What evergreen plants for garden bed on Gold Coast?

braid93

Hi community!

I want to remove all the green plant/weed (not really sure what it is) in the garden bed. My plan is to hedge trim the top and then round up on the roots to kill it off as it goes does about 30cm.

I'm hoping you may be able to offer a few suggestions. 

1. For how long is best to leave the soil after round up before adding more soil on top and planting new plants?

2. Suitable plants to plant here.

I am on the Goldcoast and it is very hot at the moment. 

The garden bed gets quite a lot of sun during the day. It is also about 1metre wide.

I would like evergreen plants and or/trees and relatively low maintenance, plants that can withstand the heat here and something that won't cost a fortune.

Thankyou! 🙂

EricL

Hello @braid93 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your garden.

That plant looks very much like creeping fig or a similar vigorous groundcover vine that’s been allowed to run wild. It’s tough, woody underneath, and very persistent, so your instinct to knock it down hard before replanting is spot on. Hedge trimming the top first is a good move because it lets you clearly see what you’re dealing with and makes the follow-up much easier.

In terms of using Roundup, the key thing to know is that glyphosate works by being absorbed through green leaf growth and then translocated down into the roots. If you cut everything right back and then spray immediately, it’s actually less effective. The best approach is to trim it down, wait until you see fresh green regrowth, then spray that new growth. That’s when the plant is actively pulling nutrients down into the roots, and the herbicide goes with it. After spraying, leave it undisturbed for about 7 to 10 days so the chemical can do its job properly. 

You don’t need to wait months before replanting. Once the plant is clearly dead and you’ve removed as much root material as you can, you can safely add fresh soil and plant after about two weeks. Glyphosate breaks down quickly in soil, especially in warm conditions like the Gold Coast, so there’s very little risk to new plants if you give it that short buffer.

For planting choices, given your location, heat, full sun, and a one-metre-wide bed, I’d lean towards tough, proven performers that don’t need constant watering or pruning. Evergreen shrubs rather than trees will suit the space better and won’t put pressure on that retaining wall over time. Plants like Murraya ‘Min-a-Min’ or ‘Mock Orange’ varieties handle heat well, stay green year-round, and are easy to shape if needed. 

Lomandra varieties are also excellent here; they’re extremely hardy, cope with sun and reflected heat, and are very low maintenance, especially once established. If you want something with a bit more visual interest, Gardenia radicans or dwarf Gardenias can work well, provided the soil drains well and you improve it with some organic matter. They stay compact, look lush, and suit a subtropical climate.

Because it’s so hot at the moment, timing and preparation will make a big difference. Improve the soil with compost before planting, water deeply when you first install the plants, and mulch generously to keep the roots cool and reduce moisture loss. Even the toughest plants struggle without that initial help in Gold Coast summers. If you choose tubestock or smaller pots rather than large advanced plants, you’ll save money and they’ll often establish just as well with proper care.

Please remember to wear personal protection such as gloves, goggles and a mask when spraying chemicals.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric