[Pil-pc-oceania] Planting tips for developers please

[steve_burns at wvi.org]

Sure Kerry,

As Adrian astutely recommended, we thought each (tiny) backyard should have
a lemon tree.    Perhaps with a low timber border centred around the tree
(say a metre across) with some mulch, etc in there... kind of like a target
for the boys....  do you think we need instructions for the tenants??

We thought that there were at least four spots that would get decent sun
due to gaps between buildings, so would put a different apple tree in each
of those spots (one in each of four yards)

There are two visitor parking spots so we thought pergola with grapevine
over each.

Only one area of decent sun that is publicly accessible and big enough for
maybe two fruit trees, so we wondered about a quince and perhaps another

There are four thin strips beside access driveways so we thought cat and
dog repellent herbs near the street, then interplanted herbs - but
absolutely NO mints Adrian.  This is Ballarat... despite the drought any
herb here will take over the world...  :)  another thought was to plant
them out with comfrey... they'd look bare when the comfrey had died back,
but then when the comfrey boomed, my friend could go visit and harvest it
all!  - or the tenants could be shown the delights of comfrey liquid manure

One access driveway is a very seldom used right of way which had to be
preserved to get Council approval so we had the thought of not concreting
it but doing something else that would still allow it to be used for
access, but perhaps a little greener - crazy paved, or concreted in that
open grid pattern so it could be interplanted.  More importantly, so that
rainwater could penetrate into the soil.  that was one general suggestion -
to find ways to reduce concrete and increase run off getting into the
soil...

In the little backyards, we wondered about a corner planting of rhubarb,
and maybe a small berry area - again with a timber border about a foot high
to keep mulch in and encourage dogs and kids to stay out.  there's the risk
of suckering, but a lot berries are pretty easy to look after here... and
are delectable treats that are very expensive and so much nicer picked
fresh...

we tossed around different ideas for how to make use of the fence vertical
space but didn't come up with anything conclusive... it was pretty late
when we started this conversation, see...

there was more, but that will give you a flavour of our thinking...  :)

Steve



                                                                           
             Kerry Dawborn                                                 
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                                       Re: [Pil-pc-oceania] Planting tips  
             13 Aug 2007 07:37         for developers please               
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Hi Steve,

Steve wrote:
'What plants might be suitable to plant in a temperate climate rental
property - mostly shaded by large buildings... and likely never to be
tended, pruned or watered by tenants (sorry, not everyone is a Dan
Palmer...)'

The issue of permaculture on rental properties is of great interest to
me and I will give your question about suitable plants, some thought.
Meanwhile, you say you and your friends made a few suggestions - can I
ask what these were?

Kerry Dawborn