We live in a 1950s cavity brick and stucco house with a painted concrete tile roof. Covering approx. 835m², the block is in a north-south orientation with the short axis and rear of the house facing due north. The slope is generally downwards falling approx. 5m from SW to NE. Even on hot humid days there is usually some air movement up the hill.

The overall design needs to cater for cars, a box trailer, sea kayaks, bicycles, bins, limited existing features (including a Hills hoist) and be in keeping with the house. Given our space constraints, requirements and existing stucco box, the proposed garden design would be most closely described as formal.

A WISH LIST

He Likes	She Likes
Classic Australian plants eg banksia, callestimons, grevillea	Green, green and more green Cut flowers and foliage Vines over arbours and pergolas Fruit trees Compost and manure Old bricks and wrought iron
Points of Agreement
Create a design that is in keeping with the dimensions of the house Keep materials similar throughout Raised garden beds Broad (1.5m) barrow and bicycle friendly paths Maximise useable outdoor living spaces Hills Hoist Veggies Decomposed granite paths Chooks Learn about soil preparation and plant selection Encourage a greater diversity of local birds, skinks and frogs Preferential use of Australian native plants
Challenges Needing Consideration
Sloping site with limited vertical drainage Hot humid summers, erratic rainfall with local deluges, dry winters Scarce topsoil Northern aspect with limited shade Predominance of large or aggressive bird species Cats and rats Aim to minimise potential for damage associated with mature trees, shrubs or vines Lack of familiarity with Australian plants Constraints associated with living in suburbia

EXISTING FEATURES

There was not much to go on - a post-war brick hot box plonked in the middle of a sloping sun crisped lawn.

• In the NW corner a 10 000L rainwater tank and garden bench.
• In the NE corner, a sheet flap from the weld mesh fence is the long suffering tree struck Hills hoist.
• Along part of the eastern boundary a lillypilly hedge.
• Along part of the western boundary another lillypilly hedge.

 

THE PLAN (Version one of many)

It was a pair of poincianas that bought about ongoing changes to the above plans.

We are on the lower side of a quiet residential street around 4Km from Brisbane CBD. On the verge is an aging poinciana tree (Delonix regia). This transforms into a spectacular wreath of orange-red blooms in November. As penance for the flower show it is not uncommon to take over 250kilo of dried pods to the tip.

The roots from this council tree had disrupted the concrete crossover, the concrete driveway and undermined the front fence. The true extent of the root incursion became apparent as work progressed. Despite this, the council declined to remove the tree. Wanting to mitigate future problems, we submitted an amended building plan. This moved the carport from the SE to the SW corner, as far away from the tree as possible. The damage caused by this tree is the sort of mistake I want to avoid in the future.

The poinciana in the NW corner rotted out. With this tree gone, most of the back yard was exposed to full sun.

 

HARDSCAPE DONE

A few years later the driveway, carport, front fence, trailer parking, kayak storage, raised garden beds and paths are done. Sometimes I feel I am too.