Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Sep 11, 2009 1:39 am Hi, We are in the process of trying to update our outdoor area. We've just recently put up a new patio (see this thread), and have some really nice reconstituted limestone pavers that will be laid underneath the patio. My concern is an ugly tiered concrete retaining wall that we have. We've had plants in it previously, but in order to water all of those plants, you have to either have reticulation pipe everywhere and the dirt/mulch from this gets all over the existing pavers. My current thought is to have a nice timber bench seat that will essentially be a facade for the retaining wall and will be a functional seat, but have the added benefit of hiding the ugliness. It has been mentioned that a 12 - 15m bench seat will have all the appeal of a bus stop though. What would you do instead? Other ideas are part bench seat, part planter box etc. Any other ideas are much appreciated. An image of the ugly wall is below; Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: What would you do? 2Sep 11, 2009 1:48 am You're in Perth? the fence and sand make it look like Perth? Re: What would you do? 4Sep 12, 2009 1:36 am I'd be doing a limestone wall, leave the retaining blocks there and bury the lot in a combo of certified organic soil and clean fill. Do clean fill for most of the back fill and the whole top 1m to 1/2m have certified organic soil. Or leave it all as is, and use some netafim subsurface drip line along each row, that way there is no mess and unsightly pipe. Mulch the final landscape with some fresh green tree mulch, or in other words, the stuff you get from tree loppers. No mess, nice smell and the most waterwise mulch available. Pm me when you are ready to get some As for plants, I'd use more of the Philodendrons (the big green leafy thing) "Philo selloum" is what you are looking for in nurseries. Grows well there by the look Do a row along the top, create an understory. Then underplant them with Blechnam silver lady or blechnam bushy. What would look pretty fantastic is maybe fill those sections with "fine" pine bark (sold as mulch - much cheaper than buying the same stuff sold as orchid mix ) and grow cymbidium orchids and bromeliads in them. That would rock your world! Maybe even buy a few pineapples and plant the green tops in there too If that pic was taken recently, it would be ideal for those plants and that type of retic would also be ideal. The broms Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The cymbidium orchids Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Maybe some daylillys too Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ They can be easily divided and be very affordable for an area like that. In fact all the ones mentioned can be divided and in a few years that area can look a million dollars. each would flower at different times and so the area would always have colour. Re: What would you do? 5Sep 15, 2009 12:04 am Wow Fu. Thanks for the detailed reply. We took time out to check out some local sustainable living places on the weekend as it was sustainable house day, and are now competely inspired to totally revamp our back yard. We kinda have some ideas on what we want to do now and I think at least some of what we do will end up as a bench as it is both practical and useful in hiding the retaining wall. I really like some of your suggestions though too, and wanted to ask if you think that the plants you suggested would grow in that garden bed. The reason being is that the asbestos fence is exactly due north and that means in winter that area is in full shade (hence the patio design to get some light into the house), but in summer, it is in full sun. It is partially shaded by the tree fern and poinsettia, but we have struggled to grow anything much in there other than fishbone and asparagus ferns. I suspect these will be coming back for quite some time too, but we are keen to kill them when they do Thanks again for your suggestions, Chris Re: What would you do? 6Sep 15, 2009 12:13 am Strawberries and Parsley I'd go with Fu Where you are coming from is where you are going to... Re: What would you do? 7Sep 15, 2009 12:17 am Chris, you need to get along to one of these workshops http://www.greatgardens.info/events.php The best in the business present these workshops. It will really inspire you even further. Re: What would you do? 9Sep 15, 2009 1:39 am Fu Manchu Chris, you need to get along to one of these workshops http://www.greatgardens.info/events.php The best in the business present these workshops. It will really inspire you even further. That is a great resource. I think we'll certainly have to check both the great gardens, and great vege garden workshops out. They look really good. Bought in Nov 21 at the height of the market (classic). Good area, atrocious floor plan. BUT has land out to the left-hand side that we can extend out on (see second… 0 6699 Thanks mate. Yeah good points! Leaning towards Option 3 to get a bit extra space in the cabinets but not going too crazy high (and expensive). Would require a mini… 13 30545 Hi It came to my attention after the handover that - The facade cladding on the face and the side are not straight. -The face tapers down by 50mm from left to right and… 0 888 |