Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Apr 05, 2016 5:03 pm Hi All, After years of waiting, we're finally ready to plant this year. We've done our hard landscaping and soil prep in a previous thread http://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=59201. There's a couple of plant selections in our plan that I'm not sure with, hoping to get some wisdom and suggestions. Our location is Melbourne. Soil has lots of clay. We've prepared the beds by mixing in lots of compost, zeolite and gypsum the past 24 months. The following are the plant selection that we need help with: 1. Low Formal Border - Need something that can be formally clipped and kept dense and low. Criteria is less than 40cm in height and width. Light green, glossy foliage preferred. Original plan is for the obligatory dutch box (buxus micr.). Hoping we can find a native alternative that we can source easily and buy in bulk in Melbourne. Something cost effective that grows faster than buxus would be preferable, given we need a total of 60 lineal meters to cover. 2. Pleached Hedge - Criteria is something that does not grow beyond 2.5-3m height wise. Dense, dark green and glossy foliage preferred. To be planted along a fence line, and under planted with smaller hedge. Original planting schedule was to use either Ficus Hillii or Laurus Nobilis. Given proximity to boundary and buildings, I'm not sure planting what is essentially a large tree is a good idea in the long term. The wife doesn't like Magnolias, so Little Gem is not an option either. Should I start with buying standard plants or just buy a regular variety and start removing lower branches and foliage? Ideas? Re: Plant Recommendation - Low Border & Pleached Hedges 2Apr 05, 2016 7:41 pm Dwarf Lilly Pilly may be good for a border? It grows up to 50cm. Being a Lilly Pilly I imagine it would be quite dense. http://www.australianplantsonline.com.a ... magic.html Maybe even Tom Thumb? http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/fact-s ... wOHqGEmKnM No idea about a tree or shrub that grows 2.5m to 3m that suits your requirements. In fact, that's what I'm looking for myself so I will be keeping a close eye on this thread! Custom downslope build Build thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=61873 Blog http://www.buildingroyalmanor.blogspot.com.au Re: Plant Recommendation - Low Border & Pleached Hedges 3Apr 06, 2016 9:37 am I've looked at Allyn's Magic lilly pillys. Don't quite like the redish colour of the new growth. Tom's thumb looks interesting. Quick google shows that even bunnings sells them for about $6 for 14cm pots. They are still more expensive than buxus. Re: Plant Recommendation - Low Border & Pleached Hedges 4Apr 06, 2016 12:15 pm syahrr01 I've looked at Allyn's Magic lilly pillys. Don't quite like the redish colour of the new growth. Tom's thumb looks interesting. Quick google shows that even bunnings sells them for about $6 for 14cm pots. They are still more expensive than buxus. Some places will discount if you buy a bulk lot. I know that Hello Hello definitely does although I'm sure what the quality of their plants is like. Re: Plant Recommendation - Low Border & Pleached Hedges 5Apr 06, 2016 4:16 pm A pleached hedge with under plants can look quite stunning. I saw a very good example on the lifestyle channel about a year ago using olive trees. They didn't say which type but a quick Google turned up this... "helena or any of the Olio europaea varieties" from this page here http://www.secretgardens.com.au/landsca ... cy-part-2/ At first I thought you were talking about pleached shrubs which produces quite a different effect. Stewie Re: Plant Recommendation - Low Border & Pleached Hedges 6Apr 07, 2016 9:27 am HomeAngels Some places will discount if you buy a bulk lot. I know that Hello Hello definitely does although I'm sure what the quality of their plants is like. Where do you normally source your plants in Melbourne? Not sure about Tutu Guru (Chris) and his business practices, some really scary customer feedback online. Stewie D A pleached hedge with under plants can look quite stunning. I saw a very good example on the lifestyle channel about a year ago using olive trees. They didn't say which type but a quick Google turned up this... "helena or any of the Olio europaea varieties" from this page here http://www.secretgardens.com.au/landsca ... cy-part-2/ At first I thought you were talking about pleached shrubs which produces quite a different effect. Stewie I love olive trees, they're certainly an option. The only drawback is the shape of the trunk. A straight vertical trunk would look better when exposed by this method. Our plan is to place lights underneath for dramatic effect. Re: Plant Recommendation - Low Border & Pleached Hedges 7Apr 07, 2016 10:23 am The one I saw on that Lifestyle programme had pretty straight trunks - not perfect but not bent either. The foiliage looked very pretty and I know olive leaves are quite soft. Stewie Re: Plant Recommendation - Low Border & Pleached Hedges 8Apr 07, 2016 7:32 pm syahrr01 HomeAngels Some places will discount if you buy a bulk lot. I know that Hello Hello definitely does although I'm sure what the quality of their plants is like. Where do you normally source your plants in Melbourne? Not sure about Tutu Guru (Chris) and his business practices, some really scary customer feedback online. I don't buy from them. I have bought most of my plants from either Gardenworld in Braeside, Bunnings (although they're not fantastic either) or a small local nursery. Re: Plant Recommendation - Low Border & Pleached Hedges 9Apr 11, 2016 10:09 am What about dwarf fruit trees? Dwarf apple, pears and citrus seems to grow to 2-3m. They won't have the dense uniform foliage like Ficus or Bay Tree, but they offer flower and fruit as a bonus. I wonder how thirsty they will be? Is partial shade ok? The area we're planting is on the south side, so they will only get full sun during summer months. Maybe 3-4 hours of sun during winter. Re: Plant Recommendation - Low Border & Pleached Hedges 10Apr 13, 2016 6:04 pm Ok, here's my shortlist thus far for stilted/pleached hedge.
Lilly Pilly (Medium Varieties) Pros: Native. Fast growing. Dense hedge. Cons: Psyllid. Some have red foliage. Viburnum Odoritisimum Pros: Correct height/size. Dense hedge. Nice foliage. Cons: More a shrub than an tree - might not be able to expose a main trunk. Dwarf Apple Tree Pros: Correct height/size. Flowers and fruit. Cons: Not as dense and formal. Require more water. Pests. Dwarf Citrus Tree (eg Tahitian Lime) Pros: Correct height/size. Fast growing. Fruits. Cons: Doesn't like being underplanted. Fruits. Pests. Moptop (eg. Acer platanoides) Pros: Correct height/size. Deciduous. Nice foliage. Cons: Invasive roots? Will be planted 1m from fence and 2.5m from building. Pricey $110 for a young standard. Olive Pros: Slow growing. Drought tolerant. Lots of varieties/options. Nice foliage. Cons: Size. Less dense. Thoughts? Re: Plant Recommendation - Low Border & Pleached Hedges 11Apr 13, 2016 10:12 pm Hmmm... ? Tough one.... I'm leaning more towards the viburnum odoratissimum but only if you can expose the trunk. After all, that's the look you're going for. Perhaps go and have a look at some in a nursery. You'll be able to tell whether you will be able to achieve that look when you inspect them to see whether there appears to be a main trunk. I'm also drawn to the Lilly Pilly. Custom downslope build Build thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=61873 Blog http://www.buildingroyalmanor.blogspot.com.au Re: Plant Recommendation - Low Border & Pleached Hedges 12Apr 14, 2016 11:01 am I almost decided on Viburnum last week. Looking at samples at nurseries, a lot of them start to split into 2-3 main branches just above soil level. Even younger plants does this. There's a few that have a a single dominant trunk that could potentially be trained over time. I need around 15-20 of these, so consistency will be a challenge. Re: Plant Recommendation - Low Border & Pleached Hedges 13Apr 25, 2016 10:26 am I just stumbled across this and thought of you. Here is a pic of a Bay Tree that has been pleached http://www.thegreenery.com.au/images/LPA91685051.jpg Custom downslope build Build thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=61873 Blog http://www.buildingroyalmanor.blogspot.com.au Re: Plant Recommendation - Low Border & Pleached Hedges 14Apr 27, 2016 1:31 pm Haha. Yes that's the look. The standard choice seems to be Ficus, Bay Tree or Hornbeam. The other week I saw a 20 year old Ficus Hilli that has been kept as a standard. It looks compact and was kept under 2.5m. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm being too paranoid here about their eventual size and roots. The rows of tree/hedge will be planted within 1m of boundary fence and 2m of my neighbour's house. I haven't got root barrier in place either. The last thing I want is a lawsuit in 10-15 years time. Re: Plant Recommendation - Low Border & Pleached Hedges 15Apr 27, 2016 2:23 pm Our bay tree which is growing in a largish pot is about four years old and about 2100mm high. The trunk is as straight as an arrow. I'd imagine to keep it looking like that pleached one in the photo HA shows would take a fair amount of pruning on a regular basis. That hedge does look pretty cool though. It would be a lot harder to keep the roots in check. Stewie Re: Plant Recommendation - Low Border & Pleached Hedges 16Apr 27, 2016 7:54 pm Stewie D Our bay tree which is growing in a largish pot is about four years old and about 2100mm high. The trunk is as straight as an arrow. I'd imagine to keep it looking like that pleached one in the photo HA shows would take a fair amount of pruning on a regular basis. That hedge does look pretty cool though. It would be a lot harder to keep the roots in check. Stewie This gives me an idea ? I wonder if it would be worth planting the trees in large pots along the fence line ? That would solve the root issues with the Ficus Hilli Flash. Expensive exercise though with a 23m rear fence. I'd consider it though as I do like the look of the Ficus. I wonder if I could make it look good ? Re: Plant Recommendation - Low Border & Pleached Hedges 17Apr 28, 2016 8:20 am That's a great idea. The pots needs to be big and strong. I've read stories of ficus roots escaping it's confine. There's also the option of partially burying the pot. But if it breaks underground we won't know until it's too late. Re: Plant Recommendation - Low Border & Pleached Hedges 18Apr 30, 2016 5:44 pm I was at bunnings earlier today and found another option: a Dwarf Olive variety called Bambalina (http://www.plantmark.com.au/olea-bambalina-25cm). Pros: Right size, mature to 2.5m max. Dense foliage - for an olive. Single dominant trunk. Drought tolerant. Only $25 for a 200mm pot, 1.5m high. Con: Not as dense as other hedges. Re: Plant Recommendation - Low Border & Pleached Hedges 19May 01, 2016 10:43 am Good find! I googled that type of olive and came across this pic. http://www.secretgardens.com.au/secret/ ... eached.jpg Custom downslope build Build thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=61873 Blog http://www.buildingroyalmanor.blogspot.com.au Re: Plant Recommendation - Low Border & Pleached Hedges 20Oct 10, 2016 11:24 pm I would like to recommend you the Syzygium shrub plant or also sometimes called a Christmas Bush. It will suit your needs and is easily editable in case it grows a bit larger. It comes from the Lilly Pilly family and you can easily find it online or at your local nursery plants seller(if you have one). 4 6201 If you can calculate the reasonable charged head from let's say 100mm below the gutter to the top of where the vertical riser's horizontal discharge pipe will be, that… 11 17530 Those span tables can be pushed a little for a low deck if you dont mind a little flex. Last deck I did, I pushed it a little and it was still rock solid - no noticeable… 6 13765 |