Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Aug 25, 2008 2:23 pm Hi guys, I am just wondering what to do on the dead side of our corner block.
We will be on a corner block and we are wondering what to do with the side gardens. There will be a very long brick rendered wall stratching around to the front of the house where we will have 2 retained garden beds and a small amount of synthetic lawn that will extend to the road. We would love to keep the synthetic lawn running down this dead side but feel it is big outlay for an area that is going to be more utilised by people other than ourselves. As we will not be having real lawn anywhere else it also seems a waste to put in retic and buy a lawn mower for this one area. We would like to keep it farely low maintenance. We have considered rocks and simple garden trees, maybe pencil pines??.........does anyone else have any suggestions........ Re: Corner block "dead side" ideas? 2Aug 25, 2008 5:58 pm maybe crushed limestone and compact it
cant remember if wa has granatic sand if you need a site consult call Dream Gardens, Gary may still offer site consult at a cost tell them Troy from Victoria sent you Da Vinci Outdoor Living Architectural landscaping http://www.davincioutdoor.com Re: Corner block "dead side" ideas? 3Aug 25, 2008 6:15 pm Thanks so much Troy I will get in touch with them a little closer to the build and see what we can come up with. Thanks again Re: Corner block "dead side" ideas? 4Aug 25, 2008 6:39 pm How about some baby Agapanthus low maintenance, need very little water and provide a show of colour when they flower.
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Corner block "dead side" ideas? 5Aug 25, 2008 7:26 pm They look very nice Michelle I have never used those in any gardens......do you know if the flowers make much of a mess when they drop??? Re: Corner block "dead side" ideas? 6Aug 25, 2008 7:27 pm This is similar to what we intend doing. Though I'm going to swap the nandinas for either dwarf agapanthus ( as Michelle suggested ) or dwarf mondo grass. Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Corner block "dead side" ideas? 7Aug 25, 2008 7:33 pm I like it when they drop; they leave a nice purple cover. But the first wind will blow them away.
I have a few agies and never bother picking up the flowers when they drop. They’re really not that noticeable. You could opt for a ground cover as well. Go to your local nursery and ask what they have non flowering. Ground covers are good. They look after them self’s, stay green all year round and you don’t have to maintain them very much. Nice Southies!! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Corner block "dead side" ideas? 8Aug 25, 2008 7:38 pm I second this re agapanthuses, they are so easy (like do next to nothing, just water when really dry) you can get purple or white ones or a less common colour which my Dad has, sort of a salmon pink, they are green all year round and flower in summer. I think something like this that looks lush and green even when not flowering is good.
Will grow well in full sun or part shade. Re: Corner block "dead side" ideas? 9Aug 25, 2008 7:41 pm You're absolutely right Michelle. The aggies are so tough & alos great to divide when you want to save money.
I've seen dwarf varieties that look great as a border. THe fabulous thing is that you can actually buy them through the mail, as I've done many times. It's soooooo much cheaper this way, than buying from nurseries ! Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Corner block "dead side" ideas? 10Aug 25, 2008 7:44 pm Really?
That’s good to know! I don’t have any of the baby type, I think I like them better than the standard ones. They’re much neater and tidier looking. Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Corner block "dead side" ideas? 11Aug 25, 2008 9:24 pm gweluphome They look very nice Michelle I have never used those in any gardens......do you know if the flowers make much of a mess when they drop??? Agapanthus are a notorious environmental weed. You may not be able to purchase them in Western Australia. There are many great native alternatives, such as Dianella revoluta. If you are going to grow agapanthus anywhere other than inner urban areas you should remove the flower heads before they go to seed. You also have to take care when disposing of any plants or soil from your garden. Re: Corner block "dead side" ideas? 12Aug 25, 2008 10:50 pm Here in WA that is not the case. We just don't have the soils in the lower west for them too. WA growers still produce these in massive numbers and they are very popular in retail nurseries each summer when they are in full flower. They don't grow aggressively here like over east. They are a great reliable grower for us. excellent flower show, however they will look pretty shagged out after the summer flowering period. They recover well over winter, greening up and the jobs on again for the next summers flowers They do use a bit of water for us in our sandy soils but as long as they get 10mm twice a week as allowed on the irrigation all will be well.
Agreed Dianellas are also an excellent option but will require much the same moisture here in Perth as the Aggies. gweluphome do you have someone to do the fake turf yet? I have an excellent contact for this. He can give you a free quote when you are ready. Very high grade imitation lawn. I know his dad well and he is someone I thought would never be sold on fake lawn, till he saw and felt this stuff very professional installation. Re: Corner block "dead side" ideas? 13Aug 25, 2008 11:21 pm I wouldn't suggest pencil pines as in perth, and in particular the northern suburbs, conifer canker is becoming a massive problem. Areas of Ocean reef are an excellent example of this at the moment with the conifers in whole streets takenout by this fungal disease. The bloody things may get to just where you want them only to have whole branches dropping dead on you.
You can use products based on Phosphoric acid like Fosject or Yates antirot to control it at best but it won't guarantee to stop it. if you choose not to irrigate that area then some things to think about. one is spend even more focus on soil. This will keep the plants healthier and give them a fighting chance once planted. the other will be to plant in late autumn once the rains start. That way they can settle in and be strong enough to survive come summer dry season. the Agonis flex after dark would be a good tree to try. It is a proven performer and being in Gwelup it will fit in well. Try ground covers like Hibertia snake vine. this is used to great effect along the back of Joondalup near the lake and edgewater. (lakeside drive) looks great and bugger all water is needed. Hardenbergia native wisteria is another to try. An excellent ground cover that is more often grown as a climber. These grow in the sand dunes around Mullaloo and Burns Beach. Also in the southern forests. they are in full flower just now . cover large areas fast with either of those. Correas, verticordias, westringeas, grevillea olivacea varieties, callistemon little johns, rapheolepsis, gero waxes and the southern waxes like walpole and albany waxes might be a few shrubs to check out for there too Re: Corner block "dead side" ideas? 14Aug 25, 2008 11:40 pm One tip I was told years ago, was to check out what the local council plants on roadside verges, roundabouts, and islands.
They pay the big $$ to consultants to choose hardy species that require little maintenance, and will survive in local conditions. Re: Corner block "dead side" ideas? 15Aug 26, 2008 12:40 am that reminds me of one Commodorenut!
leucophyta brownii canal rocks would be a ripper! then there is the hybrid silver nugget which is the compact dwarf of brownii. and another... another great one to try there would be arctotis with its silver foliage and bright orange daisy flowers. Re: Corner block "dead side" ideas? 16Aug 26, 2008 12:41 am that reminds me of one Commodorenut!
leucophyta brownii canal rocks would be a ripper! then there is the hybrid silver nugget which is the compact dwarf of brownii. and another... another great one to try there would be arctotis with its silver foliage and bright orange daisy flowers. Re: Corner block "dead side" ideas? 17Aug 26, 2008 12:59 am Interesting comments about agapanthuses: they grow well in SA but never heard them referred to as a weed, the area will need thinning out after a few years (free aggies for your friends ) but does not spread out of control like a weed.
Perhaps our soil or climate is different to other states? Also thought of a great ground cover,green all year round and purple or white flowers: "african daisies", not sure of 'real' name. I have some in flower in my garden at present, can take a pic tomorrow in daylight if your'e interested? Re: Corner block "dead side" ideas? 18Aug 26, 2008 8:37 am Lyn gweluphome Agapanthus are a notorious environmental weed. You may not be able to purchase them in Western Australia. There are many great native alternatives, such as Dianella revoluta. If you are going to grow agapanthus anywhere other than inner urban areas you should remove the flower heads before they go to seed. You also have to take care when disposing of any plants or soil from your garden. Lyn make a good point that in inner urban areas they are quite controllable and won't seed far....but in the urban fringe and rural areas they can become invasive.....I know the Blue Mountains has a problem where the urban fringe is encroaching on the native bushland. Similar issues in Melbourne.... http://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/files ... anthus.pdf mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Corner block "dead side" ideas? 19Aug 26, 2008 9:04 am Fu Manchu you certainly know your plants, I will have to look into some of the ones you mentioned and maybe come up with som new ideas, and take into consideration everyones input, it has been very helpful.......and yes we have the synthetic lawn guy organised. We had it layed in our previous house.......I have pics and the link to the company here...................................
https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.p ... highlight= Good idea Commodorenut about the council plants, although I do find they often don't look after their plants so they get out of control. I am still interested in the Agapanthas but maybe along with some ground cover and possibly some Yukkas......as a thought. I also like the idea of crushed limestone as a base and see what we can come up with from there. Great suggestions everyone............... Re: Corner block "dead side" ideas? 20Aug 26, 2008 10:52 am aggies very rarely seed in WAand SA, like Lantana varieties. (however for the sake of conformity Lantana is no longer allowed to be propergated in WA, exception to the ground cover montevidensis mauve and white varieties)
Do some looking into xerophytic landscapes. I know someone who is a whizz with these. check out this link if you can for ideas and principles behind it. Oleander is another good performer in this style of landscaping (be careful around the kids though) http://asgap.org.au/APOL6/jun97-1.html 4 14259 Dear all, Requesting your help in relation to a CDC code. We are building a new home in NSW on a corner lot (500m2, 15m wide) following Greenfield CDC code. Our design… 0 4782 Hi HomeOne, I'm in the midst of landscaping a cat run down the side of my house, and the recent rains have me wondering if I need to install some sort of drainage. I've… 0 12247 |