Stage 1 of the Australian Native front yard was to select local native plants from ‘The Native Plants of Adelaide’ book. Started removing lawn and planted out small seedlings from the Native Plants sale at the showgrounds. (May/June 2008)
Stage 2 was to select more local, native plants from the State Flora that we couldn’t find at the showgrounds and to plant them. (May/June 2008)
Stage 3 was (a bit out of order) to create the design and to lay out pathways. Hardy plants from Sarah’s were added to fill some spots and all the beds mulched. The bed by the driveway was weeded for the third time to hopefully eliminate the grass weeds. (December 2008)
Stage 4 will be to add more plants from the State Flora – grasses mostly. Add water feature and plant grasses around it, fill in gaps with Isolepis nodosa – SA knobbly club rush. (See State Flora or Adelaide City Council ).
Stage 5 will be to move the letter box over to the driveway side and to cover the pathways with gravel or sawdust. Also in stage 5 will be a reassessment after the first hot summer – some plants may have died and will need replacing and some gaps will need to be filled. Hopefully by this stage the plants from stage 1 and 2 will have grown to a size more closely resembling their full grown size. Perhaps some garden art, rocks or logs can be added at this stage for the wildlife.
Stage 6 may be a fence. If the plants at the front don’t grow into a hedge very well, a fence wall may be constructed.
Stage 7 will be the nature strip – removing the lawn and planting hardy things – perhaps repeated plantings of the SA Knobbly club rush or that rounded silvery thing with more ruby saltbush (enchylaena tomentosa).
Stage 8 will be to enjoy!
