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Australian Native Plants

rock garden wall inspiration needed :)

8 years ago

Hi guys,

I have a bare rock wall in my garden and I want to turn it into something special. I'm a big fan of Australian natives and Japanese style gardens but can't quite determine what to do with this wall and the garden above it. It receives moderate sun light. I live near a forest and would love to bring that vibe to my garden. I've got two small black boy grass trees I'd like to use here. Thoughts??? :)

The wall

I like the look of this

Featured Answer

Luke Buckle

8 years ago

Here are a few ideas I found - some of which feature Australian plants...

I would go for a few levels, including native grasses up on top and groundcovers that will spill over the front

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Comments (7)

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Nathan Mackay Landscaping
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Luke Allison Hi the best thing to do here is pull the rocks away and start the wall again. Its something you can easily do yourself. just choose and place the rocks to make the face of the wall as strait as possible with small gaps. you will need a bit of soil to backfill behind the wall as you go this will help hold the rocks in place. looking at the picture you have some good rocks to make a nice feature wall.
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Strong geometry, cool blue and glass and a plain lawn background. to fill the diamond with bush is going to cancel out its strength. But something different to the slightly sterile design compilation … if the finance is there, get two or three massive raw rock slabs and one spectacular architectural tree. resist going vertical .. layer them horizontally to slightly overlap or break the hard lines of the diamond, but not to obscure it. Then choose you vertical with a sculptural tree. There are vertical cherry trees with spectacular autumn colour which would contrast with the rocks (texturally), and be floaty like the water in the pool…. whatever the tree, lift the foliage up from the soil level, and underplant with jut one kind of tight low ground cover, even moss (if your climate can support) or ground hugging juniper that you can train inside the diamond. This combination of elements is rich for the eye, softens the geometry, and adds interest which is lacking right now. The place for shrubs and grasses and palms is to border the lawn.
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Luke Allison
Original Author
8 years ago
I like the wall how it is. I just want some ideas on gardening mostly. Are there some plants that would look good growing in the crevices between the rocks? I'll probably transplant that snow flake elsewhere too
alisonoz_gw
8 years ago
From your other post you're in SEQld? I can't tell from the photo whether it's a retaining wall (that is, between you and a neighbour) as you talk about the "garden above it" - or maybe you just meant on top of the rocks? I also can't see how wide it is--- which might be limiting.

I'm not sure whether you are looking into a neighbour's yard with their shrubbery on the other side of the wall or whether it's all part of your yard?

Sometimes if it is just crappy hard soil inside and no additional water it can be very hard in summer keeping things growing in a narrow space with intense heat.

However if you wanted a japanese style I would try to get things into size perspective first and, yes, that would mean ditching the snowflake--- or taking cuttings or digging it out in spring and moving it.

I'd also assess some of the other plants up there - one looks like a traveller's palm? It probably gives some shade but the roots are impossible to garden around.

Depending on how much money you want to spend and how much time you have to maintain (including watering_ I'd go for some of those cute weeping mini acacias, a few kurume azalias and add some of the nice small landscaping grasses.
Luke Allison thanked alisonoz_gw
Luke Allison
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago

@alisonoz_gw yes, I'm in seq. the garden bed above the rock wall is approximately 1m wide and the shrubs sit behind that in the neighbour's yard. Thanks for your detailed response. I like the plants you mentioned. I'm trying to keep this low budget so will likely get some clippings and small plants and plant in spring.
Luke Buckle
8 years ago
Looking forward to seeing how it goes...
Woko
8 years ago
Hi Luke. I'm a great fan of indigenous native plants (those that grown naturally where you live) for a number of reasons. One is they're adapted to your local soil, climate & weather so should survive better. Another is that if they're planted in the wet season you shouldn't need to water them unless you have a following severe drought. So you can save lots of precious water & money with plants indigenous to your area. Lastly, they'll attract whatever native bird, butterfly & other wildlife remains in your area & this is a real plus given that much of our wildlife is disappearing under pressure from increasing human intervention. Also, I suspect that properties which have the wildlife dimension will soon command premium prices if they don't already.

If this idea appeals to you then you could have a discussion with your local council's environment officer, land care group or environment group. Any of these should have lots of information about indigenous plants suitable for your situation.

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