This was an interesting design brief as the modern house was sited at the rear of an L-shaped block. The wide stretch of garden, in need of a complete redesign, was intersected by a long driveway. The owners wanted to create an eye-catching outside space that incorporated carefully selected plants, water and lighting. They also wanted a space that they could use to relax in – an outside space that was cool, green, inviting and private. The garden area was divided into three ‘rooms’, the two on each end containing long rectangular ponds surrounded by groundcover planting. A line of Magnolia Kay Parris was planted along the high boundary fence behind each pond....
Read MoreWhat are the benefits of mulch? it significantly reduces evaporation of water from the soil it keeps the soil, and therefore the roots of the plants, cooler it reduces the amount of water needed for watering organic-based mulch can improve the soil structure, in the long term What kind of mulch: I prefer organic-based mulches over pebbles or gravel, as they improve the soil as they break down. Pea straw and lucerne are good, as are mulches based on bark. The latter are available commercially and also, quite cheaply, from the Adelaide City Council, which accepts green waste and turns it into compost and mulch for sale to ratepayers and the general public. What to...
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