Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Nov 20, 2009 2:56 pm Okay.. were now trying to design a front garden. Here are photos of what it looks like at the moment...sorry these are the only photos I have! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Heres a rough plan.. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ What do you think?? LEGEND: - white squares in the grass are for plants - black parts are pavers - the plants there are just random fake ones - yellow box = mailbox - red lines - driveway/path - orange lines - masonry retaining wall. At the front, hopefully getting a charcoal retaining wall like this: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Is it possible to... do this retaining wall stuff right up to the porch as Ive done?? That is, leave the 3 planter boxes there and run the wall up diagonally? Will it look odd? Thanks!! Re: OUR FRONT GARDEN!! 2Nov 20, 2009 3:40 pm I am pretty hopeless at this type of thing, our front yard will be quite basic in comparison But I think your plans sound great and will look really good it you make it happen Blog: http://bluemistkids.blogspot.com "Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, and professionals built the Titanic." Re: OUR FRONT GARDEN!! 3Nov 20, 2009 3:47 pm Hels I am pretty hopeless at this type of thing, our front yard will be quite basic in comparison But I think your plans sound great and will look really good it you make it happen Thanks Hels. What does everyone else think?? What should I leave, take out, add? Re: OUR FRONT GARDEN!! 4Nov 20, 2009 4:20 pm It's actually a pretty simple and stylish design - I like it. I don't see why you can't continue your wall at an angle back to the house.... I assume the height would taper off as it gets closer to the house? Personally, I wouldn't have the lawn - but then, I'm not the one who'll have to mow it. If you love lawn and don't mind the maintenance, go for it - it'll be a lovely contrast to the other elements. I really love all your cycads. I'm getting me some of those! Re: OUR FRONT GARDEN!! 5Nov 20, 2009 5:02 pm kek Personally, I wouldn't have the lawn - but then, I'm not the one who'll have to mow it. If you love lawn and don't mind the maintenance, go for it - it'll be a lovely contrast to the other elements. I agree, I'd lose the lawn. Maybe make the two garden beds much larger to allow for some ground cover plants for greenery (or the same effect as grass). Then maybe some gravel around the two beds instead of any lawn. It will reduce your maintenance (and water bills) massively - would be almost zero maintenance with some drippers and timers installed and some good soil preparation with good quality mulch. You would only need to re-mulch about once a year (if that, once the ground covers take over) and then just chop stuff back every now and again to keep it neat. Everything else looks like it will work. Re: OUR FRONT GARDEN!! 6Nov 20, 2009 5:31 pm Thanks kek and JilaMint for your replies. Might think about the lawn.. I guess bigger plant sections would be a good compromise. Yep, kek, the retaining wall would taper off. We dont want the garden to be too complicated and complex.. I mean its a DIY job! Re: OUR FRONT GARDEN!! 7Nov 20, 2009 7:38 pm BTW kek, we bought the cycads really cheap at a place in Clayton... if thats convenient for you. Is it wise to leave planting new plants until next year, as it will probably be extremely hot during the coming months?? Re: OUR FRONT GARDEN!! 8Nov 20, 2009 8:56 pm What about a bit of fake grass instead? We are having that in our front yard Blog: http://bluemistkids.blogspot.com "Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, and professionals built the Titanic." Re: OUR FRONT GARDEN!! 9Nov 20, 2009 9:57 pm Hels What about a bit of fake grass instead? We are having that in our front yard Have considered it Hels... although it looks so real.. I think we would rather go for the real thing.. Re: OUR FRONT GARDEN!! 11Nov 21, 2009 5:46 pm well I really like it as is, I wouldn't change anything, I'd just want to get a variety of colours in the garden beds, not just native (drought tolerant) green plants... Suits the house too! A thankful person is a happy person. [/color]My hobby design blog: http://aviewondesign.blogspot.com/ Re: OUR FRONT GARDEN!! 12Nov 21, 2009 5:54 pm Annietom well I really like it as is, I wouldn't change anything, I'd just want to get a variety of colours in the garden beds, not just native (drought tolerant) green plants... Suits the house too! Thanks for your advice Annietom!! Yeah, the plants in that plan are only representations of plants - just to show where the plants would go.. not necessarily just green plants as the plan suggests. Re: OUR FRONT GARDEN!! 13Nov 21, 2009 6:13 pm Salt&PepperMkII BTW kek, we bought the cycads really cheap at a place in Clayton... if thats convenient for you. Is it wise to leave planting new plants until next year, as it will probably be extremely hot during the coming months?? Clayton? That's about as inconvenient as you can get. Not to worry, I know a place near here that sells them super-cheap. I would leave the planting till the cooler months. The heat will stress the poor plants and you'll be lucky not to lose half of them. Same goes for turf (or grass from seed). Do the hard yakka and get your wall and stepping stone pavers etc in place, then when it cools down around March-April, you can go nuts planting. Just keep the Roundup handy in the meantime. Why is it that weeds can grow well, no matter what the weather's like? If you really want the lawn, have it. It looks beautiful, just takes too much work for my liking. Make sure you choose a drought-tolerant variety, set up some grey water irrigation and don't complain to me about the mowing. Re: OUR FRONT GARDEN!! 14Nov 21, 2009 6:21 pm Thanks for your advice kek!! Can we call you the gardening guru? (besides Fu Manchu ) That means... joles is the display home expert kek is a gardening expert Fu is a gardening expert Michelle is the interior design expert Matt is the home theatre expert What other experts do we have on here? Clayton isnt that far for you... how about Pakenham?? Frankston??? Completely agree about the weeds... they grow like crazy dont they??? Yeah I was thinking of doing the rest of the stuff first, then plants and grass later. Which is better.... grass seeds or turf? Re: OUR FRONT GARDEN!! 15Nov 21, 2009 7:25 pm Salt&PepperMkII Thanks for your advice kek!! Can we call you the gardening guru? (besides Fu Manchu ) That means... joles is the display home expert kek is a gardening expert Fu is a gardening expert Michelle is the interior design expert Matt is the home theatre expert What other experts do we have on here? Clayton isnt that far for you... how about Pakenham?? Frankston??? Completely agree about the weeds... they grow like crazy dont they??? Yeah I was thinking of doing the rest of the stuff first, then plants and grass later. Which is better.... grass seeds or turf? Dunno about an expert - but I've been gardening for a frightening number of years and learned one or two things. Mostly from my mistakes. This new garden is a whole new ball game for me though, and I'm learning about new plants that I've never grown before. Clayton.... I don't go that far on my holidays! These days I hate driving and moan about travelling more than about 10km. As for lawn, you're asking the wrong person. We had a huge bunch of mown weeds at the old place. I never could be bothered with the work to make it all nice. The last few summers that we lived there the water restrictions had made it a brown, patchy mess and I began to make it smaller by extending the garden beds. Basically, turf is instant, but seed is cheaper. Depends on your budget and how much work you're prepared to do. That's about all I know. Fu's the man to give you proper advice. Re: OUR FRONT GARDEN!! 16Nov 21, 2009 7:31 pm Salt&PepperMkII That means... joles is the display home expert kek is a gardening expert Fu is a gardening expert Michelle is the interior design expert Matt is the home theatre expert What other experts do we have on here? I'm pretty good at Bold and the Beautiful trivia... Re: OUR FRONT GARDEN!! 17Nov 22, 2009 10:28 am aaron4erin Salt&PepperMkII That means... joles is the display home expert kek is a gardening expert Fu is a gardening expert Michelle is the interior design expert Matt is the home theatre expert What other experts do we have on here? I'm pretty good at Bold and the Beautiful trivia... Are they actually making new episodes of that show at the moment.. or are they all repeats?? Re: OUR FRONT GARDEN!! 18Nov 25, 2009 9:56 am aaron4erin Salt&PepperMkII That means... joles is the display home expert kek is a gardening expert Fu is a gardening expert Michelle is the interior design expert Matt is the home theatre expert What other experts do we have on here? I'm pretty good at Bold and the Beautiful trivia... Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: OUR FRONT GARDEN!! 19Nov 25, 2009 12:29 pm Salt&PepperMkII aaron4erin I'm pretty good at Bold and the Beautiful trivia... Are they actually making new episodes of that show at the moment.. or are they all repeats?? Yep, new episodes, the show will go on for another 100 years with the same love triangle... Fig Landscapes has produced an e-book and native plant index, available for purchase from their website. It's a great resource, full of inspiration and tips. Another… 1 12299 Our Bondi Greenwall was impressive from day one with advanced lush plants to provide a wow factor to this recently renovated living area. The boundary was less than 1… 0 15715 |