Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 May 18, 2011 2:23 pm Hi At Last I finished doing the planning. Planning was quick and easy, but it took a lot of time to measure and draw the plan. We moved into our house 2 years ago and havenot done anything in terms of gardening or landscaping. I wanted to do nothing until I finished my over all design. I think I have almost done that now. When we moved into our house, it was 5 year old and there were about 4 tall good liking trees in the front yard and "grass" everywhere else. At the moment it takes roughly 1.s hours to move and do edging. We have a biggish back yard and small front yard. As far as we go, we don’t have any experience gardening or landscaping. Literally zero All the drawings below are to scale using cad software. Current state of my "Landscape" http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z44 ... dscape.jpg http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z44 ... /front.jpg http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z44 ... 7/back.jpg planing to link some photos too What I am planning to do http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z44 ... planed.jpg http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z44 ... planed.jpg I will not be starting everything which is in the plan now. I am thinking of tackling one by one. I don’t want to spend a lot therefore I will try and do pretty much everything I can by myself. I am not in a hurry to complete so planning to work towards completion slow. I have a fulltime job and a 4.5 month old baby and very hard to find time. I want to grow some plants and vegies therefore I am starting with garden beds now. I will think about the others later.I am thinking of Timber garden frames for both front and back yard garden beds. I am planning to start with this from next week; I will be off to holidays returning on Monday. Also grass or lawn I have all over is in worst condition possible. Weeds are everywhere therefore when I finish with everything in the plan above I am planning to put in turf. Hope to get some feedback from you guys. This forum has encouraged and given me confidence to start my landscaping. Feel free to give me advice. Thanks Raj Re: Landscape and garden design 2May 18, 2011 7:36 pm Hey Raj, Welcome to the forum. We've been in our home for 12mths now and still haven't nearly completed all the gardening. It's challenging but hugely rewarding an enjoyable. Sometimes you just want it to be a nice day so you can be out doing stuff to the garden. You are on the right track with your garden. I think it's important for people to visualise how their garden may look or how they want it to look and what plants are suitable for the area. One mistake is going to a nursery and buying plants whilst you are there without having some kind of list and ensuring you stick closely to it or exactly to it otherwise you may find all sorts of plants in your garden which may not be suitable. We got a professional landscaper for the garden which I recommend to anyone. Landscapers vary in cost and the degree of work they put into those plans and the consultation process. We had lots of consultations and overall very very happy! Now...the hard work....we cannot afford to spend $'s and pay someone to do it. Plus, by someone doing your garden cannot always ensure your plants are planted properly. We are getting there slowly. Our vege garden will be started at some stage but not for a little while. I really do want to get the front yard done 1st and then keep going with the back. I am no gardening expert but there are alot of people on here who have lots of knowledge. Re: Landscape and garden design 3May 24, 2011 9:39 am Thanks Dollar I am assuming there is nothing fundamentally wrong with my design (since I have not received any advices or comments). I have done nothing complicated to be commented I guess in terms of design. I am going to start getting quotes for the timber for the garden beds now. I am still figuring out how to build these garden beds. Found a lot of info on how to build the timber frames, how do I attach to the ground not so much. May be it is too simple. I will be visiting bunnings to figure out what’s out there for me use in fixing the timber garden bed frames. If someone has some details or information please do share it with me. Re: Landscape and garden design 4May 24, 2011 12:28 pm Raj, for lawns, well get reading on the "my lawns broken how do I fix it?" threads and the turf laying stickys up top. Great to hear your growing veggies. Keep it up, it is rewarding but sometimes heart breaking That will just make you learn more though The design seems fine enough. If you are using a treated timber drop some plastic down the sides before getting the compost. Buy a compost that doesn't stink like old socks. It should be good then. Get a moon planting guide, they make growing veggies so easy. Not having any gardening experience is probably a great thing. Reading through this stuff you will be learning things many soil places and garden centres are not aware of. Never feed the plant, always feed the soil. A plant is only ever as good as the soil is. Don't waste money feeding plants. Get lots of organic compost and material into the soil. No chemical fertilisers. Mulch with tree lopper mulch. Then your garden sustains itself and all is well. Watch Costas garden oddessey on SBS when that comes back on and Gardening Australia on Sat evenings at 6 or 6.30pm, something like that. Visit your local community garden. They can teach you lots. For west Aussies in Perth, get down to City Farm in East Perth. They are where you want to learn what to do, not from nurseries unless it is a http://www.sgaonline.org.au/?page_id=81. Then apply the same ideas to regular plants and watch how easy it is. Win win for you In Melbourne, BAAG are an excellent place to head http://communitygardenswa.org.au/Garden ... farm-perth http://communitygarden.org.au/perth-city-farm-celeb http://www.northeystreetcityfarm.org.au/ Re: Landscape and garden design 5May 24, 2011 12:31 pm Get the soil amendments ready. Spongolite, zeolite and perlite. Get in touch with your local tree lopper mob and work out a price on their mulch, a carton, two cartons, a fuel voucher for some diesel what ever. It is worth its weight in gold. Re: Landscape and garden design 6May 24, 2011 6:47 pm Raj I cannot comment on your plans as I'm unsure really what you are wanting. I will take another look. Have you thought about whether you are having any water features/bird baths etc etc and what plants/trees you want in shaded areas etc etc. Trust in Fu. Re: Landscape and garden design 7May 24, 2011 10:10 pm Trees, oh boy do you need trees! Everyone does! I don't just say that from some tree hugging hippy perceptive, but there are significant scientific reasons for having small trees in a garden. You will need the floor, the walls and the ceiling. Low shrubs, ground covers are the floor, medium to large shrubs the walls, and the ceiling is the trees. A good landscpae will take on those concepts and use them wisely and creatively. Its important to work with your surrounds. It is what you are trying to enhance. If you have just a floor and a few grassy things, it will be like a half built house with some door frames up and no roof. It will just never look right and nor will it be a costly landscape to maintain in years ahead. There is so many threads on feature trees and small trees I've lost count, as with hedging or medium shrub choices. So it will be easy to find tonnes of ideas Re: Landscape and garden design 8May 25, 2011 8:12 pm Thanks Fu I have taken note of everything you are saying. I am reading few of your threads(about veggie garden, Turf etc).A lot to get through... BAAG seems like a good place to visit (checked out their website) ...but its from other side of the city (45 min drive at least) still planing to visit.. I live in Berwick are there any good garden supply and nurseries anyone recommends? Also any community gardens close by? Fu Manchu Get the soil amendments ready. Spongolite, zeolite and perlite. I am assuming this is for laying turf right? I don't need this for for my garden beds or veggie patch right? I am planing to do the turfing(lawn) at last...and at the moment i am starting with all the garden beds Started getting quotes for sleepers... I am getting 200X50 treated pine sleepers and will be fixing them to 600mm Star Pickets. After this i get some compost delivered and pour it into the garden beds ..... I am assuming that's all i need to do in terms of soil preparations then the growing (plants and veggies) begins I will find some tree lopper...... if some knows around my area please let know Fu Manchu Trees, oh boy do you need trees! Everyone does! I do too Fu i will start thinking about what i need very soon. As i mentioned i do have few trees in the front yard ,this makes my front yard/home front look great...i might think of few trees in the back yard. Dollar Have you thought about whether you are having any water features/bird baths etc etc Honestly i haven't. i will think of that too... Dollar Trust in Fu. I do ... i am big fan of Fu (He does not need to know.... I am reading a lot of his threads) Again thanks for all the info Fu Photos of my current state of "Landscape" taken a year ago nothing has changed except i have taken out green shrubs in the front yard 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 ⋅ Re: Landscape and garden design 9May 30, 2011 11:31 am Ordered 6 of 200x50 2.4 m cypress for veggie garden bed $16 each 28 of 200x50 2.4 m treated pines for all the rest of the garden beds $10 each All being delivered tomorrow start putting together this weekend can't wait. Re: Landscape and garden design 10Jun 05, 2011 11:55 pm same soil prep for garden beds as turf. They are both plants and they are both growing in the same soil. The better the soil, the better the plants The better the plants, the less work for you. The less work for you the less resources and money it costs for ever more Ignore what lawn or plants look like or do. They just tell you how healthy the soil is. Like the fuel gauge on the car Re: Landscape and garden design 11Jun 06, 2011 9:09 pm Thanks Fu After posting the question i read in one of your threads you mentioning the same(had checked the thread but had not gone through all the 14 or so pages of discussions). Sorry to ask you the same question again.I have book marked those but not clear about the quantities yet will go through and post them here to check if i am right. Also completed all the garden beds for the back yard. Thought it will be simple to divide the one long garden bed in the back yard into small lengths equal to sleeper lengths.One last one to go to complete back yard garden beds. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ coming long weekend planing finish all the garden beds. does anyone know what these might be in my backyard? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ In my front yard the area between the car park and My Property border (may be naturestrip), what i am allowed and not allowed to do? can i have a garden bed in that area? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ I am also struggling to think where to put the garden beds in the front yard which looks good. The one i have drown is too big( i think). Can some somebody suggest me good way to lay a(or couple of garden beds in the front yard).When it comes to aesthetics i am hopeless Please help. Re: Landscape and garden design 12Jun 06, 2011 9:16 pm Geez you certainly are moving fast. The plantar boxes look great. I am hopeless with garden designs. Think about the climate you have. What plants do you love and must have in your garden (as long as they will suit the area etc)? I am assuming you want shrubs in your plantar boxes? Think about where you will get shade/what trees you want. I am terrible-not much help but just my 2cents worth. Looking forward to seeing more of your progress. Re: Landscape and garden design 13Jun 07, 2011 8:49 pm Thanks for the reply dollar I have not got to the stage of choosing plants and trees yet. I can tell you that will be more difficult (at least 10 times more difficult) than what i am doing. I wanted to decide where all my garden beds be in front and backyard.Once i put all these to gather i can gather all the amendments together and prepare soil together. I have now completed all the raised garden bed styled edging (since i am putting all these against fence i have built them this way) for back yard. Confused now where and what shaped and type garden beds to put in front yard. Revised backyard plan Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Landscape and garden design 14Jun 10, 2011 2:19 pm Information Overload! At last read few hundred discussions and came up with these notes for my soil preparation: Certified Organic compost: Rate: 100-200 mm thick Price:$100 m3 Supplier: Baag Zeolite: Rate: 100sqm 20Kg Vs (750g/m2?) Price: 1 bag (25kg) $16.50 Supplier: BAAG, http://www.globeaustralia.com.au/turf/contact_vic.htm, Olsens green bio Rate: 1 bag(3Kg) per 100m2 Price:57per 25kg Supplier: may be bunnings, http://plantmark.com.au/contact/locations/lynbrook.html Seamungus Rate: ??? Price:??? Supplier: Bunnings Spongolite or perilite (Richgro Aquatic Plant Mix) Rate: 1kg/m2 Price: Supplier: Just Hydroponics in Deer Park bentonite/attapulgite(Sand Remedy instead of Bentonite) Rate: 1kg /m2 Price: Supplier: Molasses Rate: 4-6 times a year Price: Supplier: From Pet Horse & Farm, PETstock Seasol & Powerfeed Rate: As per instructions on product Price: Supplier:Bunnings Sand: Rate: 50mm sand Price: Supplier: A lot of confusion now Fu do i have to get all of these? are all the rates correct? can you please tell me the rates for one dont have? Re: Landscape and garden design 15Jun 10, 2011 2:37 pm Hey there. Eager to know as well Fu.lol And as for that hole, that would be your easment. It would running in a straight line across the back of you block. Its your sewer line. You cant build anything perminent there just incase there is some sort of a blockage there and the council will need to come and dig it up. Ask your council for any info. Forrester 43sq We have our keys (3/6/11) Now it's time to decorate (that's the fun part.lol) https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37598 Re: Landscape and garden design 16Jun 10, 2011 2:51 pm Rudolf1980 Hey there. Eager to know as well Fu.lol And as for that hole, that would be your easment. It would running in a straight line across the back of you block. Its your sewer line. You cant build anything perminent there just incase there is some sort of a blockage there and the council will need to come and dig it up. Ask your council for any info. Thanks Rudolf1980, I am not building anything parmanent on the easement. Just was curious what that was. but i am setting up some garden beds arround the fence (in easement area) this hole is away 1.5 m away from that. I will be digiing the soil in easement for about 300 mm hope i dont damage anything underneeth. Hopefully there is nothing there. Re: Landscape and garden design 17Jun 10, 2011 2:57 pm Best to Dial before you dig. You dont want to be waist deep in poo.lol Forrester 43sq We have our keys (3/6/11) Now it's time to decorate (that's the fun part.lol) https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37598 Re: Landscape and garden design 18Jun 10, 2011 3:01 pm No you won't need all of those. Bentonite clay is for sandy soils. Perlite is a good sub for spongolite. Pick one of them. The type posted is expensive for what it is. You should pick a big bag of perlite for $20 from a hydro shop or an aquaponics shop. Sand, well don't go adding a 50mm layer. It like everything else needs to be turned through. You could use the 50mm thing as a means of working out a volume to order though. L x W x D I prefer to use just organic humus rich composts. I mention seamungus because so many of you encounter people saying to use Densified Poultry Manure. You all love to buy brands and feel that throwing down some product makes things better. Seamungus fits that. It is good and of all the products you guys get thrown at you in advertising and in shops, if I had to choose one, that would be one of the very few. Re: Landscape and garden design 19Jun 10, 2011 3:35 pm Thanks Fu Do i need Olsens green bio? How much sand should you think i should use? should i add at all? What do you think of the rates for all the ammendments are all ok? and rate of zeolite which one is right 200g/m2 or 750g/m2? and what is the difference between certified Organic compost vs certified Organic soil? Rudolf1980 Best to Dial before you dig. You dont want to be waist deep in poo.lol Rudolf1980, since i was using hand tool (shovel, pick ) and only 300mm deep i was told not to worry about dial before dig. I would rather do that now since you suggested.Better to be safe than sorry. Re: Landscape and garden design 20Jun 11, 2011 11:56 pm Yes you should call. The number of utilities that are found just a few mm deep rather than a few 100mm deep are crazy. You would workout how much by say the length m x width m x say 0.1m deep. Then turn the whole lot through with the other amendments. Both rates of zeolite are good. I prefer the heavier option. Just depends what you want to bothered doing Perlite too or spongolite, which ever you can get. Yes use the olsens or Bactivate, here's why... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=havfmMw4GIc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHVSoGeB ... re=related and that is just the tip of the ice berg in regard to the information I share with you guys here at Homeone When I say we should be doing things the Fu way, there is method in my madness. There is solid results for you and for the environment. The same environment I love and you share. Those videos only show just one aspect of what I teach you. Add to that what the amendments do and what the molasses does and the rest will leave everyone in your street scratching their heads. Of course all gardens look fine in the first year pretty much but there will be strong differences in yours to theirs In the years ahead even further, the landscape you are creating now will be helping your homes value appreciate all the more. Landscape Design Parramatta We have been doing a large amount of landscape design work in Sydney… 0 3 Our Bondi Greenwall was impressive from day one with advanced lush plants to provide a wow factor to this recently renovated living area. The boundary was less than 1… 0 15303 Thanks very much! And would the landscaper/contractor generally involve the engineer or is that something the client would do? Thanks for your help 2 10024 |