Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Jan 10, 2010 9:42 pm Hi all! I'm a bit stuck on my landscaping and am looking for some guidance from the wise H1 people. Yesterday my yard had the weed jungle removed (it had got quite impressive but alas, not so useful) and the ground levelled out a bit (thank you bobcat person, thank you ) So now I have a nice bare canvas to work with but I'm not really sure where to start! I don't want to plant much now until summer is done so I was thinking what I need to do is work on improving my soil. There is a gross thick layer of clay everywhere so I'm wondering whether I should put gypsum over that to start with? It's quite a large area so I don't know if I should be doing that or not. Also, I have a massive supply of horse manure available so is it worth chucking some of this on the dirt before putting topsoil on? I have made note of Fu's recommendation of certified organic topsoil only so will source this if I can. Should I try to break up the dirt with some sort of machine or just pop the topsoil on it as is? The back part of the yard is pretty much a rectangle and so far my only thoughts on plants are screening plants along the edges (one side of me is a ring road noise fence so I'd like to try to block my view of that) and then maybe a tree or so in the middle. Also a vegie patch somewhere. Other than that I have no idea what to do with the middle part other than eventually grass it. I want to leave room for footy kicking and backyard cricket! Due to my lack of decisiveness on this would it be fair to just put a layer of soil everywhere for now? Do I even need to put it out now if I'm not planting until later on? So any suggestions of the order I should be doing stuff would be greatly appreciated! I've been delaying the garden this whole time because it's a bit overwhelming (hence the development of the weed jungle). Right now I feel like I have soooo many questions and soooo little idea Re: So....what should happen next? 2Jan 10, 2010 11:11 pm Quote: so I'm wondering whether I should put gypsum over that to start with? It's quite a large area so I don't know if I should be doing that or not. Yes but organic material will also be essential as the gypsum won't become effective for in many cases years. You want humic acids and fulvic acids to start doing their thing too which serve to breaking up clay soils in my opinion more effectively than gypsum but that is arguable. One thing is for sure there is no harm in using both so do that Quote: Also, I have a massive supply of horse manure available so is it worth chucking some of this on the dirt before putting topsoil on? Yes yes yes! Dig it in though. I strongly advise resisting the urge and doing what many landscapers themselves do and layering rich "topsoils" on top of your clays or poor sandy soils. The lazy old plants will just have a very thin layer of rich soil close to the surface to grow in and make little effort to grow deeper where they'll be happier and healthier. It also means water stays close to the surface and that means increased evap rates and therefore a higher water use for the garden Dig them through with a small tiller or rotary hoe. You can hire those. Plan your irrigation or grey water system now. plan where you may want a pond (highly recommended for a habitat in the garden) and so power is needed. Perhapes you want outdoor garden lights so get conduits in ready to feed pipe through. resist the temptation where possible to use turf like instant floor covering. It is a high consumer of yor money and water resources so oinly use it where you have to. Look at constructing paved but shaded practicle areas. This leads me to the single most important thing any subdivision and household can have in a landscape, and that is trees. these when chosen wisely will significantly reduce your home energy use and create a landscape that is peaceful and tranquil or just a nice place to be. Search trees, there's loads mentioned here in this forum I strongly suggest making use of local natives and in particular for front gardens. Avoid a turfed front verge. Have a serious look at native verges and there are some excellent links with plenty of ideas as the stickies above in this forum Of course you know my choice of turf, mainly for it's reduced need for water and mowing compared with others and it does better, that is Empire Zoysia. However Grasshopper begs to differ with me on that for some areas and recommends the soft leaf buffalo's. Have a look at getting green mulches down now over the entire area. This will do a few things. It will be good organic material for when you lay turf once dug into the clay. It will reduce weeds for the time being It will stop heaps of gunky mess from being trampled through your home. Green mulch smells good and isn't grubby. You will have a ready supply for when the garden goes in or get more still The basics really are: the ceiling = trees the walls = shrubs which help create habitat and hide boundries and create spaces in some cases. the floor = turf or well selected ground covers. Re: So....what should happen next? 3Jan 11, 2010 8:03 am Quote: The back part of the yard is pretty much a rectangle and so far my only thoughts on plants are screening plants along the edges (one side of me is a ring road noise fence so I'd like to try to block my view of that) and then maybe a tree or so in the middle. Also a vegie patch somewhere. Other than that I have no idea what to do with the middle part other than eventually grass it. I want to leave room for footy kicking and backyard cricket! Think about what else you may want to use the back yard for and be sure to leave spots for those things too when you finally do get around to planting. Just for starters: Entertaining area BBQ Clothes line Paths Shed Utility area for rubbish bins, compost, etc Kids' play equipment (swings, trampoline, cubby?) A shady (or sunny) spot to sit Pool, spa Pergolas, built-in seating, water features, pond? It's always better to have a basic plan fro the start and do things in stages, than to have to demolish/dig up/move/re-do parts later.... I know, we moved and relaid the same brick pavers three times at our old house. Re: So....what should happen next? 4Jan 11, 2010 10:44 pm Wow, so much great advice. Thanks so much Fu and kek! Fu I have a few follow up questions 1 - with the humic/fulvic acids, are these something I just buy like gypsum and spread around? 2 - I had been thinking about getting a rotary h.o.e in and then the bobcat guy was saying that with the clay being rock hard at the moment that it might struggle but a tiller might do a better job. Do you think one is more useful than the other? And is it best to use that on the ground first, add the manure and then go over it again? 3- irrigation is something I hadn't really thought about since I don't remember when we could last use systems here and don't know that we ever will again! But I just saw haywgl's thread about the grey water in the bin so that might be the way to go for me too. I guess I could get this dirt/mulch on now and pop the irrigation lines in later on (when I've saved some of that elusive money stuff ) 4 - trees! I'm looking forward to putting in some trees! I've always like the Sapphire Dragons and was thinking of putting one in the middle somewhere as a feature (and shade tree to sit under as per kek's suggestion). Other than that I'll check out the other treads about natives that I like because I'd like to encourage birds (and decided today to put a bird bath somewhere). 5 - glad to hear that I should put in green mulch now. I like this idea so will have to get my hands on some of this indeed. I actually don't have a front verge so that's one thing I don't have to think about (thank goodness! although the parking gets hard lol). Here is a pic of the block layout (hopefully it works) Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ I didn't mention before but I also have that little side yard (bottom of the pic) and that's where the clothesline is hidden. I'm thinking a shed can go in the back corner (top left of pic) and the BBQ is just outside the alfresco in that strip at the top of the pic (this will eventually be concreted or something to drive through the garage). I have considered putting another outside deck behind the 'games room' in the far away future! Any suggestions as to where paths should go? I'd like to concrete one around the house (to the eaves width) but other than that, no idea! I supposed something leading to where the shed will be is needed. The trees I've considered so far for the long side at the bottom of the pic (the ring road I mentioned is behind this fence) as ornamental pears or a pittosporum (I liked one called something or other jade?). That side also has a 3m easement so have to be careful about roots. The little front yard I have sorted (I think). I have some Little Gems to go along the fenceline and will fence the front off from the back to make a little courtyard. Down the side next to the drive I have some purple foliage trees to block the veiw from the street too. I think I'll put a bird bath in the middle here perhaps ) Tomorrow when it's not a billion degrees outside I'll get some photos of the actual yard if that helps lol! Thanks again for your help Re: So....what should happen next? 5Jan 12, 2010 6:10 pm Quote: 1 - with the humic/fulvic acids, are these something I just buy like gypsum and spread around? They are I think? You can buy them in eco-amino grow and of course the best source in Powerfeed However these have to be continuously used. The best and the sustainable way to get them is through the constant use of green mulches and applied thick. What happens is it breaks down thanks to mites, earthworms and micro flora in the lower parts into arich humus soil This starts the cycle of feeding the soil and the rest of the little critters will do the feeding of the plants for you The acids produced in these processes will begin the process of breaking the clay up. The gypsum will as well but they both make a good team Re: So....what should happen next? 6Jan 13, 2010 11:19 am D.A Irrigation doesn't need to be expensive. My dad just installed a very basic dripper/spray system in our backyard - 19mm black pipe from bunnings in 20m rolls for under $10 ea from memory. Add some joiners, puncture and pop in your sprayers/dripper heads where the plants are and a tap fitting on the end and there you have a whole system for under $100. E.T.A - you are allowed to water twice a week for 1hr at a time. http://www.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/index.cfm?h2o=customer.rest.gwr4 Second Time 'Round Re: So....what should happen next? 7Jan 23, 2010 10:49 pm First_Timer_Ray D.A Irrigation doesn't need to be expensive. My dad just installed a very basic dripper/spray system in our backyard - 19mm black pipe from bunnings in 20m rolls for under $10 ea from memory. Add some joiners, puncture and pop in your sprayers/dripper heads where the plants are and a tap fitting on the end and there you have a whole system for under $100. E.T.A - you are allowed to water twice a week for 1hr at a time. http://www.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/index.cfm?h2o=customer.rest.gwr4 And a system that is inefficient with water, and with the drippers sold the plants can not develeop strong root systems. They end up with cores of moisture and the roots grow mainly in those areas and not outside them. Microsprayers (the most likely choice) can be at best 40% efficient with water and even worse in windy or poor applications. That means 60% of that water is lost to the air. The finer the water droplets, the less efficient I would strongly advise the installation of water efficient systems as the poor ones give irrigation a bad name (and your wallet in the long run) Irrigation is, when done well, the most efficient way of delivering water to a plant. i imagine you also have another contract with an architect? and yeah, whatever other's said about special conditions and appendices 16 16007 Hi all I am looking to run a water line under my concrete footpath which is directly next to my home, was seeing if this is possible without cutting the entire section… 0 20181 Did you know that you can get rugs made from carpet? So much cheaper than buying a shop rug. So many styles to choose from, but you won't get the highly patterned… 0 6273 |