Don's Landscaping Tips: Homeworld Hedges

Even if you're not thinking about building a house, display homes are great places to go and look for ideas. This applies to the outside of the property as well as the inside, as Don found when he visited Homeworld at Kellyville, in NSW. All the houses there are fully landscaped, and you can see how professional garden designers have dealt with exactly the sorts of problems you have to cope with at your place. For example one of the properties features a large bay window looking straight out to a very small, triangular shaped area. The challenge for designer John Happ was to add some visual interest, perhaps a focal point which would draw the eye and play down the size of the courtyard.

Design solution

Paving, white gravel and an exposed aggregate border are laid in a semi-circular pattern, creating a focal point when viewed from the bay window. Low and medium hedges (Buxus sempervirens and Photinia robusta) follow the curves around, giving a sense of containment and intimacy, and drawing the eye away from the irregular shaped block. This is further disguised by a large hedge (Waterhousea floribunda) which hides the back wall, and gives the courtyard a soft green appearance. Alternanthera dentata planted at the base of the Waterhousea provides a beautiful dark, foliage contrast. The only thing missing, according to Don, is a roof over part of the courtyard for outdoor entertaining on hot summer days.

Further information

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