MrGadget Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 Hi guys I need some advice on good garden designers to do my backyard/courtyard. Since I am not very handy I will need to pay someone to do the job. Has anyone gone through the process recently and has any recommendations. I'm in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Thanks.
dvduser Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 Did it myself - [1] Draw a plan of the area to scale [2] Check out some of the mags for ideas, plants, layouts [3] Use the plan you drew up and do a scale layout of the various ideas you come up with [4] Use muscle, sweat, backpain and JUST DO IT !!!
Mike Kakay Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 Graeme Alcorn- Peninsula Proscape. One of the best! I know, was his apprentice. Trying to locate his number for ya. Get back.
MrGadget Posted January 11, 2006 Author Posted January 11, 2006 Did it myself -[1] Draw a plan of the area to scale [2] Check out some of the mags for ideas, plants, layouts [3] Use the plan you drew up and do a scale layout of the various ideas you come up with [4] Use muscle, sweat, backpain and JUST DO IT !!! It's not just a matter of choosing plants etc. I have a sloped narrow yard that needs levelling, paving/decking, unfortunately I wouldn't know where to start.
Mike Kakay Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 It's not just a matter of choosing plants etc. I have a sloped narrow yard that needs levelling, paving/decking, unfortunately I wouldn't know where to start. Backyard Blitz!
dvduser Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 It's not just a matter of choosing plants etc. I have a sloped narrow yard that needs levelling, paving/decking, unfortunately I wouldn't know where to start. Neither did I - just a bit a research and common sense can save you HEAPS. These "landscape designers" are not cheap, they charge like wounded bulls. Your can hire tools if you don't have any, Nurseries will deliver for a modest fee, Skips are cheap for rubbish removel, and you have the satisfaction of seeing you own handiwork when it's finished.
MrGadget Posted January 11, 2006 Author Posted January 11, 2006 Backyard Blitz! Yeah it did occur to me but don't you need a sad story or something to be eligible?
zorg1503559539 Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 another perspective is to get them to do all the hard yakka etc bobcat work, paving, paths, sleepers etc, then do the other bits yourself. I did our sprinkler system, 2 x water features and outdoor lighting bits myself, wife bought all the plants from Greensborough Market - cheap as!!! if you do need sleepers handy tip is to use the metal uprights where the sleepers slot in each side, then easy to replace in the future. also we used a gravel (Lilydale Toppings) in a large area which is cheaper than lawn. Also reused some big paver blocks to create a semi circle wall. Also drought resistant plants are good such a yukkas, grass tree's, cordylines etc... Ours still cost close to 20g but was for a large area front and back. I think there are also some PC programs around which can be quite useful in adddition.. Make sure you work out where any piping / wiring needs to go before any hard stuff is put in. Trying to run pipes under driveways, paths etc is not fun. Also get rid of any trees you don;t want before you start, if you can afford it get them removed totally. i've done the Texas chainsaw massarce and petrol dump on several trees and they still grow back!!! oops sorry for the longwinded post - good luck. Another good source is to go to your local nursery and ask who they reccomend. The guy we used was ok in the end but I wouldn't reccomend using him again.
Mike Kakay Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 Yeah it did occur to me but don't you need a sad story or something to be eligible? Nahh, just make sure you've got a busty miss's, and she's got it falling out for the audition. They wouldn't pass it up I'm sure. Cant find Graeme listed anymore, probably retired. Go on, get your hands dirty!
dvduser Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 Also get rid of any trees you don;t want before you start, if you can afford it get them removed totally. i've done the Texas chainsaw massarce and petrol dump on several trees and they still grow back!!! For trees, drill holes into the stump after you cut it to ground level, then get the pure Roundup (the small bottle that you can make up you own mix with) and pour into the holes you drilled. I guarantee you nothing will grow back, trust me I've done it and the stumps rot away making good compost.
Mike Kakay Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 For trees, drill holes into the stump after you cut it to ground level, then get the pure Roundup (the small bottle that you can make up you own mix with) and pour into the holes you drilled. I guarantee you nothing will grow back, trust me I've done it and the stumps rot away making good compost. Try that with a poplar! Or even dreaded blackberry. No chance. Need heavy duty, like Garlon. Spill a few ml's of that stuff, and half the country side would shrivel up! Round up is like lemonade in the horticultural industry, weak as p!ss.
Aloysius Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 It's not just a matter of choosing plants etc. I have a sloped narrow yard that needs levelling, paving/decking, unfortunately I wouldn't know where to start. I like DVDusers advice: Plan it: what do you want? - from other folks gardens, you know talk a walk and look, books, photos, internet, landscape suppliers - you will be spending with them - and this is their business etc. Some folks like cut and dried formal - others like natural to primeval and all stages in between - what do you like? How to do it? Start at the bottom and work up = do the dirt shaping - then the paving / decking - then the planting. Keep it simple, one good idea beats the hell out of 25 halfbaked ideas. Gardens are a bit like HT - they are a live document / process - you can improve, change, delete, as you see fit. They don't ever have to be finished, can be very rewarding, and are good therapy. Don't pass up a chance to have a go yourself - it's your garden. Take your time, and enjoy it!
MrGadget Posted January 11, 2006 Author Posted January 11, 2006 For trees, drill holes into the stump after you cut it to ground level, then get the pure Roundup (the small bottle that you can make up you own mix with) and pour into the holes you drilled. I guarantee you nothing will grow back, trust me I've done it and the stumps rot away making good compost. How about some hydrochloric acid?
Mike Kakay Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 How about some hydrochloric acid? Nah, that wont do sh!t. Unless it was a native and loved alkaline soils. I got crap loads of of the mineral salts (hydro acid), if you want ( I'm a pool service man). Best on Peninsula, by a long way. ( Trumpet sound).
mello yello Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 I reckon we should have a DBA Backyard Blitz at Mr Gadgets garden We should all lob up, chip in and turn a bit of dirt and plant a few trees.........for World Peace Call it the Secret Garden.......cos nobody knows how its going to turn out or where it is.....or where its going...........but hey good excuse for a pissup Unfortunately Ive done me back in and wont be able to do any work as such ......but I could help keep the refreshments from going warm
zorg1503559539 Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 you all forgot one thing... outdoor HT Setup!!!!!
dvduser Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 you all forgot one thing...outdoor HT Setup!!!!! Yeh, but the ambient light is a killer on the pj screen. Viewing after 9.30pm only
Mike Kakay Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 (edited) Yeh, but the ambient light is a killer on the pj screen. Viewing after 9.30pm only Who cares? If theres beer I'm in! Make sure its cold. Edit: sorry forgot to add- plenty of smoko breaks as well, so we can extend it over a longer period of time (many weekends over many months). It's the Ossie way. Edited January 11, 2006 by Mike Rowesoft
Aloysius Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 I reckon we should have a DBA Backyard Blitz at Mr Gadgets garden We should all lob up, chip in and turn a bit of dirt and plant a few trees.........for World Peace Call it the Secret Garden.......cos nobody knows how its going to turn out or where it is.....or where its going...........but hey good excuse for a pissup Unfortunately Ive done me back in and wont be able to do any work as such ......but I could help keep the refreshments from going warm Whoa! World peace is OK - as far as it goes - but your proposal would mean having to go to Victoria - World peace will have to wait - the price is too high. I mean - a Queenslander go to Victoria? There are plenty of Victorians up here already, particularly in the cooler months. Not that there is anything wrong with Victorians, some of my best friends have married them.
Mike Kakay Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 Whoa!World peace is OK - as far as it goes - but your proposal would mean having to go to Victoria - World peace will have to wait - the price is too high. I mean - a Queenslander go to Victoria? There are plenty of Victorians up here already, particularly in the cooler months. Not that there is anything wrong with Victorians, some of my best friends have married them. What? So your saying "Banana bending red necks" are good enough to marry "Meehikans"?
Aloysius Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 What?So your saying "Banana bending red necks" are good enough to marry "Meehikans"? Apparently!
Mike Kakay Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 Apparently! Thats good to know. If I ever venture up as a single man, I can rest easy knowing I can "club" and drag one back down here, for my cave work.
Aloysius Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 Thats good to know.If I ever venture up as a single man, I can rest easy knowing I can "club" and drag one back down here, for my cave work. Yes Mike! Rest Easy, it's good for you. But: A cave dwelling Banana bender? Is not posseeble! No, Non, NO!
Mike Kakay Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 Yes Mike! Rest Easy, it's good for you.But: A cave dwelling Banana bender? Is not posseeble! No, Non, NO! But in my cave down here in Tijhuana land, no one would ever know. She would never see day light again.
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