Complete Landscaping Garden Makeover For Victor Harbor Property.

Residents of a property located at Victor Harbor had just moved in to their new home and were now focused on landscaping their outdoor spaces. After discussion with our landscape designers, the brief was to create a low maintenance garden with native plants that would be able to handle the hot Summer heat while providing plenty of colour.
To take advantage of the view to the hills, the clients wanted a paved area at the rear of the property that would also look over an expanse of lawn the grandchildren could play on.

Before Hand Made Gardens started landscaping

Starting with a blank canvas, both hardscape and softscape plans were drawn up to show the landscape design proposal proposed for this complete garden makeover.

Landscape Designers create Hardscape Plan

Landscape Designers create Softscape Plan with plants, irrigation & lighting

Although not sexy, base preparation is key to having the final result looking as great 10 years after the work has been completed. Too often, gardeners operating out the back of a ute cut excavation costs by under preparing the base causing retaining walls to lean and pavers to sink.

As Master landscapers Adelaide residents have trusted for over 30 years, Hand Made Gardens was chosen to complete the landscaping for this garden makeover. Not only able to complete all the landscape construction work such as the extensive paving and retaining walls required, the team could also handle the irrigation, garden lighting and planting too.

Setting up the bench levels was the first step, excavating 100 tonne of soil to create the large flat area for the lawn. Taking advantage of the slope to the rear of the property, soil was removed or added where required to create the paved landing with steps, which was to become a major garden feature and focal point to the garden makeover.
A washed sand bed was spread over a compacted rubble base to form the foundation for the pavers and a reinforced concrete footing was poured for the base to the steps and retaining walls that surrounded the landing.

PGH wirecut brick pavers were laid using a basket weave pattern and were compacted and set with Pavelok. The steps and walls were wet laid and constructed using Hewnstone 500 x 250 x 250mm reconstituted limestone blocks, topped off with 50mm bullnose coping.
Prior to construction, wiring was laid to power 12V eyelid stainless steel LED lights to the steps, controlled with a timer.

A French drain, a trench filled with gravel or rock or containing a perforated pipe that redirects surface water and groundwater away, was installed along with the irrigation tubing that would service the lawn and surrounding plants.
Male Sterile Kikuyu, a tough and drought tolerant lawn was selected and laid on top of a quality organic compost and washed sand mix dug into the ground.

Male Sterile Kikuyu is tough and drought tolerant, ideal for Adelaide’s hot, dry climate

A quality organic compost and washed sand was dug into the ground where the native garden plants would be planted to garden bed areas. A selection of native plants were chosen for their drought tolerance, foliage and impressive show of colour when flowering.

Native Garden Plants, the obvious choice for Adelaide gardens

An automated garden irrigation system was installed complete with solenoid valves boxed within the garden and wifi controller located inside the garage.
For the lawn, Hunter’s Pro Spray Pop Ups were used and for the native garden plants, Turbo plus 4 ltr/hr micro dripper’s were placed, with 2 next to the larger trees.

To finish off the garden bed areas, large bark mulch was used so it didn’t break down quickly and wouldn’t blow all over the place with strong winds Victor Harbor is well known for, especially during Spring.

An interesting curved path with steps was constructed by the side of the landing and further decorated with large stone boulders.
A brick path, consistent with the brick pavers of the landing borders the lawn area, adding good separation to the garden beds and provides an ideal edge for mowing too.
Two different coloured stones were used to form several paths leading away from the landing, separating areas allowing for a pleasant walk around the garden.