Garden Style - This Week: Hard Landscaping

The Sunday Age

Sunday May 4, 2008

Jim Fogarty

The subliminal effect of pebble, paving and paths plays an important role in a garden layout, says landscaper Jim Fogarty.

Hard landscaping is the first thing to be considered in a site layout. It sets out the framework of the garden, defines the axis and vistas and connects areas of the garden. More importantly, it also connects the garden to the house. The materials chosen can reflect the style and period of the home so that the house sits comfortably within the garden. Components of the hard landscape provide access for vehicles and pedestrians, allowing people to move through the garden. Also, well-designed hard landscaping respects the role that plants and trees play in a garden

Mind games To understand the skill of garden design, one must understand how a garden can be laid out so that it affects the user on a subconscious level. Your senses should be aroused by what's around you, but the layout should control your movements. Understanding this power of the design is crucial in respecting the role of hard landscape. Put simply, smooth textures and straight lines are great for speeding up movement, and rough textures and organic shapes are great for slowing it down. Everything in a garden works on this principal - even walls, steps, and the choice of plant material.

Paving Paving is a necessity as it directs the flow of traffic through a garden. It can take many forms: gravel, pebbles, clay bricks, large pavers, stone, concrete, exposed aggregate and decking. The material chosen determines the speed of movement. Smooth surfaces are easy to navigate and rough surfaces will slow people down. The choice may also be based on the practicalities of construction. A deck will be more economical if the back of the house is higher than the garden. Budget is always an important consideration.

Pebbles Pebbles are a great way to add texture to a pathway or garden bed. Their variety slows movement down. Mixing sizes can give you a more natural look. Be wary of using pebbles that have been taken from creeks or river systems, as this can be very damaging to the environment. Instead, source pebbles that are a by-product of quarrying. These are tumbled to create a pebble look. Pebbles in rivers and creeks are nature's way of filtering the rubbish out of water.

Rock There are many types of rock available in Melbourne. Avoid running them in straight lines as this can look terrible. Take inspiration from the natural bush and use photographs to help create the look you want. It should look natural or the result can be disastrous. Rock can also be used for dry-stone walling. In Melbourne's west, you can still see old Colac rock walls built by the early settlers of Victoria. Dry-stone walling looks brilliant, but it is something you will need a stonemason for. Sadly, many of the faux-stone tile products are killing off this highly regarded trade. Melbourne is famous for its bluestone and granite. For a cheaper option, consider Colac rock.

Gravel Gravel is a by-product of quarrying stone and is one of the most usable and cost-efficient materials around. Gravel paths are easy to install and the texture and sound of the gravel underfoot help to calm the senses. Gravel can be used as a mulch for garden beds and can also make a great native plant mix as long as you avoid compaction. There are several well-managed quarries in Melbourne that produce crushed granite, a popular type of gravel in Melbourne Gardens. Lilydale toppings are also popular in Melbourne gardens, but as they contain lime, should not be used in garden beds.

Tiles Glazed, marble, terracotta and stone tiles are still popular in gardens, especially on verandas of period homes. Be wary of using glazed tiles as they can be very slippery and dangerous in the wet. Faux bookend stone tiles have been popular in recent years, but I prefer the real thing. If you are going to use them, make sure you buy corner pieces as well, as the tiles do not abut properly without them, and the corners of your feature wall will look untidy.

Wood Natural timbers can add charm to a garden whether it be in decks, screens or shade structures. Avoid using rainforest timbers such as merbau as the timber is coming from old-growth rainforests in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, or Malaysia where it deprives orang-utans of habitat. Instead, use Australian plantation timbers such as spotted gum for decks and plantation treated pine for framing and structures. Other plantation timbers such as cypress also make great decks. Timber recyclers are also a great way to source reused timber. PlantFocusEcheveria x imbricata This is one of the most popular garden succulents. Commonly known as hen and chickens, Echeveria x imbricata is a tough little ground cover, perfect for rockeries or planted into gravel. It grows to about 20cm wide and has small red flowers in spring and summer, which appear vividly against the blue-green fleshy foliage. It prefers a full-sun position in well-drained soil. Trim the spent flowers. This succulent is also perfect for pots. Nepeta sp. Catmint is a great plant for edging pathways or for use as a ground cover. A tough herbaceous plant with aromatic mint foliage, it also makes a great infill plant to soften a pathway. Plant it in a gravel path to create a wild overgrown look. Plant in a full-sun position and prune back hard after flowering. A popular form available in Melbourne is Nepeta x faassenii 'Walker's Blue'.Euphorbia x martini Commonly known as spurge or milkweed, this is a hybrid of two of the Euphorbias, one of which is the better known Euphorbia characias. Euphorbia x martini is a compact-growing form, making it ideal for rockeries or for planting in a gravel garden. It grows to about 80cm wide and 60cm high. Green foliage adorns reddish stems and, in spring and summer, lime-yellow flowers blanket the plant. Euphorbia x martinii prefers a full-sun position and does not like wet feet.

© 2008 The Sunday Age

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