tree for narrow front yard
Hi all. We have a very narrow north facing front garden in inner Sydney. We currently have a teddy bear magnolia which is happy enough but the ‘Christmas tree’ shape they grow into just isn’t right for the space and I’m not wild about the density of the foliage (I’d like to still see our facade through some gaps rather than hide the house). I’d like to plant a tree that can tolerate full sun, grows fast, to about 6m, produces a nice canopy but doesn’t end up with a massive trunk or invasive roots. Not asking for much am I!? Very grateful for any suggestions. Thanks, Sam
Comments (13)
fianou luca
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Front yard landscaping ideas
Comments (16)As your house is a lovely grey I would consider plants which harmonise with that shade. So consider a range of grey leafed plants such as olive trees (these look great at night as the leaves have a silver backing), wattles, feijoa, euphorbia, lambs ears - an interesting textured ground cover, as is snow in summer. Then a striking deciduous coloured tree or large shrub such as a maple with red leaves, smoke bush, or crepe myrtle. There is no need to build a fence unless you really want significant privacy, shrubs do provide adequate separation. As the home is tall and quite imposing I would also plant three pencil pines neat the front of the building, these will soften the edges of the building and help it relate to the garden. Most grey leaved plants are very hardy. wind may prove more of an issue than sun or soil, I recommend that you look for plants at are labeled 'suitable for seaside locations'....See MoreFront yard landscaping
Comments (6)I like the length of the lawn to the road - it makes your property look bigger The letterbox doesn't work with the period of the home - sorry I would remove the garden bed completely, allow the lawn to grow and then plant trees into the lawn - around 3 depending on the varieties Don't whipper snip at the base of the trees unless you know how to use a whipper snipper and don't use Round Up at the base of the trees - the constant use of glyphosate that is residual will kill the trees in time These comments are based on looking at the photo provided without seeing the site in person. The suggestions are based on a low-maintenance garden but you will need to take good care of the trees, otherwise poor specimens will drag down your property....See MoreNew front yard & pool
Comments (7)@Emma I, What you're suggesting is a pretty bold move and irrespective of whether you are permitted to do it in the end by your respective shire and other authorities, I can't stree enough that for all the money you are thinking of spending on this project and the lengths to which you are intending to go with removing windows, dig a huge hole for the pool etc... that you use some of your finances to employ an architect as suggested by EmileECLC to make sure that this massive transformation becomes everything you dream it will be!! You must be absolutely sure of regulations surrounding pools like mentioned by mazgardiner about not being able to directly enter a pool from the house for example. Hubby and I are building our own home and we decided to have an indoor pool. We were originally having a sliding door leading outside of the pool, only to find that we were not permitted to have this access from the pool outside and I expect it was the sliding door, as with mazgardiner that was the issue, as it would be far more difficult to make it a self closing and lockable door. Fortunately we had already decided to change the slider to an awning window instead and just as well. The access into the pool from inside the home is a hinged door with a self closing mechanism and has the handle positioned at 1.5m from the floor. Furthermore, we were told by the window manufacturers, that any glass near a pool area had to be safety glass by law, so your stacker doors or any other windows that form part of the new pool area, will need to be upgraded and be much more expensive just so you know, about double the cost of a standard window. Another safety feature with our awning windows was that the wind out chain could only open to a maximum of 100mm, again law, just like the bars in a safety fence. Our building inspector tried to tell us they would not be allowed and that we would have to have external bars fitted and have the windows permanently screwed shut but further contact with our state building commission deemed the 100mm gap to be safe and adequate. Don't just accept something that seems wrong, if need be, take it higher as we did and succeeded, so again another reason to have a professional helping you through the maze of regulations....See MoreHow should we design our big empty front yard?
Comments (6)I love all the above ideas . I'll take a slightly different tack though -- maybe get you thinking ? I don't like the balance of the house sorry -- the garage at a lower level , but without a corresponding split level roof , I personally don't like . To me , it makes the house look 'stubby' . Depending on your budget , and need for space , I'd either add a 'higher' window in place of the garage door -- in line with the window next to it . OR I'd change the garage door to a ranch slider -- turn the garage into the master bedroom , or an office ( presumably with the laundry at the rear ) . The problem with that is that some people may mistake that for the main front entrance . I'd then add the garage to the left hand side , BUT I'd bring it forward by approx 1.5-2 metres -- the new roof could then be at the same level , but as it comes further foward , it would give the illussion of a split level roof . There's a slight advantage that you'd have a bit more space too -- maybe even extend it out the back , and then the boat can fit too ? Between the new garage and the front door , I'd then do a pagoda style veranda -- 200 x 50 beams , stained a nice medium brown , probably with clear acrylic panels above . The right hand eve , and the window sills , I'd also do in a mid brown -- personally , I think it looks a bit too grey and black at present . The front door looks nice , but again I'd do it in a nice mid-brown colour , rather than the lighter varnished look that appears to be on it now . Obviously , alter the driveway , so you can get in the new garage , and park 2 vehicles side by side , using the existing and new driveway . And then gardens as above . A bit ( lot ? ) more expensive compared to the above , but you'll have a nicer , and nicer looking house with more room , and obviously a lot higher resale IMO ....See Morefianou luca
3 years agofianou luca
3 years agoa camellia can be trained into an espalier. its not as hard to do as it looks. you could do a u shaped around the window.
Sam Jones
3 years ago
julie herbert
3 years agoYou could try a silver birch, narrow beautiful trunk that would pick up the colour of your house, very elegant, ‘Capital’ ornamental pear, trunk narrow and would pick cerci ‘Forest Pansy’ or as suggested a beautiful Japanese Maple, definitely would not grow the robinia, beautiful tree but gets huge.
fianou luca
3 years agofianou luca
3 years agofianou luca
3 years agoSam Jones
3 years agojulie herbert
3 years agoYes I love frangipani, the perfume is divine, you could try a designer Catalpa maple,weeping Cherry, weeping birch, mop tops get a huge head, my neighbours have two in their front garden , while spectacular he has to cut them drastically once defoliated so he can keep them in check.
fianou luca
3 years agofianou luca
3 years agoNow, frangipanis are very slow growing, but you can plant large branches from older trees and give them a head start. I have a few that I planted like that. my friend had an old tree and gave me 2 branches as long as I could fit in the boot. you let them dry and heal over and then plant them and they grow fine. I also rescued a few smaller pieces when I saw a guy cutting one down, and I found another big branch ripped of a tree at the park and brought it home. They're a few over 2m high already and none more than a year old. As big as possible works. I also have a rather large brugmansia (angel's trumpet) which is 3m tall now after a year. It has 3 straight branches that spread straight up and a canopy of spreading leaves and it produces year round blooms of dangling trumpet flowers. it starts white and darkens to peach, but varieties range from white to orange and hot pink. it has a nice night scent and attracts lots of butterflies. It's quite showy and tropical and its not strictly a tree but does the job for me to create a pretty canopy
oklouise