Tim Driver passed away earlier this year, leaving behind his life partner Karina and three young children - plus the home he was half way through building. Melissa King, along with lots of helpers, decided to give the family a head start in completing their home, by giving them a front garden makeover.
The Hard Yakka
The boys from Jeeves landscaping helped make this garden possible – Thanks Rob, Matt and Dan!
www.jeeveslandscaping.com.au/
Phone: Rob on 0433 793 799
Herb Garden
We used “Cut and Cook” herbs which are grown to an advanced stage, so they are ready to pick and eat. We included Parsley, sage, rosemary and a variety of thymes perfect for stuffing the turkey or roast chicken on Christmas day. Dill, marjoram and tarragon are indispensible for a seafood menu. We also included pineapple sage, mint chocolate and peppermint for desserts and refreshing summer drinks. We created an informal border around the herb garden using golden marjoram, which has decorative foliage and is great for flavouring salads and egg dishes. Cut and Cook 200 mm herbs are available at leading nurseries, garden centres and plant retailers.
Kids Corner:
We constructed a colourful play house and sandpit for the kids (both available from Bunnings) then surrounded them with vibrant colour!
Our feature plants:
Shock Wave Petunias
• Come in a spectacular range of colours like bright pink, purple, red and white.
• Unique mounded spreading habit up to 80 cm across
• Ideal for small spaces or as a feature in hanging baskets and pots.
• Provide gorgeous colour from late spring right through to late summer.
• Available from Bunnings
Bunnings.com.au
Lagerstroemia ‘Tuscarora’
• Every garden should have a Crepe Myrtle!
• Broad spreading small tree 4.5 x 5 m tall.
• Displays stunning dark, fuchsia-pink flowers from late summer to early autumn.
• It has beautiful bark! Exfoliating bark (after about three years) reveals a light brown underbark.
• ‘Tuscarora’ is one the best of the dark fuchsia-pink flowering varieties on the market.
• The foliage turns shades of red and orange in autumn.
• Adaptable to a range of conditions, heat and some dryness. Keep the water up during the establishment phase.
• ‘Tuscarora’ is a stand out variety in the Indian Summer range, which is bred for resistance to powdery mildew.
Endless Summer Hydrangea
• Large mophead flowers are produced on old and new wood, so flowers are produced all summer long.
• Remove spent flower heads to encourage even more flowers the formation of new flowers.
• Have fun changing the colour of the flowers. They will appear pink in alkaline soils and blue in acidic soils.
• Prefers semi-shade and protection from hot, drying winds. Will tolerate some dryness once established.
Nepeta ‘Dropmore’
• An extra showy variety of Catmint with bigger than normal flowers.
• 'Dropmore' forms a compact mound of attractive, aromatic grey/green foliage.
• It displays masses deep violet/blue flower spikes through the summer months which are extra big compared to other species.
• This variety of Catmint is not as attractive to cats as Nepeta cataria.
• Prune plants back by half after the first flush of flowers to encourage a second autumn flush
• Enjoys a sunny location with well drained soil.
• Dry tolerant once established.
The Ideal Screen
Magnolia ‘Green Back’
• The perfect evergreen screen or specimen tree with glossy deep green foliage and a dense, uniform, upright habit.
• Occasionally displays large, creamy white flowers with a lemony fragrance during the summer months.
• We used ours as a screen, but given more space it can grow to 10 m tall and 5 m wide
• Prefers full sun with moist, well drained soil. Will tolerate partial shade.
• Shows good heat tolerance once established.
Under-planted with:
Euphorbia ‘Silver Swan’ - With a striking, variegated foliage of grey green with silvery edging year round.
Spikes of creamy coloured flowers are produced from late winter through spring
Petunia ‘Stereo White’ - which displays masses of large brilliant white flowers on a compact bush 30- 40 cm tall throughout the warmer months (available from Bunnings). Ideal for borders, bedding displays, rockeries, tubs and hanging baskets.
Woodland Garden
Betula nigra ‘Cully’
• Grown for its attractive bark. Peeling dark outer bark reveals creamy-salmon coloured new bark.
• Glossy, dark green leaves turning shades of yellow in autumn.
• 11 x 7 metres.
• Prefers moist, well drained soils, but will grow well in a range of conditions.
• Shows good heat and moderate drought tolerance.
Penstemon ‘Purpleicious’
• Forms a low growing clump 30cm high and 45cm in diametre with narrow, evergreen foliage
• Stunning royal purple flower spikes from early spring to autumn
• Prefers a well drained soil in full sun, but will tolerate some afternoon shade
• Drought tolerant once established
Lamium 'Orchid Frost'
• Forms a low mound of decorative foliage - silvery white leaves edged in green
• Fast growing
• Grows in full sun, part shade and full shade. Best suited to a moist but well drained soil
• Short lilac flower spikes (there are pink and white forms) from late spring through to autumn but you would grow it for the foliage alone.
Convolvulus ‘Moroccan Beauty’
• A new, very dense and compact form of this popular ground cover
• Displays masses of soft lavender blue flowers from late spring through to autumn.
• In the right spot sited, it will trail over rocks, embankments, retaining walls etc. Equally useful for covering bare patches in mixed borders or for growing in pots.
• Enjoys full sun. Can be grown in most soil types given it is free draining.
Lawn Area
We wanted something that would look good and be hard wearing enough for the kids to roll around on so we chose Sir Walter Buffalo grass.
Sir Walter Buffalo Grass is:
• drought tolerant
• Requires little mowing
• Requires little fertilising
• Remains green during winter even after frost
• Disease Resistant
• Great in full sun and shade
• Grows well in shade
• Hardwearing
• Low maintenance
• Australian Born and Bred- developed in Australia for Australian Conditions.
• Weed resistant
• Self repairing
• Salt tolerant
• Environmentally friendly
• Very Soft
• Resistant to lawn grub attack
Courtesy of:
Strath Ayr: www.strathayr.com.au 1800 622 455
Landscape Supplies
Australian Native Landscapes
527 Maroondah Hwy Coldstream 3770
(03) 9739 0477
www.anlscape.com.au
We used:
Drought Master Garden Mix:
• A blend of composed organics, washed sand, topsoil, and wetting agent.
• Droughtmaster is designed for all landscaping projects, with high moisture retention and easy wettability.
Nursery Mulch:
• Composted green waste
• Dark colour gives the garden a nice natural finish
• Conserves moisture and suppresses weeds
Garden Ornaments:
Old Stone Chief Urn and Water Bowls courtesy of Northcote Pottery
A BIG thank you to all our suppliers who generously donated their time and products:
Jeeves Landscaping
Flemings Trees and Shrubs
Oasis Horticulture
Plant Growers Australia
Bunnings
Strath Ayr
Australian Native Landscapes
Northcote Pottery
