My backyard plans....

to_do_list · Apr 17, 2008 5:33 pm

As you can see from the ticker below it's 20 somethings days to moving into our established home. One of the reasons we bought the place was the blank canvas backyard...everything thing else is done....
https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.p ... highlight=

although I'm sure we'll add some more internal touches.

I've Google Earthed the house and here's the allotment it's the one with the blue roof.

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So I've got 22.8 metres of depth and 18.5 metres of width to play with in the backyard and it's dead flat. Basically I can't wait to start planning it so I started at lunchtime, and here's the first sketch.

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My initial ideas is that it is a fun garden for the kids (4 yo and 7 month old), I also wanted Australian natives because I was amazingly surprised by the number of nectar eating birds I could attract with only a few native plants in my present garden. The garden should also suit the house and I think the house suits a less formal garden......it'll take a while but it we'll get there.

Some constraints/ideas/elements behind the sketch

- If we expand we'll be going up rather than out
- I'm leaving the shed which is almost new but screening it off from the house with timber screening (there is the obligatory utility are behind the shed)
- I've got an existing cubby from the old house which will be expanded to a cubby/fort/sand pit area
- I want to create interest in the garden with curving granitic pathways leading off around corners and into hidey-holes
- the west side of the house is the offside and therefore I'll simply pave with exposed aggregate concrete (gives the kids somewhere to ride up and down) and there is sufficient garden bed to break up the expanse of paving, it's where the laundry opens to and the line is
- the garden beds would be "structured" in the sense that there would be low plants at the front leading to hedging natives to hide the fenceline
- the green shaded bits I'm at a loss with, I'd like to have an expanse of grass to kick a footy in but let's face it...establishing grass will be difficult without a large tank...although I may have strategically placed small tanks to water the west side and the existing garden bed to the south

Appreciate any thoughts or comments.

Paula · Apr 17, 2008 9:31 pm

Quote:

the west side of the house is the offside and therefore I'll simply pave with exposed aggregate concrete (gives the kids somewhere to ride up and down) and there is sufficient garden bed to break up the expanse of paving, it's where the laundry opens to and the line is

The boys will love this area when they are old enough for cricket.

Quote:

- the green shaded bits I'm at a loss with, I'd like to have an expanse of grass to kick a footy in but let's face it...establishing grass will be difficult without a large tank...although I may have strategically placed small tanks to water the west side and the existing garden bed to the south

Your going to kill me for saying this...or you bank balance is.....get tiger turf in. Looks fantastic, no watering, long lasting - but its a big area, very expensive.

Great design.

Sounds like you wont have any time for us when you move, :cry:

you will be too busy with tools in your hands.

_Al_ · Apr 17, 2008 9:55 pm

Looks great.
Swings too?

Are you planting anything for shade, especially around the fort. Or considered a sail or something similar?

'chelle · Apr 17, 2008 10:03 pm

What about the veggie patch??? Or is that just a Tasmanian thing

Don't worry, I'm just jealous, (I've got a really steep block).

But with all that space you could have a great little organic veggie garden.

to_do_list · Apr 17, 2008 10:15 pm

Thanks Paula

Paula

Quote:

the west side of the house is the offside and therefore I'll simply pave with exposed aggregate concrete (gives the kids somewhere to ride up and down) and there is sufficient garden bed to break up the expanse of paving, it's where the laundry opens to and the line is

The boys will love this area when they are old enough for cricket.

Note to self: Bullet proof glass on west side....

Paula

Quote:

- the green shaded bits I'm at a loss with, I'd like to have an expanse of grass to kick a footy in but let's face it...establishing grass will be difficult without a large tank...although I may have strategically placed small tanks to water the west side and the existing garden bed to the south

Your going to kill me for saying this...or you bank balance is.....get tiger turf in. Looks fantastic, no watering, long lasting - but its a big area, very expensive.

I have thought about it but yeah big area...if I go down that path I'd may have to split the area of...really need to check it out in the flesh.

Paula

Great design.

Sounds like you wont have any time for us when you move, :cry:

you will be too busy with tools in your hands.

Nah.....One hand on the tools the other on the keyboard.

Besides you'll hunt me down if I don't post piccies.

to_do_list · Apr 17, 2008 10:17 pm

_Al_

Looks great.
Swings too?

Are you planting anything for shade, especially around the fort. Or considered a sail or something similar?

Thanks Al...I've budgetted for shade sails over the fort part of the cubby...particularly as it's exposed all day to the sun...wouldn't want crispy kids....figure when they no longer wan't the cubby will make a nice garden sitting area

to_do_list · Apr 17, 2008 10:20 pm

'chelle

What about the veggie patch???

I'm not much of a veggie or fruit grower more of a "garden" gardener if you know what I mean, but I was thinking starting small scale in pots and if the kiddies show an interest I'll expand into a proper little veggie patch.

to_do_list · Apr 17, 2008 10:20 pm

Thanks for the comments...now I gotta cost it up...Tiger Turf...ouch!

_Al_ · Apr 18, 2008 8:31 am

Oh yeah, one more thing, I suggest no plants around the swing and so forth as you'll get upset when they trample them.

to_do_list · Apr 18, 2008 8:36 am

_Al_

Oh yeah, one more thing, I suggest no plants around the swing and so forth as you'll get upset when they trample them.

I was thinking punji sticks...it encourages swing control.

But a good tip, the four year old is pretty careful in the garden but the 7 month old will be on a learning curve.

I guess I've also got to think about when they are older and start trying to bowl doosra's or kick torpedo punts around the garden....

stonecutter1309 · Apr 18, 2008 8:38 am

I agree about the fruit & veg patch.

For example, the screen you're putting around the shed would be great for climbing veggies like beans.

Fruit trees don't require too much maintenance - perhaps a lemon tree, mandarins. They also do ballerina apples - apple trees that get to only 60cm in diameter, 3m in height. These look great planted in a row as a screen.

to_do_list · Apr 18, 2008 9:05 am

stonecutter1309

I agree about the fruit & veg patch.

For example, the screen you're putting around the shed would be great for climbing veggies like beans.

Good point...and they are easy to grow.

stonecutter1309

Fruit trees don't require too much maintenance - perhaps a lemon tree, mandarins. They also do ballerina apples - apple trees that get to only 60cm in diameter, 3m in height. These look great planted in a row as a screen.

Lemon tree - tick, I've got one struggling in a pot would like to be able to swamp the relo's with bags of lemons....

Ballerina apples....Googling now....thanks....

stonecutter1309 · Apr 18, 2008 9:09 am

Here are the small apple trees

http://www.flemings.com.au/homegarden/fruiting.asp

There are also fruit salad trees (I'm not kidding!):
http://www.fruitsaladtrees.com/

to_do_list · Apr 18, 2008 9:11 am

stonecutter1309

Here are the small apple trees

http://www.flemings.com.au/homegarden/fruiting.asp

There are also fruit salad trees (I'm not kidding!):
http://www.fruitsaladtrees.com/

Ta muchly....gotta love grafted trees....

Cabinfever · Apr 18, 2008 10:03 am

Is the grassed area the right shape or width to enable games ? (soccer, rugby, aust rules, cricket, badminton, chasings etc). You want to have a reasonably straight-sided space, a spot for some goals and a reasonable chance that no plants will be crushed, or people run into buildings Be a shame to have a large yard without the possibility of a good game.

3timesbuilda · Apr 18, 2008 10:17 am

So no access to the garden from the veranda?

to_do_list · Apr 18, 2008 10:28 am

3timesbuilda

So no access to the garden from the veranda?

There is a link to an earlier post where I show a photo of the back of the house with a timber landing to the garden...I'll keep or expand on this...just didn't show on plan...

to_do_list · Apr 18, 2008 10:34 am

Cabinfever

Is the grassed area the right shape or width to enable games ? (soccer, rugby, aust rules, cricket, badminton, chasings etc). You want to have a reasonably straight-sided space, a spot for some goals and a reasonable chance that no plants will be crushed, or people run into buildings Be a shame to have a large yard without the possibility of a good game.

Once were in and I can start spraying paint on the ground and I'll try and ensure sufficient open space for a decent cover drive...as far as chasey...that's one of the reasons for the path though the gardens...if I give them paths then at least they run through the garden without running "through" the garden....maybe be a bit naive....

vanderlay · Apr 18, 2008 10:42 am

to_do_list

...if I give them paths then at least they run through the garden without running "through" the garden....maybe be a bit naive....

will never happen!

to_do_list · Apr 18, 2008 11:13 am

vanderlay

to_do_list

...if I give them paths then at least they run through the garden without running "through" the garden....maybe be a bit naive....

will never happen!

Oh I don't know what about one of these...

http://www.hiddenfence.com.au/

Apparently "great for fine tuning and reinforcing training commands or correcting unwanted behaviour"....... :twisted: