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Looking for ideas to redo the front lawn. Would like to put some sitting option, fence and a hedge etc.
also do I need council approvals etc?
Thanks
Afternoon @SammyD
Love nutting out ideas for landscaping, they all end up into amalgamating into something you want 
I also like sketching ideas out.
I actually bought a new sketch book for ideas last week
For a yard I start with a top down look, I use circles to represent the sizes of trees, Also putting in hard surface areas like paths and driveways.
Mark out entries to the house, garage and windows on the large box of the house you have drawn top down.
This is where the book comes in handy, push hard at each hard point area, this will give an impression on the page underneath.
This page is where you start adding and subtracting ideas for your "new" yard or area.
I can see the shrubs in front of the window, your trees and your letterbox. Anything substantial growth wise I really try to keep and work around as its taken awhile to get there.
You dont have a front boundary, some areas "frown" at the fencelines in new estates and have rules (ask your council as @JacobZ has mentioned)
You could always instal a garden along the boundary of where your yard would be, I have seen shrubs grown to get around those rules.
If you are after a hard edge and allowed one, then a low gabion styled wall is different and also something solid without being tall. You can purchase gabion baskets at Bunnings Jack 80 x 40 x 40cm Rectangle Landscaper's Plant Support Garden Gabion
Note - It may make your yard area feel smaller by putting in even plant boundaries. Sketching will show this up.
Having an area outside those three vertical windows filled with orange scoria/bauxite and edged would be a nice place for an outside table setting.
A currved path from your front patio towards your driveway would also look nice, or a T intersection in the path to go to a seating area.
Last one but possibly the first one to actually do before any change is think of outside lighting, especially undersided lights up into your tree, or edge.
I would have a seperate page for each of the ideas in your sketch book (I sit in cafes and draw them as it gives my mind that "break" away from the house) This way you can "fan" through the pages and guarentee it will help you solidify your ideas.
Here are a couple of sketches to show you how I am changing my backyard from what was to what will be.
Top down of how it is.
Top down of how it will look
The old garden beds
Heading back to being level.
Its really interesting watching your sketch come to life. It may be modified but still it really helps.
Dave
Hi @SammyD
I think you're already off with a great start with the advice that both @JacobZ and @Dave-1 have already provided. Including in the design planning stage those existing parts of the garden that can't change, then continuing on with what can. Getting ideas from @JacobZ workshop links and from gardens in your neighbourhood can be a great source of inspiration.
Just are 5 of my own thoughts to consider.
1. I like to define this I my property and thats yours. So on the left hand boundary line replace the two pool fence panels with solid ones so you're not looking at the neighbours bins. Then even at a lower height, extend the fence line as far forward as legally possible. This would be where your property ends and the nature strip starts. Permits are not normally required but check with council. And of course you should get the agreement from your neighbour who might chip in half the cost. A garden can then be positioned in front of the fence leading back towards the house.
2. Demolish the existing letterbox and reposition it as far forward as legally possible within an extended garden bed following the driveway. There are so many cool letterbox projecst within the community to inspire. Building your own unique design is a real fun project. But there is such a massive range of pre-built ones in both Bunnings and online to choose from as well. My advice here is to select a design thats taller with a front pull open section for package deliveries that have a lockable rear access hatch. With your front door exposed to the street, it will at least allow for some deliveries to be made without going to the post office. I use this site in the projects I have built for myself and others. They have both standalone and ones you can build into your own design and they do custom labelling as well.
3. Include in the design for an irrigation system and low voltage lighting. Even if it's not affordable start away, having the main tube lines and cable runs in place in the early stages will make it a far easier job to complete when you're ready. Both of these are very easy level DIY projects. Run the low voltage cable back to the left corner of the house. An electrician will be able to install an outdoor power point and weatherproof box. This is to plug the lighting transformer into and either a battery or smart timer. I use wifi controlled ones that are only $20each for light and water feature pumps. Don't forget to have a light for the front of the letterbox to show your house number at night.
4. Define the existing garden edges. Depending on if you already are in a cordless tool system, there will be edgers or edger attachments to give a nice sharp grass edge against hard garden/path/driveway. Personally I prefer raised garden bed edges as it makes trimming with my line trimmer quick and easy. And definitely metal ones as even the best quality wooden ones will deteriorate with 2years. I've included a photo of my front yard showing both. Install a raised metal podium garden ring around the centred lawn tree. You can either fill it with just mulch or include low plants. This will make edging around the tree far easier without ring-barking it. I would include a low-voltage spotlight to make it a feature at night. And yes I love garden lighting!
5. Remove and replace the existing plants. Space out the new ones allowing their growth plus some small clearing space in-between. Long term, the garden will always look neater when it's not over-grown. which also makes it easier to maintain.
Enjoy the process and please share the project developments.
Nailbag
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