Lawn or natives for the front yard?
Hi All,
Please help me choose between natives and lawn for my front yard.
Background :-
1) Planted murraya hedge on both sides and applying red mulch ( not my favorite but partner believes it matches the red brick and improves curb appeal )2) Had some big pebbles already so created a succulent rockery there. 3) Already have a walter buffalo lawn in the backyard with some native lilly pilly and some roses 4) I wanted to remove the native tree in the center of the front yard and plant something like a crepe myrtle/ maple /cherry/crab apple for the lovely color, but a gardener advised not to remove this tree. So I am trying to add color by creating a daisy flower bed in the tree ring 5) Will have a merbau wood edging around the front. 6) Have some mixed lawn seeds that I can sow . Will be a cheaper alternative to instant turfs 7) Plan to have some concrete pavers and make two paths leading to two home entrances, one in the lawn ( if we go with that ) and one next to the murraya hedge with pebbles. 8) My neighbors have a lot of agave, yucca , natives and lime green succulents that grows really tall
Questions :-
1) Should I go all native and no lawn around the tree and behind it, close to the window ? 2) If natives, which ones should I pick and in what number so I dont make it look messy , but uniform and blending in ?3) I can have both lawn and natives. In that case, I ll have to pick natives for the spot outside the window, behind the tree, as that is hard to dig and does not get a lot of sun. Should I put just two shrubs,or pots with ficus or flowers and just add some more pebbles over the Tuscan and not grow anything at all ? 4) I am also tempted to add a climber like a white or yellow rose , but I dont want to add too many colors. Should I just stick to 3-4 colors ?5) Would a nandina border look nice before the tree next to the concrete pathway?
My favorite plants that I have not been able to use so far :-
1) Viburnum tinus 2) Weterengia purple and white 3) Yellow or white climbing roses 4) Acacia cognata 5) Ficus 6) Bouganvillea7) Dianella grasses8) Birds of paradise ( orange flowers )9) Lime green succulents ( aeonium possibly )10) Hardenbergia11) Nandinas
Appreciate all inputs
Thanks.
Comments (16)
julie herbert
5 years agoGreat advice from oklouise,
Soil preparation is so important to keep your plants in great shape, adding lawn till you decide on your planting will green up your front, I would go with structural plants, westringia looks great clipped and adds a stylish look, here’s a few inspiration photos of some great foliage plants
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Huge front yard with gum trees - help!
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Comments (14)I would start with the removal of that ghastly hedge around the base of that magnificent gum. And remove the edging here as well. I would consider a lilly pilly screen down each side of your home - the same plant each side. Ensure that your plant will grow to 3 to 4 metres tall and no wider than 2 metres - less would be better. Many don't need trimming.You will need dedicated garden beds with proper edging to do this properly. You could remove the lawn and plant a predominantly native garden with native grasses, westringia, low growing bottle brush etc. Without knowing the soil type and where this home is makes it difficult to suggest plants. If you do away with the lawn, you have the real problem of kikuyu regrowing - and this is a major problem for novices to address. It may be best to have the tree free-standing in the lawn and the screen plants on each side. Leave for a year or 2 and then reappraise....See MorePolly D
5 years ago
Audrey1967!
5 years agojulie herbert
5 years agoHi Polly,
They are gorgeous aren’t they,
Dietes Grandiflora , Lambs ears , Marlborough rock daisy, Raphiolepis ‘oriental pearl’, (that’s the rock daisy in flower) love lambs ears and black mondo together, liriope muscari is another great plant, variegated liriope adds light to any spot in the garden.
julie herbert
5 years agoAudrey1967!
5 years agoPolly D
5 years agoSo I ve gone with grey pebbles next to the mulch and mixed white/grey round next to it, under the window. Am going to have a flower bed in the tree ring and a lawn where u see the loose soil. Does this look ok for now ?
1) I ll put pavers later here as the shop is out of paving sand. I can go dark gray pavers here but would oatmeal or cream look out of place (check 4 th pic ) ? Considering its next to red brick, mulch and neighbor s oatmeal driveway ?
2) I can get 600 *300 pavers.
3) As for plants, I am doing more in the backyard where i get a lot of sun. In the front, I ve got a succulent rockery, murraya hedges, tree flower ring and will be sowing seeds for a lawn. I ll keep some potted plants next to the window for some privacy.
Thanks.
julie herbert
5 years agoHi Polly,
Looks great, you have been working really hard, I would go with grey pavers , looks good with the grey stones, you could add a couple of Lilly pilly standards either side of your window and a rectangular planter box in between with viburnum,pittosporum ‘golf ball’ or a plant that you love, would look great from inside also
Bernadette Staal
5 years agoKath
5 years agowendy kurka
5 years agoPolly D
5 years ago
KK1000
5 years agoKath
5 years agoHi Polly, I live in SE Qld, so completely different climate from you. Where I live, Lomandra are incredibly hardy and will grow in shade or sun. Westringia are also hardy, They will take part-shade and adapt very well to being clipped to size. I'm also happy with my dianella. They are really great for getting green 'lushness' in shade.
I grow quite a few grevilleas. The hybrid ones flower all year round and give great colour to the garden - and the birds love them. I also grow leptospermum, melaleucas and callistemons in areas where my drainage isn't good enough for grevilleas. I also like Chrysocephalum apiculatum as a ground cover. According to the experts it grows in Melbourne. Where I live it's very long-flowering and spills onto paths nicely. I'm growing a few lilliepillies in shady areas, but we had lots in our last garden so I wanted a change. We have no lawn at all in our garden. No kids or dogs so don't need it.
There are so many wonderful natives. Our local Bunnings actually stocks quite a few, or you can find a specialist native nursery that will have an even bigger selection. They can give you advice on what will grow well in your situation.
oklouise