Visy Beverage
Low Maintenance Garden
Visy wanted a low maintenance outdoor garden for their premises at Clayton.
They wanted to retain the existing large gum tree’s and reduce their monthly grounds maintenance costs.
Visy being a packaging and resource recovery company, wanted to ensure all materials sourced were sustainable or recycled to align with their core values.
January 2019
Clayton, Victoria
Visy
$20k
The Challenges
Our top priority was ensuring that our work didn’t impact our client’s workflow, so we opted to do all the landscaping outside of work hours.
Visy also requested the end result be low maintenance to reduce the ongoing cost of upkeep.
Picking the right plants
Choosing plants that are hardy and require little attention is a fantastic way to save time and money in the long run. Australian native plants are a perfect choice as they are naturally suited to our climate and weather patterns, meaning they are for the most part self-sufficient.
Being a pebble garden, we also selected plants that have a high tolerance to heat and are resistant to diseases and pests. Here are some examples of low maintenance plants that are well suited to a pebble garden:
Succulents: Succulents store water in their leaves and stems, which means they require very little watering. They also come in a variety of shapes and sizes, making them a popular choice for low maintenance gardens.
Cacti: Like succulents, cacti store water in their stems and require very little watering. This makes them a perfect choice for high temperature or drought prone areas.
Ornamental grasses: Ornamental grasses are a great option for those looking to add some height and texture to their outdoor garden. They require minimal watering or pruning and flourish all year round.
Lavender: Lavender is a popular herb that requires minimal care and is known for its pleasant fragrance and beautiful purple flowers. It’s also drought-tolerant, making it a good choice for Australian climates.
Ferns: Ferns are a great choice for shady or undercover areas in a garden, as they prefer indirect light and moist soil. They don’t require much care and can be a great option in the right conditions.
Installing a Pebble Garden
Watering, mowing and weeding can take up a lot of time and money. Especially when managing a larger space or paying someone to do it. Not only do pebble gardens look great, they are one of the lowest maintenance types of gardens you can have. You don’t need to water it. You don’t need to mow it. However, there are a few things we need to take care of before installing one:
We assess the location: We need to ensure the location of the pebble garden isn’t prone to pooling or flooding. It should also ideally be in direct sunlight. This will ensure that water can drain or evaporate, and you don’t end up with standing water.
We clear the area: We remove any existing plants, weeds, or debris from the area. You want to ensure that nothing will grow up through the pebble garden over time.
We install a weed barrier: To further prevent weeds from growing through the pebbles, we install a weed barrier. This will assist in keeping the pebble garden low maintenance by removing the need to regularly weed.
We install timber edging: Timber edging keeps the garden neat and stops the pebbles from shifting onto the footpaths, which if not managed correctly can become a trip hazard.
Sourcing Sustainable & Recycled material
Protecting the environment is one of Visy’s and GMA’s core values.
Using reclaimed timber and natural materials are great ways to ensure your outdoor area ticks the box for sustainability.
Incorporating the existing gum trees into the design was another way to lessen the environmental impact and preserve the existing ecosystem.
Contact
GMA Property
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