Menu Index: Landscaping
The New Formal Garden: With Australian Plants
Author: Kath Gadd Kath is a Landscape Designer and Horticulturalist who specialises in creating Australian Native Gardens. She is based in the Illawarra and is passionate about encouraging the use of native plants in the landscape. Please see her blog for further information – malleedesign.com.au When most people think of a formal garden the first…
Establishing Australian native shrubs in your garden
Step by Step Guide to Establishing Australian Native Shrubs The Australian flora has established a reputation as a tough, drought tolerant group of plants that are very low maintenance in the garden. Whilst this is generally true it is extremely important to realize that a bit of tender loving care during the first few weeks…
Growing Gymea Lilies
Everything about the Gymea Lily (Doryanthes excelsa) is rather larger than life. The bold foliage can reach over four metres in height and I have personally measured majestic flower stems that were over ten metres tall. Plants live on for many years and grow into massive clumps of shoots many metres in diameter if they…
Best Australian native plants for pots and containers
The trend towards smaller gardens, town houses and apartments has inspired the plant lovers in the nursery industry to respond with an ever-increasing range of Australian plants that will delight those who want to attract birds and butterflies and bring a little bit of the bush to their balconies and courtyards. From anigozanthos to xerochrysum there are plants…
Australian Native Shrubs
What are the best Australian Native Shrubs for the Garden? Shrubs form a huge group within the Australian flora and can be defined as woody plants that remain relatively low (say less than 5m) and generally have multiple stems or trunks. This type of plant abounds in more exposed, harsher climatic areas such as coastal…
Australian Native Trees
What Australian Native Trees Should I Grow In The Garden? Strictly speaking a tree is a woody plant that has a single trunk and a distinct elevated canopy. There are, however, quite a number of woody plants in the Australian flora that are commonly thought of as trees but are actually shrubs. An example of…
How to improve sub-surface drainage in the garden
The issue of drainage in your garden needs to be considered. This is vitally important for plants that require good drainage, as waterlogging will usually lead to death by root or collar rot. By far the best strategy is to install sub-surface drainage (if it is necessary) before new gardens are created, as it invariably…
All About Hedges
Hedges are worth considering for a number of reasons. They can provide a visual barrier around a property; a dense hedge can muffle traffic noise from a busy street or provide a break from a strong prevailing wind. A spiky hedge will also provide a physical deterrent to unwanted guests and that pesky neighbourhood dog…
Landscape Designing With Australian Plants
Is there such a thing as a distinctively Australian garden style? I would certainly argue the case, and if there is such a thing as a distinctively Australian garden design concept, it would be best described as the ‘Bush Garden’. The hallmark of this design idea is an emphasis on the use of Australian plants,…
Australian Native Hedges
Gardeners often look to exotic plants when they consider putting in a hedge. There are plenty of natives which will perform equally well, and often even better. Australian plant breeders have been working to breed and select new varieties of old favourite tough natives for hedging, screening and for topiary work. The varieties that work…