Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Feb 05, 2010 3:18 pm Hi Everyone, I've been lurking..err...researching... around this thread for a while, and now we're almost ready to start planting! I was hoping to get some suggestions. We're going with a native theme, very much inspired by this garden which we hope to do something similar in our front yard: http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr64/JellyLegs01/FrontLanscape1.jpg many of you may remember from this thread: http://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=10213 But for now, I need some help continuing this Aussie theme in a different way in the back yard. We've just about finished building raised garden beds and I've been digging plenty of gypsum and organic matter through our VERY clay soil as I go. We do plan on brining in organic soil to fill it up though. This is what it looks like so far (still needs the posts to be cut back and finished off!!) http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr64/JellyLegs01/100_1702.jpg http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr64/JellyLegs01/100_1703.jpg http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr64/JellyLegs01/100_1705.jpg http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr64/JellyLegs01/100_1704.jpg We plan on putting a water feature in this spot - something like a water wall which we'll build ourselves. Any suggestions on materials etc would be great. Our thoughts for this area have evolved from lush tropical resort style, then on to all productive/edible plants, and now native to keep it water-friendly. I think this is where I'm getting myself tied up. I've had a vision in my mind for so long of lush big green leaves, and fragrant flowers, I'm finding it hard to be inspired by woody natives. I've considered using the same plant all the way around as a screen which I think may give it a bit more of a formal look than the front - but might come out being boring??? I've also thought maybe using a range of different gravilleas. Other issues are: The big corner - I realy have no idea what to put in there. It will obviously need to be something that 'owns' that space as a bit of a feature, but still tie in with the rest of the plants. And, I also think it would be nice to have something stand out either side of the water feature. Maybe an unusual banksia or something...??? What are your thoughts (and please don't say Lilly Pilly!!)???? Plants to screen the fence would need to be about 2-3m high, and then I would like to have something else that dangles over the wall a bit. Does that make sense BTW Ladies: I built this mostly by myself!! A little help from hubby to get me started, but all the wonky bits and holes drilled at the wrong heights - along with all the good parts - was all me! Feeling pretty chuffed with myself - sore from digging holes, lifting bags of rapid set and manouvering those heavy sleepers - but pretty pleased none the less! Re: Help me choose plants for my garden! 2Feb 09, 2010 9:25 am Nice work Jellylegs! I'm not much help with suggesting plants for Brissie.... you could try some ideas from these sites though: http://www.calyx.com.au/native_species/native_plant.html http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2667839.htm Although this site is from a Melbourne nursery and the plants suggested are suited to our climate, the tips are worth reading, and some of the plants are sure to be OK for your part of the world: http://www.baag.com.au/screening_ideas.html Just a couple of thoughts: Grevilleas: http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsheets/Flowering-Plants-and-Shrubs/Dons-Bakers-Dozen:-13-Best-Grevilleas/2102 Bottlebrushes: http://www.calyx.com.au/native_species/callistemon.html And if you want a climber to cover the top of your fence and cascade down a-ways, my favourite is the Wonga Vine, Pandorea Pandorana. I prefer the creamy Alba, but the more common bronze is spectacular too. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We had one each of these beauties at our old place and apart from a haircut every year to stop them growing up trees or through the spouting, they needed very little attention. Whenever someone visited our place in spring, this plant always got a WOW! reaction. Happy plant-hunting! Re: Help me choose plants for my garden! 3Feb 09, 2010 9:25 am Can you explain how you built the beds and rough costs/size etc? '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: Help me choose plants for my garden! 4Feb 09, 2010 9:27 am lisanne Can you explain how you built the beds and rough costs/size etc? Uh-oh.....I predict another Lisanne DIY Backyard Blitz happening. Re: Help me choose plants for my garden! 5Feb 09, 2010 10:04 am kek lisanne Can you explain how you built the beds and rough costs/size etc? Uh-oh.....I predict another Lisanne DIY Backyard Blitz happening. Heheheheh! I've come up with the idea that looks very similar to JL's for my vegie garden beds so I'm curious as to how they have done it to compare my idea's '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: Help me choose plants for my garden! 6Feb 13, 2010 9:14 am Thanks Kek - I will check out those sites. You've put quite a few links up in different threads and I always find myself getting lost in the first 1 or 2 and forget to come back and follow the others Must remember to finish the job! That climber you suggested sounds lovely and I will most certainly be looking for that one! Thanks. Lisanne - once it was started, it was super easy. We haven't levelled out our backyard yet, so the hard part was working out the height it needed to be sitting off the ground when the turf area was laid. Once we worked out the slope we needed away from the house, we stuck stakes in the ground along the line of the garden bed and ran a string line around at that height. At the moment, there are sleepers that are sitting about 10mm off the ground, and at other points, I've had to dig down through some high points to keep it flat. It will all be even when we get to doing the turf. So, with the string line marked out at the height of the bottom of the first sleeper, and 1m out from the fence, I marked out 200mm wide post holes every 2.4m - this is the length of the sleepers we ordered. I cut some sleepers into 800mm lengths for the posts, dug the holes to 400mm and set the posts in rapidset concrete. Very easy. You need to use a spirit level to make sure your posts are sqaure. We also have a spirit level to hang off the string line to make sure that is an even height. Then it was just a matter of lining the sleepers up with the posts, drilling a hole through at even distances, so they all look nicely lined up, and secure it with galvanised cup head bolts. You need to make sure you use H4 treated pine so that it is safe to use in the soil. Also...I have read bits and pieces that say that treated pine is not good for use in vegie patches due to the potential of chemicals leeching into the produce. I think the jury is out on that, but if you're concerned, you can line the sleepers with black plastic. If you do that though, you really need to make sure you've allowed for drainage so you're not creating a pond. Costs:$11.90 for each of the sleepers which were 2.4 x 200 x 50. A box of 50 bolts was about $45 and I used Zenith M8 X 120. 16cents each for washers (16c at Bunnings - 33cents each at Mitre 10 ). Rapid set concrete...hmmm... I think these were about $7 per bag, and you need one per hole. You may also need a dill, an 8mm drill bit, spirit level, post hole digger, gloves to wear while using the post hole digger (very important unless you want blisters!!) stakes to mark out your string line, marking spray to mark where your post holes will go, and a shovel to help dig holes (Big W have a GREAT shovel atm by Jamie Durie for $16, much nicer to use than my DH's more expensive ones. It's a very cool green colour too ). There's a couple of guides here. I followed the video one here, and used 2 bolts for each end of the sleeper, but now that it's done, I think 1 bolt at each end would have been just fine. It would have saved a lot of money just using 1! http://www.centenarylandscaping.com.au/userfiles/files/Build_a_Sleeper_Retaining_Wall09.PDF http://www.centenarylandscaping.com.au/retaining-walls-timber-retaining-walls-diy-videos The hardest part of all of this was digging the holes. If you're going to build something this size, I would look into hiring a petrol post hole digger. Not only was it a shocker digging holes in 30+ degree heat in the steaming humidity, but I have a couple of *** bits where my digging wasn't too accurate! I figure this can be disguised by plants! You could also consider using recycled sleepers to get them cheaper. We looked into this, but found it hard to get enough from the one place for what we needed without it looking bitsy. Hope that helps! Good luck with it. Re: Help me choose plants for my garden! 7Feb 13, 2010 10:09 am Thanks Jelly legs!! I'm not sure what wood I will be using yet but have heard similar about treated pine with vegie beds so I will need to speak to the timber people. My BIL suggested to me that I once I have the soil/ground level, get the wood in lengths that I need and then put them in place and put a star picket in the ground at each end of the plank next to the wood to hold it in place and then when I fill the inside it will push against the star picket and it will hold it together - that way I don't need to dig holes or use bolts etc. I will check out your links this afternoon! '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: Help me choose plants for my garden! 8Feb 13, 2010 12:08 pm awesome job on the garden beds jellylegs, just goes to show that us girls can be pretty handy! good luck with your plant hunt! a native garden sounds beautiful and there are some lovely native grasses out there that will give it a lush look (don't know the names though!) GOOD LUCK and it looks fabulous Kylie handover happened 15/6/09...love living on an acre but still so much to do! Re: Help me choose plants for my garden! 9Feb 13, 2010 1:00 pm Timber people will say it's fine. Read any good organic garden magazine and they will say differently. This is why the popularity of raised beds made from galv cory steel is so popular. Re: Help me choose plants for my garden! 10Feb 14, 2010 9:27 am Fu Manchu Timber people will say it's fine. Read any good organic garden magazine and they will say differently. This is why the popularity of raised beds made from galv cory steel is so popular. That's right. I also found an article by the CSIRO which said that the chemicals shouldn't be a problem. Personal preference I think. kyiee81 awesome job on the garden beds jellylegs, just goes to show that us girls can be pretty handy! good luck with your plant hunt! a native garden sounds beautiful and there are some lovely native grasses out there that will give it a lush look (don't know the names though!) GOOD LUCK and it looks fabulous Thanks Kylie - good to see you back around here too lisanne My BIL suggested to me that I once I have the soil/ground level, get the wood in lengths that I need and then put them in place and put a star picket in the ground at each end of the plank next to the wood to hold it in place and then when I fill the inside it will push against the star picket and it will hold it together - that way I don't need to dig holes or use bolts etc. I will check out your links this afternoon! Start pickets would be MUCH cheaper, quicker and easier, and you would also have the option of pulling it all down if you get tired of it (which I'm sure you wouldn't....but just in case...!!) Murraya could be a great option for you. It creates a great tall screening hedge but doesn't drop fruit like lily pilly. The flowers smell divine. 2 7964 Anthony Firstly, wow you have put a lot of work into your list of questions! Great job and they are mostly valid questions that a builder should be able to answer. As… 14 9118 |