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Which plants work best for your garden?

Metricon

Australians love the great outdoors and our summers the envy of the world. That’s why our home designs embrace indoor-outdoor living as a point of pride. Because we know how much our customers value the ability to make the most of our precious time outside.

But planning your perfect outdoor space takes a lot of thought and effort to get it right just for you. We’ve already outlined some of our top tips on how to achieve your landscaping dream.

Now we’ve asked Metricon’s Landscape Manager Scott Coghlan, with over 35 years of expertise at his green fingertips for his best advice on how to grow a garden that you can fall in love with as well as it working for your location.

Set your goals

Just as no two people are the same, neither should their garden be. Scott’s first tip is to take a bit of time to figure out what it is you really want to achieve with your green outdoor space.

“The best place to start with landscaping is to understand that it’s bespoke,” he says. “It should be tailored your needs. It’s not a one size fits all scenario. So if you have six kids all under 12 and/or dogs, you’re going to want plenty of room for a lawn.” Scott Coghlan

Maybe you’re more about the aesthetics and want a beautiful looking garden, but aren’t too keen on having to tend it too much. “Or maybe you love to get on your hands and knees and weed and also want a culinary garden that you can harvest and cook with, it really is up to you so figure out what you want before you head to Bunnings,” he says.

There’s another key factor involved. “Make sure you set your budget and stick to it.”

Go green

If you do opt for a lawn, keep it simple. “Your best bet is to go for a low-maintenance, hard-wearing variety that’s less likely to trigger allergies,” Scott suggests.

You could opt for grasses like Emerald Kikuyu or Sir Walter Buffalo. Before you get sowing,

Scott says it’s vital to have well-drained soil and to do a pH test when planning your garden. “If the soil has a pH level of 5.5–6.5, you’re good to go,” he says. “If not, it might have too much clay or sand content and you’ll need to treat it with some gypsum or compost.”

Pick a plant

When selecting plants to cultivate, take a moment to consider what works where first.

“With the Australian climate in mind, we tend keep our plant palette very simple and largely foliage based,” Scott says. “Again, you want to put a fair bit of effort into your soil before you begin, and make sure you have good drainage, otherwise it could all go to waste. You have to understand a plant’s needs.” Scott Coghlan

Some of Scott’s favourite plants that do well in most Australian gardens include native hero Lilly Pilly, which is a fast-grower with glossy green leaves and berries that produces floral flourishes with minimal effort. “I’m a big fan of the purple coverage of the lavender too, but you cant plant this with plants that require a lot of water because they cant cope with that. It's better to plant it with more dry tolerate plants."

Better to pop it near the succulents, then, which do well in most Australian climates. One of Scott's favourites is Lomandra “You can’t go wrong with Lomandra Tanika which does really well in most Australian climates and requires little water.”

If you want to go large, Scott loves working with Birds of Paradise, “And Magnolia is a great pick too. I always say you should take cues from your interior design as to which colours you favour in your garden, creating another connection from your outdoor space and the indoor look and feel.

Folks who devour cooking shows on TV will want to dedicate at least one corner of the garden to the kitchen, and Scott has a favourite working plant too. “Rosemary looks great, it’s so hard-wearing and flavoursome too,” he says. “You can pluck it out and put it straight on your roast lamb.”

Layer up

One of the easiest ways to get maximum impact with your garden is to build it up in layers, Scott suggests. “We always start by plating larger around the perimeter of your property away from your home and then layer down in size as you get closer,” he says. “Native grasses are great for building up groundcover easily.”

And as for those perimeter, Scott has another top tip. “We always paint our fences in a non-showy shade like Colorbond Monument, that way your plants will really pop against the dark background"

Stand tall

If your block has a tall retaining wall, you can lean into its height and work wonders with minimal effort, Scott tips. “I’ve got two displays at the moment in Drouin in Gippsland that get lots of rain and have massive retaining walls,” he says. I needed something to grow on on top and spill over,” he says. “Rosemary will actually do really well here, whether it’s three degrees or 35 and without a lot of love, because nobody wants to climb up a retaining wall.”

Of course, if you love to bring that green-lovers paradise indoors too, we’ve also got some hints and tips for you on low-maintenance plants that will thrive inside your dream home.