Set within a newly developed suburban estate, the clients sought to bring identity and atmosphere to a home surrounded by a largely uniform streetscape. Engaging us for the planting design, the garden offered Andy and Daniel an opportunity to create something more personal, immersive and enduring.

Working with the existing hardscape of the garden, we took the time to understand how Andy and Daniel wanted the garden to feel and change through the seasons.

At the front, an area of lawn that was once open and exposed was reimagined as a layered entry garden centred around a Japanese maple. Layered planting introduces a balance of delicacy and structure, helping to soften neighbouring outlooks and bring seasonal expression to the street. The resulting landscape offers a softened and more resolved arrival, with seasonal flowering, movement and pollinator-friendly planting bringing life and colour variation throughout the year.

To the rear, the planting shifts towards a more enclosed and immersive experience. The clients’ intention was to create a garden that could heighten the sense of retreat around the jacuzzi, alfresco dining area and outdoor living spaces. A cooler, more shaded zone lent itself to a lush subtropical sensibility, while a sunnier lawn zone allowed flowering species to spill into the lawn, bringing softness, colour and depth. Boundary planting and climbers were used to veil the timber fencing, garden shed and filter views to neighbouring properties, allowing them to be absorbed into the landscape through vertical greening. The overall composition helps establish a noticeably cooler and more sheltered microclimate around the home.

The result is a home that now feels shaped by the garden rather than simply bordered by it, with the front offering a quieter, more resolved presence within the street and the rear becoming a private retreat rich in texture, softness and seasonal life.

Selected Plant Species:

1. Liriope 'Evergreen Giant'

2. Pennisetum nafray

3. Doodia aspera

4. Ajuga 'Caitlins Giant'

5. Myers Asparagus Fern

6. Sedum 'Autumn Joy'

7. Lomandra conterfifolia 'Little Pal'

8. Verbena bonariensis

9. Plectranthus 'Nico'

10. Dichondra 'Emerald Falls'

'Candice was exceptional to work with from start to finish. She took the time to understand the covenants for our area, along with our likes, dislikes, and budget, and then came back with a design that completely blew us away. What she delivered was far beyond anything we could have come up with ourselves. Her selection of plant species works beautifully together, and the layered planting plan creates real depth throughout the space.' - Andy McCutcheon