real landscaper derby – DESIGN & GARDEN

Allestree Rebuild

Published on March 3, 2021 by howmanymadeLeave a comment

This shows work for a Derby Property Developer… from design to completion…

Here’s the house after works are nearing completion in the inside… Ground Works Next.

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Working with Property Developers is something that I’ve done for many years. This requires a different skill set for what is required and the budget is always a different decision to a developer, concentrating on different needs that builds a stunning garden yet not adding too much unnecessary ‘cost’ is the aim.

So onto the main works, aiming on creating a front lawn, that a new buyer to the house could create additional parking or make a planted area to suit. Making a design that keeps options open for the new buyer, this can help in selling the house.

Most of the plants were moved and re-used…

So when the rear garden needed the refresh, then a lot more digging and designing was required.

The brief was of course to work to a budget but to create a garden that had the look and feel that suited the house.

The bit where everything becomes a mess!

Now for the design to take form… path down from the garage to the lower patio. Wooden Sleepers were chosen over brick for speed and cost. Although these were laid on concrete footings and supported with back supports and anchor points. Water & drainage were of course taken into account.

The outline of the path and patio area are created… tracking the land flat ready for top soil and turf

So the final push to the end is in sight…

So the main steps from the lower ground to the upper parking and garage had to be usable and have easy access. Together with a patio area that would catch the sun and give some privacy.

Patio and pathway complete ©designandgarden

So the final pictures show a transformation from an old dated and worn out unusable garden into a suitable & private garden with parking… ideally suited for the potential purchaser.

AND HERE’S THE FINAL PICTURES USED BY THE ESTATE AGENT. Wrapping a warmer look to the property with all the sides finished and a fairly low maintenance garden. The house sold in a matter of weeks.

FOR ALL ASPECTS OF LANDSCAPE WORK – GIVE ME A CALL

©Designandgarden2021

A June Job… Decking & Lawn

Published on February 18, 2021February 18, 2021 by howmanymadeLeave a comment

A fairly straight forward design, creating a usable clean Decking and Entertaining area for family use. Having enough space for tables and umbrella cover.

Create a quality finished Decking area usable from the side doors and easy access from the pathway. This was to lead into other works at a later date but let’s get the structure down to begin with, it really is the safest way of doing it.

***Quality Wood, Correct Screws***, **Structural Posts for supports, Cemented into the ground**.

So the original plan was to build up to the edge of the fence and have a step but was advised by us to refix the pathway to suit.

**The path to the garage which is used many times a day was lifted and levelled. Also a neat ‘kink’ was added to make it easier on the eye. ©designandgarden**

**The** effect of the decking ‘floating’ was deliberate ©designandgarden

The decking was lifted to the level of the ‘new’ lawn, however the lawn hadn’t been laid yet.

Lighting added on the running edge of the boards. These being multi-coloured for choice.

The finishing touch was decking with the extra of mitred corners and correct decking lights. These being multi-coloured which was the customers choice, giving a different feel of lights at different times.

Next step was 10 ton of soil and a new lawn. Not all the lawn needed replacing. The main problem was the main drain running through the garden. So a very tricky fix. A piece of ‘fake’ lawn was later added to the top section.

The first phase of ‘blending’ the lawns together ©designandgarden

The ‘elephant in the room’ of the drain, later having fake lawn as a cover ©designandgarden

Another area was the corner of the garden that was overrun with ivy and the neighbours poor fencing so a simple corner area for a barbecue and occasional seating was added.

***The addition of a corner barbecue & seating area ©designandgarden***

The Final look with the extra bits of trellis, stone finishes ©designandgarden

New Pathway…

Published on April 13, 2020September 13, 2020 by howmanymadeLeave a comment

I think this one speaks for itself… A useful side pathway, not being used due its untidiness and general mess. Most caused by the leaves from the roadside trees above.

**Unloved, rarely used.** ©design&garden

**Uneven slabs, greasy when wet, with unnecessary steps** ©design&garden

So a straightforward procedure of remove & replace. Making an area that is 20 years out of date into a clean and mangable area. Making use to the side again too.

**This step comes from the shed, obviously added for ease and laziness to stop the ‘cover’ of stones from falling over onto the slabs** ©design&garden

**Better?** **No, this really is the same path…** ©design&garden

**Original slabs cut and lifted to become flush with the new paving** ©design&garden

**Now the area is useable and it works.** ©design&garden

So is that better? Well I think that goes without saying… the original finish was the classic ‘builders finish’, nothing wrong with it but no design or concern about how you actually live with that finish. This now has simple access for the shed. The whole area was lifted and then blended in with the original slabbing and edging. It would of been easier to of changed all the edging and the slabs, also making some of the details that bit neater but there has to be a stop somewhere! Also the original fence line is about 10″ out of line so that had to be accounted for carefully with a way that draws your eye away from it. This being the angled blocks above, which when the second phase of blockwork gets done will be repeated on the next corner.