Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Aug 25, 2008 2:57 pm Hey guys, in this age of drought and water conservation, we've been thinking about the amount of water useage and mowing etc associated with naturestrips. Now since we have 2 naturestrips, being a corner allotment, we are looking at doing something different to the norm and NOT putting grass, whether real or synthetic there.....
We're looking at something along these lines...very low maintenance, actually once they are down, there is really, no maintenance at all? http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee299/matthewnathan/P8170001.jpg Its a Tuscan Toppings mix, similar to Lillydale toppings but in a different colour...about $78/cbm and it covers a fair area too....and around the crappy Chinese Elm we have, we'll section it off and add some black bark - the only issue i see is if the birds go for worms through the bark and make a mess....but time will tell? They seem to be popping up around the place...well in our estate anyway and the council doesn't seem to have any issues with it, from what we gather? http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee299/matthewnathan/P8170005.jpg Has anyone got any other ideas for nature strips? Re: Alternative options for naturestrips? 2Aug 25, 2008 9:12 pm some people near by have a great nature strip. i will have to get a pic because it offers an excellent inspiration for all manner of ideas Re: Alternative options for naturestrips? 3Aug 25, 2008 9:18 pm Its a great idea, but needs to be done properly to look good.
We have one near us - I dont think they got it right. Cant put my finger on whats wrong.... The birds make a hell of a mess with our bark every morning on our path Paula Re: Alternative options for naturestrips? 4Aug 25, 2008 9:30 pm Well, think about the time alone saved, not having to do mowing every couple of weeks, then weeding, edging and watering if you must etc....
Why not do something different i say? Not sure what our neighbours might think...some of ours used rolled turf on theirs!!!! Re: Alternative options for naturestrips? 6Aug 25, 2008 10:21 pm You may want to check what the council "policy" is on nature strips.
As "maintenance free" nature strips are de rigueur at the moment and some of the them are downright dangerous due to tripping hazards, or can damaging car doors when you park on the street, our council has developed some guidelines. http://www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/freestyle ... ns-web.pdf I planted four Myoporum parvifolium (Creeping Boobialla) in our 18 metre long nature strip in Point Cook which in 18 months to 2 years covered the entire nature strip with not much water....similar to the big picture in the pamphlet. Only problem was I had a 2 year battle with the council - they kept sending me quarterly letters saying I wasn't allowed to plant anything other than grass on the nature strip - I sent them letters telling them to rack off and that my nature strip didn't require water.....hmm guess they came around when others started doing the low maintenance thing......bloody councils! Basically I didn't give a shyte whether the neighbours liked it or not....as long as it was low maintenance. mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Alternative options for naturestrips? 7Aug 25, 2008 10:40 pm Thanks TDL, very interesting, the link states that gravel mulch such as Lillydale or Tuscan toppings is acceptable...which the latter is what we're thinking of using, like in our rear yard.
In checking out the council's website, there is nothing that i can find in relation to nature stips, but our developers guidelines for The Chase states the followin: " LANDSCAPING - Garden areas within public view should be landscaped within six months of issue of Certificate of Occupancy for the home - Establishment of grass to the nature strip/s adjacent to your allotment, and ongoing maintenance of the nature strip is your responsibility - Planting of a blend of exotic and native vegetation is encouraged and recommended. Choose species that minimise the need for garden watering" So not sure, but will check and see...what are they going to do, make all the residents rip there's up? All we are trying to do is conserve water? Will have to give the council a buzz and see how it goes? But i think we'll be right. fingers crossed. Re: Alternative options for naturestrips? 8Aug 25, 2008 10:42 pm will be doing a nature strip soon for someone. It will have two agonis after dark as smallish trees. Then heaps of Anigozanthus Big red (kangapaws). Big tall red flowers. The outer parts will be Osteospermums in white. Then heavily mulched with mulch from the tree loppers. will require water in our sandy soils but not much at all. in a better soil the same plants would get by fine unirrigated. Re: Alternative options for naturestrips? 9Aug 25, 2008 10:48 pm Can you wangle us some pics of your handi-work FM?
I'd love to have a look? Re: Alternative options for naturestrips? 10Aug 25, 2008 10:58 pm **Phoenix** So not sure, but will check and see...what are they going to do, make all the residents rip there's up? All we are trying to do is conserve water? Basically what I said to the council, when we established the nature strip turfed nature strips were dying left, right and centre and I told the council I wasn't going to grass it....option was what I'd planted or nothing....when mine was established it was the only green nature strip in our street during summer.... **Phoenix** - Garden areas within public view should be landscaped within six months of issue of Certificate of Occupancy for the home I've always had an issue with these developer covenants on gardens as it completely ignores the reality of gardening...our developer had the same condition. We moved into the house at Point Cook in November 1999 (basically start of drought), wasn't going to try to establish a garden in the middle of summer, and waited until the spring time to plant.....did all the manual stuff but refused to plant anything. Got hate mail from the developer....but so what....they can't repo my block. I know they try to do it for the sale value of blocks but I wasn't going to throw money and water at poor struggling plants in summer.....and I had a few other things to do anyway....did it in my own own pace and had a garden which thrived in summer. mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Alternative options for naturestrips? 11Aug 25, 2008 10:58 pm well that one isn't done yet. I will get you guys a pic of the one nearby though Re: Alternative options for naturestrips? 12Aug 25, 2008 11:04 pm Mike, the developer is already wiping their hands of us it seems, one neighbour at the end of the T shaped court, wants off street parking like we have on the side of our block, they told him to approach council as it has nothing to do with them now!
So i dont think the developer is going to be doing much about it... I might ring the council just in case.. But nice to know you stood your ground and won...seriously you wonder what are they thinking when they write these guidelines??? Thanks FM, can't wait to see the pics...i have time though, there's plenty to do at our place before we get to the nature strip! Re: Alternative options for naturestrips? 13Aug 25, 2008 11:10 pm **Phoenix** But nice to know you stood your ground and won...seriously you wonder what are they thinking when they write these guidelines??? Thing is I wasn't trying to make it a "last stand at the Alamo" moment....just using a bit of logic.... mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Alternative options for naturestrips? 14Sep 04, 2008 9:19 pm I haven't taken a pic as such because I haven't been past in a while. So had an idea and it worked
Google earth Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ I have always liked this nature strip and although it isn't perfect or manicured, it was well planned and has always looked a million times better than the rest of the nature strips. I like its natural look and good on them for doing it. Re: Alternative options for naturestrips? 15Sep 06, 2008 7:41 pm Hi all
I have worked for a Council in my past life and this issue came up a lot. There is one thing to be aware of and that is if work ever has to be done on the naturestrip, the Council does not have to reinstate any work you may have done, so any plants you have or gravel you have put down will not be reinstated. Also, if other neighbours complain they can make you reinstate the grass. And they normally will do that because they like to keep the streetscape consistent. Keep in mind that because you like something doesn't mean everyone else does. Sometimes there can be hazards involved in terms of people not being able to see traffic around a corner if plants are too high or overgrown, etc. tripping hazards, so it's not all necessarily about water conservation, environment etc. I'm not saying that there are not better alternatives, just letting you know that whatever you put in place even though the Council may not do anything about it initally, doesn't mean they won't at some stage and you may have to remove whatever you plant or may lose it. For example, if someone parks next to your naturestrip and trips on a plant that you have put there, you may be in quite a bit of trouble. People may also walk all over your plants and there is nothing you can do about it because even though the naturestrip is your responsibility, it is still Council and public property. If you invest a lot of money and then one of the services has to come and dig up the naturestrip, you lose out because they don't have to reinstate the garden or other materials you have put there, the Council will only reinstate grass. These are just things to think about, especially if you are putting your money and time into it. Re: Alternative options for naturestrips? 16Sep 07, 2008 7:17 am FM - nice nature strip.
One question though - if people park along side - is there room to step on the mulch when you exit the car? I wouldn't want to be stepping into spiky plants! After 4 years - we're in! Re: Alternative options for naturestrips? 17Sep 07, 2008 8:10 pm not really much room at all there for exiting from a car
I guess though if that was a concern you could design it so the plants are set back a little more and have some very short paths through to the footpath or an exit point of some sort. In the pic it looks spikey but they aren't. Might cheaper to changer your idea of what makes a home, have you considered building a porch? 2 51795 Standard uninsulated double brick has an R value of around 0.7. An insulated standard 90mm stud timber frame can have an R value of around 2.7. Even if you insulate a… 17 12046 Hi there, I'm a conplete newbie to this, but I'm looking to put a floor down in my 6x9m shed. It's currently sitting on a 100mm thick concrete perimeter (dirt floor… 0 6467 |