The Original Gardens
I was contacted by a customer who wanted both the back and front gardens looking at. The front garden was just a tired gravelled square with weeds taking over. Whilst the back garden was home to some very overgrown laurels and an old climbing frame which was cemented into the ground but of no use to the new owners. There was also a small triangular deck which was looking tired. The remainder of the flooring was artificial turf.
The Design
The customers wanted a tidier looking space with some ‘kerb appeal’ in the front garden. For the back they wanted the laurels, the climbing frame, the decking and the artificial turf removing – so basically leaving a blank canvas! In their new garden they wanted a space to sit and entertain as well as some contemporary yet easy maintenance planting. Despite the laurels being overgrown they did used to provide some much needed screening from neighbouring properties so the design had to include a provision for this.
The new design for the front garden removed the old gravel and having some new gravel laid interspersed with randomly placed pavers. The design shows these interplanted with some hardy evergreen perennials and a climbing rose trellis to the front of the house.
Planning permission was granted in the back garden for some fence trellising to be added to the existing fencing to make it higher. A new curved wooden sleeper border was erected using the sleepers in an upright castle style of varying heights. This was used to plant some large bamboos which will in time provide the screening the couple wish to have along the back fence. A large circular seating area was erected in the corner which used to house the climbing frame. This incorporated a modern circle patio to continue to curved theme of the garden. A proportion of the garden was floored using contemporary grey paving with the remaining curved area having a decorative aggregate flooring and stepping stone pathway. Some trellising was erected onto the adjacent garage wall to allow for vertical planting .
The Clearance
Once the design was complete I passed this onto a local landscaper – Bridlington based Jon Richardson & his team (J. Richardson Building & Landscapes). They did a fantastic job of clearing the site in no time! Decking, artificial turf, climbing frame and laurel bushes all disappeared overnight. This then allowed for the area to be levelled and a suitable hardcore base for the paving to be laid.
The Front Garden
The front garden was completed with new pavers and gravel and looks much tidier. The customers decided against planting into the gravel just yet as they have a new puppy who is partial to a plant or two so any planting for the time being is in raised containers out of his reach! Currently this is an Acer and a climbing rose.
The Back Garden
Jon and his team got underway with building raised wooden sleeper bed which looks great! The curved design is really effective giving shape to what are usually very linear railway sleepers. The patio circle and complimentary paving give the garden a very contemporary look and the curved seating area provides a lovely immersive space to entertain surrounded by planting to the rear.
The Planting
So time came for planting up the bamboo planter and the large planting recess behind the seating area. The customers had also purchased two long planters to sit adjacent to the neighbouring garage to house perennials and climbers to ascend the trellising that had been erected. A Planting Plan was supplied with the design featuring some colourful, hardy and easy maintenance plants such as Lavandula, Armeria, Buxus and evergreen ferns amongst others. Large Fargesia nitida bamboos and Sambucus nigra were purchased to place in the upright sleeper bed to give some screening. Two climbing Star Jasmine plants (Trachelospermum jasminoides) were placed in the long planters which will eventually grow to cover the trellising on the adjacent garage wall.
All complete!
The garden is now complete and is looking fabulous in the spring sunshine. The planting will fill out throughout the season and the bamboos will mature to provide the screening for which they are designed. I think this will provide a great private entertaining space for the customers in the years to come.
