This plant-filled, lushly layered landscape has gone from biological graveyard to life-giving botanical paradise
Victorian Landscape Industry Awards Winner
Having suffered the crushing loss of 90 per cent of their previous garden due to pesky plant pathogens, the homeowners’ brief to Peter Hum, director of Peter Christopher Gardens, was to restore life and vibrancy to the property, creating luxuriant and inviting outdoor spaces with a well-established feel.
The resurrection of this Hawthorn garden has been nothing short of miraculous, but it would not have been possible without the initial, extensive soil remediation work.
“The first task was dealing with the severe infestation of Phytophthora and Pythium, which had killed off most of the original garden. This was achieved through rigorous soil testing and a massive remediation effort that involved removing the contaminated soil, performing a professional chemical drench, and revitalising the subsoil with calcium and organic nutrients to ensure that the new garden would not just survive, but thrive,” explains Peter.
“With the groundwork complete, the homeowners gave me the creative freedom to completely redesign the softscape. Collaborating closely, we developed a new vision for both the front and back gardens, carefully selecting plants for their colours, textures, and growth habits. The goal was to create spaces that not only provided privacy and a sense of warmth, but also seamlessly integrated with the existing hardscape.
“The softscape balances the structure of a formal garden with a soft, layered planting approach,” continues Peter. ”It focuses heavily on contrast, pairing bold foliage with delicate textures to create year-round interest through seasonal change.
“For screening, dense tall shrubs were used along the boundaries while feature trees were strategically placed to provide vertical scale and seasonal colour. The underplanting is a mix of groundcovers and mid-level perennials chosen for their varied leaf shapes and textures, ensuring the garden remains visually ‘full’ and vibrant.”
To foster exploration, the team added a two-step porphyry crazy paving staircase leading into one of the main garden beds. This was extended with porphyry paving steppers that draw you into and across three different garden beds. Peter also designed and built a curved vertical garden, giving privacy to the detached studio.
In the 2025 Victorian Landscape Industry Awards, Peter received two well-deserved honours for this project: Gold for Emerging Talent — Nic van Dieman Award and Silver for Residential Landscape Maintenance.
For more information
Peter Christopher Gardens
Mobile 0432 488 090
Email peterchristophergardens@gmail.com