Home & Garden Gardening

[ioppolo]

Sound like your garden rocks .

Each to their own .
Mass planting seems great idea.

I have a few pig faces .
One of them is a monster and wants to rule the garden .

You have to basically leave a huge area clear for the bigger leaf native ones. I put in four of them in the area between my driveway and the neighbour's driveway. Result;



Basically covered the entire 6mx2m area. Looks awesome in spring when the purple and orange flowers come out.

 

[ioppolo]

I’m contemplating not planting the tubestock I’ve just saved purely because it’s going to be a super hot week, 44 on Boxing Day. These plants are already a bit stressed, I’ve got them soaking up water/seasol atm as they had become hydrophobic.

If I can help it I'm a big believer of only planting in autumn and early spring. The winter/summer months in Perth are just too harsh for young plants especially tube stock. Plus the clay up in the hills where I live can be a challenge in itself.

 

[rocker_oz33]

You have to basically leave a huge area clear for the bigger leaf native ones. I put in four of them in the area between my driveway and the neighbour's driveway. Result;

View attachment 2192003

Basically covered the entire 6mx2m area. Looks awesome in spring when the purple and orange flowers come out.

Yeah ..I probably under expected how big they would grow..

I put mine where nothing would grow .
He's very bossy.
I cut him back few times a year.

 

[rocker_oz33]

I've got no front lawn at all.
Just the way the house sits on the block.
Got 2 driveways that can hold 4 cars.
Enough garden to keep me busy .

 

[MP_]

If I can help it I'm a big believer of only planting in autumn and early spring. The winter/summer months in Perth are just too harsh for young plants especially tube stock. Plus the clay up in the hills where I live can be a challenge in itself.

Our recommendation at work is to plant from autumn generally after a good rain. So hard keeping plants alive from late spring onwards here in sa unless you keep the water up.

 

[juss]

Has anyone ripped out their lawn and replaced it with something else? Sick of mowing.

I did a patio and crushed rock with pavers. Much cleaner and less maintenance but not cheap

 

[swingdog]

I dug out half of my front lawn two years ago to make a new feature garden bed. Low water natives as already mentioned are a winner. I put in half a dozen Kangaroo Paws, a couple of native ground covers, two little Pigface succulents, with a Geisha Girl tree in the middle for eventual shade when it's tall enough. I managed to fit in two dwarf Apple trees as well. In the middle is some stepping stones leading to my front porch and finally there's two bird feeders and a bird bath on the other side for the birds to do as they please. This is all so much more satisfying than the lawn was.

Couple of things to consider if you go through with this...sun and shade. If it's getting a lot of sun now the plants will still need a fair bit of help with water to establish, especially young ones. Second thing, the soil underneath. It could be yellow sand not far down like mine was. I had to do a light turnover of my area and anywhere I planted I dug the sand out entirely and added my own stuff for the plant to start off in.

Thanks everyone for your comments.

This is probably what I'm leaning towards. It's a back yard with lawn, plenty of fruit trees (cherry, apple, lime, orange, lemon), raised veggie beds to the side and some brick paving. Mostly in sun except for underneath a big magnolia tree, where nothing grows, and in inner Melbourne so the soil can be quite clay-based.

I want something that's a bit more like a cottage garden but with natives, mix of grasses and small to medium sized shrubs (e.g. grevillia). Won't use pig face - grew up with it in coastal WA and have bad memories of it taking over everything.

Looking to start on some smaller lawn patches and replace them in autumn. Have to think about planning the lot so it makes some sort of sense.

 

[MP_]

Thanks everyone for your comments.

This is probably what I'm leaning towards. It's a back yard with lawn, plenty of fruit trees (cherry, apple, lime, orange, lemon), raised veggie beds to the side and some brick paving. Mostly in sun except for underneath a big magnolia tree, where nothing grows, and in inner Melbourne so the soil can be quite clay-based.

I want something that's a bit more like a cottage garden but with natives, mix of grasses and small to medium sized shrubs (e.g. grevillia). Won't use pig face - grew up with it in coastal WA and have bad memories of it taking over everything.

Looking to start on some smaller lawn patches and replace them in autumn. Have to think about planning the lot so it makes some sort of sense.

I grow Aussie natives for a living so happy to give you ideas on plants to grow. I’m a huge Eremophila fan, extremely drought hardy, low maintenance and great flowers for attracting your pollinating insects which will help with your fruit trees. If you’re from wa then sticking with wa natives would be the way to go as they are imo the best in Australia. There are some great small banksias and Hakeas that fit in well with a cottage garden theme, Chamelaucium, verticordia, the list goes on.

 

[rocker_oz33]

I did a patio and crushed rock with pavers. Much cleaner and less maintenance but not cheap

Some crush stones cost quiet a bit.

I got a quote in an off area of the yard behide the garage.

1500 $ plus. I'm sure it will look great .
Under if it's bang for buck .

 

[rocker_oz33]

Has anyone ripped out their lawn and replaced it with something else? Sick of mowing.

Think of some ideas you like.
Get some quotes .
You might be able to come up with something.

Trades are $$$$$ these days .

 

[rocker_oz33]

Imagine having a back lawn like a lawn bowls green, not even the doggies would be allowed on it

Jack high...cracker Jack...

 

[swingdog]

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Think of some ideas you like.
Get some quotes .
You might be able to come up with something.

Trades are $$$$$ these days .

Yeah, I’m doing it all myself.