1. Tropical or sub-tropical
- Good palms are Golden Cane, Bangalow Palms.
- Other tropicals are Hibiscus, Tahitian Frangipani, Strelitzea
- Avoid fruit-bearing palms which attract fruit bats and rats and drop nuts and fronds into your garden
2. Formal
- Geometric layout
- pathways bordered with clipped hedges
- use of feature ‘focal point’ (a tree, sculpture or well-placed rock)
3. Informal
- Random planting
- mass planting of plant varieties to accentuate a topographical feature e.g. lomandra or grevillea ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’
4. Australian or Exotic Varieties
- create screen planting using Australian wattles and grevilleas
- plant exotics like Japanese Maple for a feature position but Australian natives and sun-hardened varieties are best, e.g. Poinciana, Leopard Tree, but most trees look special if they’re planted in a feature position
5. Country Cottage
- Hydrangeas, agapanthus, climbing rose
- Plant low to high to give a good view of all varieties
- Carefully consider colour theme
TIPS ON TREE PLANTING
Evergreen or Deciduous Trees
- plant deciduous trees to the west and north-west for shade in summer and sun in winter
- plant evergreens where you want continual shade, protection from wind or privacy