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The Site
The block of land
has been cut and filled approximately 2.5 metres. The house is approximately
6 years old with a partly established garden at the front and a grassed
area in the back yard.
The front yard had a thin layer of 50 - 100mm deep of existing top soil
over limey marl and shale while the back yard had approximately 100mm
of poor imported topsoil.
Client Brief
Provide a low maintenance,
informal garden with plenty of interest and mystery for children and
be able to cope with 4 large dogs. An entertainment area is required
indoor/outdoor living with allowance for a spa.
| The Start of a Garden |
Progress |
Front Yard Feb 2002 |
June 2002 |
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June 2003 |
May 2004 |
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Nov 2005 |
Nov 2005 |
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The Project
Site Preparation
- Remove all existing
shrubs etc. from the front yard
- Excavate and
remove the front lawn
- Remove the existing
concrete drive way
- Excavate the
back yard lawn area to allow for fall away from the house and a new
lawn area as well as a kitchen garden.
- Relocate 40 tonne
of excavated soil from the back to the front and build up an area
for new driveway.
- Excavate rainwater
tank bases.
- Install feeder
pipes under driveway for proposed future pipe and low voltage electrical
wiring.
Front Yard Feb 2002 |
June 2002 |
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June 2003 |
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Power and Water
- Trench and install
3 phase power line to house and external 240 volt power outlets to
garden areas.
- Trench and install
a new 40mm high density poly pipe mains water line to the back yard
with irrigation take off points and extra garden taps.
- Install (5) Bushman
13,650 litre poly rain water tanks, interconnect all tanks, install
a Grundfos household pressure pump and connect into the house.
- Install a Toro
Automatic Irrigation system to the new lawn and garden areas
- Install agricultural
drainage pipes to the backyard area and plumb to the storm water outlet.
Side Entrance Feb 2002
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June 2002 |
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June 2003
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Lawns
- Area excavated
100mm where the shale allowed and the limey marl ripped.
- Gypsum applied
at the rate of 2kg/m2
- 100mm of 80/20
organic sandy loam spread over the area to the required levels
- Dichondra repens
plugged at 300mm centres planted in the front garden and kikuya instant
turf laid for the Patonque pitch and to cope with the dogs in the
back garden
- Spray Dichondra
area with a pre emergent herbicide to stop weed growth during establishment
- Apply Neutrog
Blade Runner organic fertilizer to the lawn areas.
Back Yard Feb 2002 |
June 2002 |
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June 2003 |
May 2004 |
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Entertainment Area
- Design a gable
roofed pergola down the side of the house to blend with the style
of the house with two gazebo sections for a spa and an intimate seating
area constructed by Pergola's of Distinction.
- Construct a flat,
slatted pergola across the back of the house to grow grape vines over
the top and reduce the effect of the westerly sun on the back wall
of the house
- Install leadlight
door and frame into western end of main pergola with stained timber
panels in the lower half of the walls and stained timber framed windows
in the upper section.
- Remove the existing
paving and repave the area with Rocla coppertone Palermo pavers
with sandrift and desert sand Palermo pavers as a border and central
feature.
- Install six person
cedar hydrotherapy spa to gazebo area.
- Install 12 volt
uplights,downlights and backlighting for party and intimate mood lighting.
Entertaining Area Feb 2002 |
June 2002 |
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June 2003 |
May 2004 |
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Interior May 2004 |
Interior May 2004 |
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Garden Areas
- Spread and cultivate
gypsum into soil areas
- Apply seasol
and a soil wetting agent to the soil
- Scotts
Osmocote 12-14mth slow release fertilizer applied at the time of planting
in the hole with a small amount of Neutrog Rapid Raiser organic
fertilizer applied around the top
- The front garden
is in the style of a woodland estate grounds with a Silver Birch grove,
bulbs, ground covers, Mulga post 'n rail fence section with
water trough and a waterfall into a bog pond. Ponds and waterfalls
are constructed using Beutyliner pond liner.
- The back garden
is broken down into 4 main areas:
- the kitchen
garden surrounded by a citrus hedge with used red brick paving
and sundial feature
- Play area
/ Platonque lawn with a border planting backed by a Murraya
panicutata hedge.
- Rainforest
/ secret garden behind the Murraya Hedge with winding path, waterfall
/pond /creek, moss rock outcrops and both ornamental and edible
plants such as Chinese Date, Avocado, Mango, Banana, Guava, Figs,
Lime etc
- Fernery /Fairy
garden on the southern side tucked between the embankment and
the house.
Garden Area May 2002 |
Garden Area May 2002 |
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Garden Area May 2003 |
Garden Area May 2004 |
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Workshop Area
- Construct a carport
to blend with pergola /house attached to the existing shed for extra
undercover work area
- Erect 2nd hand
garden shed and paint to blend with the kitchen garden
- Pave carport
with paving removed from pergola area.
Workshop Area May 2002 |
June 2002 |
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June 2003 |
May2004 |
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Garden Lighting
- Install 12 volt
uplights, downlights, pond lights, backlighting throughout the garden
areas to highlight plants and features in the gardens and provide
a subtle mood within the garden.
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