Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Apr 05, 2010 11:06 pm Hi Folks I am searching for some water wise design inspiration for my front yard and my crossover, and I'm hoping that some of the experienced members here can provide some assistance. My other half and I have just built our first house, which did not include a front landscaping package. Judging by our neighbours front yards this is probably a blessing in disguise! Some quick info - we have a 19m street frontage and our house is over 5m back from the footpath. Our house is in Piara Waters (Forrestdale/Canning Vale area) in WA. We also have almost no gardening experience, so please excuse my lack of knowledge All of the gardens in the area are the typical Aussie design - garden beds along the fence line and in front of the house, with lawn covering the rest of the space. For an area that is only looked at and never used, this seems like such a waste of water. We are thinking of using large garden beds filled with water wise plants and incorporating a decorative gravel path through the garden. Are there any good examples of this having been done successfully? Does anyone have plant recommendations? I know that many natives are hardy, but I don't want my house to look too much like bushland. I'm sure there are many attractive natives that I just don't know about, so all ideas are welcomed! Does anyone have any other design suggestions? I'd still like some ground level greenery, though something less thirsty then lawn. Are there any tough ground covers that would do the job? If so, how long would they take to cover the area? Now for the final issue - the council crossover. We really don't want to put any lawn or plants on there. Has anyone here seen a good alternative? We don't particularly want to pave it due to its size. We were thinking about compacting crushed stone or gravel, but I've not seen them used. Any help received would be very much appreciated Laura Re: Front landscaping ideas 2Apr 05, 2010 11:09 pm 1. water corp website. 2. Great gardens workshop. 3. drive around and get ideas form other gardens. just lightning notes. As in yeah like this or yeah like that. Not much detail. 4. Then compare detail of what you do and don't like. 5. Go to local library and flick through landscape and travel books. Again jot ideas of parts of features of landscapes you like. 6. check out the gardens on http://www.gardenjot.com/ Re: Front landscaping ideas 3Apr 05, 2010 11:13 pm Oh and hopefully this allows a novice to create a design far outside the box of Mc plants and rubbish black mulch and pebbles. Gardenweek this weekend will be worth a visit Take the camera Perrylakes in Floreat. Some good talks on too There will be some of the states best landscapers there and I'm sure they'll be happy to give you some basic tips of their own also They bloody better Muchea tree farm normally have a huge selection of WA natives. Be daring and have a go at doing a garden with them. They will provide loads of colour and unique appeal. Kings Park is also landscaped to provide inspiration for ideas. Have a squiz at this too http://www.zanthorrea.com/ Re: Front landscaping ideas 4Apr 06, 2010 7:59 am a few ideas : 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 ⋅ Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Front landscaping ideas 5Apr 08, 2010 12:45 am Thanks for the photos Southie and the advice Fu. I'm thinking something along the lines of the first photo but I'm still unsure. I've just come back from a Great Gardens workshop, which was very informative and I'd recommend going along to anyone. Some great no-nonsense advice was given! I will try my best to make Garden Week but unfortunately I'm moving into the new house this weekend so I'll have to see how I go for time. Also thanks for the nursery tip. I have been looking around for a good nursery and Zanthorrea looks like it might be a winner I will visit it shortly. Cheers Laura Re: Front landscaping ideas 6Apr 09, 2010 12:31 am I don't advise the use of pebbles as valid waterwise garden practice. There are significant reasons why. We take from the soil but what do we put back? Pebbles mean nothing at all is put back into the soil, and no fertilisers don't count, in fact they worsen the situation somewhat. Good soil is a highly exhaustible resource A good waterwise garden will have thick layers of mulches that compost to form the future new soils of any landscape. Re: Front landscaping ideas 7Apr 09, 2010 12:33 am 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 2056 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 7866 Hi, you've probably already resolved this, however, Commbank will probably pay the funds to you after you send evidence the work is done regardless the change in the quotes. 1 35332 |