Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 May 24, 2008 9:05 pm Ok I need to brainstorm your collective gardening brilliance here.
I'm trying to plan how I'm going to plant out our front yard. So far my thinking is: no lawn, native grasses, dry river/pebble look, some rough recycled brick/paver paths, rocks (if I can get them) lots of mulch as well as the pebble mulch, at least one large fast growing tree (may not end up being native). Another alternative was to go the japanese style- japanese maple, pebbles, rocks, green hedges, with addition of plants like lavender and rosemary- yeah I know that's more like japanese/mediteranean......- water wise plants. But i don't know much about which plants to use, how to prepare the soil. So if you have any links, plant suggestions, other ideas, please suggest away Our house is about 20km from the coast, near geographe bay WA, very sandy mostly pale free draining soil, averagely windy (I think, we don't live there yet). Hope someone can help... Re: Native front garden-suggestions needed 2May 24, 2008 11:25 pm HI dolly. What have others in the area done? that will give you an idea of what will grown happily. For climate, soil etc Also how much do you want to be spending on water? Do you want a garden that once established requires minimal maintence or is high maintence? Some plants need a lot of attention and some don't. Re: Native front garden-suggestions needed 3May 24, 2008 11:39 pm At the risk of a severe flaming rebuttal, I vote against a native garden: spikey, stringy, straggly things most of them.
I have a Japanese Maple in the frontyard - a wonderfully beautiful tree And lavender... mmmm.... just watering them releases a most beautiful fragrance even when not flowering. I like the changes in a garden with deciduous trees and autumn flowering plants. Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves. - Dale Carnegie Re: Native front garden-suggestions needed 4May 24, 2008 11:55 pm OK know nothing about Western Australia gardens except for the issues with sandy soils and water retention and the occasional need for wetting agents due to I think the "hydrophobic" sandy soils.
But most of the major water corporations have tips on water wise gardening, here's some links that I've come across for WA. http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/ls_ ... Garden.pdf http://www.watercorporation.com.au/W/wa ... _index.cfm http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/livingsmart/15729.asp This is a good site for practical easy-to-understand information http://www.global-garden.com.au/ it also has a planting guide for various parts of Australia http://www.global-garden.com.au/ggplantguide.htm and it then gives a planting guide for the month (you can get past recent editions) and if you subscribe (free) you'll get a monthly update and will therefore have a full planting guide. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ I've found this to be a good source of practical information. I've also got this chaps book as a bit of a reference on waterwise gardening http://www.kevinwalshgardens.com.au/index.html this also has some practical advice in it. mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Native front garden-suggestions needed 5May 24, 2008 11:58 pm Cabinfever I like the changes in a garden with deciduous trees and autumn flowering plants. As do I and that's why I had and am planning a combination of native plants (to attract native birds) and non-indigenous plants and shrubs for autumn color and dense shade in summer. mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Native front garden-suggestions needed 6May 25, 2008 12:10 am Ours will also be a mixture. I'm building 25 mins drive from dolly22. we will have at least 2 deciduous trees, some gums staying, native peppermints( to be planted by developer), roses for the kanagaroos to eat , camellias and azaleas ( will need to improve soil for these) various other non natives and some native plants to attract the birds and a smallish patch of lawn in the front garden unless I can talk hubby out of it with some sort of ground cover instead. Not sure what the ground is like where dolly is but around here it's not sandy soils though in Perth where we lived before it certainly was. she might be dealing with clay. A friend of mine from uni days built where dolly has built on farm land and that was fairly sandy on some sections of their farm but other parts was very much clay. So much so they were able to make all the mud bricks for their house on their own land. Re: Native front garden-suggestions needed 7May 25, 2008 3:47 am It looks sandy at first glance and we dug two metre deep holes to install two soakwells for down pipes over paving and one was yellow sand all the way down and the other was grey black sand all the way down. Means the soakwells will be functional (it rained half way through installation and they drained fine.. .) But not good for anything else?
Others around me are doing the boring suburbia thing, of a sizable chunk of lawn and the usual boring plants, it's too soon to tell if they are growing well. One neighbour has some nice magnolias on the nature strip. No real gardening excellence showing anywhere though, I get frustrated with the lack of imagination. Ok, my main motivation for waterwise is equally split between wanting to be water smart for the environment's sake, but also for less maintenance and fuss. Plants that need less attention. I don't want to put a fabulous irrigations system in. Probably drip hoses under the mulch. Less maintence because I'm not a natural gardener and have other things to do and hubby is very little help with housework in and outside the house. Thanks for the links to_do_list. Yes the stringy, spikey native garden is a bit offputting cabinfever, but I think there is a way to do it nicely, maybe it's finding the right combination natives and non (but still waterwise) native plants. I'm just afraid of not finding a combination that works together - and doesn't cost a bomb too I guess. Re: Native front garden-suggestions needed 8May 25, 2008 9:49 am Well Dolly then at least you've got something to work with. You can just build up the soil quality. I'd hate to be trying to work with clay. ( says she who will be working with gravel and rock.. arrghhh) There are plenty of native plants that have beautiful flowers and are very water miserly. Again there are also lots of non natives that don't need a lot of water.
If you close your eyes, what sort of garden do you envisage for say, your front garden area? Try it and see. Is it full of colour? A tree?, Plants? etc. I'm betting there are plenty of garden photos online as well to help you get an idea of what you like. Go for a drive through some of the older more established parts of town near you and check out what plants look healthy. I'm sure around town there will be the occasional plant you like the look of. Start getting an idea of the kinds of plants you like, make note of them or if you don't know their names sneak a photo of them. To show someone more knowledgeable. Dad? or one of the nursery's. There's a huge waldecks just out of Bunbury that's supposed to be great or one of the local plant nurserys maybe at Busso? etc that can prob advise you on some suitable plants for the area and what soil improvers to put in. Don't be afraid to prune native shrubs to stop them looking too straggly if you find you need to. Worry about one garden area at a time or it will be too overwhelming. You can settle for a colour theme, or work on greens with changes of folliage for variety ( shiny leaves, variegated, the occasional spiky plant) Do you want to attract local birds? ie honey eaters? Are you willing to put up with the bees that will also come? We had a beautiful grevillia that attracted the small birds but it was close to the patio area. The kids named it "the bee tree" because it was huge drawn card for the bees. Are there allergy sufferers in the family ( some grevillias can be a problem) In our last house we originally had a red/pinkish flowered theme running in the front garden when we first built 19 yrs ago but when we sold it had a red/purples look to it. Flowering plum, moses in the bullrushes plants, purple agapanthus, wood violets, purple irises, still with some dark green foliage plants and one camellia in a corner that was pink and 2 small conifers that framed the the top garden area. The garden was on 2 levels, road level and then dropping down to the house. When it came time to sell it needed a tidy up which we did but we got several comments about how the garden looked "together" from the neighbours and the realestate rep. Blog http://wherethehearthis.blogspot.com/ Build https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=6634: Yard https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=27687&p=378401#p378401 Re: Native front garden-suggestions needed 9May 25, 2008 9:56 am Check out the botanic gardens too - they have lots of areas of garden styles these days.
But plant for the area is my advice - and think about a vegie patch there too - you can check them on the way in or out as opposed to the vegie patch down the back that gets forgotten about.. Cabin - as for natives being scratchy things - Not always the case. Steve Re: Native front garden-suggestions needed 10May 25, 2008 10:07 am Quote: Yes the stringy, spikey native garden is a bit offputting cabinfever, but I think there is a way to do it nicely, While I am in Sydney and hence not able to comment on your local growing requirements, I would like to suggest that not all native plants will end up like this. The secret is to not be scared of pruning them from a a fairly early age. My front garden if full of natives and the different varieties of grevillias (sp?) have been regularly pruned and they are not stringy. They are actually quite lush looking, as well as almost constantly flowering. In fact, my biggest problem is finding the right time to prune as I know I will always have to cut off some of the flowers. I must admit though, that I hate housework and much prefer to spend my time outside - so much so that I am a very zealous pruner. However, if you do not have the time for this maintenance, I agree that natives can end up looking horrible. When we first put our garden in we also believed that they should never be touched or they would die and our garden was 'spikey and stringy'. Whilst we were upset at the time, a bushfire wiped out our front garden in 1997 and we replanted with more knowledge as to the upkeep and the results have been very different. Best of luck with whatever you pick. Sandra From the Sutherland Shire where I cannot grow roses or other exotics due to the local wallaby who regards my garden as his dinner plate. Re: Native front garden-suggestions needed 12May 25, 2008 10:40 am Hello Southies,
Sorry, but not in Como though I grew up in Oyster Bay/Jannali and how I wish I still had that triple waterfront block which my grandfather owned. I am in Menai and we have something in common regarding bushfires. I can remember standing at the end of Yala Road in Bangor in 1994 and watching Como burn. Unfortunately we also lived through this in 1997 hence my second garden resurrection. Hopefully I haven't depressed you on a Sunday. Sorry also to the OP for going off topic. Re: Native front garden-suggestions needed 13May 25, 2008 11:35 am kexkez I'd hate to be trying to work with clay Just a vote for clay. I established a very leafy indigenous and non indigenious mix garden in probably the worst clays in Melbourne - gray basaltic clays the type that sticks to everything, waterlogs, and highly reactive. As you have said soil prep was the key, plenty of organics and gypsum to break it down. I got most things to grow in it. You gotta work with what you have.... I was surprised that in the middle of "suburbia" I was able to attract so many honeyeaters and other native birds with only some natives. mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Native front garden-suggestions needed 14May 25, 2008 11:52 am Quote:
As you have said soil prep was the key, plenty of organics and gypsum to break it down. I got most things to grow in it. You gotta work with what you have.... exactly. There's a heap of clay where we currently live. Horrid sticky orange brown clay. Actually what we've got to work with on our new block is worse than just clay. it's very hard gravel and I suspect clay. I've tried to dig into it a few times and its pretty hard. The people down the road have brought in a heap of soil, and built their garden on top of it. The bonus of course is that we'll be able to leave the back yard area for a while without it becoming over grown. Smile. .Hubby bought a brushcutter yesterday. Smile We'll get the front done. ( about the size of a standard yard area anyway) Once that's done I'll start on the smaller side garden area near where the clothes line will be. I want to make it courtyard type garden. All our trees , about 5 gums are in this area But as you've said. you work with what you've got. We'll have to get something in to try and break the ground up a bit and add some soil improver and then bring in more soil etc to create our front garden. I'm really envious of the sand/soil Dolly has to work with. Dolly have you decided yet which way you want to go between the 2 directions you mentioned? To_do_list mentioned some interesting links. I found some mentions of some lawn alternatives here http://www.global-garden.com.au/gardenfeature2.htm For information on bird friendly plants try http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/ This info was from the birdsinbackyards site but its appropriate for any garden planning. Assessing your site The answers to the following list of questions will tell you a lot about your planned garden site, including what plants are likely to grow there and what sort of garden would best suit it. This important information forms the 'building blocks' of your garden plan. 1. Where does your garden fit into the geography of your area? Is it in a gully or on top of a ridge, does it slope or is it flat? 2. What is its aspect? When, where and for how long do you get sun on your garden? Does your site predominantly face east, west, north or south? Track the sun for a while and find out which parts of your garden get plenty of sun or are mainly shady. Allow for seasonal changes in the sun's position. A hot spot in the summer may be quite cold and damp in the winter. 3. What type of soil do you have or would you naturally have? Is it sandy, stony, heavy clay or alluvium? If you don't know, take a sample from several places in your garden from about 30 cm - 50 cm (about 1 ft) below the surface, and take this to your local nursery for advice. 4. What type of plants would live in this area if it wasn't urban? This doesn't mean you will only plant the local plant species (although this would be ideal), but it will help you understand what might grow successfully. Find out more using our plant lists or contact your local council. 5. Where does the dominant wind come from? This will determine where you might want to place windbreaks et.c. 6. How much space do you have? How much space do you have for your garden and what can you realistically do with it? Are there large buildings nearby that restrict sunlight? 7. What else is the garden going to be used for? Consider your own needs. This space is also for you and your family, so you need to factor in some areas that are useful for you. 8. What sort of gardens surround yours? This may not always be useful, but if your neighbours are also trying to attract birds, it is a good idea to work together and provide the same or complementary plants. This will increase your chances of success. 9. What habitat do you want to recreate? Consider what type of habitat you want to create. e.g. If you live in a gully which has some protection from wind, it might be suitable for rainforest plants or if you live at the top of a ridge which has a lot of wind and gets the full heat of the midday sun throughout the year, you would be better to develop a heath-like garden. Blog http://wherethehearthis.blogspot.com/ Build https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=6634: Yard https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=27687&p=378401#p378401 Re: Native front garden-suggestions needed 15May 25, 2008 2:41 pm Hey thanks Kexkez, you've given me lots of things to think about there, I'll check out the links when i get a chance. I'm popping in on here in between kid wrangling.
And like you said Neverfinished, the art of pruning is something I need to learn not to be afraid of. I am guilty of letting some plants go in my current rental and then wondering why they look so crap when i do prune them and they die. I've been buying up lots of garden mags, and my Dad has given me some old school native identification resource books with lots of info too. (he used to be a school gardener too in another life). The veg patch is going to go down the back- over the area that I can't construct anything permanent on. My previous attempts at veg have been woeful so I'm hoping to triumph this time, and put way more effort in. Kids have been showing interest too, so it'll be educational as well as a way to offset the horrendous prices of veg now. I'm sure it's more expensive to buy groceries here than in the east. I saw burpless cucumbers today for $3.45 each, and half a tiny cauli for $2. I get all excited when red capsicums come down to $5.99kg, or I can get a avo for $1.99. Re: Native front garden-suggestions needed 16May 25, 2008 5:37 pm HI Dolly I went to the Boyanup farmers market today and on the way back called into the boyanup plant nursery. the lady there was really helpful. Gave me a great bit of info on different soil types etc and what they all mean for plants etc. it came with heap of suggested plants for different soil types. They had a big range of small tube sized stock as well as bigger plants. well worth a visit. They also do orders. The lady said they had sold about 25% of their stock fairly recently. but they had a surprising range. . Much more than I expected. You could also buy a mixed bunch of veggie seedlings She said the best time of year to see the most stock is around a month or 2 ago. Just as the rains come all the bigger stock/trees tends to sell with people making the most of the free rain water. Re: Native front garden-suggestions needed 17May 25, 2008 6:33 pm Is that the one on the highway just out of town? I used to work there, about 8 years ago when I was single and energetic. It wasn't a public nursery then, just supplied seedlings for plantations. I'd forgotten about it, I'll have to check it out Re: Native front garden-suggestions needed 18May 25, 2008 6:55 pm that's the one. It's now open to the public as well as being a wholesale nursery.
I also met a man a couple of months back who lives in Boyanup who said he was considering setting up a mostly wholesale nursery there too. he'd recently moved from stratham where he ran a wholesale nursery. Re: Native front garden-suggestions needed 19May 25, 2008 7:18 pm Dolly22…..while I used to work in a nursery, and have a very green thumb, my DD was never interested in gardening.
That is until she got her own home! I bought her a great gardening guide book and given her advice along the way, she now can grow anything!!! If she can do it, so can you….the main thing is to get your soil right, once you have done that you are away! http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2207992.htm My votes for the Japanese Garden…..they are so calming. Get yourself a Cherry Blossom as your main tree. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Fig Landscapes has produced an e-book and native plant index, available for purchase from their website. It's a great resource, full of inspiration and tips. Another… 1 12898 Hi, Looking to add an ensuite to one of the bedrooms and make it a Master BR. Please see the attached current floorplan. Need suggestions on what's the best way to do… 0 7634 Suggestions please for acrylic rendering Color to match austral brick urban one pepper. Pic for reference. Thanks 0 5548 |