Landscaping ideas, designs, plants and all the rest

Thanks myf , I will investigate all those plants and see what I like and can use. With regards to the retaining wall, I think I'm using the most cost efficient materials for my lot, I just want to spruce them up . I think when I'm finished with them, they should look very different. To spend any more money on them , I just wouldn't get anything back and it's not really necessary from what I've seen.

Great tip re avoiding small leaf plants.

 

Omg I had no idea these trees are so expensive..

 

@Westminster I'm seriously thinking to send those BBQs back to bbq galore and purchase 2 of these. I'll also add an outdoor beer fridge and ....a pizza oven

 

I like! Where is that from?

PS Bunnings is not good for mature plants. Ask your builder if his apprentice or someone wants to earn some cash and get these for you Frangipani’s(*2) | Plants | Gumtree Australia Brisbane South East - Gumdale | 1231394100

 

@Westminster
EuroGrille 8 Burner BBQ Outdoor Barbeque Gas 100% Stainless Steel Kitchen

I think ill wait till December.. probably even better deals may appear..

Bbq galore are awesome, happy to take them back.

 

If the other wall costs don’t add up / able to get on site, perhaps just paint up the timber in monument grey.
Popular colour so not out there, but should work with the grey tiles already in place.
Good luck!

 

Tagging onto this thread rather than starting the new one....we are thinking to do abre backyard garden edging and some front too...

Currently it has those long wooden rolls that look like tree trunks but due to age ther are gone....

Any opinion about treated timber garden bed with concrete post vs sandstone type blocks...it is not going to be very high - just few inches from ground so we can top up good soil as there is a bit of slop...

 

I am waiting for the quote and sample pics

 

Oh I wish I saw that earlier! My mum’s neighbour had a gorgeous tree and dumped it last summer. I’m still sad, one of the nicest variety I’ve seen!

 

So I asked for sample.pics to see treated timber vs blocks and I found couple on tge net...definately the blocks looks neat and much better. I have also uploaded how the current rotten wood rolls look

Opinions/suggestions!?

 

Do uou paint treated pine or stain if it is a garden edge ?

 

Do you, should you, can you ?

1. Not many do
2. Probably not, its not undercoated ?
3. Yes. But I wouldnt. It looks cheap and nasty.

TP is a landscape product best only used for some low retaining walls.Its often not straight. It is (slightly) cheaper but often installed poorly and it does bend under load adn often twists or splits. It has a far shorter life than concrete blocks and its not that cheap and has some hazards (its green look is a poison) . Even the act of whippersnipping is better with blocks. Weathering etc. I have boral gardenwall blocks (ie non structural) and find that blocks do hold a lot of dirt on the rough face. A quick blast with a karcher each 6-12 months and they look like brand new. TP ages poorly with greying. Cockroaches love TP logs and the gaps.

Blocks (low landscape not mortared) should always be carefully laid perfectly level on the lower run to a decent wet concrete bed that is dug under the expected soil level. If your yard has angles then dig depth and ensure each row is flat. You want to see blocks not concrete when the turf goes down. Ensure horizontal and vertical angles are perfect ie side and rear and top. (and why you lay onto wet concete one at a time and tap them with a mallet) Once the bottom row are in its a simple stacking job. The art is the bottow row. Otherwise they will look terrible when stacked. The capping is expensive but really finishes it and if you use blocks that allow curves it may be avoided but you will have gaps at the rear that are V shaped on the curved parts, not the straight runs. Those V blocks will also likely not be "fixed" as the lower edge that staggers them back 25mm each layer must be hammered off. This means walking on the curved section (kids) can be unstable. Use (small amount) adhesive for capping or to secure those curved blocks if a concern. Alternatively hammer off all blocks and lay straight up.

There are also a varity of panel options. Usually a system of posts that are embedded and then TP dressed panels slide in. Bunnings seems to sell more of them now.
Whites Outdoor 750 x 50mm Retain-iT End Post
https://www.bunnings.com.au/our-range/brands/r/ridgi is a concrete alternative

Tip - Dingo hire may avoid a lot of lifting !

 

My favourite cost effective and modern looking garden edging is this corten steel type product, there's a few around and even bunnings has a range: Garden Edging - Corten Steel Garden Edging | Straightcurve

 

Thank you guys....due to the set budget and need to change the old edging TP was a winner -apparently 40 years warranty!! These sleepers are approx $18 at
bunnings for 200x50x3.

I have put the pic of what was before put in by vendor and the updated.

 

Finally did the staining and we are happy with the outcome

Next project is to improve the lawn/grass

 

The issue with pine is that it doesn't last and tends to warp after a year or so, no matter what "warranty" they put on it

 

Looks great