Location
Subtropical City in Southeast Queensland, Australia. Latitude 27 degrees 42 minutes south. Same latitude as Los Angeles, New Delhi, Osaka, Kathmandu.
Similar Places
Florida (in the USA), natal district (South Africa) and regions of South America, plus numerous locations in Asia, and the Pacific Ocean, have sub tropical climate. Each location exhibits climate variations such as the dry sub topics, or the wet sub tropics.
Climate
Temperature: Summer average 25.4 C; Winter 15.7C
Rainfall: 1200mm/yr
Wind: average 10 - 18 km/hr
Humidity: Yearly average 60 - 70%
The climate tends to have a hot and humid summer with predominant storms and rainfall in later summer and early autumn. Winter tends to be cool with the occasional zero degrees Celsius occurring in the 'western suburbs' and nearby Ipswich city. Rainfall in winter is minimal resulting in the fire season associated with winter. Water conservation is important throughout the winter, spring and early summer months for best gardening results. Brisbane is surrounded by the cooler highland zones of Toowoomba, Mount Tamborine, Maleny and the Great Dividing Range. These zones are more warm-temperate, with the ability to grow subtropical species.
Lifestyle
Brisbane is probably one of the most amenable climates of any city in the world. It has more sunny days than Florida and is warmer than the Bahamas. Mild winters and hot summers make indoors and outdoors flow into each other and the people of Brisbane spend much of their leisure time in their gardens. The climate is a haven for lush tropical gardens with phenomenal plant growth and landscaping possibilities. A big part of design is to create airflow and shade to cool the living spaces.
Architecture
Home types:
· The Queenslander - a traditional wooden home , with timber walls and floors, tin roof and surrounded by verandahs. Built in this style until mid-1930s, Queenslanders are built on stumps to increase airflow around the house. They define the character of older suburbs and lend themselves to elaborate, large gardens that you look down into from the verandahs.
· Worker's cottage - very similar to a Queenslander home but smaller, with usually only a verandah at the front. Less ornate finishes and usually on a smaller parcel of land than the Queenslander they nevertheless have great capacity for landscaping
· Brick home - common in Brisbane suburbs established in the 1970s. Common features are a tiled roof, garage, aluminium windows, fly screens and security. Swimming pools are common. Gardens tend to be smaller and natural soils poorer. A different approach to gardens is necessary to add height without clutter and well placed palms, cycads, epiphytes and flowering bushes can make a huge difference.
Structures
Outdoor living incorporates decks, pools, ponds, waterfalls, pergolas and a variety of shade structures and outdoor furniture and always the BBQ. Shade is essential to protect from the baking summer sun and high humidity. Specifically built huts or pavilions are ideal for entertainment and relaxation. Some simple structures may even double as a bedroom on hot summer nights, with the addition of mosquito netting. Other possibilities include wooden bridges, timber seating, fountains, bamboo screens, and paved courtyards.
Plants
The subtropical climate allows for a huge plant choice in the garden, from temperate to tropical, arid to rainforest. Lush, leafy species are easy to grow if water is available some suggestions being: Aroids, heliconias, frangipanis, gingers, palms, philodendrons, cordylines, epiphytes including staghorn ferns, orchids, and tillandsias and spectacular flowering tree species such as jacaranda and poinsiana. However, if water is a major concern then Australian natives are the best choice.
Soils
Brisbane has 3 main types of soils:
· Loam consisting of fine clay, sand and organic matter. These are the predominant alluvial soils of the Brisbane River floodplain and other creeks
· Heavy clays. These are found in elevated areas and as landfill in new homes. They may require plenty of conditioning with gypsum to break them up and aerate them.
· Gravely, granitic soils with good drainage but poor in nutrients.
Most soils around Brisbane are low in boron and magnesium and most Australian soils are low in potash and zinc.The easiest and safest way to supplement all these nutrients and to stimulate healthy, living soil at the same time is to use seaweed fertiliser. Fish & Kelp is useful because the calcium in the fish helps plants to absorb phosphorous in seaweed more effectively.
Water
Increasingly Brisbane is experiencing water shortages and restrictions and unless you have access to tank water or bore water for your garden don't plant thirsty plants that rely on irrigation or sprinklers. There are several solutions to water capture including rainwater tanks which come in a huge variety of sizes and shapes to fit in most areas in a backyard. Water can be captured from the overflow of air conditioners, hotwater tanks, and grey water systems attached to your shower or washing machine.
Water conservation is aided by heavily mulching gardens. For this a variety of mulches are available from T-tree, pine bark, hardwood chips and recycled green waste available from tree loppers. T-tree is one of the best looking mulches, somewhat more expensive though. A good combination is cheaper green waste with a top layer of T-tree. Gravel makes an ideal mulch for arid plants and close to buildings. It requires less maintenance, holds heat and avoids the problem of mold and fungus on painted walls.
Energy
Brisbane has a daily average of 7 hours of sunshine over the year, making solar technology a wise ingredient in the garden for powering lights, solar pumps and of course solar hot water.
More devices in the garden means more energy consumption, which is contrary to good gardening, so think clearly about alternative power sources.
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