Hi, Try this link - http://smallblueprinter.com/garden/planner.html Bear in mind that designing your own garden doesnt take into account soil conditions, climate, suitable plants etc.

I wouldnt think there would be any problems with installing the deck before the rest of the landscaping. In fact generally the hard landscaping features are put in first, followed by the softscaping such as plants and turf.

Hi That standard look is referred to a 'Pleached'. The link you posted looks like pleached viburnums actually, but could also possibly be weeping fig or maybe even apples.

Yeah personal preference, but I would got for decking also. It's more inviting, looks better and nicer under foot.

Hi, there are many variables here, what height you want, what you soil is like, aspect, irrigation etc etc etc. but a few tropical garden plants that may appeal to you and work in your garden bed include - Hawaiian hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) Vireya rhododendron (Vireya cultivars) Crab’s claw ...

Gardenias would work well, are ever green and produce heavily fragrant white flowers.

The large shrubs/hedge look like cascade Lilly pillies to me. And the grass is lomandra, possibly the tanika variety.

Yep an angle grinder will cut through sandstone like butter. A steady hand is required to ensure a straight line. A paver cutter will ensure a perfectly straight line, these can be hired relatively cheaply.

Wow, that is a clean slate! well almost, you have got a few of the structural elements underway I see. Well done. Your google sketchup plan looks like a good basic starting point. Good on you for getting in there and having a go yourselves! There are plenty of helpful folk on the forum so feel free ...

Rhaphis can't tolerant too much sun and is very slow growing. Kentish get to big, although they are slow growing. Golden canes will get to 4m or so but again relatively slow growing, they also 'clump' so you could remove the trunks of the palms that get too tall without removing the whole plant.

I think gracilis is the right choice here. An easy way of managing the clumps is to simply snap of the unwanted new shoots each year. Bamboos have one flush of new culms a year, generally late summer. Snap these off at ground level when they are young and tender (say under 1 foot) and leave one or t...

2cm a year!

No just puncture the soil and move the fork back and forth a bit to get some air gaps in there.

Hi there. Yeah those photos suggest the problem is too much moisture. It looks like there is some rot happening. This is probably a combination of bad drainage and compacted soil. I would suggest trying to get some air in the soil, fork over the affected areas to loosen up the soil to allow moisture...

Cascade lilly pillies grow to 2m, nice red blushes of new growth and flowers. Blue bamboo will grow just over 2m, but tends to get a bit damaged if in full sun.

Hi, Sounds like you need a bigger pot! Some apricots have been breed to remain small, if you have one of these varieties than a smallish pot will still suffice. Ideally wait till winter when the tree is dormant and simply cut off those roots that have escaped, re-pot the tree in a larger pot and the...

I agree, black!

Try google. I like the look of this one - http://www.serrastone.com/services/BarbecueGrills-OutdoorFireplaces-Chimneys-FirePits/4-Fire-Pits/Fire-Pit-(1).jpg Stone always looks nicer, but it is more costly.

Weeping Fig, Ficus benjamina - this was probably a pot plant that someone thought, hey ill just pop that in the ground, no harm done.....till......its gets to 30m high!!!! arrrr You need to remove this tree before you get all sorts of problems! They are notorious for getting into drains.