our home," she said. Her husband Baldwin said, "The other week we got 190ml (of rain). I can't believe... we've got to this point." "The kids have been getting sick and missed a full term of kinder," he said. "You just feel inadequate now because, as a parent, we've failed." Dr Cameron Jones of Biological Health Services, who inspected the house, said it was among the worst cases of mould he'd ever seen. "When I've done moisture testing on the timbers, they're showing anywhere from 20 to 30 per cent plus," he said, before revealing the safe level is a maximum of 15 per cent. Building inspector Zeher Khalil, who is helping the family out free of charge, said what he found at the house is "unbelievable". "To pay $480,000 for this house, I mean I just feel like I've been ripped off," he said. The family is insured with Allianz, but their claims were rejected because the company said the defects were pre-existing, with Ms Walsh-Baldwin saying, "We've got rights too." Image credits: Nine News

Real Estate

12 things you should never do to your lawn

Whether you have a green thumb or not, it’s easy to maintain a blissful, barefoot-worthy backyard. For starters, avoid these no-nos. Don't remove grass clippings Leaving grass clippings on the lawn after you mow can cause thatch problems, right? Nope! That’s a myth. Turns out, grass clippings can actually help with the overall health of your lawn. And (bonus!) that means less work for you when you mow. Don't skip aerating Most lawns, whether seeded or sodded, are planted over a fairly skimpy layer of topsoil. Over time, lawn mowers, pets and football games compact the soil, making it difficult for air, water and vital nutrients to penetrate to the grassroots. Your challenge: to restore healthy soil conditions that nurture your lawn. To loosen and aerate the soil, rent a power core aerator. They’re available at rental centres, plus some hardware stores and garden centres. Don't use a dull mower blade Dull mower blades rip through the grass blades instead of slicing them cleanly, and that stresses the plant. You can always tell a lawn that’s been mowed with a dull blade because it looks brown on the top. Get on your hands and knees and you can actually see the damage. Be sure to sharpen your mower blade each season to keep your lawn in good shape. Don't water every day Did you know your lawn can actually get dependent and needy if it has too much water? Instead of watering every day for 15 minutes, choose one day a week to water the lawn for an entire hour. Your lawn will be watered deeply, and it will be healthier and more drought-tolerant. Don't forget to dethatch Thatch is a layer of slowly decomposing grass stems, roots, clippings, and debris that accumulate at the soil surface over time. It can build up in your lawn and virtually choke it to death. Excessive thatch build-up is commonly found in lawns that have been overfertilized or overwatered and have never been aerated. Thatch build-up of 2cm or more will restrict water and nutrient penetration into the soil (think thatched roof) and can harbour disease organisms that can increase the need for pesticides. Slice open a section of turf. If the thatch is more than 2cm thick, take action. Don't give up on shady areas Growing grass under shade trees isn’t easy, but one key to success is choosing the right shade grass species and planting method for your region. In cool-season areas, you’ll get a better result using seed rather than sod. Sod is grown in wide-open fields under conditions that favour sun-loving grasses. Garden centres will have grass seed mixes formulated for shade. Late summer and mid-spring are the best times to establish cool-season grasses in shady areas. Don't wait too long between mowing If you came back from a holiday and didn’t arrange to have the grass mowed while you were away, don’t try and mow it down in one day. Cut off some of the length and then wait a couple of days and mow again. This will cause less stress on the grass. You may need three passes depending on how long the grass grew. Don't cut grass too short Every grass type has an optimal cutting height, and you’re better off on the high side of that height. Here are a few reasons: The grass blade is the food factory of the plant. Short blades just can’t generate as much food as long blades. Long blades also shade and cool the soil. That means weed seeds are less likely to sprout, and you won’t have to water as often because water won’t evaporate as fast. Not sure what type of grass you have? Take a sample to a garden centre for identification. Don't mow in the same direction every time Instead, mow in a different direction every time: front to back, back to front, diagonal, etc. Repeatedly mowing the exact same way will cause the grass blades to grow at an angle, and you may develop permanent tracks from the mower wheels. Don't cut wet grass Mowing wet grass can cause the mower wheels to leave ruts in your yard, and you could leave behind giant clumps of clippings that could smother the grass beneath. And the wet grass will carpet the underside of your mower deck with a thick mat that’s a pain to clean. Yikes! Don't overfeed If you apply too much grass fertiliser, especially in sandy soils, a good share of it will leach through the soil and make its way into our precious groundwater, rivers, streams and wetlands. Lawn grasses only need a certain amount of food. More isn’t always better. Don't ignore pet areas Dog spots are round patches about 10 to 20cm in diameter with dead grass in the middle, encircled by dark green grass. They’re most apparent in the early spring when dormant grass first begins to turn green again. You have to replant your grass; it won’t come back on its own. But first, you have to dilute or remove the caustic urine from the soil. Thoroughly soak the area with lots of water. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/gardening-tips/12-things-you-should-never-do-to-your-lawn?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Home & Garden

14 medicinal herbs you can grow in your backyard

Basil This medicinal herb can help with flatulence, lack of appetite, cuts and scrapes. Harvest the young leaves of this annual plant as needed. Chamomile Use the flower heads of this medicinal herb for infusions and salves to relieve conditions such as indigestion and colic, anxiety and tension, and skin inflammations and irritations. Echinacea If you suffer from a cold or the flu, try this medicinal herb to ease the severity of your symptoms. It also helps provide relief to your immune system. Feverfew Use the leaves and flowers of this medicinal herb for teas; chew leaves to ease headache pain (including migraines). It’s also been shown to be one of the most effective natural remedies for arthritis, as well as a treatment for various skin conditions. Wild pansy With anti-inflammatory properties, this medicinal herb is a good home remedy for eczema and skin blemishes, as well as to help loosen phlegm. Lavender Is there anything lavender can’t do? Even smelling this medicinal herb has been shown to calm and relax. It also eases pain, and when applied to cuts and bruises functions as an antiseptic. Lemon balm A relative of mint, lemon balm is a versatile medicinal herb that helps relieve anxiety, insomnia, wounds, herpes, insect bites, flatulence and an upset stomach. Marigold Good for easing sunburn, acne, and blemishes, this medicinal herb also soothes ulcers and digestive problems. Parsley Don’t think of it as decorative on your plate; this medicinal herb is loaded with nutrients as well as healing powers to help with flatulence and bad breath. Peppermint If you have digestion issues or gas, sipping tea made of this medicinal herb might provide relief. It’s also been shown to help soothe headaches. Rosemary This medicinal herb helps memory and concentration, improves mood – and sweetens breath. Sage Sage’s genus name, Salvia, means “to heal,” reflecting its early use as a medicinal, not culinary, herb. It can help provide relief for mouth and throat inflammations. Thyme The active principle in thyme, thymol, is a strong antiseptic. If you suffer from coughs, congestion, indigestion or gas, consider using this medicinal herb. St. John's wort Talk to your doctor if you suffer from mild to moderate depression; she may suggest St. John’s wort. The glossy leaves and yellow flowers are this medicinal herb’s active parts. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/14-medicinal-herbs-you-can-grow-in-your-backyard?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Home & Garden

14 smart small yard landscaping ideas

Leave some space When considering landscaping ideas for a small yard, remember to leave space. It’s easy to overcrowd things and inadvertently create a claustrophobic effect. Here, a seating area has a clear view to the garden, courtesy of a small patch of grass and some unobstructed hardscaping. Layered landscape An easy backyard idea for small yards is to create a layered landscape – just like in nature. Think of a forest with low groundcovers, ferns, shade-tolerant understory shrubs and trees, and the tall overhead trees. You can do the same thing with your small yard landscaping! Use things like groundcovers, bulbs and crevice plants to create a beautiful layered landscape, while maximising your flower bed space! Walls and fences Sure, you want your small yard landscaping to include privacy, so why not utilise surrounding structures like walls and fences? For this small yard idea, vines are the perfect answer – just be sure to pick one that’s not invasive or a garden thug. Vertical gardens A popular trend in small yard ideas is to garden vertically. There are many off-the-shelf products that allow you to grow plants vertically, such as the wall planters seen here. Or you can create something yourself. Either way it creates gardening space out of thin air. Hanging planters Another clever way to maximise space is with hanging planters. Window boxes A more traditional way of maximising gardening space is with window boxes. Naturally, you can attach them beneath your windows. But other small yard ideas include placing them on a porch, around the perimeter of a patio, or hanging from a deck railing. Dwarf plants Growers are continually introducing new cultivars with special characteristics. One of those is a dwarf habit. When considering landscaping ideas, you can grow a tree that matures at 30cm or 25 metres. When you choose the former, you end up with enough space to add companion plants. Columnar plants While you’re considering size and growth characteristics, think about habit as well. Columnar plants, such as this upright pear cultivar, grow straight up. There’s more room to the side, and more light at the bottom for a greater variety of plants. And yet you still get the blooms and the fruit. Win-win! Trailing plants Here’s another shape that will help when looking for landscaping ideas for a small yard. You can run trailing plants down the side of a planter, as seen here, or let them trail from the top of a wall. Either way maximises space and softens a hard surface to help it blend into the landscape. Crevice plants Crevices are ubiquitous to most gardens, so you might as well make use of them. Sedum and other succulents such as Sempervivum are perfect for these spots, which are often on the lean and dry side. They make the space prettier and the hard surfaces less imposing. Narrow spots Along with crevices, most gardens have narrow strips that lack soil and moisture. Rather than fighting the conditions, work with them. One of the small yard ideas you can implement is to plant some tough, vining groundcovers and let them sprawl over the area. Use ivy in shady areas, succulents in sunny spots. A mulch of gravel is a nice low-maintenance addition that keeps plant foliage clean. Containers Let’s not forget containers when thinking about small yard landscaping. They’re more popular than ever – and not just because they maximise gardening space. Containers add greatly to a garden’s character. They allow you to show off your favourite plants. And if you coordinate their colour and arrange them in odd numbers, you create a dashing focal point. Lawn substitute As you saw earlier, a small lawn can be helpful to a small-space garden because it opens up the area and makes it feel less claustrophobic. Well, if you’re not going to be walking on the lawn all the time, you might consider substituting a groundcover. You not only avoid mowing, you also integrate the area into the landscape. With a groundcover, your lawn becomes the garden. Bonsai and miniature garden The smallest yard in the world has room for a garden when the plants are miniaturised. Examples include bonsai, miniature fairy gardens and terrariums. Although usually kept indoors in cold climates, they can holiday outside for the summer in a protected location where they’re not exposed to too much direct sunlight. Written by Luke Miller. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/gardening-tips/14-smart-small-yard-landscaping-ideas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> Image: Getty Images

Home & Garden

Your backyard could reduce global warming

Australian researchers found during an extreme heatwave that backyard gardens lowered land surface temperatures by five to six degrees Celsius more than similar non-vegetated areas. Hot summers can cause city temperatures to soar one to three degrees higher than surrounding areas, creating “<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/city-hotter-countryside-urban-heat-island-science-180951985/" target="_blank" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">urban heat islands</a>” due to excess concrete, people, air conditioning, machinery and the resulting local climate. Not only can this be uncomfortable, and even unlivable, it can also place a significant burden on <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/heat-wave-health/" target="_blank" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">public health</a>. Green infrastructure and other nature-based solutions are proposed as cost-effective, sustainable approaches to mitigating the impacts of climate change. “Urban trees in particular are an effective tool for reducing land surface and air temperatures for entire suburbs, and even cities,” says researcher Alessandro Ossola from Macquarie University, Australia. “But as yet we don’t know much about their localised effects, particularly in the places where cooling is most important – our residential neighbourhoods – and when needed the most – during extreme heatwave events.” To investigate this, Ossola and colleagues from the university’s collaborative <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.mq.edu.au/research/research-centres-groups-and-facilities/secure-planet/centres/centre-for-green-cities" target="_blank" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Smart Green Cities</a> hub analysed thermal mapping data collected from an aircraft in summer 2017 at the peak of a three-day long 40-degree heat wave in Adelaide. The results, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://research-management.mq.edu.au/ws/portalfiles/portal/113138181/Urban_trees_and_peoples_yards_mitigate_extreme_heat_in_Western_Adelaide_28.01.2020.pdf" target="_blank" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">published </a>in an online report, were surprisingly positive. <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p35716-o1" class="wpcf7"> </div> </div> “We found that the humble home garden is more than pulling its weight when it comes down to urban cooling,” says Ossola. “Although they only cover about 20% of urban land, domestic yards account for more than 40% of tree cover and 30% of herbaceous cover, in the form of grass.” The tree canopy cover is notably more than typical parks or other urban green areas which tend to have more grass, and the cooler temperatures were particularly pronounced in the hottest suburbs that don’t enjoy cooling sea breezes. The researchers estimate that increasing green foliage in residential gardens could reduce local heat by several degrees Celsius. On the other hand, they calculated that removing existing vegetation through urbanisation, infill and densification could increase local land surface temperatures by three to four degrees, particularly during the day and for the most vulnerable communities. The considerable, localised cooling benefits of backyard gardens have important implications for policy, which needs to account for extreme temperatures in urban planning, Ossola says. “Our results clearly indicate that encouraging, protecting and expanding urban greening on private land is a simple, effective means of mitigating the negative effects of climate change on cities and people. “However this is a strategy that needs to begin now: urban forests don’t grow quickly, and we need to be encouraging low-water use herbaceous cover as a stopgap until a large array of shade trees can take over the job of green cooling.” The Royal Institution of Australia has an education resource based on this article. You can access it <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://education.australiascience.tv/backyard-helps-reduce-global-warming/" target="_blank">here</a>.  <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=35716&title=Your+backyard+could+reduce+global+warming" alt="" width="1" height="1" />  <div id="contributors"> <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/earth-sciences/your-backyard-could-reduce-global-warming/" target="_blank">This article</a> was originally published on <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/natalie-parletta" target="_blank">Natalie Parletta</a>. Natalie Parletta is a freelance science writer based in Adelaide and an adjunct senior research fellow with the University of South Australia. Image: Getty Images </div>

Home & Garden

Help insects flourish from your backyard

As winter phases into spring across the U.S., gardeners are laying in supplies and making plans. Meanwhile, as the weather warms, common garden insects such as bees, beetles and butterflies will emerge from underground burrows or nests within or on plants. Most gardeners know how beneficial insects can be for their plots. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/animals/flies.shtml" target="_blank">Flies pollinate flowers</a>. Predatory bugs, such as the <a rel="noopener" href="http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/podisus_maculiventris.htm" target="_blank">spined shoulder bug</a>, eat pest insects that otherwise would tuck into garden plants. As a <a rel="noopener" href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tzo9De0AAAAJ&hl=en" target="_blank">scientist whose research involves insects</a> and as a gardener, I know that <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2023989118" target="_blank">many beneficial insect species are declining</a> and <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/is-an-insect-apocalypse-happening-how-would-we-know-113170" target="_blank">need humans’ help</a>. If you’re a gardener looking for a new challenge this year, consider revamping all or part of your yard to support beneficial insects. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H-iIgTNdmRo?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Ladybugs, lacewings, spiders, earthworms and honey bees are among the most beneficial common garden animals. Lawns are insect food deserts Some gardeners <a rel="noopener" href="https://plants.usda.gov/checklist.html" target="_blank">choose native plants</a> to attract and support helpful insects. Often, however, those native plants are surrounded by vast expanses of lawn. The vast majority of insect species find blades of grass as unappetizing as we do. Yet, lawns sprawl out across many public and private spaces. <a rel="noopener" href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/Lawn" target="_blank">NASA estimated in 2005</a> that lawns covered at least 50,000 square miles (128,000 square kilometers) of the U.S. – about the size of the entire state of Mississippi. A well-manicured lawn is a sure sign that humanity has imposed its will on nature. Lawns provide an accessible and familiar landscape, but they come at a cost for our six-legged neighbors. Grasses grown as turf provide very few places for insects to safely tuck themselves away, because homeowners and groundskeepers cut them short – before they send up flowering spikes – and apply fertilizers and pesticides to keep them green. Entomologists have a recomendation: Dig up some fraction of your lawn and convert it into a meadow by <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2002547117" target="_blank">replacing grass with native wildflowers</a>. Wildflowers provide pollen and nectar that feed and attract a variety of insects like ants, native bees and butterflies. Just as you may have a favorite local restaurant, insects that live around you have a taste for the flowers that are native to their areas. This bold choice will not just benefit insects. Healthier insects support local birds, and meadows require fewer chemical inputs and less mowing than lawns. The amount of attention lawns demand from us, even if we outsource the work to a landscaping company, is a sign of their precarity. A meadow is a wilder, more resilient option. Resilient ecosystems are better able to respond to and recover from disturbances. Entomologist <a rel="noopener" href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=3EsB164AAAAJ&hl=en" target="_blank">Ryan Gott</a>, integrated pest management and quality control specialist at Maitri Genetics in Pittsburgh, describes lawns and meadows as two opposite ends of a resiliency spectrum. “As far as basic ecological functions go, a lawn does not have many. A lawn mainly extracts nutrition and water, usually receiving outside inputs of fertilizer and irrigation to stay alive, and returns very little to the system,” he told me. Native flowers, by definition, will grow well in your climate, although some areas will have more choices than others and growing seasons vary. Native plants also provide a palette of colors and variety that lawns sorely lack. By planting them as a meadow, with many different flowers emerging throughout the growing season, you can provide for a diverse assortment of local insects. And mowing and fertilizing less will leave you more time to appreciate wildlife of all sizes. There are many different types of meadows, and every wildflower species has different preferences for soil type and conditions. Meadows thrive in full sunlight, which is also where lawns typically do well. Making insects feel at home Not every yard can support a meadow, but there are other ways to be a better, more considerate neighbor to insects. If you have a shady yard, consider modeling your garden after natural landscapes like woodlands that are shady and support insects. What’s important in landscaping with insects in mind, or “entoscaping,” is <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.amentsoc.org/insects/insects-and-man/gardening-for-insects.html" target="_blank">considering insects early and often</a> when you visit the garden store. With a few pots or window boxes, even a balcony can be converted into a cozy insect oasis. If you’re gardenless, you can still support insect health. Try replacing white outdoor lights, which <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/light-pollution-contributes-insect-apocalypse-180973642/" target="_blank">interfere with many insects’ feeding and breeding patterns</a>. White lights also lure insects into swarms, where they are vulnerable to predators. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-have-figured-out-the-type-of-light-bulb-to-use-if-you-want-to-avoid-insects" target="_blank">Yellow bulbs or warm-hued LEDs</a> don’t have these effects. Another easy project is using scrap wood and packing materials to create simple “hotels” for <a rel="noopener" href="https://modernfarmer.com/2017/02/build-native-bee-hotel/" target="_blank">bees</a> or <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.hgtv.com/design/make-and-celebrate/handmade/craft-a-ladybug-hotel" target="_blank">ladybugs</a>, making sure to carefully sanitize them between seasons. Easiest of all, <a rel="noopener" href="https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=26345" target="_blank">provide water for insects to drink</a> – they’re adorable to watch as they sip. Replace standing water at least weekly to prevent mosquitoes from developing. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/390417/original/file-20210318-23-16piil9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/390417/original/file-20210318-23-16piil9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Butterflies on a pebbled pathway." /></a> Giant swallowtail (left) and Palamedes swallowtail (right) drinking water from a puddle. <a rel="noopener" href="https://flic.kr/p/PGuLZ" target="_blank" class="source">K. Draper/Flickr</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/" target="_blank" class="license">CC BY-ND</a> A refuge in every yard Many resources across the U.S. offer advice on converting your lawn or making your yard more insect-friendly. The Xerces Society for Insect Conservation publishes a <a rel="noopener" href="https://xerces.org/publications/guidelines/establishing-pollinator-meadows-from-seed" target="_blank">guide to establishing meadows</a> to sustain insects. Local university extension offices <a rel="noopener" href="https://extension.unh.edu/resource/planting-pollinators-establishing-wildflower-meadow-seed-fact-sheet" target="_blank">post tips on growing meadows</a> with specific instructions and resources for their areas. Gardening stores often have experience and carry selections of local plants. You may find established communities of enthusiasts for local plants and seeds, or your journey could be the start of such a group. Part of the fun of gardening is learning what plants need to be healthy, and a new endeavor like entoscaping will provide fresh challenges. In my view, humans all too often see ourselves as separate from nature, which leads us to relegate biodiversity to designated parks. In fact, however, we are an important part of the natural world, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.si.edu/spotlight/buginfo/benefits" target="_blank">we need insects</a> just as much as they need us. As ecologist <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.udel.edu/canr/departments/entomology-and-wildlife-ecology/faculty-staff/doug-tallamy/" target="_blank">Douglas Tallamy</a> argues in his book, “<a rel="noopener" href="https://www.workman.com/products/natures-best-hope" target="_blank">Nature’s Best Hope</a>,” the best way to protect biodiversity is for people to plant native plants and promote conservation in every yard.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/153609/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/brian-lovett-1032419" target="_blank">Brian Lovett</a>, Postdoctoral Researcher in Mycology, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/west-virginia-university-1375" target="_blank">West Virginia University</a> This article is republished from <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/to-help-insects-make-them-welcome-in-your-garden-heres-how-153609" target="_blank">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Home & Garden

Neighbours at war over man’s 6m backyard wall

Many of us got bored during lockdown, because, let’s be honest, there are only so many things you can bake and only so many episodes of Friends you can watch in a row. One man's solution for this was decidedly more unusual than everyone else’s boredom busters – he decided to build a 5.65-metre fence in his Chester Hill backyard in Western Sydney. He said that he decided to build the fence both because he was bored in lockdown, and because he wanted some privacy. He dubs his new wall ‘The Great Wall of Chester Hill’, although there’s no word if this Great Wall can be seen from space. It’s three times the height of your typical suburban fence, and his neighbours are far from thrilled about Ali’s newfound hobby. Telling <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/sydney-nsw/neighbours-outraged-over-sydney-mans-ugly-6m-wall-in-backyard/news-story/382420d5a6cc4fa5c8789ceba8918063" target="_blank">A Current Affair</a> that he must have had a ‘Covid brain explosion’, Ali said, “Well, when you’re sitting at home and you’re not allowed to go nowhere and the neighbours are looking at you, you say ’you know what? I’m going to build a bloody wall.” He added, “It‘s like going to an art museum when you look at it.” The wall is made from a steel frame, posts and potted gum timber. It even includes a panel that lights up in the dark. Meanwhile, the back of the wall, the side Ali can’t see, has wires and nails sticking out. Ali explained that he was going to do a nice feature wall on the other side, “but when you have d**khead neighbours, then that‘s what happens.” Neighbours have complained to Cumberland Council numerous times, saying that the wall was incredibly high and blocked the view. In his defence, Ali pointed out that all he had done was replace a row of dying trees with this new structure that was the exact same height. But despite his protestations, Ali has been issued with a notice for the wall to be removed within two weeks. Ali said that he’s put in a late appeal, but will sell the fence if necessary. As for who might be interested in owning Chester Hill’s very own Great Wall, he didn’t say. Image: A Current Affair

Real Estate

"I couldn't believe what it was": Incredible backyard find

Image: Nine News A backyard clean up in a quiet coastal Victorian community led to the discovery of a huge sea mine dating back to World War II. The 250kg explosive was found on a Barwon Heads property earlier this month and has been handed to antique dealer Ian Royce. Mr Royce claims the bomb’s discovery came as a big surprise. “I couldn’t believe what it was and how bizarre to find it in a backyard,” he said. “It’s very unusual to find one now reasonably intact.” He managed to transfer it to his North Geelong antiques store on the back of his ute. “I was so determined to get it on.” Mr Royce Explained sea mines, like the one found were chained to the bottom of the ocean during the war. “They had little spines. If a ship even touched one of those mines it was full of TNT and would blow a hole in the side of any of those ships,” he said. After the war, many of those bombs were decommissioned and re-purposed as backyard incinerators. “In those days, there was no green bin, you’d burn all green rubbish in your backyard.” Mr Royce has listed the sea mine for sale for $1200, however the last one he sold went for $3000.

Travel Trouble

Succession star’s secret backyard wedding

Australian actress Sarah Snook has revealed she married comedian Dave Lawson in a secret ceremony last year. The 33-year-old Succession star told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.vogue.com.au/culture/features/succession-sarah-snook/news-story/681fdf0ac48b0aad26af57b0f9becdd0" target="_blank">Vogue Australia</a> that the pair started living together as friends at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. "At the beginning of the pandemic last year, I got locked down in Melbourne with one of my best mates and we fell in love," she said. "We've been friends since 2014, lived together, travelled together, always excited to see each other, but totally platonic." Snook continued, "We've just never been single at the same time." <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVGwelchKms/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVGwelchKms/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Vogue Australia (@vogueaustralia)</a> </div> </blockquote> Sarah admitted that she was the one who proposed to Dave, before they tied in the knot in her Brooklyn backyard surrounded by her housemates and Succession co-star Aussie Ash Zukerman — who also played witness. "It's been a ride," Sarah added. "There's so much heartache and sadness in the world, but on a micro personal level, I've been very fortunate. "There's a really lovely grace in that without the pandemic, we might not have ended up together so quickly." <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVHZguTvZ1l/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVHZguTvZ1l/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Vogue Australia (@vogueaustralia)</a> </div> </blockquote> Sarah plays the character of Siobhan 'Shiv' Roy in HBO's hit drama Succession, with season three premiering on Binge on October 18th. Despite playing a tough character on screen, Sarah's personality reflects her Adelaide upbringing and trademark Aussie wit. Her career defining role in Succession has been one that brought many challenges, but Sarah also meticulously chooses her work. “I always feel like I’ve played by choice and good fortune, interesting, complex, strong and a good diversity of women, in terms of their characters." "They often have a strength and they’re not pushovers, but there’s usually been a redeeming softness that they’re protecting. And Shiv has that as well, but her defense of that softness is so different from who I am as a person.” Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram @sarah_snook

Relationships

Man digs backyard hole to “imprison” Dan Andrews

A Melbourne man has been accused of causing damages of up to $1 million to a Telstra phone tower, as well as a strange plot to capture Victorian premier Dan Andrews. Nathan Glover, 44, appeared in court on Thursday, where a police summary was read about the events of October 7th. The report claimed that the man rode an electric scooter to the Telstra tower about 1.5 kilometers from his home, broke in and started a fire. Mr Glover denies any involvement in the act of arson. The fire caused about $1 million in damage and took telecommunications offline, endangering public safety by limiting access to emergency services. Upon searching the man’s home, police found magic mushrooms, cannabis, wire cutters, petrol, two samurai swords, and an electric scooter and clothing that match CCTV footage of the offender. They also found a six metre-by-1.5 metre hole in Mr Glover's backyard, which he allegedly told police was to imprison the Victorian premier. Police allege that an account on the encrypted messaging app Telegram with the name “Nate Glove” volunteered in September for “special ops”, in the chat group titled Hoodlums of Melbourne Special Ops. “I’m down for special ops, but only if I get to burn something down,” the account allegedly posted. “Those 5G towers would make a nice fire,” the chat’s administrator allegedly responded. “My thinking exactly,” the Nate Glove account allegedly replied. Nathan Glover has been charged with criminal damage by fire, possessing a prohibited weapon, possessing cannabis, possessing drug of dependence, and committing an indictable offence while on bail. Image credits: Facebook / Getty Images

Legal

The incredibly lucky landing of Tom Cruise in a family’s backyard

Tom Cruise gave one U.K. family the surprised of their life after he landed right in their backyard. The 59-year-old Mission: Impossible actor landed his helicopter in Alison Webb’s field while filming for his latest film in Birmingham. The neighbour airport was unfortunately closed, so he opted for his next best option. Ms Webb told CBS News that Cruise’s team asked if an unnamed “VIP” could land his chopper on her land as he was “running late”. When Tom Cruise exited from the helicopter, Webb says she could hardly believe it. “I thought it would be kind of cool for the kids to see the helicopter land in the garden,” Webb recalled “He [Tom Cruise] basically arrived and got out and it was like, wow.” Webb went on to explain that Cruise immediately made his way over to her children and “elbow bumped” them to say hello and thank them. “Then he said if the kids would like they could go up in the helicopter,” she said. Cruise let the kids take a ride while he went to a meeting. “It turned out to be an incredible day,” Webb said. “It was surreal, I still now can’t believe it happened.” The Hollywood heavyweight has been spending the last few months of 2021 in Europe while filming the seventh instalment of the Mission: Impossible series.

Movies

5 fool-proof ways to achieve a spectacular garden

When it comes to maintaining your garden, not everyone is a self-proclaimed green thumb. A lot of different environmental and financial factors can alter the progress and growth of a healthy outdoor space. But with these five tips, anyone can become an expert gardener in a few simple steps to have your garden thriving! Plan your garden The key to a successful garden is planning and structuring before you even start. You should know what type of soil you’re dealing with before you head to your local nursery to find plants that will work best. You will also need to make sure you choose the right plants that will thrive in your garden outside, as well as what will work best in inside spaces. So get planning, and talk to the professionals at your local nursery for fool-proof advice. Buy plants that are difficult to kill There are extensive ranges of low maintenance plants that are notoriously difficult to kill. Renowned horticulturalist Mike Wells says there are many plants that are happy soaking in the sun without being regularly watered. “People need to remember to check on their gardens and their indoor plants. Most indoor plants can last a week without watering but they need a quality potting mix,” he said. Mike says one of his go-to and easy-to-please plants is succulents, for both indoors and outdoors, as they don’t need daily watering and can be very inexpensive. ‘Set and forget’ plants Some gardeners are turning to growing their own fresh produce, as they require a lot less maintenance. These ‘set and forget’ plants are a great long-term investment, and do not need constant monitoring in larger garden beds Having fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs straight from your own backyard is a huge win financially, as well as for your kitchen! Supercharging your plants In order to maintain a healthy, weed-free garden, mulching is a must. Mike Wells says that adding mulch to ornamental gardens can be a lifesaver by extending the longevity of all plants. “Cypress pine wood chips are best to 50 to 75mm deep. For a vegetable garden, these would be too coarse, so a chopped lucerne or fine sugar cane mulch to no deeper than 50mm is recommended,” says Mike. “For the gardeners who don’t want to fertilise often, choose a controlled release plus organics product which should only need light incorporation every six months.” Self-watering plants For the tech-savvy gardener, self-watering systems can be a lifesaver. No more having to schedule watering your plants, and worrying if they are getting enough water, as smart systems take the hassle out for you. They reduce the amount of water you need for the garden. Just set up the automatic timer and away you go. There are multiple options when deciding on an indoor or outdoor plant watering system. Some are so high tech you can operate them using a mobile phone. These systems, combined with carefully planning and maintaining your garden, are destined to have your garden blooming all year round. Image credit: Shutterstock

Retirement Life

The Bunnings hack that will save you hundreds of dollars

A Sydney mum has transformed her clothesline using just two products from Bunnings, saving her hundreds of dollars. While it may just be a clothesline, many homeowners will agree that the backyard staple is pricey, with some costing close to $600. But instead of dropping cash, Jessica Lanyon spent just $31.90 on cord and spray paint from Bunnings to revamp the old "ugly" line. “We actually moved into the house three years ago and it has looked like that ever since we bought it,” Jessica told news.com.au. “It’s that one thing we have been meaning to fix since we moved in and we’ve finally did something about it.” With the rest of her southwest Sydney house renovated, the mother-of-four said the dated clothes line really stood out, and for all the wrong reasons. <img style="width: 500px; height:328.4210526315789px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841697/screen-shot-2021-06-08-at-115855-am.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/327b7977978b412995afef885cf339b9" /> She said before the makeover, the line was falling apart and green finish was faded. “To save buying a new clothesline we did a little revamp on ours instead, using new cord and spray paint – I didn’t think I could be so happy over a clothesline,” she wrote in a Facebook post. Jessica said it took her two hours to transform the line using $19 Hills 30cm wire from Bunnings and two coats of Dulux' $12.90 Metalshield Multipurpose Spray Paint (Monument). It now looks exactly like the store's $254 clothes line. “It’s the little things. looks great!!” one woman responded to her snap in the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2152262025040161/permalink/2949198725346483" target="_blank">Bunnings Mums, Inspiration, Hacks, Tips And Tricks</a> group. “Girl after my own heart, I revamped mine a few years ago, I was so excited,” another wrote, while a third said, “Fantastic! Recycle! Reuse! Well done.”

Home & Garden

Woman shocked by threatening note left in backyard

A Sydney woman has revealed the sinister note left next to a bone she found in her backyard. Cheri Blair, 66, found the bone on Monday when she let her puppy out into her backyard in Sydney’s northern suburb Lane Cove. Feeling suspicious about discovering the bone, she then found a nearby envelope containing a note. Opening the unsealed letter, she was “shocked” to read the threat to her puppy. The note read, “Your dog is to be poisoned, too much barking, sorry but no choice, your fault”. Ms Blair told 7news.com.au about the “sickening” discovery. “If they had a problem with us, they should have said,” she told the publication. Claiming the bone was specifically a dog treat available in pet shops, Ms Blair speculated the neighbour would have had to specially buy it. Ms Blair said she rushed her pet to the vet. After inducing vomiting, Jolene was unharmed. After sharing the threatening note, Ms Blair said she had received messages from neighbours saying they had not heard her dog barking. However, she does recall one incident on Saturday where Jolene had been barking for about 20 minutes. She said she remembered hearing a female voice yelling “shut up” and wondered if they may be behind the incident. After sharing her experience on Facebook, comments poured in with messages of support and outrage, with many calling it “horrifying”. “What a [cowardly] thing to do … hide behind a note! This makes my blood boil,” one wrote. “How disgusting is this?” another commented. “Absolutely terrible to hear that someone would stoop so low as to put poison in the backyard for the pup to ingest,” a third said. Image credit: 7News

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