Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Apr 02, 2013 7:52 pm Currently trying to design a garden bed about 6x1.5m along south facing side of inground pool. So the area gets winter shade (from 4m+ hedge over the neighbours fence) and summer overhead sun in the middle of the day. I am envisioning something with a "resort" look, so looking at any palm tree options to screen the fence say up to 2-3m high, rather than provide a high canopy. Might do Xanadu and cordyline rubra in front of the "screening" back layer.... What's the best option for the palms along the back layer - kentia, golden cane (I thought these get 6-8m plus?), rhaphis or cascade palms ....???? Or should I be looking for something else???? Cheers Confused Re: Palms for resort style landscape 2Apr 03, 2013 7:21 am Rhaphis can't tolerant too much sun and is very slow growing. Kentish get to big, although they are slow growing. Golden canes will get to 4m or so but again relatively slow growing, they also 'clump' so you could remove the trunks of the palms that get too tall without removing the whole plant. Re: Palms for resort style landscape 3Apr 18, 2013 9:02 pm jimhome Currently trying to design a garden bed about 6x1.5m along south facing side of inground pool. So the area gets winter shade (from 4m+ hedge over the neighbours fence) and summer overhead sun in the middle of the day. I am envisioning something with a "resort" look, so looking at any palm tree options to screen the fence say up to 2-3m high, rather than provide a high canopy. Might do Xanadu and cordyline rubra in front of the "screening" back layer.... What's the best option for the palms along the back layer - kentia, golden cane (I thought these get 6-8m plus?), rhaphis or cascade palms ....???? Or should I be looking for something else???? Cheers Confused One of the most important things to recognise in creating a tropical garden is that palms are not the major feature of creating that feel. Any tropical Landscape is predominately large trees and shrubs that create a microclimate underneath to support a wealth of shade loving plants and give palms the chance to establish and look how you maybe envisaging. It's mostly shrubs that will grow the fastest. Murraya are such a good all round plant to use, as are Hibiscus. Though people need to realise that climactic conditions are expected to swing back to very harsh dry conditions. I can't get over how fast HomeOner's forgot the drought when the rains arrived. It seemed like a couple of months and water hungry gardens were the go again. Provided you add sands and zeolite to clay soils with a bit of compost as soil prep, use larger shrubs in moderation and a few small trees to support a microclimate underneath, the tropical garden full of indoor plants and Bromeliads and palms of your choice will be sustainable. Mulch with raw un-composted mulch from the local tree contractor. Have a think about including a pond or two. Use native fish in them so care is low. Re: Palms for resort style landscape 4Apr 24, 2013 2:40 pm Couple of suggestions, Foxtail palm and the Red leaf (frond) palm. When the red leaf produces a new frond it is very nice red colour and then turns brown and green. Don't ever ever ever plant Cocos palms (Queens palms) as they are one of the most messiest and eventually produce masses and masses of hugh seed pods and every seed will grow. Re: Palms for resort style landscape 5May 06, 2013 9:20 pm Thanks to all who have replied. We've now gone a different direction - with a row of very striking Gymea Lilly's instead! Now I've moved on to - "what to under plant them with as a border edge"? The Dulux colour consultants are awesome. If you show them the photos they should be able to figure it out for you straight away 1 1612 Landscape Design Parramatta We have been doing a large amount of landscape design work in Sydney… 0 3 Need advice on the backyard plan above. Should I excavate and cut all of the dirt to level with the house slab or semi-excavate as per photo above? Both left and right… 0 24862 |