A Growing Sensation

Posted: 09 October 2009 by Metricon Homes

Tags: environment, plants

In Metricon Display Landscape Designer – Brendan’s world, gardens don’t have lawns and, often, they don’t even have flowers.

Instead the awarding winning landscaper is turning the humble pergola into an architectural triumph and the vegie garden into an attractive masterpiece.

Confused? Welcome to the new era of gardening, a time when water-wise, eco-friendly back yards are fast becoming the status quo in Melbourne and many other capital cities.

Never fear, this style of gardening may not have camellias or a vast expanse of kikuyu, but it certainly has plenty of pizzazz.

“When people walk into one of my gardens, I don’t want them to say, “It’s a climate friendly garden. I want them to walk in and say “Oh my god, it’s fabulous. And by the way it’s an eco-friendly garden.”’

Here Brendan shares 10 tips for achieving that year-round WOW factor in your back yard.

Up the wall
If you’re short in space, an exciting new element in back yards is the vertical garden. This is an easy way to add an impact and a splash of green or colour to your garden, without taking up precious room in your garden beds. Brendan suggests there are simple systems on the market, including plastic rectangular blocks or steel cages lined with synthetic fabric, that can help you build a vertical garden on any scale. Planted with a range of colourful succulents, they can make an eye-catching feature.
“It’s a revolutionary idea for small spaces as you can get an incredible sense of green, richer than anything you get with pots on the ground, and without the clutter.”

Place in the shade
As things warm up, shade becomes an essential element, especially if you enjoy outdoor living and entertaining. Brendan says a canopy is a great way to add structure and focus to a garden, as well as shade.

Reigning tanks
Water tanks are a bit like wheelie bins – you know you need them, but they can be a bit of an eyesore in the back yard. The good news is funky and bright designs are making it easier to slot these items – now considered essential in these times of water restrictions – into your new era garden. “Any pressure you can take off the water mains is a good thing – everyone should have one.”

Going grey
Using grey water is another must in today’s gardens. Brendan says the grey water from one average household should be enough to water an average suburban backyard.
“If you use low-phosphate detergent, grey water is pretty good for the garden. I frequently use grey water on my gardens and the plants are still thriving.”

Pick of the bunch
Choosing the right plants is the key to a successful garden. “Look very hard at your space and work out what you need your plants to do. Do you really need you plants to have flowers? Often that can be a difficult and time-consuming thing. Try to think about the position, texture and colour of each plant.”

Lawn & order
Trying to convince people to let go to their lawn is one of the toughest things Brendan has to do.
“Lawns are wonderful things but when it comes down to it, if the climate you’re in makes it too hard to maintain, then it’s time to consider an alternative.”
Some popular alternatives include groundcovers such as dichondra and wallaby grass. Brendan has also incorporated gravel, timber boardwalks and even artificial grass into many of his designs.

Go with the flow
What is the point of having a fabulous back yard if there is no easy flow from the house to this green room? Brendan recommends looking at the back part of your home before making any major changes to the back yard.
“You need to have a decent connection from the house to the back yard. Anything you do in your garden will all be for nothing if there is no decent flow from the inside to the outside.”

Passion for veggies
Vegie gardens are undergoing a major resurgence in the suburbs and Brendan says he is keen to revamp their image.
In many of his gardens he has brought the vegie garden into the spotlight, making it the showpiece of the back yard. He suggests it is easy to do, not hard to maintain, and is the perfect way to add a splash of colour.

Second coming
Character and flair can be added to your garden with the help of salvaged or recycled materials. Brendan recommends scouring salvage yards for second hand timber, stone and metals.
“Put fresh eye glasses on and see the way these elements can be incorporated into your back yard. Interesting pieces could be used as furniture or sculptures.”

Material world
If you’re going to have an eco-friendly garden, you need to have the right materials in it. There are many different materials from cladding to paving that have been manufactured in an environmentally friendly manner. Brendan recommends using timber from a sustainable source and local stone.