Yep...same here on heavy western Melbourne suburban clays the gypsum did nothing...soil structure only changes once I got the organics into it.
Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design Re: Our Landscaping Story 41Oct 19, 2008 7:28 pm Eager I've tried gypsum a couple of times before when preparing garden beds, but with little effect. Yep...same here on heavy western Melbourne suburban clays the gypsum did nothing...soil structure only changes once I got the organics into it. Re: Our Landscaping Story 42Nov 12, 2008 9:25 pm A week ago we had a the back yard levelled and a total of 18 cubic metres of topsoil spread over both yards (15 in the back and 3 in front) in preparation for grass seeding. The grass is already beginning to strike in some areas, with a bit of a tinge visible in the sunlight near the fence:
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We had previously spread a smaller amount of soil around which we bought when the landscape gardener laid down the crushed rock and installed the edging for our paths. We grew some grass on it, but it ended up fairly sickly. Despite buying topsoil we were given sandy loam back then instead, which was not ideal! These areas, next to the path to the clothes line, have also been re-spread and re-seeded. The front yard is a similar story. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The paving is also going ahead slowly, but I still have more to do, and ended up ordering another 40, for the path shown below, and also next to the shed, whis is currently a dumping ground for pebbles and sand: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We've added a few ferns to the side garden: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The garden at the back of the house is now well established. It consists of kangaroo-paw type plants on one side, with gaps big enough in between to plant some westringias (if I find the right ones), and grevillias on the other. The Peace rose on the extreme right hand side was a gift from DW's work colleagues. BTW the gnomes haven't been on holidays yet. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Our Landscaping Story 44Nov 13, 2008 12:27 am Heh I missed this post!
It is going to look awesome! and had to go put clean undies on when I saw you used some... WA NATIVES! heh heh. Geeze I wish I had a back yard that big! mine would be the size of that shed! heh heh. Lets just say there is more in my little garden than most could fit on a farm also TDL, I was talking crap with a colleague of mine the other day about how I was going to have to put lime on my soil. That is a big thing for coastal Perth because we mine the stuff in the next suburb. my soil has been built up a bit to acid! woo hoo!) ...anyway, she was saying she was reading a book written by a CSIRO scientist and how Gypsum will take about 3 years to work around 30cm into the soil and have "some sort" of effect. products like Powerfeed by the seasol mob will do a better job with regular use much quicker. in other words use stuff with fulvic acids and humic acids to break the soil up. also the amgro product "4 vital" is good too! and gee whizz TDLold mate! What am I on the turn or something? last I checked I was fella. (That reminds me a a joke I heard today best post that in the jokes bit ) Re: Our Landscaping Story 47Nov 22, 2008 11:23 am nesspop I love kangaroo paw, my favorite is the black velvet looking one look for Macropedia Fulingosa, (spell?:lol:) http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/1477 This is one of the best of the common name Kangaroo Paw (different to the others though) Native to places that are very harsh and extremely windy every single day. Can't kill these with a brick Re: Our Landscaping Story 49Dec 21, 2008 9:16 pm Instead of replying to the 'Grass in the backyard' thread, I thought it might be appropriate to post an update here.
We planted seed about 6 weeks ago, watered it daily or thereabouts to start with, and here is the result. A cool and regularly rainy December certainly helped. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Yes, it is a bit patchy when you look at it close up, but it was grown from seed after all and we took no special precautions. The pics are taken just after it was cut, on 'notch 7', leaving it quite long, and it grows so fast (at least 50mm in the week before I cut it) that they refused to empty the wheely bin the other day because it was too heavy! The plants out the front are now well established, but we haven't had much luck with the Cordyline 'Sundance' at the top of the garden by the fence. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We have decided that this patch will feature a type of Willow Myrtle (Agonis Flexuosa) called a 'Jervis Bay After Dark.' http://www.metrotrees.com.au/treehandbo ... xuosa.html Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We saw one yesterday that was similar to the one in the pot and were blown away by its striking foliage. We're also happy that it will grow to a smaller stature than the true Willow Myrtle. We don't have any pipes in the vicinity so there's no danger there, and if I mound the area up a bit for drainage I'm fairly confident it will grow well there. The ground already slopes away there. Fu, apart from salivating at the thought of me planting another W.A species, do you think my selection is sound? Re: Our Landscaping Story 50Dec 22, 2008 12:28 am It sure will. They are a bit messy but the leaves will be good mulch. In time it can sometimes be hard to get things to grow under them but I have seen many examples of good successes with a bit of effort.
It would be a good thing that the bloody cordyline isn't going so good. I'm sick of them! everyone one wants a cordyline try cordyline electric pink, or red fountain under there. They won't get tall or develop much of a trunk if at all. Re: Our Landscaping Story 52Jan 04, 2009 8:08 pm Today we finished off that small triangular garden out the front, and as such I can officially declare that the front of our house is now complete!
We got some more soil deliverd to mound the area up a bit, planted the aforementioned tree, put in a couple of flaxes as well, and covered the dirt with the dreaded black mulch. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We also planted a few Lomandra 'Tanika's to replace the 3 dead and dying Cordylines along the side fence. BTW what does everyone think about my neighbour's house with the corrugated iron wall? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Our Landscaping Story 57Jan 05, 2009 7:56 am Your garden/plants and lawn look great Eager. You have a great sized backyard Happy at Home Re: Our Landscaping Story 58Jan 05, 2009 8:45 am re the neighbours house:
The "mixed material" facade seem increasingly popular. But the corrugated iron elements I think are hilarious. To me it yells: "outdoor dunny". I think these mixed material houses will look like patched ruins in a decade or two. They also remind me of Meriton apartments (Sydneysiders will know this company). Their apartments look fantastic for a year or so and then the interiors just fall to bits. Built for looks, current fashion and quick sales, not longevity. Nice grass btw ! Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves. - Dale Carnegie Re: Our Landscaping Story - It's a jungle out there! 60May 03, 2009 11:22 am It's been ages since I've updated this. We got keen on establishing a garden in the back yard a few months ago, but I'm glad I didn't in the week before the really hot weather during summer like I was going to. A couple of weeks off after Easter gave me the perfect opportunity to get off my bum and do something constructive! There's not a great deal of imagination in the garden we have put in apart from trying to depict a tropical look. I always favoured palms and the like and ended up going down that path. All species I've planted will apparently survive around here; apart from talking to several different suppliers and a neighbour who is experienced at growing palms locally I found this website fantastic: http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/common.html Referring to the website the main varieties we planted were Cocos, Dwarf Date, Cascade (which look identical to Parlour palms when young but are not the same, and will survive outdoors), a Chinese Fan, a Bangalow, some Lady palms, a couple varieties of Cycad, Yuccas, one giant and several smaller Birds of Paradise and some grasses along the edging. The area behind the shed is paved with leftover bricks (very roughly) and will be secluded once the plants grow. I have steered away from the dreaded black mulch, which by the way has matted up slightly in the other gardens but is easily raked occasionally to keep it free, and have used euc mulch. I was keen on sugar cane mulch but apparently it is very light and blows around everywhere. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The other development on the landscaping front since the last update has been to almost total destruction of our newly planted lawns due to the extreme summer conditions this year, but they are bouncing back nicely now. I've also finally completed my paving! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Geoff - Decophile. Hi, We have a single story MacDonald Jones house, on a waffle pod slab with steel frame. Are we able to build a second story extension? Other info is we are 900mm from… 0 8471 We bought land in Tallawong Schofields NSW size 30m X 12.5m and planning to get double story house build around 350 sqm. We are thinking about having premium inclusions… 0 4086 Hmmm, I have checked your past posts and it seems that you are in NSW, not WA as I had thought. It pays to show your State in your avatar. Retaining wall regulations… 5 7857 |