Tag: lawn substitute

  • A true carpeting ground cover: Pratia pedunculata

    A true carpeting ground cover: Pratia pedunculata

    This is a native ground cover which sometimes gets classed as a steppable (not a real word ;)), meaning it works well between steppers and pavers and can be walked on occasionally without too much fuss. I like to use it mixed with other low growing ground covers like Dichondra and native violet to get…

  • Portfolio: Garden Design Mount Keira

    Portfolio: Garden Design Mount Keira

    Last Friday I completed the first stage of planting for this local project I have been working on in Mt Keira this year. I have written about this garden already as it is a very interesting brief, using only local indigenous species http://malleedesign.com.au/mt-kiera-site-specific-local-indigenous-species/ . I have been chaffing at the bit since the landscaping began to be…

  • Illawarra native garden full of fresh ideas!

    Illawarra native garden full of fresh ideas!

    I visited the native garden of a passionate native plant lover last week to grab some inspiring photos and ideas; and the garden did not disapoint. This is the 4 th native garden for the owner and she began building it about 8 years ago after moving from a large property in the Snowy Mountains.…

  • Native Lawn Substitute: Dichondra repens

    Native Lawn Substitute: Dichondra repens

    I paid a visit to one of my old garden designs last week and discovered that since I had last seen the garden it has become completely lawn free, as in grass lawn. The owner has been busily dividing up tube stock of Dichondra repens in order to give him green pathways throughout the garden,…

  • Myoporum Lawn: Myoporum parvifolium

    Myoporum Lawn: Myoporum parvifolium

    I dislike lawn, not the idea of it but the maintenance aspect; mowing and edging, weeding and watering, fertilising and aerating, all this for a bit of green open space. I do like the idea of ‘green open space’ where you can lay down in the sun or do cartwheels or set up a trampoline or…

  • Australian Plant Society Open Gardens: Collins Garden Gymea

    Australian Plant Society Open Gardens: Collins Garden Gymea

    This garden was at the end of my garden visiting trail, the kids were getting grotty and I was beginning to think we should just head home. However persevering paid off, as soon as my son and I entered the garden we were welcomed by a small person announcing “Come in and see my granny’s…

  • Crazy Carpeting Grevillea ground-covers

    Crazy Carpeting Grevillea ground-covers

    OK so these two Grevilleas are a bit famous for going wild in the best way possible of course! They are fast growing and will cover a really large area, plus they are hardy and flower a lot. What more could you ask for?

  • Hot Candy!

    Hot Candy!

    This is my favourite Brachyscome at the moment, not for its tacky name (where do they get them from???), but for its running habit and thick leaf. Brachsyscome ‘Hot Candy’ is seen here growing in part shade and still flowering its head off.

  • Weed suppression with ground covers

    Weed suppression with ground covers

    Here are a few ground covers that can go absolutely rampant but in a great way! The first one is Kennedia rubicunda growing as a bit of a spill over to cover up an embankment. This will grow in quite heavy shade and has a pretty little red pea flower.

  • Carpeting groundcover

    Carpeting groundcover

    Myopororum parvifolium is seen here as a layered dense ground cover planted on mass that is also a spill over. Here it is also working as a lawn substitute, and would be lovely to play or lay on.