How to plan new front yard landscaping?

[Annamarie]

Hi all, I’m in desperate need of help with designing my new front yard. I want to widen the current driveway so that it can expand from a single car entry to a 3 car parking area. As for anything else, I’ve no clue. I don’t want any lawn if I can help it and if possible, I’d like it to be little to no maintenance. Thought of maybe some fruit trees and hardy flowering plants and herbs in planter boxes but that’s as far as I got. Need to make it as ridiculously cheap as humanly possible. Oh…. the caravan isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

[EricL]

Hello @Annamarie 

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

It's great that you've decided to add extra parking spots for your home. Due to the size of the cement slab you are planning to put in, I propose engaging the services of a professional concreter. They will be able to calculate how thick the cement slab should be for your vehicles. They will be able to prepare the area for the cement pour which includes the installation of a vapor barrier, re-bar reinforcements and the installation of proper drainage. They will also watch over your slab to make sure that it dries properly and does not crack or break during the curing process.

Before you begin, I propose meeting up with your concreter to discuss how the parking space should be extended? Where will the drainage be located and will you need a permit from your local council regarding the addition of parking spaces inside your home? These questions must be addressed first before you begin digging up your lawn for extra space.

However, here are some ideas you could include in your plan. Cover up with concrete any gaps in your driveway. This will eliminate any spots that weeds can possibly grow. Make sure your cement slab has a slope, this is very important as the water that falls on that new cement must drain away from the house and not towards it. Leave a 500mm gap between your new cement parking spot and the house wall. Fill the gap with gravel to aid with drainage. Install a proper drain such as the Everhard 3m EasyDRAIN Polymer Grate And Prejoined Channel. 

I propose turning the caravan so that the trailer hitch faces the house. This will make it easier to park the cars in and out, plus, provide more space for manoeuvres. I propose removing the garden, this will again provide more space for the cars. If you want plants in front of the house, I propose going for potted plants so that they will be easy to move and adjust.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1, @Nailbag and @pete_brig for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.  

Eric

[Dave-1]

Good Evening @Annamarie 

Well I really cant add too much to @EricL 's suggestions, they are comprehensive and really are the ones that I would be taking to install the extra parking spots. The spots are the priority so everything else will fit around them. 

Most important things to consider are -

- Drainage from the house to the street as in stormwater/water from gutters and access to repair if needed.

- Drainage to flow away from the house surface water.

- Council rulings for parking in your area and the amount of concrete you are allowed. (Yeah its an odd one but may have ssomething to do with drainage)

As to plants, I am thinking of raised garden beds wholly on solid wheels, something that you can move around to create "rooms" on the concrete. Say you have a car you are working on and wont be moving it any time soon, you could form a "wall" with a narrow raised garden bed on wheels (metal castors) and then shift it when the car is ready. That way you can grow shrubs, fruit trees and still shift them about as needed.

Dave