Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Dec 07, 2009 5:55 pm I would love some suggestions on what to do with my front garden! Here are some pics, I will put some of my thoughts below Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ It faces south. To the left of my driveway (west and not really in the picture) I am going to plant some rose bushes, infront of the portico/front door area I would love to plant two daphne plants (mmm love the smell!) and to the far right of the pictures along my neighbours driveway (east) I was thinking of planting 2 silver birch trees with a japanese maple in the middle but as far as the rest of it goes I am open to suggestions! I am after water tolerant plants, so thinking grevillia's or kangaroo paws or something along those lines that will also encourage bird's and insects etc. I am also open to doing rock or tree mulch and love the idea of a dry river bed but I think those things are getting a bit over done in my area at the moment. Today I was toying with the idea of trying to make two circles and somehow try to construct a flat bike out of them not sure how that would work though hahahah '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: Front garden idea's! 2Dec 07, 2009 7:39 pm Not sure about the Silver Birches but if you do them, use 3-5 in there instead of two. two will look odd. Planted on the right more and have your Jap maple more in front but to the left a little. Bugger the lawn off from the naure strip and use something like the myoporum shown in one of the other current threads or some of the Grevilleas and my fav is Grevillea Gin Gin Gem. Can be cut to a lawn like look if you want Some nice whispy grasses for different foliage texture. Lomandra Seascapes or Festuca glauca going up to the door or skirting the drive etc. Maybe a carax as another alternative? That poor old tree is destined to be a hassle in years to come being planted up like that. Can you set it free a little? If it where mine, I'd be ripping out those stakes and maybe redoing it so it can fall about much more freely but still have some support. Or just putting in another one that isn't so tall and skinny. Roo paws would go well scattered about maybe? I won't go into too much detail, your not paying me In particular Big red. Would suit the house colours A bunch of low banksias like birthday candles or cherry candles would then be sensational in the far left corner nearer the letter box. About 5-7 of them. Do the Daphne right across the front rendered wall and clip them up? Re: Front garden idea's! 3Dec 07, 2009 7:58 pm Fu Manchu Not sure about the Silver Birches but if you do them, use 3-5 in there instead of two. two will look odd. Planted on the right more and have your Jap maple more in front but to the left a little. Bugger the lawn off from the naure strip and use something like the myoporum shown in one of the other current threads or some of the Grevilleas and my fav is Grevillea Gin Gin Gem. Can be cut to a lawn like look if you want Some nice whispy grasses for different foliage texture. Lomandra Seascapes or Festuca glauca going up to the door or skirting the drive etc. Maybe a carax as another alternative? That poor old tree is destined to be a hassle in years to come being planted up like that. Can you set it free a little? If it where mine, I'd be ripping out those stakes and maybe redoing it so it can fall about much more freely but still have some support. Or just putting in another one that isn't so tall and skinny. Roo paws would go well scattered about maybe? I won't go into too much detail, your not paying me In particular Big red. Would suit the house colours A bunch of low banksias like birthday candles or cherry candles would then be sensational in the far left corner nearer the letter box. About 5-7 of them. Do the Daphne right across the front rendered wall and clip them up? I love your idea's Fu! I mean to remove the stakes from the tree in the front on the weekend and didn't, but a few weeks ago someone mowed it down and i think the stakes saved it from being snapped in half - the estate planted it as they do with nature strips. Very happy to not have any grass, including the nature strip, was thinking of the grevillia gin gin gem for that after seeing the other post this morning! The daphne is probably better against the windows as it doesn't grow that quickly and I can keep better control of it and not block the windows. I also like the idea of the Japanese maple being the feature! Thank you!! '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: Front garden idea's! 4Dec 07, 2009 8:30 pm I love Daphne... had a couple at the old place and I want to plant one here in memory of my Grandma (cos her name was Daphne, in case you're a bit slow... ). Anyways, were you planning on having a path to the letterbox? Or maybe a couple of pavers so you can step off the driveway and get your mail without getting mucky feet? I still like the sweep of pebbles, a la river bed. It is a bit overdone, but it's usually done really badly. Do it well and your garden will stand out. In a good way. Add a few large rocks, in a group or two for impact. Or just do the rocks and skip the pebbles if you'd rather. I can't find a photo that's exactly right, but you could use fine gravel with pebbles and rocks as features, a bit like this: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Once your plants grow, it won't look at all desert-like. This is nice too, just a detail, but I can picture it used over a larger area (of course the plants wouldn't be in plastic pots ): Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ OH! *brainwave!* I don't suppose you'd like a Japanese-influenced garden? Raked gravel, rocks, beautiful trees like your maple, some kind of feature (stone lantern?) ....you could still use native plants and get a modern, individual take on the theme. I love the style; don't want one myself, but I'm dying for someone else to do one, so I can live vicariously. I love Fu's plant suggestions. Re the silver birches: Either wait till the worst of the heat is over before planting those, or be prepared to bucket lots of water onto them and watch them struggle. Once established, they're pretty hardy, as long as soil prep and mulching have been done right; then you should get away with a twice weekly water in summer as long as they're happy. I had a beauty at the old place, practically never watered it and it thrived. Of course, it did get planted some years before the drought hit... I'll go away now.... Re: Front garden idea's! 5Dec 07, 2009 8:36 pm Re: Front garden idea's! 6Dec 07, 2009 8:40 pm Thanks Kek! Fu's given me some great idea's and I think if I add in a few bigger rocks/boulders it will really be awesome! No Japanese garden here though! I'm thinking of just using some brick as pavers to the back of the letterbox, it will also keep it a bit more rustic and I think go with the idea's Fu has given me. Not sure what to do about a pathway to the meter box though (to the right of all the photo's) maybe a pebble path while using pebbles as some mulch '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: Front garden idea's! 7Dec 07, 2009 8:41 pm ^ Love the pic of the side of the house - simple yet stunning Kek, want to design my front yard?! I know nothing about plants/looks etc... My dad is currently plant sitting, which reminds me that I should check to see if their alive..... Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: Front garden idea's! 8Dec 07, 2009 10:08 pm Another recommendation for Myoporum Parvifolium (Creeping Boobialla) on the nature strip I've planted two in the backyard you can see one to the right of the path as it curves immediately after the deck. It's a big green mound about 1.8 metre across in diameter maybe 20 cm high bought from tubestock (coupla dollars). I planted those at the strart of winter and they've taken off. I had four on a 16 m wide nature strip at our old house and it completely covered it - no water just mulch. I'll try for a better photo tomorrow. Good thing about them is they stop any weeds coming through and tolerant of reasonable - but not constant - foot traffic. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Front garden idea's! 9Dec 07, 2009 10:19 pm hey to-do-list - that yard looks awesome! well done mate! A thankful person is a happy person. [/color]My hobby design blog: http://aviewondesign.blogspot.com/ Re: Front garden idea's! 10Dec 08, 2009 7:15 am For anyone else in the North Eastern area of Melbourne this is a great link for you if you want natives http://www.vinc.net.au/catalogue/catalogue.htm '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: Front garden idea's! 11Dec 08, 2009 7:38 pm Where I put in the plan the two feature grasses, what about two feature glazed pots with some small grass trees in them. That would look good or maybe just some Dianella emerald arch. tough, green and lush looking Re: Front garden idea's! 12Dec 08, 2009 7:54 pm Fu Manchu Where I put in the plan the two feature grasses, what about two feature glazed pots with some small grass trees in them. That would look good or maybe just some Dianella emerald arch. tough, green and lush looking Oooh that might be a good idea! I was also thinking of some kangaroo paw around the letterbox area - I need to check out what there is at the native nursery link I posted before, I want colour! '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: Front garden idea's! 13Dec 08, 2009 8:10 pm lisanne For anyone else in the North Eastern area of Melbourne this is a great link for you if you want natives http://www.vinc.net.au/catalogue/catalogue.htm Great reference...ta!...even for us Western hillbillies... Oh and a photo of the Myoporum Parvifolium (Creeping Boobialla) as promised...1.8 metres in diameter, planted less than a year ago from Bunnies tubestock Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Front garden idea's! 14Dec 08, 2009 8:47 pm to_do_list lisanne For anyone else in the North Eastern area of Melbourne this is a great link for you if you want natives http://www.vinc.net.au/catalogue/catalogue.htm Great reference...ta!...even for us Western hillbillies... Oh and a photo of the Myoporum Parvifolium (Creeping Boobialla) as promised...1.8 metres in diameter, planted less than a year ago from Bunnies tubestock Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ 0o0o0o0 I know what I'm buying on the weekend! =) Re: Front garden idea's! 15Dec 09, 2009 7:59 pm I have booked a rotary hoe for Saturday! Wish me luck I may need it '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: Front garden idea's! 16Dec 09, 2009 9:49 pm Thanks for this kek, I have been looking for something like this to show my husband. We are currently planning on having a Japanese garden for the front yard. You can help me plan it if you like! Unfortunately we have to have two levels to it due to the retaining. So am debating as to which level to put the Maple on, and which level the water feature, then againg should I make it zigzag down the slope and not have a fixed wall all the way across. To many options!! Lisanne - good luck with the rotary hoe! Re: Front garden idea's! 17Dec 09, 2009 9:59 pm lisanne I have booked a rotary hoe for Saturday! Wish me luck I may need it Have a hoe for me...hmmm....don't think that came out right... mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Front garden idea's! 20Dec 10, 2009 7:06 am I'm going to Hoe Hoe Hoe to Christmas..... I need more sleep '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 You must be new to the internet. You're also the only person anyone here has ever heard of washing their garage wall. I hate to break it to you, there are insects and… 6 4817 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 12227 |