When the clients first reached out to us, they had recently visited an open garden in Red Hill during the Garden Design Festival in 2022. They were particularly taken with our dry-stone walls and were seeking solutions for their own steeply sloping block that needed retaining walls.
We met with the clients on-site to discuss their vision. They shared that, upon moving in, the back garden had been virtually inaccessible due to an overgrowth of weed trees. After clearing much of the unwanted vegetation, we commissioned a detailed survey of the property to better understand the space.
The clients envisioned a garden with a series of flat areas created by retaining walls and a path wide enough to accommodate a ride-on mower or small machine for easy access. To bring this vision to life, we used CAD software to design the layout, creating a detailed topographic “site model” in 3D. This approach not only provided a clear picture of the garden’s future look but also involved the clients deeply in the design process.
Construction presented its own set of challenges, primarily due to the limited access. We could only fit a 1.7-tonne excavator and a small skid steer loader into the back garden. Despite these constraints, we pressed on, and the clients played a significant role in the project, helping with manual tasks like vegetation clearance, garden lighting, and fencing work. Their hands-on involvement gave them a direct influence on the design and a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in working on such a steep site.
The end result is a garden that beautifully balances function and aesthetics. At the very bottom, we’ve created an area dedicated to predominantly indigenous planting. Moving up, three levels of sleeper walls now support fruit trees. The largest flat area higher up will eventually host a shed, greenhouse, and vegetable gardens. Above this, three tiers of dry stone walls add visual interest and structure. Generous steps lead through the center of these walls, with a meandering path running along the outer edge. The planting design follows a cottage style, aimed at providing year-round interest.
In the front garden, we’ve incorporated shade planting by the house, complemented by a vibrant succulent garden on the other side of the drive. The transformation highlights how thoughtful design and collaborative effort can turn even the most challenging spaces into stunning, functional gardens.
This garden, along with another of our gardens in Red Hill will be open to the public as part of Garden Design Fest 2024. The weekend 16th and 17th of November.
To visit gardens across the Mornignton Peninsula and Melbourne, get your a Garden Design Fest 2024, weekend pass, book online now.
