Whatever you do never plant a gum! They have no place in suburban areas! The sooner the council realises that these trees kill people the better! We have had two gum trees fall on the back of our house now, one in 2012 and one in 2014. We are so lucky that myself, my husband, three children, three dogs, five Guinea pigs, two parrots and one bearded dragon were not injured. It's just a miracle not once but twice! I still don't know how we escaped unharmed. The gums do not have a stable root system and they grow very shallow, they get to the point where they just fall over. And the scary thing is they fall silently. They are not called 'Widow Makers' in the bush for no reason. I like the Tuckeroo tree, not sure of scientific name. They grow with a straight trunk and keep their foliage in a straight and symmetrical line along the bottom and grow hiding their branches. Essentially they look like a large mushroom. They are green all year too. I think they get to about 6 metre or ten if they have to reach for the sun.

It is unfortunate that Ficus Hillii hybrids are being pushed by landscapers. The root system of all ornamental figs is bad. The Flash variety is just a smaller version of Ficus microcarpa which is a massive tree. They ALL have roots that cause severe structural damage to homes, pools, driveways, walls etc. As a very experienced garden designer, I have seen too many instances of considerable structural problems caused by this plant family. Beware.

Hi Leah, I'd think very carefully about what you put in and your conditions. Being in the mallee is a bit more extreme than most inland areas in Australia. Best advice I can give you is speak to your local nursery (not big box store) as they will know what will work best in your area. Unless you're prepared to be watering all the time, it's best to choose plants that suit your climate and soil. Also be aware that your water will probably be quite hard, and a lot of plants may not like that. Have a walk around your area, and see what other people are growing, and what is doing well. That will give you some ideas for planting. I'd steer clear of maples - any of them, as the hot drying winds will dry out the foliage, and they just won't be happy in an exposed spot. Same can be said of the deciduous Magnolias - I doubt you'll find may neighbours with those growing. Look for things like some of the smaller growing Brachychiton cultivars. There are also some great flowering gums, such as Eucalyptus torquata and Corymbia 'Wildfire' which would do well where you are. Crepe Myrtles are a great choice, as they seem to be tolerant of drier conditions. Not sure how crab apple would go, but it would be worth a shot. Also Melia azaderach is another great tree for inland areas, though it can be a bit messy. Good luck!

Hello Anna , Camellias are a beautiful tree and they come from the cooler regions of Asia and are more suited to a humid / cooler conditions. I have them on the southern side of my home here in Sydney where they have protection from the hot sun . Flowers will burn as will some leaves from hot winds and dry conditions are not really to their liking . I’m not saying they won’t grow, they will but will struggle and need to keep roots moist . They become quite broad and will eventually brush against cars etc as your driveway is narrow . Crepe myrtles are from India originally and the warmer Asian countries. They do lose leaves and with this comes a change of view as the leaves turn a bright orange/yellow and give you completely different look . After this the tree will be bare for a few months exposing the stunning bark ( more mature trees ) that you just cannot walk past without touching . Then in spring the new growth is like green ! They don’t really NEED to be pruned but you will get lots more flowers . As you are using this in a driveway i would just let the grow naturally and as a narrow, tall ish tree =. Great for drive way . Let me take a picture of mine here in Sydney . I will send it next . Also , as you are driving around your area keep an eye out for trees that catch your eye , ask your local nursery man , if you have one . Crepes love hot dry areas and will not need watering at all after established . That’s why some councils in nsw use them as nature strip trees = low care !! Most important of all ...... enjoy yourself !! Gardening very rewarding