Monday, April 27, 2009

An exposed garden area produces unique challenges. Plants need to be sturdy enough to stand their ground in high winds, with hardy foliage that can tolerate a scorching from full sun. This penthouse garden on Sydney’s North Shore was in need of a makeover when native-plant aficionado Ted Whitley was hired to breathe new life into the space.

Design brief

Apart from needing some strategic plant placement to screen out the neighbours, the owner’s main requirement was that plants be kept at a low height so as not to intrude upon their sweeping views over Middle Harbour. The garden area is an 80m² planter box with soil just 400mm deep, so Ted chose plants with shallow root systems – mostly natives, with some suitably hardy exotics. “I overlapped the plantings to create a natural coastal health where plants support each other in the wind,” he says. “This is not a geometric, rigidly structured garden but one whose design emulates nature to create a naturalistic habitat.”

Before and after

Most of the original garden was dead when Ted took it on. “Some aggressive weedy exotics were toughing it out,” he says, “but I removed everything and started again.”

It was expensive to remove and replace the existing low-quality soil, so Ted dug through 10m³ of compost then let the soil rest for three weeks, during which time he removed new wees as they emerged. An automatic drip irrigation system was installed and covered with 10m³ of coarse recycled mulch before planting.

“Sydney’s humid weather promotes a host of pests and diseases so I sprayed the garden every fortnight for the first three months after planting with Yates Anti Rot – a low-toxic phosphorous acid, which controls collar rot and fungal diseases – pyrethrum and fish emulsion to assist plant growth in the initial stages,” he says.

“I then dispersed Debco SaturAid to hold moisture and improve drainage, as well as a generous amount of Scotts Osmocote, which is a 12-14 month slow-release fertiliser. I use a low phosphorous variety as it suits the plants I use in the gardens I create. It should be applied every year or so to help plants thrive.”

Layered planting
Taller plants, such as kangaroo paw, are kept to the rear perimeter as privacy screens, allowing the eye to pass over a patchwork of low-level plantings to unobstructed water views beyond.

Invite the locals in
Native plants attract native birds, whose presence creates a constantly changing atmosphere in the garden. Birdsong also brings tranquillity, masking the hustle and bustle of a built-up area. Ted has seen kookaburras, magpies, currawongs and lorikeets here. “Honeyeaters also delight in the nectar from the grevillias, banksias, emu bush (Eremophila) and Australian fuchsia (Correa),” he says. “I like to provide food and habitat for native fauna, accordingly I include a broad spectrum of flowering periods so birds and butterflies can feed throughout the year.” To create a native habitat in your own garden, it is important to use few – or ideally no – pesticides.

Colour it beautiful
One of the biggest misconceptions about native plants is that they lack colour. Just one look at a Ted Whitely creation disproves this, as he chooses his plants for those very properties. “I use combinations of flower and foliage colour and varied structural forms to engage people in such a way that they feel an emotional connection with my gardens,” he says. “I hope this fills them with a sense of peace.”

Frame it
The garden is separated from the terrace by a two-metre-high glass sound shield that was intended to block street noise. It now doubles as a window through with Ted’s living artwork of colourful natives can be admired.

Planting guide

Tall order
To add a layer of height, different types of kangaroo paw were used, including ‘Regal Claw’, ‘Big Red’, and ‘Yellow Gem’, as well as grevillea ‘Candelabra’ and banksia ‘Giant Candles’.

Tufting plants
Spinifex doesn’t tolerate Sydney’s humidity, so for mid-level clustering shapes Ted used varieties of lilies, such as Dianella ‘Cassa Blue’ and D. ‘King Alfred’, and native iris (Patersonia occidentalis).

Groundcover
A dense bed was created using groundcovers, including Pratia pedunculata, Grevillea obtusifolia ‘Gingin Gem’ and Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’.

Flower show
The large mauve petals of this fast-growing, hardy shrub, known as native lasiandra or ‘Blue Tongue’ (Melastroma affine), contrast brightly with its yellow stamens, brining a vibrant energy to the garden.