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Cool-Garden[1]

Cool Garden

How our Cool Garden Works and why we should encourage our customers and clients to do the same.

What is a Cool Garden?

A Cool Garden uses plant selection to:

• provide natural shade
• cool the air through plant processes
• reduce heat from hard surfaces
• create a more comfortable outdoor space

Plants act as natural climate regulators, helping lower temperatures around your home.


Why Plant Choice Matters

Not all plants cool equally.
The right mix of trees, shrubs and groundcovers can significantly reduce heat and improve garden performance.

Consider:

 • shade coverage
 • water efficiency
 • suitability to your local conditions
 • placement around your home

 

Creating Cooler Spaces (7)
Creating Cooler Spaces (8)

Creating Cooler Spaces

Windows are a major source of heat gain, driving cooling demand in homes.
Increasing tree canopy can reduce energy use, with a 10 percent increase lowering heating and cooling by 5 to 10 percent, and well placed shade trees cutting summer cooling needs by up to 35 percent.

Shade can also reduce surface temperatures by up to 15°C, while lighter coloured roofs can lower indoor temperatures and reduce air conditioning use by up to 34 percent.

More planting means cooler homes, streets and communities, and even small changes can make a meaningful difference.

Best Plant Choices for Shade

  • Water Gum (Tristanopsis laurina)
  • Lilly Pilly (Syzygium)
  • Lemon myrtle (Backhausia citriodora)
  • Brush box (Lophostemon confertus)
  • Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
  • Tuckeroo (Cupaniopsis anacardioides)
  • Bottlebrush (Callistemon spp.)
  • Crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)
  • European Ash (Fraxinus spp.)
  • Blueberry ash (Elaeocarpus reticulatus)
  • Bougainvillea (Tibouchina lepidopta)
  • Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
Creating Cooler Spaces (9)

How You Can Use the Cool Garden Ethos in Your Business

You do not need to build a full display garden to bring this concept into your business.
Here are a few simple ways to use it:

Talk about function, not just appearance
Start positioning plants as part of a solution.

For example:

  • shade trees for hot areas
  • screening plants for western sun
  • climbers for pergolas
  • potted plants for courtyards and patios

Merchandise around the idea

Consider grouping products around a “cooler garden” theme, such as:

  • plants for shade
  • courtyard cooling
  • patio plants
  • trees and shrubs for hot spots

Use it in your marketing

This is a strong message for:

  • social media
  • email marketing
  • in-store signage
  • customer conversations

It gives customers a practical reason to buy and helps position your business as the expert.

Encourage the bigger picture
Cool Garden is also about helping customers think more broadly about outdoor comfort through:

  • layered planting
  • mulch
  • shade
  • pots and placement
  • reducing heat around hard surfaces

 These conversations can create better outcomes for customers and
often lead to additional sales. 

Take a look at Cool Garden in action at The Sydney Royal Easter Show

Cool Garden Web Page (2)


Greenlife Industry NSW & ACT would sincerely like thank our generous supporters
and partners that have made this exhibit possible.

Kyle Bennett – Designer
David Ting – The Garden Guide. Construction Supervisor