| This
Bundoora project had been already landscaped 8 years ago but the
owner was wanting a freshen up of the yard, including more usable
facilities, more drought tolerant plants, and a more tropical feel
to the garden as well as providing a long term investment therefore
adding value to the property. The brief was to provide a low
maintenance yet stunning look to the landscape. |
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  The house before work has begun from the
front (left), and in the back yard
(right) |
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 The driveway is to be taken up and replaced
with a sandstone pavement with garden bed
borders
|
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 The whole front and rear yards were
excavated and cleared ready for the new landscape. Old concrete was
removed and the yard was a clean slate to start
from.
|
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 After
excavation, areas were excavated for pavement and decking areas
after extensive set out
|
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 All pavement areas had a concrete base
poured underneath as a solid foundation for the sandstone paving.
The concrete was a heavy duty 100mm/32Mpa with edge beams to limit
movement in heavy clay soils prone to expansion/contraction in
weather extremes
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 After all concrete works were done,
paving commenced and decking was constructed. The paving was 500 x
500 honed teakwood sandstone with a black limestone strip
inlay to provide an inset border. The rear pavement areas were set
flush with the decking to provide a level entertaining area. Steel
posts were erected for the new shade sails which span the width of
the house
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 The decking was constructed with concrete
stumps and the boards were spotted gum timber. Low voltage lights
were also installed around the perimeter as mood
lighting
|
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 After paving was laid organic soil was
applied to all garden areas, before a mix of suitable
tropical-themed plants capable of being appropriate for Melbourne's
climate were planted. Feature trees included a Bangalow Palm, with
Strelitzia's, and a mix of medium to low story plants including
Phoenix, Clivia, Canna, Kniphofia, Agave, Liriope, Cycas revoluta,
and a mix of colours in Cordyline australis
species
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 The gardens were mulched with a river pebble
to suit the theme. Pavers were grouted and shade sails
installed |
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 The driveway had thicker sandstone
used to suit vehicle traffic, with the same inset black limestone
border as an added feature to the
pavement |
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 A spotted gum feature screen was
constructed, to provide a backdrop for a water feature next to the
decking |
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 The steps leading to the porch were
also paved in sandstone as well as the sides and face to match the
paving areas |
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 The front
path with clivia's lining the garden bed |
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 The completed driveway pavement to compare
with the before picture in no. 3 |
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 The path which leads from front yard to rear
yard. The pathside plants will eventually provide a more thicker
edge to the path once they grow bigger and spread to fill the
garden bed amongst the other plants situated in the
garden
|
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 The front garden had some mudstone
rocks applied and some bark mulch around the bangalow palm to break
up the riverstone pebble area
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