Make-overs / New-builds / Special Projects
Planting and Garden Themes
When considering a backyard make-over or designing the plantings for a new build, you will no doubt be discussing many approaches. At Terrafirma gardens, Mat and the team find that working to a theme is a great starting point to start the discussion. With so many options it good to review some different themes, your new outdoor zones for some careful planning. Climatic zone, aspect and weather conditions all play a part. Take walk around your area to get the juices flowing and prepare some questions to ask your landscape designer.
Mat’s tip
I find that working to a theme is a great starting point to start the planting discussion.
English
Green, Grand and Geometric?
The bayside period and older home will certainly suit an english style garden. There are many interpretations of this popular style as there are many modern approaches to restore an English garden style to all its’ celebrated glory. Often new home owners of these types of homes have a real passion and want to see where they can blend todays lifestyles and innovation with the very best English garden standards of the past. There are often good questions to ask to see if this style garden is the best choice not only for the home but also for the owners.
Nautical
Guaranteed to attract seagulls!
Who doesn’t like a deck with big bleached rounded bollards dressed with thick rope and even an old sea lantern. I have seen a client cut an old wooden row boat in half, turn it up to point to the sky and make a wonderful love seat out of it! That’s a landscape to spin a really good yarn!
Japanese
Stone, lanterns, bridges, bamboo and water basins
Many types of gardens are designed to be viewed and enjoyed when viewed from a building. This is especially the case in a Japanese garden. Winding paths and stepping stones encourage strolling. Moving water and carefully placed lanterns make a very pleasing outlook. In an established Japanese garden don’t be suprised to see varieties of moss and contoured pebbles. A carefully placed statue and organic seating begins some perfect contemplation. Plantings such as cherry and maple create seasonal character with bamboo and pine trees for winter beauty.
Tropical
Bring a little Queensland to your bayside shack!
Raphis, Alexandra, Kentia, Chinese Windmill and Fan are types of Australian palms. Nothing say’s lush, cool or green better than a plantings of palms in your landscaping design. With some patience and a realistic budget it’s worth the journey. Highly recommended for homes with a pool or where you are trying to create more private zones.
Coastal
Bunched plantings, granitic sand mulch and crushed seashell paths
With our sandy soils and the popularity of an understated style, it is no wonder our coastal garden themes work so well. I just love using Blue Fescue, Kangaroo Paw and New Zealand Flax and working them around natural curved paths or deckings. Bleached timbers work extremely well and large sandstone block seats, over size cushions around a fire pit make quite the setting. Keep the areas easy and relaxed and plant with bird life in mind for years of enjoyment from your Hamptons chair!
Desert/Drought Tolerant
An endless palette and easy to maintain
I usually call this a dry garden. It’s great to work in a pathway of organic step stones, screenings, grasses and low shrubs. For bayside and especially if you are requiring native garden with low maintenance, this is a beauty. In areas where there is very little sun why not try to grow some mosses between the stones. Of course succulents are ideal, the palette is endless.
Modern
A meeting of materials and approaches
We are lucky to be in times where both innovation and the availability of product is immense. A modern garden could be many things though like the vertical garden pictured above in my previous home. Modern is perhaps just presenting the familiar in an unexpected way. A endless row of perfectly cloned shrubs, an indoor bamboo garden, an outdoor shower with decking and rainforest plantings, a seat made from caged rocks, a retaining wall with concealed storage and seating, a pool edge made bleached timbers, all are modern approaches and connecting indoor with outdoor brings both challenge and delight.
Mediterranean
Devotion to shade and outdoor entertaining
Practical trees are where they can be harvested such as lemon or olive. Vine laden pergolas can be opulent and suit our great southern climate. Wonderful over size pots create instant decor and outdoor drama. Gravel pathways and water-wise planting rule. For wild color look out for Echiums, Californian Poppy, Echinacea, Lavender and native Grevillea.