Low Maintenance Garden
Black pearl lilies (Ornithogalum arabicum) These divine little flowers have a black pearl centre (hence the name), and a lovely, light scent. Dimensions: Grows 40 to 60 centimetres high. When to plant: April or May. Light and soil requirements: Full sun and well-drained soil. Watering requirements: Water regularly but avoid waterlogging the soil. Appearance: White flowers with a black pearl centre. Plant en masse to create a dynamic, eye-catching feature in your garden. Garden beds or pots? Both.
This little gem features lots of tiny bell-shaped flowers that are compacted together to create one lovely dense spike. Hyacinths are also wonderfully fragrant.
Add autumn colour Many deciduous vines such as the Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) used here, have foliage that turns a stunning colour in autumn. Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and ornamental grapes (Vitis vinifera ‘Purpurea’ or Vitis amurensis) are other options.
Go to ground As well as covering walls and other structures, star jasmine is often used as a groundcover and clipped shrub. The Australian wildflower purple coral pea (Hardenbergia violacea) is another climber that actually scrambles happily over the ground, covering hillsides and banks with a profusion of purple flowers.
For dazzling colour over long periods, you can’t beat bougainvillea. This South American native has all the colourful flamboyance you associate with that continent. It’s another very robust vine, but if you have the space and a strong support to grow bougainvillea, you’ll be rewarded with masses of colour for long periods – as well as regular visits from butterflies and other pollinators. Bougainvillea needs plenty of sun, shelter from cold wind, and well-drained soil. It’s ideal for coastal gardens as it can tolerate salt-laden winds.
10. The Silver Princess Finally, another tree not often thought of for courtyards is Eucalyptus caesia, commonly known as silver princess. This tree can often be seen staked out at the front of homes, showing off its brilliantly waxy bark and rose-pink flowers. As long as your courtyard receives enough light, this could be a great feature. One of the main problems with Eucalyptus caesia is its root instability and lack of wind resistance. Hopefully within your inner courtyard it will get all the wind protection it needs. Just make sure you have well-draining soil. Ultimately there are hundreds of trees suitable for your courtyard, just ensure you choose the right species for your site’s climate, ensure your footings are protected from any potential root damage, and enjoy the beautiful view.
8. Ornamental pear Pyrus calleryana is common throughout Melbourne, mainly due to it being economical and vigorous, making it a great screening tree. It is a resilient plant that copes well with water logging, compaction and moderate drought. Just make sure you get a quality cultivar, as some have weak branches that fall off. On that note, one of the strengths of the ornamental pear is also its weakness – it is cheap to buy and grows fast, but will require more maintenance over time. Allow for pruning once every 12 to 24 months, and a good sweeping after all its flowers have dropped.
6. Fig tree Fig trees can be both stunning and tasty, though please be wary of their far-spreading roots, which can absorb moisture from the clay soils on which your footings may be founded. If planning to plant fig trees near your building, ensure you consult an arborist, engineer and architect in order to reduce any risk of cracking to walls due to footing movements. There are all different methods to ensure your footings aren’t damaged, including bore piers, cantilevering slabs, screw piles, root-inhibiting chemicals (non-toxic to the environment) and root barriers that can extend down to depths of two metres-plus. Ensure that whoever installs your root barriers does so correctly to the proper depth and ‘zone of influence’.
5. Chinese redbud Cercis chinensis is a beautiful tree that can be found in weeping varieties. It prefers full sun, so make sure your courtyard has plenty of it, and prepare to be blown away by its stunning blooming buds that cluster along the stems. Another great plant with a similar aesthetic is the Japanese flowering crabapple tree (Malus floribunda).
4. Ferns Ferns are a great start to sprucing up your inner courtyard; they are often slow growing and well suited to areas less exposed to direct sunlight and wind – perfect for a courtyard. Just make sure your courtyard walls are high enough, because if the fern grows above the roofline and into the direct sun it will start to struggle, as it goes from a shaded and sheltered environment into full sun. This of course depends on what type of climate you live in.
3. Bamboo Bamboo, while not technically a tree, is an easy growing courtyard plant; just make sure you don’t let it grow out of control. There are many different species and cultivars readily available, so choose one you like and ask your local nursery how often you will need to maintain it to keep it looking tidy and trim. Bamboo is also a great plant for down the sides of your house in order to screen off nosy neighbours. Privacy plants for the modern home
2. Philodendrons These are classic courtyard plants, some of which are trees, and are well suited to indoor growing as well. They tend to do better in more tropical environments, so check with your nursery expert to see if they recommend the species of philodendron you’ve chosen. A good starting species is Philodendron bipinnatifidum which grows well in sheltered sites as far south as Melbourne, and is perfect for a small secluded courtyard.
If you have a large property, leave sections of it wild or planted only with natives that thrive with little care or additional water.
Don’t want to spend too much on maintenance going forward? Choose evergreen and shrub-heavy planting designs, and limit the number of labour-intensive flower beds. If you’re installing a lawn, consider reducing its size or choosing a no-mow turf blend to cut down on the need for frequent irrigating and mowing.
In general, hardscape areas like pathways and patios are much more expensive in terms of materials and installation than planted areas. Significantly cut down on your costs by choosing less expensive hardscape materials, or consider planting more areas.
Layer garden, edging concrete along the edge of the lawn
Bamboo is an excellent privacy solution for the modern home as it grows up to 6m high without the width that comes from most privacy plants, making it perfect for smaller block sizes. While the old running bamboo received a bad reputation for creeping and spreading into neighbouring properties, the new cultivars such as slender weavers (Bambusa textilis ‘Gracilis’) are what’s called ‘clumping’ bamboos. Clumping bamboos don’t spread like the old style and will only clump and thicken up directly around the base of the plant.
Dense materials such as metal, stone, brick and concrete are by far the most effective at absorbing sound waves from traffic or industrial machines. Layer with lighter materials, such as hedges and wood fences, to block more sound than if the materials were used individually. Adding a more peaceful sound such as the splash of water can also help. The designer of this Seattle courtyard did both: a freestanding metal wall with a built-in fountain adds privacy from neighbours and cuts the noise from a nearby street, while the falling water introduces a soothing sound.
Lawn is separated from garden bed
Tiles
A fish bond in the garden
Desk big enough to be used for study and make up desk in the kids room
Sitting bench
Hooks in each side
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