Shady garden ideas?
Ideas welcomed for this challenging space at our home in the Adelaide Hills. The garden bed area measures 2 x 15m and has quite a slope so that mulch etc drifts downwards (helped by the cat). It is enclosed by walls on 3 sides (W,N,S) and shaded by a huge stand of pines about 25m to the east. It is a space that is seen but rarely accessed (except to fill gas bottles).
View looking west
It will only get short bursts of direct overhead sun in summer. It is highly visible from various areas inside the home thus has the potential to be a wonderful feature especially when walking in front door and from the main upstairs living areas. I'm hoping it becomes a kind of graceful 'wow' feature. Those bedraggled ferns (Kalgoorlie Gold tree ferns) would probably do well if I had actually looked after them (e.g. programmed the watering system). Clearly the space deserves some better 'design'. Water is not a problem. Thanks!
Typical view from upstairs living area.
Comments (16)
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Comments (3)Look into the idea of a garden room. That is, dividing each area into a defined hedged garden room with its own character. Then that stairs and long path area could be like an avenue between the areas. Whenever I see long and narrow block and kids I think bike track! Landscape with larger trees and hardy bushes and put in a gravel path the kids can ride up and down on.Clear out the plants but don't discard them, you might be able to reuse all that moses cradle elsewhere. Then get a load of mulch and mound it up along the path. It will give you a blank canvas to plant into. Look for shade plants that will give you some colour. I'd also put the gravel path back towards the fence as you come down the stair, and squeeze a little garden bed in between the path and the staircase....See MoreAcreage garden design ideas
Comments (16)having done the same thing many years ago i can make the following suggestions: ...have a good all weather drive and parking area for a crowd of house builders and visitors before the house is built, plan for a fenced off dam to attract wildlife that can be viewed from the house, if you have any slopes reseach "haha" for dividing areas, your local council or Agricultural dept should be able to advise plants native to the area, concentrate on trees and big shrubs (planted in groups and heavily mulched) before you worry about garden beds, invest in perfect planting holes with plastic tree guards and an irrigation system (even a plastic bottle of water upside down next to the new planting will help) invest in some basic fencing tools and start dividing the property into separate areas for specific purpose, starting with a house paddock small enough to mow with a domestic mower, keep the majority of trees and big shrubs outside the house paddock a good fire break away from the house (check out fire prevention for your area) don't build a house meant for the suburbs on your property, create shade near the house with extensive verandahs and pergolas to create shelter from sun and wind from every direction, build your garage or big shed away from the house with a covered walkway creating sheltered courtyards (like an English walled vege garden) plan for water tanks to save water off every roof (including the chook house)...our best idea was a big covered alfresco area carefully screened with shade cloth and a locking door...kept out flies and snakes, great safe space for little kids and dogs as well as room for a table seating 20 for Christmas. Illness forced our retirement from the property just as trees were reaching maturity so make sure your trees are planted first to give you the opportunity to enjoy them sooner and very best of of luck with your new life...See MoreNeed ideas for vertical garden/decorative wall features
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10 years ago
10 years agolast modified: 10 years agoI find this space really exciting. I am all over the internet trying to find images to share with you that express my inspiration for this space. I am struggling. the photos below don't begin to do it justice.
Still water, Fish, Stones or Rocks, Water Plants, Shade Plants + possibly secret garden feel with some chilled out seating.
There is so much more than just water lillies....
Imagine looking out your window and seeing a smaller version of that bottom image. Turf would be very hard to maintain, but slate or some other natural product to create the walkway/design would be excellent.
Oh, man! I wish I had that space to play with. I'm a funny shade of jealousy green.
The house looks fairly new. When planting keep in mind that the growing medium around new houses has been stirred up and polluted in the building process. Either enrich the soil with humus (not hommus, chuckle!) or choose your plants very carefully and obtain specialist advice.
dunnymel thanked 7weed1- 10 years ago
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10 years ago
10 years agoWhy not keep it simple & have a nice sculpture or ornamental pot surrounded by ground covers
Truly Timeless · More InfoYou could add some large round rocks surrounded by ground covers like star jasmine, black & green dwarf mondo grass, lomandra, native violet etc
Coogee House · More Info& a low wide bowl type water feature
Hodge · More Info& maybe just one architectural feature plant rather than a climber. Pony tail palms are very hardy & not every one's cup of tea but they store water in their bulb and are interesting plants that look after themselves.
Brentwood · More InfoIf it is dry then you will need to choose plants accordingly and to suit your house style and you would need to watch out for invasive roots or have 2 or 3 plants in large pots half buried in the slope that can be watered & leave the rest as ground covers.
10 years ago
Bradley Cheney