Landscaping ideas, designs, plants and all the rest

I'm far from plant expert. But I would be wanting some greenery, maybe something that could be hedged along the retaining.
Wouldn't need to be fully established, but guessing retaining is either done now or soon. So get onto landscaping ASAP if possible.
Something like a box -
Japanese Box
ENGLISH BOX - Garden Express

 

Am also thinking to paint it.

 

Plus maybe leaf it up to completely change the look.

 

You paying someone to do it, or yourself?
I think painting it will definitely make it look more appealing.
But make sure you add in paint and labour costs.

 

I’d think about a few tropical plants - small palm, birds of paradise, cycad, small variety variegated Draceana. Or if you want to block out a fence a row of clumping bamboo.

 

Myself . Always wanted to be on the block

 

Love The ideas thanks! Especially the bamboo!

 

If using pine hide every bit of it mate. Plant a creeper/climber. But really, its crap and not all that cheap either. Ive built a dry pack rock wall at home here and way way cheaper than any other material but labour is a bit more if not doing yourself. What height will it need to be?

 

Dry packed rock wall (but hidden concrete/cement at back to reinforce) There is no real weight on it and water can pass thru the soil retention cloth that lines the inside. Does your head in building these but looks great when finished and gardens adorn etc.

 

Will be abit less than 1m. I can imagine the costs to do that pad rock wall supported by concrete would be sky high from a builder.

I think I'll be able to come up with a way to make it blend in and look nice. Many suggestions here already, much appreciated guys. Will post pics of garden once I get em.

 

thats 1m high and no more concrete in that wall than what you will need to hold pine posts. anyway, your call.

 

I actually did the sums, pine logs or rock and the rock won easily, incl labour.
Pine you need posts every 1.2m and for 1m high wall, need to be inground at least the same depth, concreted. Thats alot of digging. Thats doing it properly of course.

 

I'll get the rock pad costed now and see what they say mate. Thanks

 

Who's "they" ?

 

It all depends on the slope and how much weight the wall is going to hold. Thats why we need photos to get an idea of levels etc. Also need soil type, drainage, lots of stuff go into it. Anyway, you obviously have an expert there (they) so what do they think?

 

The builders mate

 

Yes the builders and landscaper they use.

 

Wasting my time here then, good luck mate. Sorry Ive *%#ed you around.

 

No it's all good mate. I assumed you'd know it's from my development. Really What I was interested in is landscaping ideas which I can then discuss with the landscaper. So its more a collaborative process. I'm just not very knowledgeable with plants and landscaping in general. Hence came to see what the collective wisdom of PC had. Many times I've taken nuggets of gold ideas from the forum and discussed with my builder or other consultants to incorporate and the results were great.

 

Your problem is going to be access. Before building the houses it might have been best to do the retaining wall then as you could get concrete pumps and anything up there. Now I guess it will need to be hand carried up??

Anyway, in Perth we don't do wooden retaining. For economical stuff it's panel and post and there is a charcoal one that might suit your modern look Products | Wonder Walls or we use limestone blocks - cos we quarry them here but they cost more than panel and post.

As to plants I would check gumtree for frangipanis and dig some up over winter and thrown them up there to settle in during construction. It's not good transplant time now but if you can find a good specimen in a pot or at a nursery in a bag you might be able to pay some strong tradies to get it up there once the retaining is in.

I love magnolias for their great all round appeal - they are shrubby trees with flowers. They look great along fences but also as statement trees. The rust colour under their leaves is beautiful.

Don't **** off future owners by planting things with tiny leaves that will mess with the pool filter. Frangipanis and magnolias have nice big leaves that are easy to scoop out of the pool.

For low plants I use a lot of Murrays (orange jessamine). Go well in modern or traditional styles and are nice and green with white flowers