HelpfulGardener.com

hi

I have just finished landscaping a japanese garden I have many small young plants and am now looking to purchase some established unique plants. I seem to be havin troubles locating were to buy them in australia.
This is my first ever garden an I'm proud to say I have not lost a plant yet and I use to kill everything green. when I get a chance I will post some photos.
The garden has two 7000litre ponds with a river connecting them I have also recently purchased 25 koi.
My father built me a tea house which has a balcoy ove the bottom pond.
there is 20tonne of bush rock and 13toone of white pebble paths.
it has a small zen garden.

Hi,
What are you waiting for let's have some photo's.
koiboy01

I second KB's suggestion. If you have questions about how to display pics then don't hesitate to PM me.

Welcome to the forum.

I look forward to viewing your photos and hearing about your blossoming garden. Please feel free to offer any advice, your experiences and ask any questions you have.

Welcome to the forums,

Opabinia51

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here are some photos thanks for the assistance as you can tell still under consruction and will update photos for all to see.

Looks like a diamond in the rough to me. Is that a natural waterway that you are going to tap into there? If you can find it at your local library try reading Gaia's Garden by Toby Hemenway, there is a lot of useful information in there on garden design, water saving techniques, companion planting and so on.

Hi,
Your garden certainly looks promising, as you say it is in its early stages but you can see the posabilities I think if it was mine I would have an area for a karasansui garden with chippings and large rocks with the chippings being racked in the Zen garden style, also a nice half moon bridge at some stage across your stream the posabilities are endess,best of luck ,take your time and ENJOY your labour of love.
if I can give you any advice don't hesitate to ask as my Japanese garden is on the web at https://koi-z-are-us.20m.com
koiboy01

I have set up a system using roof water collected from the house we have quite large dew and frosts. during summer mionths I cover the ponds with a uv cover and only run the pumps of a night to minimise evaporation from the river. thanks koiboy for the suggestion I am limited to what I can put in the grassed area that you see as we are on a septic system and this is our catchment area if I put thngs here we may have to dig them up at a later date. however it would be easy to move the chip. ta

hi
still having troubles sourcing established plants for the garden do you know of any places in australia that may be able to supply ?

just wondering if anyoe could offer advice on which maples can handle large frosts and snow best as looking to purchase 10 weepers

I think that Maples are generally pretty hardy - I doubt there are many places in Australia where it would be too cold for them. Sounds as though you may be somewhere in the Canberra area? Or Tasmania maybe?.

At risk of upsetting a few people, may I suggest that you take out a subscription to The Journal of Japanese Gardening (recently re-named Sukiya Living.) I've found it to be always very useful on matters of Japanese Garden design. Several times I've read one of their articles, looked at my garden, seen that what I'd done went entirely against their advice, and have then changed it accordingly - and I've always thought it's been an improvement.

Herb

How much cold and snow do you actually see in New South Wales? Maybe I'm clueless about the Australian climate but I don't picture Sidney buried in snow. I would think your biggest cultural concerns would be providing sufficient shade and wind protection, high organic content soils and sufficient water.
Ten weeping forms is IMO way too much of a good thing for a Japanese garden. When Acer palmatum or Acer japonicum is used in Japanese gardens the upright form is more commonly used than var. dissectum. Also, I personally stick with green leaved forms.

If I may offer another suggestion your stones surrounding the pond are too uniform in size. I would break up both the linearity (both vertical and horizontal) and the consistency of size.

I agree with Maine Designer's suggestion that the stones surrounding the pond need to be less uniform. If you can get hold of the July/August 2000 (No. 16) back issue of the Journal of Japanese Gardening it has a very useful article. It's headed Fundamentals of Successful Pond Edging & includes some helpful pictures, diagrams & sketches rock arrangements that suit ponds.

Herb

thankyou I will endevour to find the journal you speak of

what a weekend planted my maples and chinese tallowood mulched it looks great will put some photos up shortly

Wow, that IS a weekend. LOL

oh for a plot of land and the money to make a japanese garden
try searching for bonsai tree's to plant in your garden and some pines
not usually on here but I borowed a japanes gardening book from my bonsai club and it fasinated me so much ive started a collection of items to display with my bonsai trees and hopefully be getting a small pond for my koi
nice soo far keep up the work

Wow, I wish I could do all that. I'd like to put in a pond, but I have to do it on a strict budget and the tea house/gazebo I only dream about. You've done a great job!!!

well need to get into the garden again I have an open garden coming up in sept there will be tv hosts from several gardening shows in the area. need help in chosing some conifers to fill some holes in the garden??

also does anyone know what water plants grow all year round as my lillies and irises do not flower early enough in the year for the open garden.

is there any way to get maples to come into leaf earlier also??

hi all well the garden in full colour with maples and azaleas out even my fishies have got big. I will get around to posting some pics shortly.
my first water lilly came out as the wheather has not been all that warm snowed again last week and its the middl of summer this weather all a little strange for my liking. how is everyone elses gardens fronting up..

Hi there, will be interesting to see how your garden went this year....


Bye, Piet

wow looks great hope mine looks as good in nine more years

Sold my property and the new owners had different ideas for my garden.

now looking forward to my new garden endeavours with 25 acres to play with..

Looks absolutely awesome

Always had a weak spot for Japanese Garden's and yours has just hit it.