Lawn or natives for the front yard?

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

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.

Featured Answer

oklouise

6 years ago

i think it can be so much quicker and easier to have lawn then, as time and funds allow, add your garden in stages so it can all be carefully planned and soil properly prepared before buying any plants

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Comments (16)

julie herbert
6 years ago
Great 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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julie herbert
6 years ago
Just a few favourites
Polly D
Original Author
6 years ago
Loved them all Julie. You always come to my resuce Thx.
Audrey1967!
6 years ago
Julie, do you know the names of these plants? They are beautiful.
julie herbert
6 years ago
Hi 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
6 years ago
Hi Audrey,
I put the plants on Polly’s site, I am so sorry that I didn’t respond to you, they are gorgeous plants, we are so spoiled for choice these days, we are so lucky that we can have a bit of paradise in our own backyard
Audrey1967!
6 years ago
Thanks Julie. Yes, we are lucky, especially in Spring.
Polly D
Original Author
6 years ago
So 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
6 years ago
Hi 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
6 years ago
Simple question - Simple answer..... do you want to have to be out mowing your lawn every weekend / couple of weeks to keep up the street appeal or do you want a more natural look that can go weeks without maintenance?
Kath
6 years ago
Further to Bernadette's comment - lawns need a lot more water than most native plants (or well chosen non-native plants), as well as the continual maintenance. You don't say where you live/climate. That makes an enormous difference to choosing plants.
wendy kurka
6 years ago
Please support native bees, birds, and other creatures being threatened by lost habitat.

Native plants can be beautiful, hardy and provide food and shelter for our birds.

If you prefer introduced plants, please include a few natives.
Polly D
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank u everyone. I agree with all of u w.r.t lawns being high maintenace. I love natives and have lilly pilly in my backyard already. Since I already have a walter buffalo lawn in my backyard, am more than happy to keep the front low maintenance. I live in Melbourne and it gets cold, wet and windy 4 months in a year.

I am not sure what natives to pick for the place where the soil is now. I dont want it to get too messy. Any suggestions are welcome.

These are my choices :'

1) Yucca or lilly pilly near the window. Not enough light there.
2) Westerengia
3) Lomadra
4) Grasses like dianella
5) Woolybush
6) Acacia cognata

Just want to ensure I dont overdo it and keep it neat and elegant and low maintenance.
KK1000
6 years ago
I would pick 2-3 species and mass plant them, look around your neighbor hood and see what’s groves well that way you won’t pick something that is not suitable for your climate.
Kath
6 years ago
Hi 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.