Tag: designandgarden.co.uk

This was a great job. Over the Summer of 2011 a new build contemporary house was built on the edge of Wimbledon common and we did the whole grounds.

The property was split into two houses, one for the owners to live in and the other to be rented out. Thus the gardens had to accommodate this, yet didn’t need to look separate. So a nod to some privacy was needed.

Firstly a mass of ‘boxing’ that was holding about 80 ton of soil had to be moved. This included concreted posts a mass of wooden edges. Also being careful of the lighting that had been fitted. All a bit frustrating really, as this was constructed to aid it being signed off by the building inspector. It had been down for less than a month and now we were asked to remove it.

Once the difficulties of dealing with a very different system of ‘London Deliveries & Collections’ for materials and waste, together with the usual access difficulties, it was full steam ahead with getting the levels sorted.

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• So a final plan for planting and pathways was designed and decided on.

Then the first section of planting was created. This giving a screen for the ‘rented party’ using the path to access their property meant they don’t look into the main house, yet it wasn’t a hedge that could create a security issue.

It was advised by us to create a neat yet low maintenance garden. A new addition of a baby to the family and a very busy working life, so the couple needed an easy to use garden and that was brought into the mix of design at any early stage.

Using Bay Trees for a facial level screen, created privacy but could still see if someone was walking in. The lavender was a customer choice and works perfect with the plan. Using Photinia Red Robin for the hedge was a newish thing in 2011 but was to create hedge that wasn’t so dense but also to add a splash of colour once a year. All the roof had to have subtle planting as part of the planning conditions, such as bamboo in boxes, sedum and grasses.

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So the finished look…

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This was an enjoyable job and have great memories of the works. Loved the fact that it overjoyed the family with the ease of the finish and the low maintenance that they’d never really thought was such a priority. The rented house was recently re- advertised and the garden is still looking good and loved

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So with a 'classic' design from the start the garden is still looking in good order. I believe too much 'design' can be added to real-world gardens and they look great to start with but become a burden and most times fall into a dilapidated state.
When the 'Garden Designer' is the 'Landscaper' a long term investment is usually a better guarantee.

©DesignandGarden2021