Have you decided to design your own garden? Good for you! It’s really satisfying to put your own stamp on a place where you spend a lot of time.
But before you start, there are a few things you need to think about when it comes to landscape design in Perth. You need a functional garden that suits our climate, potential planning approval… and don’t forget reticulation!
Here are some points to consider when designing your garden…
Choose plants which suit Perth’s Mediterranean climate
Perth is fairly cold and wet during the winter… but VERY hot and dry during the summer.
The high temperatures during the warmer months can kill many a plant.
We advise that you choose water saving and drought-tolerant plants – either those native to Western Australia (such as Geraldton Wax), or those which are originally from similar climates, such as South Africa or the Mediterranean.
WaterCorp has a great directory of waterwise plants – pop in your suburb nd you’ll be shown which plants will suit the climate.
Make sure there is adequate reticulation to cover the whole garden
You might be choosing waterwise plants, but you’ll still need reticulation for them, as well as your lawn. It’s really an essential part of landscape design in Perth. Either that or you’re in for a lot of watering by hand! We’ve got some tips here.
Think long term on this one. There will be times, for example, when your garden needs watering when you’re away on holiday. We recommend installing a retic controller so you can set a timer for automatic watering.
Do your research with water pressure and sprinkler heads to make sure that you have your whole garden covered. There are few things more annoying than a dry, brown patch of grass in the middle of the lawn!
Get approval from your local shire for any construction work, such as swimming pools or sheds
If you are planning doing on any kind of construction work in your garden, such as putting in a swimming pool or a shed, you will need to get planning permission from your local shire or risk receiving a hefty fine.
Most shires are pretty helpful with this – the City of Canning, for example, provides a checklist to make sure you have everything you need for a complete application, as well as a planning fees calculator.
Make sure that you get this in well ahead of time, as sometimes approval can take a while.
Do your research with regards to costing
Getting your garden done can be pretty expensive – but it’s not the landscapers being greedy; it’s the cost of materials.
Make a budget and stick to it if you can. It’s easy for landscaping costs to spiral out of control!
When in doubt, hire a professional
Short on time? Not sure which plant should go where? Landscaping design is a big, long-term investment and it’s essential to get it right the first time. An expert on Perth landscape design (cough, cough) will be able to help you get all your ducks in a row and make the whole process much less stressful for you. Before you know it, you’ll have a beautiful garden looks great and works for your family all year round.
Looking for help with landscape design in Perth? We’d love to help you. Contact us today!
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