Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 May 22, 2011 11:23 am Hi everyone. I have been looking around for ideas for my backyard. It's around 135 sqm and in 2 split level. Here is a little video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-muGkCig0o The raised harden bed is around 36 sqm in size and I am thinking of excavating the whole bed Get some turf underlay to level the ground then turf the whole area. Is there a better way to utilise the space? But I have no idea how to work on the PURPLE retaining wall and the lower level. Is there a way to resurface the wall or I have to redo the whole wall? Any input is much appearicated. Re: Suggestions needed to design my backyard 2May 22, 2011 11:59 am Hi kche, Wow that is a really cool back yard, at the moment it's a complete blank slate, great opportunity to make it "your own". It would suit many styles, particularly tropical. My suggestions are screening plants in the narrow garden beds around the fences, e.g. shrubs like Lilly Pilly or Camellia, as well as some tropical foliage plants like Native Ginger. With groundcover plants spilling over the retaining walls to soften the Purple! With the raised garden bed, I don't think it's necessary to excavate it out - maybe remove a layer of soil (re-use it on the other garden beds) and add some sand and manure/compost, and then lay turf. But the position of that bed would also be perfect for a nice small feature tree, something deciduous and flowering perhaps. Then you could enjoy the shade on your lawn area. The smaller garden beds could be filled with various foliage and flowering plants of whichever style you're going for. You could add a different ground surface over the top of the concrete, like decomposed granite or pavers. You may be able to repaint the purple walls, but an easier way would be to disguise or blend it in using lots of plants. A landscape designer or horticulturist could help you with plant selection. Re: Suggestions needed to design my backyard 3May 22, 2011 12:20 pm Thanks for the reply. I will def have a look into those plants u mentioned. I was considering leaving the garden bed alone rather than excavate it out as I got quoted around $5000 for just excavating. I thought about turf the garden bed and refurbish the garden bed wall with new level of concrete n paint. for the ground surface, I'm thinking of flagstone path. Can I do that right on top of the concrete or do I need to level the ground with soil first? ideal house depends on the site and location as much as internal floor plan....what is the distance from the house to all four boundaries, where is north, describe your… 3 15142 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 16704 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 8984 |