Garden design, garden planning, garden layout, planting plants and planting schemes

A DAY IN THE LIFE … of a landscaper (Day 1)

posted in advice category on 2009-01-06

I just thought it would be interesting to take readers through one of our current landscaping projects and to see at firsthand so to speak from commencement right through to completion of project. Hopefully some might get a better understanding of what works are involved, the stages might help others to plan similar projects, and hopefully there might be others who might be inspired.

There are many aspects of this project which would be representative of many our projects, large site, jaded and overgrown, lots of scope for inspiring ideas. Some of the design elements which were agreed during the design stage included: split level patio, ideally make the garden more accessible from the house. At present there are three large steps from both Patio doors leading to garden.

(…no transition steps)

To make the transition from house to garden, it was agreed to remove such need for steps by constructing the patio as to be almost same level as exit point at patio doors. Patios extend to over 8m with the areas biased towards the sunnier side and also access to planned Summerhouse. Changes in levels were to be discreet and no dramatic falls which could a potential hazard for playing children and partying adults.

Garden Shed should be screened and also a secret area be developed for a play frame. Clients also liked the idea of a structured layout with a sweeping path to profile lawn and planted spaces and linking all key areas i.e. Patio, Summerhouse, Children’s play area etc.

An important aspect to the site was the restricted access, i.e. there was no side access and given the scale of the constructional elements, e.g. paved areas > 80m², and height variance between patio and lawns approx 450mm, one can quickly realise the logistical challenges involved in order to remove considerable waste off site and more importantly the large amount of constructional materials required also. Site clearance was also going to be challenging, a large amount of ground clearance (Photo 89 ..tired, jaded and overgrown), old tree stumps and plenty of scrub and weed infested overgrown grass areas had to be tackled.

(…even more scrub)

To facilitate initial ground works as well as movement of raw materials a very large (55ton crane) was required on site to lift over the rooftop a 2 ton mechanical digger and 8 ton of builder’s gravel, sand and cement (required for foundations for retaining walls within patio areas).

Day 1

So as planned and ahead of the crane’s arrival on site, the mechanical digger as well as the sand and gravel etc for foundation work are ready for lifting. Meanwhile the team started clearing some of the green, strimmed grass, cut and remove ivy, shrubbery, and tree trunks. All waste was packed into 1 tonne builder sand bags and set aside for lifting. Confident that we could at least now see more of the garden and more importantly was to be removed, the team awaited reinforcements and the arrival of the digger to really tackle the site clearance and ground preparation.

(…preparing the Digger for Lift)

The lift sequence was planned as follows, first digger and then to be followed by hoist in bags (sand, gravel etc) and hoist out (green waste).

(…crane in position and final preparations for lifting digger)

(…Houston we have lift off)

(…high above the slates)

…to be continued.