what to plant

[nishtha]

My backyard is a mess and growing weeds everywhere 

We are on a slope so want to plant something that will help with soil erosion too.

My plan is to clear a section, put weedmat, cut a whole for the plants and plant something immediately.

I am after small shrubs and ground covers.

So far I like 

Nandina blush

Creeping juniper 

This section will get sun when the sun is out.

Something non flowering please 

Any

thoughts?

[EricL]

Hello @nishtha 

Thank you for sharing your question about what to plant. Can you please tell us your general location so that we can suggest the proper plants for you. 

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[nishtha]

Yes - we are in east Melbourne. Ferntree gully 

[JacobZ]

Hi @nishtha.

Native plants are always going to be a great option as they are 

That sounds like a solid plan, especially since you're tackling both weeds and erosion. The weed mat will help suppress new weed growth, and your plant choices so far are great for a sloped area with sun.

Here are a few other small shrubs and ground covers that would work well in Melbourne's climate and your sloped, sunny spot:

Small Shrubs

1. Correa Dusky Bells– A hardy native with small pink tubular flowers that attract birds. Grows well on slopes and is low maintenance.
2. Westringia – A compact coastal rosemary variety with a soft, spreading habit. Excellent for erosion control.
3. Grevillea Bronze Rambler – A low-growing grevillea with reddish foliage that spreads well and suppresses weeds.

Ground Covers

1. Dichondra Silver Falls – A trailing silver-grey plant that looks great cascading down slopes.
2. Dichondra Repens - A native ground cover with small, kidney-shaped leaves forming a dense mat. It's ideal for sunny to lightly shaded areas and requires minimal maintenance.
3. Ajuga Reptans – Low-growing with deep green or purple foliage, good for shaded spots if part of the area gets some cover.

You might also like to check out How To Design A Thriving Native Garden and How to choose plants for your garden for some further guidance.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

[nishtha]

Thats an amazing list Jacob.

Do any of these attract bees?

We don't like bees!! 

Also side question : do you put edging first or weedmat first?

I am planning to use the corrugated steel edging 

[JacobZ]

Hi @nishtha,

From that list, you should steer clear of the Grevillea Bronze Rambler and Ajuga Reptans as their nectar-rich flowers are quite attractive to bees.

You could replace them with Creeping Boobialla or Creeping Saltbush.
 

There's no right or wrong answer to what should go first, weed mat or edging, but personally, I would put the weed mat down first and then hammer the steel edging down into it. It should either cut the weed mat or bury it with it so you can off the excess using the outside of the edging as a guide. 

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

[nishtha]

Sounds good.

Am attaching a photo of my backyard as well. Let me know I missed something.

  

[JacobZ]

Hi @nishtha,

Thank you for the photos. I can't see anything that you've missed anything.

Allow me to tag some of our wonderful members to see if they have any thoughts - @Noelle, @mich1972 and @Dave-1.

Keep us updated as your project commences.

Jacob

[nishtha]

Thanks.

I don't know how much of the slope is visible.

Am planning to do the plants and rock garden on the right of where the weedmat is currently.

Where the weedmat is and on the left, it's just going to be mulch.

I realise that it will be a lot of weedmat but I can't think of another way to manage the weeds whilst letting the plants grow. Let me know if it's possible to have another approach to this?

[Dave-1]

Afternoon @nishtha 

I always get excited about gardens and how they grow over time

I will throw in the mix some Rosemary type shrubs, I have two at home in trhe front yard and admittidly I planted with the aim to use them when I cook but as usually I forget (Or dont bake a lamb roast) and now one is knee high and spreading and the other is chest high and large in width.

This is the large Rosemary Bush and it does get a few tiny flowers but havnt seen bees about it. Its actually on a raised mound and is really holding the soil well. I have been kind of kicking myself I didnt plant more of them as they are perfect for privacy and smell great when watered or brushed past. (Excuse the overgrown grass

I also love deciduious trees, I have liquid ambers that are not wide but will grow tall over time. I keep mine lopped at aroundthe 5m mark (height of a 6 foot ladder and me on teh second rung down plus saw) and they really help cool the area around my place (Live in Wollongong, an hr and a half South of Sydney) I also like crepe myrtles as they do teh same. Strangely even they mass flower I really havnt seen too many bees on them (I use to keep a couple of hives) Both these trees I prune every two years to keep in check but mainly they have grown very easily and really hold teh soil espically as I have a high content of clay.

Dave

Dave