Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Feb 01, 2010 9:40 pm Hi all, After a long process, we have finalised our house design, and now turn our minds to landscaping. I have drafted up some landscape plans for the front and back. We have two very young children, so need an area for them to play as they grow, and for us to relax, throw kids birthday parties, and the (occasional) grown-up party. We would also like to mess about growing some of our own vegies/herbs etc. The area in the bottom left of the back yard is for a large trampoline, cubby house and sand pit (all of which we already own and get used a lot). We are looking for something a little formal, but not trimmed to within an inch of its life (not really into box hedges). But would like to create a large private area, so plantings along the fence need to be high. We would like a green lush look in summer, but would like to see some autumn colour, and flowers in spring (but not much that attracts bees). There is also an easement running along the back fence (3 metres wide), and the site is almost dead-flat. We are building in western Melbourne (Point Cook), and plan to use a greywater irrigation system to water the garden and lawn (as in our current place - which is quite lush). I have not finalised plant slections yet, but have put down some initial thoughts. What do you think? Front landscape: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Back landscape: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Looking forward to seeing your thoughts... DL * Building the H3nl3y S0H0 in Point Cook - Land settled 11 Dec 09 - Site start 5 Mar - Slab 26 Mar - Frame 20 Apr - Build thread https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=22763 Re: Landscape plan draft - let me know what you think 2Feb 05, 2010 9:55 am Hey DL - nice plan! I really like the modern formal look. You could consider adding some low hedges as borders - there are lots of suitable plants to choose from. A low clipped hedge around garden beds or paved/decked areas really enhances the formal look. My eyesight is a bit crap, so I can't really read your notes on the back yard plan, but the layout looks good. Are those shade sails you've drawn over the decking? I was wondering about shade for your entertaining area, but shade sails would do the job. Love the water feature. Is your garage on the opposite side of the house to the driveway entrance? I'm trying to imagine your block...perhaps it's one of those at the end of a squared-off cul-de-sac? Are you doing the work yourself? All at once or in stages....? Re: Landscape plan draft - let me know what you think 3Feb 05, 2010 8:45 pm Hey kek, Thanks for your feedback... You are right, our house is located on a kind of cul-de-sac, so our driveway extends across the block. We wanted the entertaining areas facing north east, so we sited the house that way to minimise the western exposure to the living areas. A bigger driveway with some trees that look great as an avenue might work there. Somewhere for the kids to play on their bikes too off the roads. My build thread has the house plans and siting that may give you a clearer picture. Those are shade sails over the decking. Since those areas face north, I was thinking that in winter I could take them down and let the sun heat the family/kitchen/dining room during the day. I will have another think about low clipped hedges. The house is not as formal as some, there is only a little render on the front, the rest is face brick, so I wanted to soften how formal the garden is. The idea I had for the border around the back garden is below: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ but without the sculpture in the front. I was thinking an Ornamental Pear around the outside with an underplanting of Daphne Odora, the odd lemon/lime tree near the door, a vegie/herb garen near the deck, and the water feature som sord of pond with water flowing with parts of the deck extending over it. May have a small fountain(s) along it with lights... Was going to get it all done at once. I was going to get some assistance from a landscape designer from the associations that Fu suggests to refine the design. We would be looking for it to be done in one go. We have two very young kids and dont have the time for such a major project. It will be heaps better than the 4m x 13m courtyard we have at the moment. Larger pictures are below: Front: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Back: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Thanks again for taking a look. DL * Building the H3nl3y S0H0 in Point Cook - Land settled 11 Dec 09 - Site start 5 Mar - Slab 26 Mar - Frame 20 Apr - Build thread https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=22763 Re: Landscape plan draft - let me know what you think 4Feb 06, 2010 7:54 pm Quote: Those are shade sails over the decking. Since those areas face north, I was thinking that in winter I could take them down and let the sun heat the family/kitchen/dining room during the day. Good thinking - we plan to do something similar. We were originally going to build a pergola, but decided we didnt' want to lose the winter sun or too much light. Shade sails or those retractable awnings are great because they can adapt to seasons/weather conditions. Quote: A bigger driveway with some trees that look great as an avenue might work there. Lovely idea! I have a "thing" for avenues of pleached trees at the moment, but sadly, not much room to indulge it. These pears are nice: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Or these limes: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ They work well with low hedges too. You can always go kind of semi-formal, let the edges blur a little, like this: http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i18/kerrynw/fc8l.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i18/kerrynw/fc11l.jpg Or use something for hedging that looks a bit less formal. Not Box.... maybe Nandina, or Murraya.... Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ http://i308.photobucket.com/albums/kk321/FuManchu5ltr/31102008005.jpg I've even seen gardenias hedged. Glossy leaves, sweet-smelling flowers. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Daphne would be a lovely addition too, one of my favourite plants. Winter perfume, beautiful! I think you have a great plan - sounds like you have it all under control. Getting it all done at once will be fantastic; the best way to go if you can afford it, that's for sure. Re: Landscape plan draft - let me know what you think 5Feb 06, 2010 7:56 pm Don't tell Fu ...there are Liriopes in a few of those photos I posted. Re: Landscape plan draft - let me know what you think 6Feb 07, 2010 12:13 pm kek Lovely idea! I have a "thing" for avenues of pleached trees at the moment, but sadly, not much room to indulge it. These pears are nice: I like these too. Along the driveway at the front would look great... kek You can always go kind of semi-formal, let the edges blur a little, like this: I think I like this photo the best for the back yard. It is almost exactly the look I am after. Except we can have much wider garden beds (we were thinking around 1.5m to 2m), so were thinking of having a pear at the back, and the daphne underneath. I like the blurred edge though, so maybe something like that in the photo right at the front to create the border? Thanks for the photos, they are fantastic. DL * Building the H3nl3y S0H0 in Point Cook - Land settled 11 Dec 09 - Site start 5 Mar - Slab 26 Mar - Frame 20 Apr - Build thread https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=22763 Hi everyone I have a terracotta tiles roof When I climb inside the roof cavity I can feel that there is a draft inside the roof as the wind goes through the roof which is… 0 4348 No. It's not original. Circa early to mid 90s would be my guess and maybe even as late as early 2000s 1 6631 Landscape Design Parramatta We have been doing a large amount of landscape design work in Sydney… 0 3 |