Before & After: A Dried-Up Yard Now a Lush Entertaining Zone
This urban garden makeover mixes tropical and native species, hard landscaping and soft plantings
A tired and dry garden in urban Brisbane, Queensland undergoes planting, editing and improving, to emerge as a lush, inviting and cohesive front and back yard, complete with an entertaining zone.
The garden before works.
What the client wanted to change
The couple felt that they could not entertain their friends here. They had various areas that did not serve any function, and they did not use most of the rear garden.
They also felt the front garden was an eyesore and they didn’t want to go out there much.
The garden was difficult to maintain and they felt overlooked by their neighbours.
What the client wanted to change
The couple felt that they could not entertain their friends here. They had various areas that did not serve any function, and they did not use most of the rear garden.
They also felt the front garden was an eyesore and they didn’t want to go out there much.
The garden was difficult to maintain and they felt overlooked by their neighbours.
The garden plan.
What they wanted to achieve
They wanted tropical planting, but coming from Melbourne originally (they had recently moved to Brisbane), they missed some of the seasonal planting. Because of this, they were after a combination of tropical plants and other species that would provide seasonal variation.
Keen to transform your garden from ‘before’ to ‘after’? Find a local landscape architect or designer near you
What they wanted to achieve
They wanted tropical planting, but coming from Melbourne originally (they had recently moved to Brisbane), they missed some of the seasonal planting. Because of this, they were after a combination of tropical plants and other species that would provide seasonal variation.
Keen to transform your garden from ‘before’ to ‘after’? Find a local landscape architect or designer near you
The garden before works.
Starting point
A pool and undercover area attached to the house, as well as the raised garden bed along the side wall, were already constructed.
Starting point
A pool and undercover area attached to the house, as well as the raised garden bed along the side wall, were already constructed.
Pergola and bench-seat lighting were custom-designed and constructed. Removable furniture was purchased by the client.
Plant plan
Tropical plants were arranged in planters around the entertaining area. Others were spread throughout the front and rear gardens.
Plant plan
Tropical plants were arranged in planters around the entertaining area. Others were spread throughout the front and rear gardens.
The garden before works.
The garden after works.
The client wanted to feel like they were in a resort surrounded by plants instead of high fences. They wanted a place they could sit, relax or dine with their friends.
The client wanted to feel like they were in a resort surrounded by plants instead of high fences. They wanted a place they could sit, relax or dine with their friends.
The entertaining area before works.
The entertaining area after works.
The other plants were chosen to provide screening and/or variation in colour throughout the year, to bring back some seasonal variation that the client missed in Brisbane’s more temperate climate.
Browse more amazing Australian gardens
The other plants were chosen to provide screening and/or variation in colour throughout the year, to bring back some seasonal variation that the client missed in Brisbane’s more temperate climate.
Browse more amazing Australian gardens
Plantings
Trees
Shrubs
Ground Covers
Grasses
Climbers
Trees
- Plumeria pudica.
- False frangipani.
Shrubs
- Casuarina glauca ‘Cousin It’.
- Chrysocephalum apiculatum ‘Yellow Buttons’.
- Crinum pedunculatum ‘Swamp Lily’ and ‘River Lily’.
- Philodendron ‘Imperial Gold’.
- Westringia fruticosa (coastal rosemary).
- Heliconia ‘Black Cherry’.
Ground Covers
- Brachyscome multifida (cut-leaf daisy).
- Hardenbergia violacea ‘Bushy Blue’.
- Purple twining-pea (false sarsaparilla).
- Viola banksii (native violet).
- Zephyranthes candida (rain lily).
Grasses
- Lomandra hystrix (creek mat-rush).
- Zoysia tenuifolia (no-mow grass).
Climbers
- Pandorea jasminoides ‘Deep Pink’.
- Mandevilla boliviensis ‘White Fantasy’.
Landscaping
- The new pergola, deck and bench seat were constructed from spotted gum as well as the timber feature screens.
- The lighting used LED fairy lights.
- Platinum rockface cladding from Slate and Stone.
- Black limestone sleeper pavers from Nuway.
The front garden before works.
What challenges did you work around?
Screening the neighbouring properties in a narrow area was the biggest issue, to avoid the owners feeling like they were being overlooked.
What challenges did you work around?
Screening the neighbouring properties in a narrow area was the biggest issue, to avoid the owners feeling like they were being overlooked.
The front garden after works.
Why do you think this garden works so well?
Because it caters to all the needs of this couple. It allows them to have privacy in their garden. It allows them to use all of the yard both physically with spaces that suit their lifestyle, and visually by having something beautiful to look at from inside the house. It allows them to feel like they can see the change in seasons, which they missed witnessing. And it is easier to maintain than their previous garden, as the bamboo was causing them too many issues.
Your turn
What do you like about this garden? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Craving more garden inspiration? Get your next dose here with A Small Garden Transformed With Smart Zoning and Layered Planting
Why do you think this garden works so well?
Because it caters to all the needs of this couple. It allows them to have privacy in their garden. It allows them to use all of the yard both physically with spaces that suit their lifestyle, and visually by having something beautiful to look at from inside the house. It allows them to feel like they can see the change in seasons, which they missed witnessing. And it is easier to maintain than their previous garden, as the bamboo was causing them too many issues.
Your turn
What do you like about this garden? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Craving more garden inspiration? Get your next dose here with A Small Garden Transformed With Smart Zoning and Layered Planting
Answers by Debbie Laporte, director and registered landscape architect at Orterra.
Garden at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Bulimba, Queensland
Designer: Orterra
Approximate budget: $80,000
Garden purpose and size: An entertainer’s garden, which is part of a property where the house and land is 506 square metres.