David Neil’s garden, Balwyn, Vic

An architect’s vision of the perfect garden.

David Neil’s garden, Balwyn, Victoria. Picture: Hilary Bradford

Houses and gardens work best when they have a strong relationship to each other, and what better example than the home of a green- fingered architect? Shortlisted in the gardens category of the Houses Awards 2019, this garden in Melbourne’s east combines strong structural elements with abundant plantings to create a family oasis that is usable year-round.

David Neil bought the 2000sqm battleaxe block in Balwyn seven years ago, when the mid-century home was in original condition, engulfed by overgrown, rambling gardens. “I started work on the gardens about five years ago,” he says. “I’ve always been passionate about landscape and gardening – it’s my hobby when I’m not being an architect. I love visiting gardens, going to nurseries and being in the garden every weekend.”

David Neil’s garden, Balwyn, Victoria. Picture: Hilary Bradford

In designing the garden, Neil wanted to create a series of spaces for his family of four teenage children and his wife, Nessa. He devised a weatherproof pavilion, complementary but separate to the house, which acts as an outdoor hub to various new zones – pool, tennis court, grassy area and vegetable garden. The work was completed late last year, along with a new driveway.

The timber-decked pavilion is set up for multiple uses, with a long dining table that seats up to 16 and a lounge setting facing the feature fireplace and chimney. There’s also a swing, hung from the floating roof to provide a playful element for adults as well as children.

The swimming pool runs the length of the house, surrounded by garden beds up to 3m wide. “It’s lovely that the pool area feels like you’re sitting in the garden,” says Neil. “There’s no pool fence on two sides – we used an excavated walkway and troughs to make it compliant.”

David Neil’s garden, Balwyn, Victoria. Picture: Hilary Bradford

The massed plantings were chosen for texture and drought tolerance, including succulents like blue chalksticks (Senecio serpens), pig’s ear (Cotyledon orbiculata), sedums, euphorbias and Mexican lily (Beschorneria), mixed with Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis), native correas, prostrate rosemary and sea lavender (Limonium).

There is a roof garden on top of the pavilion, planted with grasses and succulents such as pigface (Carpobrotus edulis), which has bright pink, daisy-like flowers and edible fruits. The main vegetable growing area has wicking beds that reduce the need for hand watering. Next to the bluestone paving near the house, Neil planted green Dichondra, Sedum ‘Gold Mound’ and purple sedum groundcovers. “All the colours mixed in together look incredible,” he says.

David Neil’s garden, Balwyn, Victoria. Picture: Hilary Bradford

Neil appreciated the statuesque beauty of the existing huge yuccas, adding trees such as sugar gums (Eucalyptus cladocalyx), ginkgos, crepe myrtles, ‘Autumn Blaze’ maples and Gleditsia ‘Sunburst’. A large cape chestnut (Calodendron capense) is stunning when its profuse lilac blooms appear in November. Portuguese laurel (Prunus lusitanica) is used as an informal hedge between the pavilion and the pool, and also for taller hedges to screen the boundaries.

“The family spends weekends immersed in the different spaces, whether swimming, playing sport, entertaining friends or relaxing with a book,” says Neil. “I’m proud that it’s something we created ourselves.”

Q&A

Is it true that planting marigolds through a vegetable garden can prevent cabbage moth attacks? Kat Walsh, by email

Strong-smelling plants like marigolds can help confuse insects trying to target other plants, but it’s not a guarantee. A variety of flowering plants near the vegie patch is good to attract a range of beneficial insects. The most effective strategy against cabbage moth and butterfly caterpillars is to install floating row covers of 7mm exclusion netting (from greenharvest.com.au) to prevent moths landing to lay eggs on leaves. Alternatively, plant land cress (Barbarea vulgaris), which attracts the moths but is toxic to the caterpillars, killing them quickly.

My English box have grown well but the leaves have gone dull and dark, almost brown, in recent months. They’re in clay soil on a slope and are probably malnourished. Nick Fairweather, Canberra

All types of box (Buxus) can turn bronze, orangey or brown in winter when stressed by cold, hunger and dryness. The trick is to fertilise them in late autumn, in order to set them up ahead of winter. Ideally also keep them watered. Adding organic matter and using a soft mulch will help your clay soil.

What bold coloured native plants would suit hanging baskets in the tropics? Irmgard Bauer, Townsville

Try mauve Cooktown orchid (Dendrobium bigibbum) and pink rock orchid (D. kingianum), bower vine (Pandorea pandorana) and gorgeous Medinilla balls-headleyi. Reds include mountain bells (Paphia meiniana), vireya (Rhododendron lochiae), Hoya macgillivrayi and coral peas (Kennedia coccinea and K. prostrata). Hibbertia scandens and H. dentata have yellow flowers.

Organic Gardener 18-month subscription, worth $96

Send your questions to: [e-mail] or Helen Young, PO Box 3098, Willoughby North, NSW 2068. Website: helenyoung.com.au. The best question for August wins an 18-month subscription worth $96 to Organic Gardener magazine, celebrating its 20-year anniversary.