From the beach to your backyard

From the beach to your backyard

How to build your own seaside paradise at home!

Summer is in full swing. There may well be an amazing pool in your backyard but nothing quite like the beach. Sand underneath your feet, salt in the air and sticking to the skin – there’s just something special about it, particularly here in Australia. But the beaches are crowded, parking is a nightmare and, if you live in the suburbs, driving for an hour to get to the ocean in the first place might seem like too much of an ordeal.

Rather than starve your summer of the beach why not bring the beach to your backyard? With our handy guide and the help of a few experts you can bring the beach to your backyard in no time!

Start with sand

beach to backyard

The beach and sand go hand in hand.. Rather than just dumping a load of sand in your garden (why not try constructing artificial dunes instead!)

To build use gravel, which acts as a solid base for a sand dune. First dig out the section where you want the dune to go. Then line it with plastic – this will keep the grass from coming back through. After that you can dump and shape the gravel to make your dune as big or small as you want. When you’ve got it just right, hose it down and leave it to harden overnight.

Adding the sand comes next. The first layer will filter into the cracks so keep going until the whole mound is covered. You will want to ensure the sand is on thick both for sandcastles and to ensure there are no scratches.

If all that sounds like too much to do on your own, hire a landscaper to build out your beachside paradise while you relax.

Boardwalks

decking summer beach at home

Boardwalks make a great addition to the backyard. They help separate your home from your own little oasis and give the kids a place to wash their feet before coming into the house.

They can also help enclose the pool if you want to keep the sand from getting into the filtration system.

Hiring a carpenter will ensure your boardwalk is both safe and stylish. Hire a decking expert here to get it sorted.

Plants in your paradise

A good way to tie your paradise into the rest of the garden is by planting hardy coastal natives. Not only with they help ease the visual transition between the two areas but they are generally quite tough and won’t require a lot maintenance.

Here’s a list of some common coastal natives;

  • Coastal banksia
  • Coastal rosemary
  • Bismark palm
  • Bottlebrush
  • Pandanus
  • She-oak
  • Pigs face
  • If you haven’t the time to do this yourself you can hire a gardener here.

Decor for days

This final step will truly bring out the best in your newly created oceanic paradise. Wooden deck chairs, beach umbrellas and more. Perhaps add a hammock or even a daybed; it’s details like that that will take your backyard beach from basic to Bondi!

Now, with everything built, all that’s left is to relax in your new beachside paradise.