Don’s Landscaping Tips: Adding interest to a Brick Wall

Imagine looking out of the feature windows in your house and not being able to see anything, except a boring brick wall! Many people are actually finding themselves in this situation these days, because developers often build very large houses on small parcels of land, and doing something with those tiny backyards can be quite a challenge. Don visited Homeworld at Kellyville, and discovered a clever solution to the problem.

Design Solution

Designer John Happ first of all created an impression of space by extending the tiles from inside the home to the outside courtyard, and then painting the wall in a similar colour to the tiles. This makes the area look bigger than it really is, and gives it a feeling of continuity. Sasanqua camellias (Camellia sasanqua ‘Star Above Star’) were espaliered onto the wall to tone it down a bit, and the garden beds were edged with box (Buxus microphylla var microphylla). The next step was to add some visual drama, and this was achieved by placing large reconstituted sandstone urns containing accent plants at intervals along the wall. The pots look as if they’re straight from Versailles, and they’re planted with Sago palms (Cycas revoluta), which look like exploding green firecrackers.

Sago palms are slow growing to about 3m (10′) high. They do well in most parts of Australia, except for the Mountains

Further information

Mirvac Homes are at Homeworld, Kellyville, NSW. John Happ, 3rd Dimension Designs, 31 Wentworth Road, Strathfield, NSW, 2135. Telephone (02) 9744 2658.