Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design Re: How green is my Garden - HELP ME CHOOSE SOME PLANTS!!!!!! 21Mar 15, 2009 5:56 pm Great job, Adrian - our ideas are starting to take shape. We've been sitting back, thinking and observing what other people have done, and your deck/paving combo has helped a lot. Re: How green is my Garden - HELP ME CHOOSE SOME PLANTS!!!!!! 22Mar 15, 2009 8:29 pm Thanks everyone. Granetic sand - If you compact it and wet it, it sets very very hard. Can it be dug up? that I cannot answer, as I dont have dogs. As for the washing machine water, that has kept my grass green. I can recomment harnessing it for your garden, provided it doesnt wreck your plants, and you change powders. Put simply, I added another source to my watering system as pictured and described before. It means I can move that water from the washing kmachine tank to anywhere on the property for gardening purposes. The merbau is on and finishes off the effect nicely, now for the plants in the back garden bed.... Adrian B Re: How green is my Garden - Lots of Pics now fixed... 23Mar 25, 2009 9:39 pm HELP!!!!! OK so what plants do I plant in the back garden beds?? A little background: The block is north south, the back yard fence on the north boundary. The garden bed gets good sun during the day, but drops off a little in winter. Soil has water crystals and fertiliser in it (garden mix, nothing flash).Watering is not an issue as I have systems in place. Colorbond fence is greeny / grey in color, kind of jasperish (but not). You can get an idea of the color from the photos in the previous part of this thread. The water feature will be rendered once completed, in a color to be advised, feel free to make a suggestion. The water feature that will be going in the wall is this: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ I am looking at the idea of something resortish maybe? Out the front we have the corelines and stuff, which is great, but we want something that woill give a great feel, a good splash of color to break up the fence, and will do well during the harsher months. One thing I did find, which I love the color was this Guzmania Bromeliad Marina. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ So far, I thought of some pencil pines , one on each side of the water feature, and repeated in planter boxes beside the al fresco pillars. Also thought of Lattice next to the shed to hide it with a creeper or something. PLEASE HELP I HAVE NO IDEA AND NEED HELP !!!!!!! (Matt and Rod, dont even think about it) Adrian B Re: How green is my Garden - HELP ME CHOOSE SOME PLANTS!!!!!! 24Mar 25, 2009 9:52 pm Jeeze, I don't know about that "manifold" you have there Maybe a nice white PVC one would be better, then spray it the appropriate colour bond colour. Is that drip line fitted with a pressure reducer? It looks like that might be a *** brand pressure reducer on the right? Please tell me you have a flush valve on this. And please tell me there are air bleed valves on it to prevent blockages. Add coco peat instead of water crystals. They were made for nappies not soil coco peat also traps loads of water in the soil but is a natural product from an environmentally sound source. Coconuts Re: How green is my Garden - HELP ME CHOOSE SOME PLANTS!!!!!! 25Mar 25, 2009 9:59 pm Hey Adrian, i dont really have any suggestions for the plants as such, but i am interested in the waterfall you've got pictured..... May i ask what make it is? Does it have the integrated led's in it, or is it fibre optics?? Re: How green is my Garden - HELP ME CHOOSE SOME PLANTS!!!!!! 26Mar 25, 2009 10:18 pm OK plants, well i will have a bit of a think on this and I bet loads of others will too which will be good I just can't help but suggest as i often do a lovely hedge of Murraya Paniculata. It would do well in what you describe. However I am not certain of the growth of them as far South as Melbourne in winter cold. I have seen them do well in Albany (said Al-bany ) which gets very cold. They also tollerate the bloody wind wind here (so much wind! It drives me crazy! wind wind wind!20-30knts in the morning and then it just turns around and blows 30knts the other way the rest of the day) and they do just fine. Jeeze, I'm almost tempted to post a pic of my 6 month old Murraya hedge ... almost The Guzzies will look awesome. Have a squizz at Tricyrtis. The flowers are very orchid like and they cop a punishing in the garden We have left them to dry, and in full sun, on a very hot week or two or three and they have done well. (when they really shouldn't according to the books) Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ How would a Frangi go in Melbourne? worth a go maybe I'll keep having a think, there's loads more to choose Re: How green is my Garden - HELP ME CHOOSE SOME PLANTS!!!!!! 27Mar 25, 2009 10:24 pm Hey there Fu. Thanks for the tips. The system does have pressure reduction. The "plastic" manifold" has performed better that the Brass Moss one, which leakes badly afer only 6 months, after I replaced it wtih a faulty brass one. I am redesign the manifold later when i automate the system. All lines have bleed valves fitted, plus flush valves and filters. The washing machine line has 2 filters, inc a downstream one fitted with pantyhose to remoive very fine particles from the wash. The washing machine tank tap is about 3 inches above the bottom, so I dont get too much sediment or junk in there. once a month I empty and clean the tank. P, will the feature is an Aquablade, it has a line of LED's in them. They are cheaper tha the Fibre Optic ones, which go into the thousands. Pump fittings and blade will be about $800ish for the 900mm one. Water Pros can get them in. You need a brick or block retaining wall put it in to. Adrian B Re: How green is my Garden - HELP ME CHOOSE SOME PLANTS!!!!!! 28Mar 25, 2009 10:29 pm Adrian, if you want an Astral Pool/Hurlcon one, just let me know. I got contacts. If you are interested that is, and haven't already ordered/bought it? Re: How green is my Garden - HELP ME CHOOSE SOME PLANTS!!!!!! 29Mar 25, 2009 10:33 pm Dracaena marginata (the green one ) would go well. Perhaps the old cast iron plant (Aspidistra). Re: How green is my Garden - HELP ME CHOOSE SOME PLANTS!!!!!! 30Mar 26, 2009 8:57 pm Adrian I have a bunch of plant ideas for you. All sorts of them and all should do fairly well Just lots of different looks, what I like may not be what you like so I did a list today of alsorts. google the names and get some pics Post it soon Re: How green is my Garden - HELP ME CHOOSE SOME PLANTS!!!!!! 32Mar 27, 2009 11:19 am Here's a heap of ideas. Like I said, some I don't like but you might. Sansevieria- mother in laws tongue, very very tough. Good structured plant that will fill the area planted. a few types available at various heights. Alocasia macrorrhzia- elephant ears. Fatsia Japonica- might yellow a little in the sun but may do OK. more of a shaded or indoor plant but is tough as well and should survive. Acanthus Mollis, has a fantastic flower and is green and leafy. Begonia Dragon Wings, A taller begonia that when dry is going to wilt and and bounce back ok with some water. Good colour flowers and lush green foliage. Easy to propagate at home, just don't sell the cuttings or you'll be in the poo. If have seen them grow in full sun too many times to ignore their suitability for your spot. Dianellas, loads of different types in loads of different heights and colours. Look flax like in some cases. Much tougher than flax. They will fill the garden bed they are planted in. Gold Diosmas, there are tall and low flatter ones available. excellent for clipping (one of the best) and the golds have the ability to throw in some vibrant colour to the garden. Ipomoea- ornamental sweet potato. Loads of in your face tough growing colour from the leaves. Can die off in the late winter/ early spring but very very tough. Doesn't have a huge thirst for water. They can take up some space but worth it. knock your socks off stuff. Sedum- autumn joy, a good landscape feature plant when done in mass. The flowers are a soft pink but they can go a bit yuck in extreme cold... sometimes but don't forget the seasol Euonymus- an excellent small formal hedge. They do get scale insects but preditory insect pest control is the easiest and cheapest option for control. Excellent small dark green leaves. This one is what I used for a formal hedge in front of my place... Alternathera dentata purpurea, it has a blood red/purple leave. It does need loads of clipping for a hedge but it looks awesome Very striking. It goes off here in the early spring when the cold sets in. bounces back fine year after year. excellent in among other plants for lush tropical colour or just something to stand out among the green. works in many garden types. Caprosmas. The old mirror bush. Very very tough and so many good colours available. Tequila is a ripper Acalyphas- One I love using in landscapes. They come in small low forms or tall vibrant forms of yellow or red. Often seen in tropical places but is extremely water wise. They do fine. I have seen an excellent example growing 50m from the waterline (not beach) in Quinns here in Perth. Must have been there as long as anyone could remember. It was exposed to salt air and high winds in the worlds second windiest capital city... Perth. Kanga paws of all sorts West Aussie plants... even better Melaleuca little nessie- a beautiful compact small grower with a lovely flower show. Lomandra cracker jack or seascape. Wispy blue green leaves. A fav of mine for great effect in all types of garden designs and types. nandina domestica- sacred bamboo. Brunfelsia sweet petite. small green leafy (more yellow in WA ) that has flowers changing colour as the days go on. Myrsine Africana- African Box. One of the best small or medium sized hedging plants. Just swear at it and it will grow. small dark green leaves, it looks a treat even when not clipped. can almost cover a fence if you wanted or it can be kept to 30-40cm. Breynia nivosa rosea- a few common names one is confetti bush. These are striking in their colour and make incredible hedges. They can sucker a little but those are dead easy to control. Pinks, greens, white, red are common colours and they are always changing. They can drop leaves in the coldest part of the year but they come back quick enough and not many plants would create a gob smacking hedge like these. There are loads of ideas and different type. All should fine in the east with little water as they do here and they are varieties tested with experience. Re: How green is my Garden - HELP ME CHOOSE SOME PLANTS!!!!!! 34Aug 20, 2009 9:02 am Adrian B The system does have pressure reduction. The "plastic" manifold" has performed better that the Brass Moss one, which leakes badly afer only 6 months, after I replaced it wtih a faulty brass one. I am redesign the manifold later when i automate the system. All lines have bleed valves fitted, plus flush valves and filters. The washing machine line has 2 filters, inc a downstream one fitted with pantyhose to remoive very fine particles from the wash. The washing machine tank tap is about 3 inches above the bottom, so I dont get too much sediment or junk in there. once a month I empty and clean the tank. Hi Adrian, I have some questions in regards to your washing machine setup - are you able to provide more details on what you have - where you got it from, rough cost of the setup etc and also explain the above? Whey do you need bleed valves and filters etc? Like I said in my post, I'm new to all of this! 'A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world.' Louis Pasteur Vegie garden: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=27637&start=0 My Backyard Adventure Re: How green is my Garden - HELP ME CHOOSE SOME PLANTS!!!!!! 35Aug 21, 2009 12:40 pm Fu Manchu Here's a heap of ideas. Like I said, some I don't like but you might. Sansevieria- mother in laws tongue, very very tough. Good structured plant that will fill the area planted. a few types available at various heights. Alocasia macrorrhzia- elephant ears. Fatsia Japonica- might yellow a little in the sun but may do OK. more of a shaded or indoor plant but is tough as well and should survive. Acanthus Mollis, has a fantastic flower and is green and leafy. Begonia Dragon Wings, A taller begonia that when dry is going to wilt and and bounce back ok with some water. Good colour flowers and lush green foliage. Easy to propagate at home, just don't sell the cuttings or you'll be in the poo. If have seen them grow in full sun too many times to ignore their suitability for your spot. Dianellas, loads of different types in loads of different heights and colours. Look flax like in some cases. Much tougher than flax. They will fill the garden bed they are planted in. Gold Diosmas, there are tall and low flatter ones available. excellent for clipping (one of the best) and the golds have the ability to throw in some vibrant colour to the garden. Ipomoea- ornamental sweet potato. Loads of in your face tough growing colour from the leaves. Can die off in the late winter/ early spring but very very tough. Doesn't have a huge thirst for water. They can take up some space but worth it. knock your socks off stuff. Sedum- autumn joy, a good landscape feature plant when done in mass. The flowers are a soft pink but they can go a bit yuck in extreme cold... sometimes but don't forget the seasol Euonymus- an excellent small formal hedge. They do get scale insects but preditory insect pest control is the easiest and cheapest option for control. Excellent small dark green leaves. This one is what I used for a formal hedge in front of my place... Alternathera dentata purpurea, it has a blood red/purple leave. It does need loads of clipping for a hedge but it looks awesome Very striking. It goes off here in the early spring when the cold sets in. bounces back fine year after year. excellent in among other plants for lush tropical colour or just something to stand out among the green. works in many garden types. Caprosmas. The old mirror bush. Very very tough and so many good colours available. Tequila is a ripper Acalyphas- One I love using in landscapes. They come in small low forms or tall vibrant forms of yellow or red. Often seen in tropical places but is extremely water wise. They do fine. I have seen an excellent example growing 50m from the waterline (not beach) in Quinns here in Perth. Must have been there as long as anyone could remember. It was exposed to salt air and high winds in the worlds second windiest capital city... Perth. Kanga paws of all sorts West Aussie plants... even better Melaleuca little nessie- a beautiful compact small grower with a lovely flower show. Lomandra cracker jack or seascape. Wispy blue green leaves. A fav of mine for great effect in all types of garden designs and types. nandina domestica- sacred bamboo. Brunfelsia sweet petite. small green leafy (more yellow in WA ) that has flowers changing colour as the days go on. Myrsine Africana- African Box. One of the best small or medium sized hedging plants. Just swear at it and it will grow. small dark green leaves, it looks a treat even when not clipped. can almost cover a fence if you wanted or it can be kept to 30-40cm. Breynia nivosa rosea- a few common names one is confetti bush. These are striking in their colour and make incredible hedges. They can sucker a little but those are dead easy to control. Pinks, greens, white, red are common colours and they are always changing. They can drop leaves in the coldest part of the year but they come back quick enough and not many plants would create a gob smacking hedge like these. There are loads of ideas and different type. All should fine in the east with little water as they do here and they are varieties tested with experience. Super ideas. Not all of them are natives right ? Here's some feedback on a couple that I've used .... Dianella ... very hardy native grass. I have a few different types. One smaller blue-ish one (seems to be steady at about 40cm high) and a larger green one (about 70cm high). Looks great as a border. Will spread, but responds well to yanking out any of the shooters that don't fall into line. Flowers are small and colourful and the stems they are on need to be cut back once the flowers are done. Might seem pricey, but (if you have the patience) you can take one pot and cut it into about 3 clumps. Needs almost no water once established. Diosma ... another hardy native shrub. Can get these in gold and green. Responds well to a harsh cut back. Nice little flowers. Needs almost no water once established. Kanga Paws ... although I love them (and the varieties they come in) they are hard work. I've found them hard to keep alive and hard to keep them looking good. Seem to be tempremental to shade/sun, amount of watering, soil pH. Check if they'll suit your climate and soil type before forking out on these. If you can get them to work - they look great. Hi VK, I am now retired however I have stood beside over 300 owner builders in the past 18 years that have successfully built their own homes. First of all a building… 10 22660 Murraya could be a great option for you. It creates a great tall screening hedge but doesn't drop fruit like lily pilly. The flowers smell divine. 2 10239 Thank you so much for the effort. We will use it to talk with builder. We also had idea of building duplex instead and seeking suggest ions. viewtopic.php?f=31&t=106744 11 13830 |