Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Feb 16, 2010 10:09 pm I'm sure it's too early to be thinking about landscaping the side of the house, but I wanted to get people's opinions on what to do with the 'blind side' of the house. We're pushed up along the boundary of 1 side, leaving 1.5m between wall and fence. Only the laundry and 1 bedroom look out onto this side of the house.
This area has to be low-maintenance. My area is roughly similar in size to Kirsada's, and I LOVE what they did with it!: http://i655.photobucket.com/albums/uu271/kirsada/Picture053.jpg I'm planning on getting a large dog later this year and within the next 5 years we will be starting a family, so I'm a bit hesitant to use all those little pebbles (plus, I've been started along the path of Fuudhism by the great Fuudha, so I want to 'give something back' to the soil). So how about mondo grass + paving? Looks nice to me, but I'm botanically retarded so I don't know if mondo grass is easy to look after and suitable for a low-maintenance passage. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ All opinions welcomed and appreciated! Re: Mondo grass + paving feature 2Feb 16, 2010 10:36 pm Quote: how about mondo grass + paving? Looks nice to me, but I'm botanically retarded so I don't know if mondo grass is easy to look after and suitable for a low-maintenance passage. Well, I'm putting it under my clothesline, so it better be! I reckon it's pretty tough; here's why.... I bought 3 of those 10-punnet thingies of mondo grass from Bunnings back in August. I spotted them on special, and since I was planning to do the back strip of landscaping and get them planted within the next couple of weeks, I grabbed some. The landscaping didn't get done, now suddenly it's six months later, and the poor things are still in their piddly little pots, with roots growing out the bottoms. And up until Christmas, they were stuck behind the garage, getting zero sun until mid afternoon, then being blasted for three or four hours. And I forgot to water them, except maybe once every 3-4 weeks. Out of sight, out of mind. I thought they were dead - there wasn't much green left on them. But a few weeks ago I moved them into the al fresco room where I'd see them and remember to give them a drink now and then, and last week I took a good look at them. Amazingly, they're OK - I pulled off all the dead bits and all but one plant have survived and actually have lots of new growth on them. I'd say that's reason to hope that they'll survive quite well in the ground. Re: Mondo grass + paving feature 3Feb 16, 2010 10:40 pm These things sound like the cockroaches of the plant world ... awesome! Vunda-proof! (I accidentally killed a lucky bamboo once should give you a fairly good idea of my 'abilities') Re: Mondo grass + paving feature 4Feb 16, 2010 10:45 pm Got sidetracked.... I was going to say that there are other alternatives. Some herbs are good in low traffic areas (thyme is the one that usually springs to mind), and as a bonus you can pick leaves as you need them. Then there are some great groundcovers that form a dense mat - you can always clip them back from your pavers to keep things tidy. Myoporum parvifolium is one I see around here a lot, not sure whether it's suitable for your climate. Just a thought. Re: Mondo grass + paving feature 5Feb 16, 2010 10:47 pm Oh oh, thank you Kek! Hubby is very fond of dense groundcovers (lordy isn't it amazing the conversations you have with people you know well...) so this is DEFINITELY worth looking into. Edit: Hubby has just given "Creeping Boobialla" the thumbs up. Men. Re: Mondo grass + paving feature 6Feb 16, 2010 10:56 pm Oh I'm keen to hear how yours develops. I want to do the same thing on our blind side (south side) I dug out mini mondo and mondo from the garden in our old place and have it growing in poly tubs until we finsih the build. The mondo is the bomb. I can forget to water it and it's still alive. I've moved it from the western side over to the southern side and it has still remained alive. I figure if it can take the abuse it's had over the last 6 months and will have for the next 6 then it will be good for the blind side plant out with larger pavers too. I agree with the absence of pebbles when you start a family. The watchful eye on my kids in their oral stage outside drove me quite batty, it would have been nice to be able to relax a little and only freak when they stuff dead bugs in their mouth as opposed to stones as well. Re: Mondo grass + paving feature 7Feb 16, 2010 10:59 pm Hahaha bugs, the land animals' alternative to crustaceans Mmmm, protein. Re: Mondo grass + paving feature 8Feb 16, 2010 11:05 pm You're in Perth and that is in WA. Forget it. No no mondo. It is so expensive here to buy and with the long dry seasons in summer it is so far from sustainable it isn't funny. Tough here in WA and tough over east are two different things and that is due to summer rain fall and soils that hold water. Prices over east are far less Most nurseries here can't grow it themselves for what the east sells it for retail It will also need lots of shade in a spot like that. That is going to get bloody hot there on that side in summer. Therefore create a narrow hedge along there instead. Irrigate with Netafim drip irrigation. Or create shade there. Shade structure, shade cloth, what ever. Then grow dichondra or Lippia instead. (Lippia isn't so invasive here as over east) Re: Mondo grass + paving feature 9Feb 16, 2010 11:10 pm Re: Mondo grass + paving feature 10Feb 16, 2010 11:17 pm Dichondra Silver Falls: Cascading foliage plant 2 to 3 inches tall and 3 to 6 feet long with silver stems and velvety, fan-shaped 1-inch silver leaves Doesn't mind heat and drought! Dichondra Silver Falls Dichondra argentea Silver Falls Velvety Silver Leaves Cascade up to 6 Feet Long! Velvety Silver Leaves Cascade up to 6 Feet Long! Perfect for hanging baskets or stunning ground cover in the garden! Let your hanging baskets and sunny annual bed really gleam this year with Silver Falls, the stunning foliage plant that sports velvety-soft silvery leaves, glistening silver stems, and a "never-say-quit" cascading habit that spreads up to 6 feet! Vigorous and easy to grow, this Dichondra is simply one of the showiest accents around for all your containers and bare garden spots. Its leaves have a thick, super-soft texture and neat fan shape, measuring about 3/4- to 1-inch long and wide. They arise profusely on very well-branched plants that need no pinching. Before you know it, this cascading beauty will be 3 to 6 feet long, though never more than about 3 inches tall! Very heat- and drought-tolerant, Silver Falls recovers quickly even if wilted, and looks fresh all season long. Let it tumble around your Lisianthus, festoon your Dianthus, and wreathe your Mums in spring-through-fall color! Silver Falls thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. If you are using it as a ground cover in the garden, make sure that the soil doesn't get soggy underneath its glorious silver carpet! Pkt is 10 seeds. Dichondra Silver Falls Dichondra Silver Falls Botanical Name: Dichondra argentea Silver Falls Product Category: Seeds Sun Exposure: Full Sun Soil Moisture: Moist, well-drained Soil Types/Tolerance: Normal, loamy Plant Habit: Vining Plant Width: 24 in - 5 ft Height: 24 in - 3 ft Foliage Color: Silver/Gray Uses: Vines and Climbers Baskets Ground Cover Outdoor Additional Features: Flower Re: Mondo grass + paving feature 11Feb 16, 2010 11:19 pm Thanks Perthhomelover and Fu, I'm really liking what I read/see of the dichondra. Re: Mondo grass + paving feature 12Feb 16, 2010 11:25 pm Residential Dripperline In recent times we have seen a change in direction for residential irrigation systems. The word 'waterwise' is a common term when we talk gardening and this term describes what a drip system will deliver in a residential application. As blocks get smaller and designers get more creative there is a need for an irrigation system that puts the water right where its needed. This search for the right system has exposed drip irrigation from the agriciltural world - where it is the primary form of irrigation used to grow most of the fruit and vegetables you consume each day. If its works for the farmer it will work for you too! Why use drip irrigation? * Eliminate wind drift, run off ,misting, evaporation and staining. * Keep the soil wet and the mulch dry - reduces weed growth. * Site specific - irrigate narrow, tricky shapes that sprinklers just cannot acheive efficiently. * Not affected by water restriction in some states, in fact may be the only option! * Eliminate fungal problems caused by spraying water onto leaves. * Unlike conventional systems, drip maintains uniform watering at ground level as plants grow where foliage would normally obstruct the throw of sprinklers. * Works perfectly in area's with low pressure and flow. * Develops vigorous root growth resulting in rapid plant growth. * Able to apply soluble nutrients via the drip system via fertigation. * Ability to use water with higher salt contents as there is no contact with the leaves. * Ability to use Grey water and Black water. Re: Mondo grass + paving feature 13Feb 17, 2010 12:03 am Perth home lover, I should mention also that if any irrigation system is rigged up to a fertigation set up that what is called an "RPZ valve" must be installed and maintained by a licensed plumber. maintenance needs to done annually. Re: Mondo grass + paving feature 14Feb 17, 2010 6:10 am The dichondra? Also nearly improssible to kill. I had a couple of small pots of that, bought same time as the mondo grass. No water, total neglect, and it's still alive. Big thumbs-up from me. Re: Mondo grass + paving feature 15Feb 23, 2010 11:18 pm I have Mondo along the brick wall under Butterfly grass. Both don't get water. I found adding gravel aids the ability of Mondo to spread, which does not surprise me given where it originates from. So some lylidale toppings as mulch actually helped it spread a little. I have some on the nature strip to see what it would do. It did not grow much but it hasn't died either. Survived Melbourne's heatwave last year and has kept green the entire time but it has not grown or spread and I should mention, it never has been watered. It grows in total shade fine, it grows in full sun fine. I can only assume now it needs aggregate or damp soils to spread. Re: Mondo grass + paving feature 16Feb 23, 2010 11:24 pm But it won't happen in WA soils so well Our evap rates are far too high. It is a very expensive risky option. 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 5542 I had 28m2 of engineered pavers laid six months back and it was difficult to find someone not taking the pi$$. Internet suggested it should be $85-100/m2 to lay them.… 3 12411 As most others have posted above the install isn't compliant. 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