Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Mar 25, 2010 12:57 pm Hi Everyone, We have a small front garden, that slopes down from the house to the sidewalk. Sorry, don't have any measurements at the moment We don't want any grass in the front yard. I don't really want a rock garden. I prefer lots of nice green plants Also, don't really want to include additional colours, such as flowers etc. Would like to keep the garden brown, cream and green if possible. Hope that makes sense!! I don't know if I like a certain "style" of garden. I like one garden I saw on the Henley website. Click on the SECOND picture, to see the garden I like... http://www.vic.henley.com.au/#/House/clendonvale/77/ The problem is that it has grass and a path. How could I modify this type of garden to suit a small sloping area, and remove the grass + path? What plants should I use? All suggestions welcome! Lara and Joshua http://pdheywood25.blogspot.com/ viewtopic.php?f=31&t=31186 16.03.10 Scrape 29.03.10 Slab 08.04.10 Frame 11.05.10 Lock Up 03.06.10 Fixing 24.08.10 Handover Re: Landscaping Front Garden - Where to begin? 2Mar 25, 2010 2:25 pm Not sure where you are located, but around our area, lots of houses now just have crushed rock/small pebbles where they would have previously had grass. You can get it in all sorts of colours to compliment your facade. One thing that comes to mind is to recreate a mini habitat. If you are into Natives, choose a local National Park (could be rainforest, could be heathland, etc) and do something similar on a smaller scale. Even have a look in Botanical gardens or Themed gardens (e.g. the photo you linked looks Japanese inspired). Mix a few taller specimens with some mid sized ones in clusters, then fill the remaining areas with low growing grasses/shrubs. No grass, no rocks, no formal paths (although if using smaller grasses you could possibly wander through it). If it's on a slope just don't do what the owners did at one of the places we rented... put down weed mat, then covered it all in barkchip. The law of gravity really displayed that what is up definitely comes down (it all slid to the bottom!). Second Time 'Round Re: Landscaping Front Garden - Where to begin? 3Mar 25, 2010 2:40 pm First_Timer_Ray Even have a look in Botanical gardens or Themed gardens (e.g. the photo you linked looks Japanese inspired). Mix a few taller specimens with some mid sized ones in clusters, then fill the remaining areas with low growing grasses/shrubs. No grass, no rocks, no formal paths (although if using smaller grasses you could possibly wander through it). I like that idea, any suggestions on what specific plants to use? Preferrably low maintenance! I am in South East Melbourne. Yes, I think I like Japanese inspired gardens. Lara and Joshua http://pdheywood25.blogspot.com/ viewtopic.php?f=31&t=31186 16.03.10 Scrape 29.03.10 Slab 08.04.10 Frame 11.05.10 Lock Up 03.06.10 Fixing 24.08.10 Handover Re: Landscaping Front Garden - Where to begin? 5Mar 26, 2010 6:27 am larajane Yes, I think I like Japanese inspired gardens. Japanese inspiration: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ You don't have to do a totally authentic Japense garden, you can just pick a few elements that you like to lend it some oriental flavour.... Also you're not restricted to traditional Japanese plants; you can use any type of plants, even Australian natives. I love the combination of nandina and scleranthus that I've used in a section of our back yard. Some bamboo, maybe some sasanqua camellias.... grasses, small shrubs that can be topiarised (hardy old diosmas would work for this, as well as the nandinas, but there are lots of choices). A Japanese maple as a feature.... Add a section of raked gravel, or even some pebbles, and a beautiful urn or stone lantern. A timber decked path or small "bridge" could be nice too - or just a decked front porch to get the effect. Re: Landscaping Front Garden - Where to begin? 6Mar 26, 2010 6:40 am We can't have a front fence in our Estate. Thanks for the pictures Kek You've inspired me to start a garden inspiration board today!! I love the little green, round shrubs, and the Japanese stone lanterns. Also, I looked up nandina and scleranthus, which I will probably include in them garden. I have always adored Japanese maple trees, but plan to include them in my backyard I might include a path down the middle of the garden...and possibly some of those creamy brown pebbles. I assume including the timber decking would cost a fair bit more?? I might be wrong. I am not sure whether I want mainly green plants/shrubs, or red, orange, green and yellow plants/shrubs. If you know any other good shrubs I could use, let me know Lara and Joshua http://pdheywood25.blogspot.com/ viewtopic.php?f=31&t=31186 16.03.10 Scrape 29.03.10 Slab 08.04.10 Frame 11.05.10 Lock Up 03.06.10 Fixing 24.08.10 Handover Re: Landscaping Front Garden - Where to begin? 7Mar 26, 2010 9:07 am Decking isn't exactly cheap, but a small area isn't too bad, especially if you can DIY. A friend or relative with some skill and experience (and the right tools) is always good.... Lots of plants can be shaped into green balls - nandina will work, and you get the brilliant red foliage as well as the bright green. English box, Japanese box, Myrtus luna: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Lonicera (Chris and Marie sell it as BoxOz), the Aussie Westringia, or even some of the Correas will lend themselves to shaping. There are lots of others, too many to list. Go and have a look at some Japanese gardens to get more ideas. The zoo has one, and there's at least one up in the Dandenongs. I'm sure if you Google you'll find others that are open to the public. For trees, silver birch would lend some elegance ...or if you want to carry through the topiary look, maybe one of the mop-top Robinias? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Ginkgo Biloba is beautiful, but I think they get a bit big.... unless you want to bonsai it. My Mum has a bonsai forest of Ginkgos - magnificent! Cycads go well....they're a bit exxy, but if you shop around, you can find some decent-sized ones for reasonable prices. Do a search here for more ideas or photos - I know I've posted a few in the past on other threads... Re: Landscaping Front Garden - Where to begin? 8Mar 26, 2010 10:49 am Thanks Kek! Some really great suggestions The problem with shaping is that I want a fairly low maintenance garden....so I might have to go for something else... I looked up all your suggestions on google and love English Box Japanese Box Nandina Mop Top Robinias Scleranthus But the problem will be the shaping. Might have to let go of the round shrub idea Maybe just go for shrubs that look nice as they are, and possible some that change colours like nandina. Now that I am at work, time to start my inspiration board with google and paint!! Lara and Joshua http://pdheywood25.blogspot.com/ viewtopic.php?f=31&t=31186 16.03.10 Scrape 29.03.10 Slab 08.04.10 Frame 11.05.10 Lock Up 03.06.10 Fixing 24.08.10 Handover Re: Landscaping Front Garden - Where to begin? 9Mar 26, 2010 12:39 pm Now I am having trouble with the layout. I have no idea where to put the plants! Everything I try seems to look wrong. Our garden is a similar space to the Henley garden I posted earlier. (posted again below) Click on the SECOND picture ... http://www.vic.henley.com.au/#/House/clendonvale/77/ The only really difference is that the driveway will need to be wider, so the strip of garden between the driveway and path will be smaller. Also, our garden is sloped slightly. Any suggestions on where to place each plant? I am really stuck with this part. Lara and Joshua http://pdheywood25.blogspot.com/ viewtopic.php?f=31&t=31186 16.03.10 Scrape 29.03.10 Slab 08.04.10 Frame 11.05.10 Lock Up 03.06.10 Fixing 24.08.10 Handover Re: Landscaping Front Garden - Where to begin? 10Mar 26, 2010 2:06 pm I don't want anything tall in the front yard, all low to the ground shrubs etc. I don't want the house blocked by the garden at all. Lara and Joshua http://pdheywood25.blogspot.com/ viewtopic.php?f=31&t=31186 16.03.10 Scrape 29.03.10 Slab 08.04.10 Frame 11.05.10 Lock Up 03.06.10 Fixing 24.08.10 Handover Re: Landscaping Front Garden - Where to begin? 11Mar 26, 2010 2:21 pm Hey guys, Just had a look at the blog, just how much of a drop is there at the front to the foot path level? Looks like its between 50cm-75cm or so but its hard to scale from the image. Maybe you could put in a retaining wall at the front rather than battered slope, then the rest of the garden would be on one level. Could put in 1-2 stairs up to lead to a path to the front door? We're still tossing around ideas for ours, we started off with the siting plan for the house and scanned it in. Then we've placed the major pieces, driveway, path options on it then just played with layout ideas first. Maybe take a look around a local nursery to get an idea of what sort of foliage/look you like take some photos then make a similar symbol you can place on the plan to identify it. Makes it really quick to play around with different ideas quickly. Other things to consider, do you want a path to the front door seperate or adjoining the driveway? What about one round the side of the house? Do you need access round the side for bin storage etc. I find if you look at the everyday tasks first and get the practicalities out of the way first, then you can spend more time looking at options for the different areas you've created without it all just being one overwhelming big empty area. Good luck. Our Build - Places Fairhaven 23+ - https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=28045 Our Landscaping - Belial's Backyard - https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=45375 Re: Landscaping Front Garden - Where to begin? 12Mar 26, 2010 2:47 pm Thanks for the advice Belial Not actually sure how much of a drop there is, I would need to look it up, but don't have access to our house paperwork until Sunday night. I am trying to avoid a retaining wall, because I assume it will costs us more to add a retaining wall? We really need to cut costs as much as possible. I actually just realised I have a free program called "My Virtual Home" that has a garden section. You can create your garden on the computer to see what it will look like. Will have to take a look at it on Sunday night (next time I am at that house). I think we want the path mainly seperated from the driveway, just joining at the top, near the house. Lara and Joshua http://pdheywood25.blogspot.com/ viewtopic.php?f=31&t=31186 16.03.10 Scrape 29.03.10 Slab 08.04.10 Frame 11.05.10 Lock Up 03.06.10 Fixing 24.08.10 Handover Re: Landscaping Front Garden - Where to begin? 13Mar 28, 2010 9:49 am hey lara the cranbourne botanical gardens (Australia Garden) are an awesome place for inspiration, its just out past the racecourse on the sth gippy hwy. they have lots of different sorts of garden setups all with labelled plants (really helps for us non gardening types!) there is a great section of low to no water garden with great plants in there it will cost you $10 to get in but definately worth the visit Re: Landscaping Front Garden - Where to begin? 14Mar 28, 2010 7:58 pm Thanks Jeremy, I hadn't thought of that! Great that the plants are all labelled, will definately have to take a look. Probably a nice place to go for the day regardless Lara and Joshua http://pdheywood25.blogspot.com/ viewtopic.php?f=31&t=31186 16.03.10 Scrape 29.03.10 Slab 08.04.10 Frame 11.05.10 Lock Up 03.06.10 Fixing 24.08.10 Handover Re: Landscaping Front Garden - Where to begin? 15Mar 29, 2010 5:16 pm yeah yoou could definately loose some time out there, has a nice cafe aswell! Re: Landscaping Front Garden - Where to begin? 16Mar 29, 2010 5:49 pm Sounds great Now I just have to find a day that me and Josh both have off! His shifts are all over the place. Lara and Joshua http://pdheywood25.blogspot.com/ viewtopic.php?f=31&t=31186 16.03.10 Scrape 29.03.10 Slab 08.04.10 Frame 11.05.10 Lock Up 03.06.10 Fixing 24.08.10 Handover Re: Landscaping Front Garden - Where to begin? 17Apr 01, 2010 1:52 am I would strongly suggest avoiding any pebbles and exposed areas that heat can be stored. look to using silver foliage like Leucophyta or Olearia. greens of Lomandra or Dianella. The soil is the first place to start. Poor soil will result in a poor landscape. Check through the sticky called verges without lawns or something like that Avoid using exotic species and opt for native varieties. These are being sort after by every country in the world right now yet we continue to seek the same boring exotic choices. It will take our plants being used in exotic landscapes over seas before we realise we should be using them more Everyone is onto them except us WA natives further enhance the landscape you will create http://www.zanthorrea.com/info.php http://www.grasstrees.com.au/ http://www.ellenbytreefarm.com.au/default.htm Include a tree It will never look right without one Walls floor ceiling. Do that and you have a basic recipe for a landscape. Miss one of those and you have a problem later on. Also I'll mention that this info is of a very high standard! In fact the guy who produces this info is also the guy many other states turn to for advice as well so it's not some crap government cheapo rubbish. It can be applied to the whole of Australia just as easy as here http://www.watercorporation.com.au/W/wa ... -1558-4831 Re: Landscaping Front Garden - Where to begin? 18Apr 01, 2010 11:29 am I would strongly suggest avoiding any pebbles and exposed areas that heat can be stored. look to using silver foliage like Leucophyta or Olearia. greens of Lomandra or Dianella. When you say I should avoid exposed areas, does that mean avoiding spaces between the plants? I was planning to have them spaced, rather than all bunched together. I like the Lomandra and Dianella How about Acacia Cognata, Nandina, Scleranthus Biflorus, Viburnum..somethingorother..., and Japnese Maples? The soil is the first place to start. Poor soil will result in a poor landscape. What type of soil should I get? Check through the sticky called verges without lawns or something like that Will do Avoid using exotic species and opt for native varieties. These are being sort after by every country in the world right now yet we continue to seek the same boring exotic choices. It will take our plants being used in exotic landscapes over seas before we realise we should be using them more Everyone is onto them except us Do you have any suggestions for native plants, that will suit a more Japanese theme? Preferrably green plants, maybe some that change colours in autumn to reds, yellows, oranges etc? WA natives further enhance the landscape you will create http://www.zanthorrea.com/info.php http://www.grasstrees.com.au/ http://www.ellenbytreefarm.com.au/default.htm Will take a look at these today, thanks for the info Include a tree It will never look right without one Is a Japanese Maple okay for the tree? Where should I place the tree? I assume I wouldn't want it to close to the house, because it would scratch the windows? But to close to the street, I imagine looking strange, as we can't have a front fence. Walls floor ceiling. Do that and you have a basic recipe for a landscape. Miss one of those and you have a problem later on. Does that mean have small, medium and large plants? Also I'll mention that this info is of a very high standard! In fact the guy who produces this info is also the guy many other states turn to for advice as well so it's not some crap government cheapo rubbish. It can be applied to the whole of Australia just as easy as here http://www.watercorporation.com.au/W/wa ... -1558-4831 Lara and Joshua http://pdheywood25.blogspot.com/ viewtopic.php?f=31&t=31186 16.03.10 Scrape 29.03.10 Slab 08.04.10 Frame 11.05.10 Lock Up 03.06.10 Fixing 24.08.10 Handover Re: Landscaping Front Garden - Where to begin? 19Apr 01, 2010 2:28 pm Fu Manchu Check through the sticky called verges without lawns or something like that Here you go: Nature strips without lawns Listen to his Fu-ness and note all he has to say.... Re: Landscaping Front Garden - Where to begin? 20Apr 01, 2010 4:30 pm Thanks Kek, looking through it now Lara and Joshua http://pdheywood25.blogspot.com/ viewtopic.php?f=31&t=31186 16.03.10 Scrape 29.03.10 Slab 08.04.10 Frame 11.05.10 Lock Up 03.06.10 Fixing 24.08.10 Handover Ardo That is so funny! I wonder how many people know who Larry Haun is these days. I have a couple of young guys we call Mo 1 & Mo 2 who run a crew of 6 boys and… 9 15483 I recently finished my house and after landscaping, have begun to plan a fence. To be honest its been a bit of an afterthought so I'm after some much needed advice. The… 0 1438 Hmmm, I have checked your past posts and it seems that you are in NSW, not WA as I had thought. It pays to show your State in your avatar. Retaining wall regulations… 5 7845 |