[stephenkhoo]

Carpet grass is very cheap. Die already then replant it again. If you have pets who are garden trained, it doesn't matter if its cow or carpet grass, both will wither out. But of course, carpet grass is prettier. Cow grass already looks like weeds with or without maintenance.

The trick is, save the water from washing rice, vegetables etc etc in a big pot and then use it to water your flowering plants, fruit trees, chilli, curry leaves, pandan leaves and they'll turn out beautiful. Avoid placing your plants under direct sunlight (orchids esp), or avoid placing your plants facing west..they die out very fast. if you have no choice, give it some shade like those green netting.

Some favorite plants.
Bamboo - good fengshui, easy to maintain, they grow very fast, pretty to look at when it sways. Leaves drop like crazy but if you have a maid, then get the maid to sweep
Frangipani - Pretty, can be planted in a pot so it doesn't break your walls. Cheap <$150 (big big plant) or $50 can get a medium plant. Install some flood lights to focus it so it looks pretty at night. (same for bamboo)
Grapes - possible to grow but sometimes taste very sour, looks pretty if you have a long fence to grow it out.
Israeli pears - possible to grow provided you have a greenhouse then must maintain temperature (if you got bungalow or alot of spare space....)
Bitter gourd - easy to grow but the birds will eat it faster than u.
Mango - will break your wall if you plant it in the soil. If you plant it in a pot, doesn't grow well. Throw in some rice water and it grows very fast
Custard apple - surprisingly the roots are manageable, not as big as mango tree but please look for good saplings. Abit hard to cultivate.
Chilli/pandan/curry leaves/malay lime leaves - normal day to day herbs used in your dishes. Can be planted in pots so very simple.
Pomegranate - fengshui plant, useful if you are sway, u can use it to shower...
Sunflower - super hard to grow, before it blossom...mati already
Water lilies - very easy but careful of mossies
Orchids - sorry to say...i hate the pots and you have to plant alot to be pretty, waste alot of space. Better to get like shelves if you want to grow orchids. And oh you need the nets to mask out direct sunlight.
bougainvillea - Personally i don't like...coz when the flowers drop, look like **** on the cement
malay/indian white flower plant - i don't know what it's call but easy to grow in a big pot. when it flowers, there's a nice scent.