HG GARDENING
PEOPLE-FRIENDLY ZONES
Sandy and her daughter Ainhoa, 11, walk from the house to the
studio at the bottom of the garden (left). This area was once a
paddock, with a fall of 3.3m from the house to the studio. Now it’s
divided into zones by means of contouring pathways and strategic
plantings, channelling views to distant mountains. A hedge of
Waterhousea fl oribunda ‘Sweeper’ screens out neighbouring
apartments and Lomandra ‘Lime Tuff’ fringes the pathway.Feature trees
Crepe myrtles (Lagerstroemia
‘Natchez’) are planted at the
front and rear of the property.
When fully grown (they can
reach a height of 8m) they
will add all-important height
and scale to the layout.High contrast
Claudia chose specimens that
form striking silhouettes against
the dark exterior walls, painted
in Colorbond Monument.
These include white-flowering
crepe myrtle and potted
Alcantarea imperialis ‘Rubra’.Up the garden path
The path is laid with 20mm
quartz aggregate. It’s a
permeable surface perfect for
a location like this, which is
susceptible to heavy rain. Strips
of Corten steel give the path
edges definition.Lay down the lawn
The new lawn is Sir Walter
buffalo grass, a proven
performer in both sun and
shade. “Good base preparation
and regular mowing will
help keep it looking really
good,” says Claudia.Some like it hot
Claudia satisfied Sandy’s love
of lavender but offers a word of
caution. “It’s a one-year wonder
in a humid location like Coffs
Harbour,” she says. “You have
to treat it like an annual and
replant every year.”