Garden Design

Putting the Native Back into Nature Strips

On Friday, our new street tree was installed in line with the blue dot by two friendly workmen from the BCC.  They called it a “Lop Con” short for Lophostemon confertus (Queensland Brush Box), and it’s the same as the others in the street. One neighbour who is also missing a tree has already ordered

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Why I Won’t Be Growing An Edible Verge

I was among those who was delighted when the BCC came out with their new policy allowing verge gardens in 2016. But there were also complaints from the edible verge movement that it didn’t include lots of edible foods in its suggested plants. The guidelines didn’t forbid edibles, it just didn’t push their barrow. I

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Converting a Swimming Pool to a Water Tank

The art of repurposing is looking at something you don’t want – and turning it into something you do want. Had enough of that swimming pool? Some people love them but for others, the joy of pool ownership is overshadowed by the cost of maintenance, the need for refurbishment, and those compulsory fences. Turning pools

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Pool fences make good supports for vertical gardens

Pool fences are necessary – ugly, inconvenient, but necessary if you have a pool. But we no longer have a pool which means the fences can come down.  Woohoo! I can walk from the front to the back garden without negotiating two gates. Plus, without the fence cutting across your line of vision, the garden

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What sort of garden do you want?

When I started this garden and looked around at options, there was talk about low maintenance, sustainability (a much misused word), permaculture, and even using a garden as an extension of the house – with massive outdoor kitchens. So much choice, opinion, and conflicting advice. What to do? Priorities The first thing to consider is

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