Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design Re: The journey begins..GRASS IS DOWN! 41Jan 16, 2010 10:42 pm g'day bel, your yard (and greywater (or should I say purple) system) is reminiscent of ours!!! When we put our instant turf down, it looked like yours too, we did it about mid Nov 2009. we didn't do the drip (grey) like yours, like you, greywater was an afterthought for us too, so not a great situation (aesthetically!!!) in any event, it certainly does the job. We actually park our purple bin outside our bathroom window, we have two baths a day (not big) but enough to fill bin within 2 days, and then use that for the lawns. our beds our on drip from mains. It's not perfect, but after only minimal yellowing of the lawn for about 2wks, around 3-4 week time frame, it now flourishes like mad! We do use washing machine water too when needed. Ours is distributed with the sprinkler, like I said, not great situation, but does the job "legally!" I wish we got our lawn as perfectly flat as yours, ours is a little, let's say, rough! A thankful person is a happy person. [/color]My hobby design blog: http://aviewondesign.blogspot.com/ Re: The journey begins..GRASS IS DOWN! 42Jan 16, 2010 10:50 pm Oh and Haysie, (that's what I'll call you ) I'll give you a tip before planting the little Pittos. You will think it is silly but you'll thank me later I'd be clipping them back by half before planting. This will do a bunch of things. It will make them stronger and less prone to falling over. They will shoot more growth that is much more compact and full. You can get as much as 5 times the foliage. They will have less foliage at planting so that will be less foliage it needs to sustain initially. This allows healthier root growth and lessens the chances of a casualty. For a good hedge, start clipping at a very young age. They will in actual fact grow fast and establish quicker with this method. Two steps forward and one step back Start training them to be narrow and fit along the fence better as they mature. This way they will fill out side to side better yeah you want them big looking but that isn't always best at first. Re: The journey begins..GRASS IS DOWN! 43Jan 17, 2010 7:18 am Haysie -I love it Thanks for all the comments guys I woke up this morning and raced straight down to check it all out - thought someone might have stolen it in the night Annietom - good to know your grass is still going good, I couldn't believe the boys did on getting the lawn so flat either - it was alot of work for them but they managed it really well, the joins are barely noticeable either Thanks for those tips Fu - you are right I did think you were crazy when you metnioned cutting the Pittos - they are so small already I couldn't imagine cutting them off even more! BUT your explanation makes sense so will get DH out with the cutters today before they go in More pics later in the afternoon My karma ran over your dogma Re: The journey begins..GRASS IS DOWN! 44Jan 17, 2010 8:21 am did you say "the boys" - did I mention I did most of ours (ever trying to save a buck!) wish I knew "the boys!" A thankful person is a happy person. [/color]My hobby design blog: http://aviewondesign.blogspot.com/ Re: The journey begins..GRASS IS DOWN! 45Jan 17, 2010 9:49 am Annietom did you say "the boys" - did I mention I did most of ours (ever trying to save a buck!) wish I knew "the boys!" sook Good on ya for having a go though Re: The journey begins..GRASS IS DOWN! 46Mar 08, 2010 9:00 am Well another update!! Just basically an update on the grass and also a bit of advice seeking First the grass - it is going great guns! It had it's first mow - and is looking great it is green and soft and even - just what we wanted - the grey water system seems to be doing it's job, as we haven't used the hose for a while now - just got it established. So here are some shots - up close, in the sun and in the shade Up close, taken about 2 weeks ago Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Taken today in the shade Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Taken today in the sun Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ A long shot taken today - excuse the kids toy and the pipe - it will be cut down and painted green to blend in more Now for the pittosporums - the advice seeking part They are going well - all except 2 which for some reason are browning off when the ones on either side are fine so I am not convinced it is a position thing - should I just leave them in with the brown/crackly leaves or pull them out and replant new ones?? Also while some of the pittos are standing nice and tall others are starting to sort of droop over - I'm wondering if they need stakes at this point when they are still so small? If so how do I go about staking them I have never done it before Some more pics One of the nice upright Pittos Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ One of the drooping ones that might need staking? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ A shot for Nott showing roughly how far apart I planted the pittos - as I said I didn't measure just went by feel/look Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ My karma ran over your dogma Re: The journey begins..GRASS IS DOWN! 47Mar 08, 2010 10:47 am hey mate, this looks fabulous, that was instant turf wasn't it? we did the same, but we couldn't afford the brick edging, I went with cheap plastic, which does the job, but doesn't look as good as yours! I have the plastic drain thing in the middle of our yard too - what is it? we had another (in our put put) which the landscaper cut down, surely they can cut that one out too!!?? A thankful person is a happy person. [/color]My hobby design blog: http://aviewondesign.blogspot.com/ Re: The journey begins..GRASS IS DOWN! 48Mar 08, 2010 10:54 am The grass looks fantastic! Can't really help with the pittosporums - although I'd personally give them a bit of a chop to make them start growing nice and bushy. Fu's your man.... Re: The journey begins..GRASS IS DOWN! 49Mar 08, 2010 11:34 am Thanks guys We are really happy with it too - DH is a little obsessed - at first he wouldn't let any of us walk on it, now he is saying we have to wait another month to put the trampoline on it!! :LOL: Fu did mention giving the pittos a chop, I don't want them really hedge like, more individual trees with their outer leaves just touching if that makes sense.... My karma ran over your dogma Re: The journey begins..GRASS IS DOWN! 50Mar 08, 2010 12:04 pm I think you still need to prune them to encourage new growth (and to make them less spindly). You can always remove the lower branches when they get bigger if you want more of a tree-like effect. Although I guess you'd have to keep the main stem intact, because if you chop that, it'll branch. Better wait for Fu.... Re: The journey begins..GRASS IS DOWN! 52Mar 08, 2010 4:38 pm Thanks Haywgl so much for your shot ! How come ur lawn look so perfect?! That's why ur DH didn't allow u all to touch it ! When my driveway is done, I also asked my husband to park his car in the street ! However, some days later, this " No car restriction " is gone ! Today, I also had my trial to clip one of the Pittos bought. THe branches are toothpicks like! B4: http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp108/nottch/03_08Pittob4trim.jpg After: http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp108/nottch/Desktop.jpg Re: The journey begins..GRASS IS DOWN! 53Mar 08, 2010 5:26 pm They are a great size Nott - bigger than mine!! Where did you source them from, and how much? I think I will cut mine back - how much should I trim off them - do I do it off the top only or all branches?? FU - where for art thou?? My karma ran over your dogma Re: The journey begins..GRASS IS DOWN! 54Mar 08, 2010 8:27 pm From the La trobe sunday market ( Bundoora), it was a special, $2.5 each. Urs , though tiny at the moment, had much more leaves and volume ( not height) than mine. I think Fu will comment yours a better choice. Re: The journey begins..GRASS IS DOWN! 55Mar 08, 2010 8:46 pm kek Can't really help with the pittosporums - although I'd personally give them a bit of a chop to make them start growing nice and bushy. Great words. Yeah by clipping they are coming down in size but these are not healthy plants. Sparse foliage, tall leggy weak growth from pumping them full of fertilisers. They have no strength. Cut them like the hair dressers do. Grab a handful and maybe even use some kitchen scissors. Then cut just above your hand and let go, bamo, all even. Then snip out the longer remaining stems down to just above the nearest node. The pittos will shoot two new shoots from where there was on stem. You just doubled the growth and foliage. Then then next clip will make double that again from all the new shoots and so = dense hedge that is constantly being stimulated ( ) to grow Please avoid staking at every cost. (unless creating a topiary) Cut them back, avoid fertiliser, use some seasol, powerfeed and peastraw as a heavy mulch, then in summer add green tree shreddings and you will be astonished at how your garden comes along compared to other peoples Then you can teach them, and they can teach their friends Some molasses too will also be a massive help Re: The journey begins..GRASS IS DOWN! 56Mar 09, 2010 7:55 am Great advice - I have been doing this process with a row of 16 sasanqua camelias for about 6 years and also did not want a hedge but a meshed screen - now 2 metres high and all meshed together. The hairdresser technique works. Really good advice - it works. Re: The journey begins..GRASS IS DOWN! 58Mar 09, 2010 9:03 am Thanks for all the tips guys Ok so I did the haircut on the plants and must say I nearly shed a tear - but I know it will be for the good of the plants in the long run! What about the brown crackly ones Fu? Do I rip them out and plant new ones or just cut them right back? There are 2 of them -in different areas so not sure why they are doing so poorly and the others around them are fine?? Oh and forgot to say to you Annietom - ours isn't brick edging either it is just some pine cut down My karma ran over your dogma Re: The journey begins..GRASS IS DOWN! 59Mar 09, 2010 10:40 am Cut them back too and give them some seasol and a bit of molasses in water. If they cark it, well nothing really lost. Re: The journey begins..GRASS IS DOWN! 60Mar 12, 2010 3:34 am Thank you for such wonderful photos! Best wishes, S & T Any advice on how to ensure the kit home granny flat that im thinking of buying will get council approval. The kit home companys wont release plans without a deposit and… 0 7114 DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair Please help me to answer this question , it will help me a lot as i can go to buy confidently with your recommendation: I want to put synthetic turf in our backyard for… 0 5534 How long is a "long period"? For a few weeks, it should be ok. It also depends on the area you live in...I would let your neighbours know that you will be away too and… 1 28544 |