Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Mar 28, 2010 2:20 pm I've just spent another exhausting two days of work outdoors (and three trips to Bunnings....or if I count Friday's that would be FIVE ), but the results are definitely all worth it. Project 1 First of all, I decided that the path beyond the planter - the one that runs alongside the family room to the back of the house - needed a special "thing" at its end. You know, a focal point. I decided on a pot with something planted in it. Luckily, I managed to find a bargain tall glazed pot in a bluey-green that was reduced due to a crack. $45 worth for $15, thank you very much! I brought it home and plonked it in the spot where I wanted it and it just looked blah. It disappeared into the Woodland Grey fence and was hardly noticeable. Hmm. In a stroke of brilliance, I decided that it needed a bamboo panel behind it to make it stand out. Back to Bunnings.... One pre-made bamboo panel and two very tall star pickets, a couple of coats of Ultradeck on the frame and some he-man work on my husband's part with a ladder, a hammer and a block of wood, and ta-dah..... Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ It's a pretty nice view as you walk in the side gate: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Project 2 I also wanted a home for my herbs, and had an idea about an oblong planter. I spotted a cheap unglazed terracotta one at Bunnings, gave it a coat of sealer and two coats of CB Ironstone paint, and it now matches the built in planter perfectly. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Clockwise from left: Greek oregano, sage, Vietnamese mint, thyme, chives. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ I'll grab another next weekend and move the rest of the herbs out of the plastic bowl... Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Project 3 I had two cordylines that I stupidly allowed the landscapers who did our front yard (freebie deal from the developer) to plant right in front of our bedroom windows. 12 months on, they were getting a bit big... My plan was to move them to a couple of large pots in our new paved area. So I hunted high and low for the perfect pots. Why can I never find the right size, right, shape, right colour and right price, all in the one pot...? Solution: Two cheap fibreglass pots from Bunnings and two coats of CB Ironstone paint. Man, that one-litre can I bought when we moved in has done well.... it's covered the letterbox and five big pots so far. Some work with the fork and spade, a quick trip in the wheelbarrow to the back yard, and four bags of potting mix later, I have these: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ A couple of Phormiums have replaced them out the front: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Project 4 The last job was to get the plants I've collected in the ground. I called for reinforcements to get the holes dug (apparently I dig like a girl ) for the Magnolia Little Gem and the Strelizia Nicolai, but did the rest myself. Phew. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ There are still a few to plant but I haven't decided exactly where to put them yet. Plus I need a few more, but it's definitely looking more and more complete. Re: The backyard projects continue.... 2Mar 28, 2010 3:22 pm WOW Kek. . .love what you have done to your garden You have given me some great ideas on transforming pots that aren't the right colour. . .what a clever girl you are!! You should have a segment on Better homes & gardens. Loretta Built The Jenmark with Cavalier Homes Macarthur. http://camdenacres.blogspot.com/ Thread - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=17870 We are in - front landscaping begins Re: The backyard projects continue.... 3Mar 28, 2010 3:45 pm Great work, kek. It looks magnificent. Congrats. Re: The backyard projects continue.... 5Mar 28, 2010 4:38 pm Thanks, girls! I now have a list of Easter projects: - Seal and paint another herb planter and get the extra plants in it. Hmm, perhaps I'll get two of them....there's room. - Pick up a couple more pots of bamboo and fill in some empty spots. Maybe another strelitzia reginae or two...a cycad...some grasses.... I think I'd better leave the credit card at home. - Help the other half build a reed screen to provide a nicer view outside the lounge windows. Then string some wire across it to train a Chinese star jasmine along. - Find the perfect pot for our lime tree and get it planted. - Feed everything with molasses. We both feel as though we're nearly there.... Edit.... forgot one: sand, stain and varnish French doors and facade windows. Re: The backyard projects continue.... 6Apr 01, 2010 2:24 am Hey kek, when the spring nights warm, get a heap of basil in around the back of the flax out front. It will be able to be clipped into a nice green hedge and smell sensational through those windows Also when the flax start looking a bit iffy try Dianella emerald arch or Tas red same look, far tougher than the flax Re: The backyard projects continue.... 7Apr 01, 2010 6:09 am Basil.... nice idea, Fu! Will do, once the frosty weather has come and gone. Any suggestions for hardier than average varieties? Yeah, yeah, flax is the devil, I know..... As you know, it's all about what you can find in the nursery at the time you need it.... bloody nurseries seem to only have limited dianella varieties at any given time, and 7,000 types of flax. Re: The backyard projects continue.... 8Apr 01, 2010 9:43 pm Not over here It's the other way around for us As for what Basil to use any is fine Re: The backyard projects continue.... 9Apr 01, 2010 10:24 pm Fu Manchu Not over here It's the other way around for us As for what Basil to use any is fine progress viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20401 sculptures viewtopic.php?f=36&t=26607 pole trouble viewtopic.php?f=3&t=25988 Re: The backyard projects continue.... 10Apr 01, 2010 10:36 pm Hang on I'll have a squiz at a stock list of mine and list them if you want Back in a sec Re: The backyard projects continue.... 11Apr 01, 2010 10:39 pm Lime basil Sweet basil Basil basil Pesto Basil Thai Basil Purple Ruffles Basil Red Rubin Basil and Spicy globe Basil Re: The backyard projects continue.... 12Apr 02, 2010 7:10 am seeking solutions There are different types of Basil??? Try a market stall selling herbs, ss and you'll be amazed at some of the varieties. Even the average nursery should have three or four though. Fu Manchu Lime basil Sweet basil Basil basil Pesto Basil Thai Basil Purple Ruffles Basil Red Rubin Basil and Spicy globe Basil I've grown good old sweet basil, Thai basil and one that smells very slightly of aniseed in the past. Pity it doesn't like our cold winters, or I'd go hunt some out right now. Re: The backyard projects continue.... 13Apr 02, 2010 7:59 am Hey Kek the backyard is looking sensational!! I lvoe the idea of the screen behind the pot plant, it looks great! '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: The backyard projects continue.... 14Apr 02, 2010 11:35 am The aniseed taste and smell to all basils will vary a fair bit. temp, water and soil health play a part in that. you can have basil growing in several parts of the garden and chances are they will all develop a unique flavour of their own In other words, true to the variety but with it's own spin on it Re: The backyard projects continue.... 15Apr 03, 2010 8:41 am That explains a lot Fu.... we often buy basil from the supermarket or greengrocer when we don't have any of our own growing, and the taste varies a lot, even though it looks the same. lisanne Hey Kek the backyard is looking sensational!! I lvoe the idea of the screen behind the pot plant, it looks great! If you're driving by this weekend Lisa, drop in and I'll give you a tour. It looks a bit different to when you called to pick up your pots. We've got some more projects going on this weekend. We were at Bunnies with the other early birds this morning, stocking up on treated pine. The trade desk was busy. Coffee break is almost over! Re: The backyard projects continue.... 16Apr 03, 2010 8:58 am Kek - looks fantastic. Remember to be free when I need my backyard done My house and my rants.... - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=26937 We are in!!!...and still unpacking. Thankfully there are always Tim Tams Re: The backyard projects continue.... 17Apr 03, 2010 9:32 am mpcj Kek - looks fantastic. Remember to be free when I need my backyard done I'm just off to Sertel's..... Re: The backyard projects continue.... 18Apr 03, 2010 10:10 am kek If you're driving by this weekend Lisa, drop in and I'll give you a tour. It looks a bit different to when you called to pick up your pots. We've got some more projects going on this weekend. We were at Bunnies with the other early birds this morning, stocking up on treated pine. The trade desk was busy. Coffee break is almost over! Oooh a tour would be great! Although I don't think I'm heading that way today - will have to tee it up for another time '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: The backyard projects continue.... 19Apr 03, 2010 11:07 am lisanne Oooh a tour would be great! Although I don't think I'm heading that way today - will have to tee it up for another time No worries...just yell out. Sertel's was the busiest I've ever seen it. I disposed of all my empty pots and picked up another bamboo. I was tempted to buy a lot more (ginger lilies.... advanced strelizia reginaes.... lomandra "Little Con".... sooooo many lovely things ), but the thought of how much we spent on timber this morning for a simple screen was enough to ensure the credit card stayed in my bag.... 0 2020 DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair That laser level looks lovely! We bought one for less than a quarter of that price off eBay. It worked really well for us and it's still going now, five years later. After… 1 16711 It's possible but a soak well is usually much larger. Your 'soak well' only holds 424 litres when full. What is your soil type? Soak wells need sandy soils. 10 9011 |