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

A great granite driveway

Posted on November 26th, 2009

Our great project in Greystones has finally come to conclusion and what a finish. Many weeks of hard effort and at times during very frustrating weather spells but all has been well worth the time, effort and cost. Unquestionably probably one of best efforts and in many ways one I am most proud of.  A challenging project from the outset, but wonderful clients inspired all involved from initial clearance to final wash down with remarkable motivation to go ‘the extra half yard’ and I think we did it so well. All aspects of this project from initial concept, to detailed execution of landscaping works including granite paving and granite setts, new lawns, specimen hedging and feature planting, entrance gates, access automation are all indicative of how well turned out an all inclusive ’start to finish’ project is.  

Although 2009 will be remembered by many as a tough challenging year, it was also a year which provided us at least with opportunities to excel and demonstrate again how important professionally designed and well executed landscaping projects are.  A keen eye for design, well executed construction with lots of good detail in evidence, and not least a desire and interest to do well, after all pride and passion for one’s work are the lifeblood of what makes great projects great. 

Perhaps the most satisfying aspect of our landscaping works is the regular but sincere acknowledgement by clients of our efforts and the unambiguous client satisfaction which we constantly generate.

Driveway Lawn design

Posted on November 14th, 2009

Frequently it is a difficult challenge to overcome, creating adequate or practical space for parking of cars and making a useful lawn in the remaining space.  Here we have used granite setts to raise the lawn level but used the simple but attractive geometry of  the circle to enhance the lawn area.

Granite Setts a Driveway with Style

Posted on October 30th, 2009

Well in spite of the ongoing wet weather, we continue to make progress and today the remaining Granite Setts were installed which marks I suppose a key point in the completion of our hard landscaping of the Front Garden/Driveway.  We can now concenmtrate on finalising levels to complete the compaction and rolling of the hardcore sub-base as well as preparing the soil areas for planting and lawn. I think the granite works are particularly eye catching and when all landscaping as well house painting works are completed, I am very confident that this project will represent for both client and ourselves a great success.   

Also looking good and taking shape is the planting of the rear garden:

Setting the Granite Driveway

Posted on October 24th, 2009

Well the weather conditions have unfortunately deteriorated so badly as to bring a halt to any prospect of progress with works on granite setts in Driveway and planting of rear garden. However before the recent heavy rain showers we did manage to make some progress with the granite works. I am very excited with the design as the new layout begins to emerge.

View from Garage towards entrance of Driveway

Granite step with bullnose thread

Detail of Granite Setts and Granite Bullnosed step

Newly laid Granite Setts required protection from rain showers

Granite Setts for planting and lawn areas

Granite setts to define profile of lawn area

Some planting of rear garden did take place including the start of shrub and ornamental grasses.

Pittosporum Tom Thumb will provide good ground cover

Carex Evergold provides interesting foreground form and colour

The bright yellow of Acorus Ogon and the rich hues of Palace Purple

Granite Garden Driveways

Posted on October 16th, 2009

Granite Setts profile a linear planting area

As works continue in rear garden, excavations of Front Garden/Driveway have been completed, and much of the parking area has been hardcored. Perimeter edgings in this design features a double line of G603 Silver Grey Granite Setts/Cobbles. Perimeter planting bed has been set at 1200mm wide for new specimen hedging. A time clock will control garden Lighting which will feature stainless steel bollards (with CFL lamps) and a limited number of the high output 3W GU10 LED Garden Spike spots. 

Granite Setts circumvent mature Beech tree

Granite Setts profile sweeping planting area

Granite Setts on long sweep

Granite Setts profile planting area at wall base

'Boxes' housing units in situ for electric gate motors

Detail at right Pillar and sweeping planting area

Ducting for power and comms cabling at entrance

Soft landscaping area to be rotovated for new lawn

Granite Setts await installation at Entrance area

Initial build up work for Granite step and platform at main entrance

Granite setts to define planted area on LHS, see

Granite Setts as Planting strip

Main parking area with hardcore in-situ

Starting a New Driveway – excavations

Posted on October 1st, 2009

Here are some photos of the early stages in the process of constructing a new Driveway. In this project we can see excavation works in progress involving the removal of earth material. The project design features an extended car parking area and the surface finish is decorative stone chippings (more later). In such cases we typically remove/exacavate earth to a minimum depth 300mm which later will be backfilled with hardcore (804 grade stone), then blinded with 20mm of hardcore dust and rolled and compacted to provide a robust and stable sub-base for the surface finish of decorative stone chippings /parking area.