Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Nov 01, 2009 7:37 am I would like to redo our front garden with a Balinese-style garden but use as many water-wise plants as I can. Our soil is sandy and the area is dominated by an adult Pride of Bolivia tree so the area is well-shaded, well-drained and nutrient-poor. I'm not sure where to go to get information on tropical water-wise plants - the two terms are almost contradictory! I've put together a list of plants I've been thinking about, but perhaps they shouldn't all be in there. Any suggestions? Cycads Crotons Bromeliads Cordylines Ixora Strelitzia Yuccas Sansevieria Palms: Rhapis Dypsis species Kylie Re: Water-wise, nutrient-poor & Balinese? 2Nov 01, 2009 8:55 am Now... you are in my area...lol. You are in MacKay.. there are tons of tropical plants you can grow.. . You should buy 'Subtropical Gardening' magazine, that will give you idea what to grow in the tropics. How big is your property?? Tropical gardening doesn't need to be thirsty. As long as you are not planting heliconias and gingers, which needs a lot of water and feeding to look nice, you should be ok. Besides, MacKay gets more rain than us here in Darwin. Just make sure you use plenty of mulch and that should retain moisture and the more canopy you have, the less water you are going to need. What about frangipani? They look great, very tropical and requires very minimal water. There are also lots of palms that you can grow. Once they are established, they don't need that much water. I know a lot of people don't like palms, but I think they have their place and certainly look great in a tropical garden. I can keep going on and on and on and on... so maybe you should tell us what you want to achieve. There are lots and lots and lots of choices in tropical gardening!! Not just what the 'typical' nursery sells... anything from Madagascar and tropical Africa don't need as much watering as the ones from South America and South East Asia... so, the possibility is endless!! I know a friend has a beautiful garden here that doesn't get ANY watering in the dry season. And we get NO rain whatsoever in the dry season here... So, it is doable.. for sure. Regards, Ari Ari & Scott Darwin, NT Re: Water-wise, nutrient-poor & Balinese? 3Nov 01, 2009 6:20 pm Very good feedback from Ari I have a tropical garden out the back but use less water than anyone in my street. The secret is in the soil and the right mulch. Our soils here in coastal Perth are among the poorest in the world for structure and nutrients, very ancient deep sands. With a good metre (or half a metre for the less keen ) of certified organic soil, subsurface irrigation, and fresh green mulch from your local tree professional you will certainly achieve what you want In fact anyone could do it. Good on you for setting this challenge for yourself. Take lots of photos as you go to Re: Water-wise, nutrient-poor & Balinese? 4Nov 01, 2009 8:16 pm Thank you both very much for your help. I'm going to have to start buying the garden mag's instead of the house ones! It's reassuring that you think I can achieve something along the lines of what I'm imagining. ariscott anything from Madagascar and tropical Africa don't need as much watering as the ones from South America and South East Asia... That's great advice - I shall see what I can find. ariscott What about frangipani? How could I have forgotten those? Do they do OK in the shade or should I think about placing them in a sunnier spot? ariscott I know a lot of people don't like palms, but I think they have their place and certainly look great in a tropical garden. I don't have anything against palms. (Except I would probably steer clear of golden canes as they seem to be the messiest shedders in our garden atm.) I was under the impression that palms are pretty thirsty plants in general, and from experience with the ones we have, certainly look much more impressive when well-watered. Our gardens so far have always centred around palms and I wanted to branch out a bit and try something different. Fu Manchu With a good metre (or half a metre for the less keen ) of certified organic soil, subsurface irrigation, and fresh green mulch from your local tree professional you will certainly achieve what you want OK - it makes sense to build up the garden beds before we replant - that would also make it easier to add subsurface irrigation, rather than trying to dig it into the existing ground. There is probably a good 15cm or deeper of leaf litter there from the previous garden/jungle, should we mix that in with the soil we add, or leave it as a layer below it? Also, will the big tree use all nutrients we add (robbing the new plants), or is there a way to avoid this? Fu Manchu Take lots of photos as you go Well don't hold your breath! We just got a new building timeline today - this garden project won't start until April next year... but I have plenty of time to plan it! Thanks again, Kylie Re: Water-wise, nutrient-poor & Balinese? 5Nov 01, 2009 9:07 pm wow that is lots of questions Frangi's will be fine in the shade, they will get bigger leaves that's all The subsurface irrigation will go down just before you bung the mulch on The leaf litter really would add some excellent organic material to the soil. Lots ofd micro flora and fauna in that stuff too. Re: Water-wise, nutrient-poor & Balinese? 6Nov 02, 2009 12:25 pm Palms will only require water when they are young. Once they are established, they are actually quite drought tolerant. It will also depend on what you plant. Most of my friend in Cairns don't provide additional watering to their palms once they are established. Golden Canes are way overrated...lol (everyone plants them... but they do grow fast for screening) - I have 1 because my other half wanted one . Also, don't forget Bromeliads.. They don't require a lot of water either... Also, my lawn requires more water than my garden beds... Have fun!! Regards, Ari Ari & Scott Darwin, NT Re: Water-wise, nutrient-poor & Balinese? 7Nov 02, 2009 1:27 pm We haven't started out build yet, but our house & landscaping will be in keeping with balinese/indonesian style and I have found loads of ideas for landscaping from this site; http://www.calyx.com.au/tropicalplants.html ____________________________ Bec ____________________________ Building our Balinese Resort Inspired Dream Home Blog ~ http://hagarshouse.blogspot.com/ Re: Water-wise, nutrient-poor & Balinese? 8Nov 03, 2009 12:06 am Great link but hardly any of those would fall into the bracket of water wise. As Ari said, choose species from Madagascar or Africa rather than wetter tropical areas of Asia and South America or the South pacific. species from New Caledonia would be a go too Re: Water-wise, nutrient-poor & Balinese? 10Nov 03, 2009 9:58 am When you find tropical plants you like the look of, find out where they are from. If they include the places mentioned by Ari and myself then you are laughing. I only added New Caledonia because it isn't totally lush. It has some drier areas a bit like some of the islands near Bali, like Sumbawa. New Caledonia isn't my forte' but it is an island that has had an incredible isolation and therefore evolution of plants in poor soils similar to Australia. It also has large areas that are not wet tropical. The characteristics of many of theor plants would be spot on to what you are looking for. As for where to find them. Re: Water-wise, nutrient-poor & Balinese? 12Nov 03, 2009 10:13 am I think the Botanic garden in Melbourne have some plants from there. Overall though The soils are very similar to that of Madagascar too. We were all joined at one stage in history. Re: Water-wise, nutrient-poor & Balinese? 13Nov 03, 2009 11:11 am Fu Manchu I think the Botanic garden in Melbourne have some plants from there. Overall though The soils are very similar to that of Madagascar too. We were all joined at one stage in history. I was thinking more of going straight to the source, although a Melbourne stopover on the way could have some merits... Re: Water-wise, nutrient-poor & Balinese? 14Nov 06, 2009 8:02 am New Caledonian plants are harder to get, unfortunately... and they are annoyingly SLOW!!!! Well... since you are in MacKay... go and visit Cairns and do your plant shopping over there!! You would be amazed at what you can plant. Let me know when you are ready and I can give you some contacts. Regards, Ari Ari & Scott Darwin, NT Re: Water-wise, nutrient-poor & Balinese? 16Nov 06, 2009 11:37 am And why wouldn't you love Cairns. Very nice city Though this link would be of some relevance to this thread for you http://www.watercorporation.com.au/_fil ... Garden.pdf Re: Water-wise, nutrient-poor & Balinese? 18Nov 06, 2009 1:18 pm Fu Manchu Great link but hardly any of those would fall into the bracket of water wise. As Ari said, choose species from Madagascar or Africa rather than wetter tropical areas of Asia and South America or the South pacific. species from New Caledonia would be a go too Opps sorry meant to add that I hadn't looked into the water wise aspect of the suggestions yet ____________________________ Bec ____________________________ Building our Balinese Resort Inspired Dream Home Blog ~ http://hagarshouse.blogspot.com/ 18 90477 From what I know about water tanks (I've been working with a client on them for a few years now) is this - The concrete can last a lifetime if they don't crack for some… 2 10629 4 10821 |