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

Bright LED Garden lighting

Posted on August 27th, 2009

I was amazed with the huge interest in our recent blog  http://www.owenchubblandscapers.com/news/entry/led-garden-lighting-a-bright-white-wonder/ on the super bright LED garden light. I received many enquiries from gardeners including some from overseas seeking more information on these fantastic LED lights but also about suitable GU10 type fittings to use with the LED  lights.

Light fitting with garden spike/peg attached.

So here is some more details on the actual light fitting. manufactured in Italy, it is double insulated, so does not need to be earthed and it comes pre-wired with approx 1 m of cable. Suitable for outdoor or indoor use, the body is very robust and made from plastic (hexamethyldiamine polyamide) which is heat resistant. There is no risk of burning on accidentally touching the plastic casing. It is also inflammable and shatter-proof. It does not rust or corrode, and is stable in adverse weather conditions and UV rays. The product comes with a garden peg or spike for securing in the ground for lighting around plants. The light can be directed very easily, simply adjust and tighten the wing nut to to the desired angle. Also included is a bracket for fixing to hard surfaces such as decking, walls, raised beds etc.  

A range of lamps can be used with this light fitting including GU10, GU10CFL and of course GU10LED. Take my word, when used with the super 3WGU10LED, it will be very hard to find a better,  longer lasting and very affordable garden light.

LED Garden Lighting- a bright white wonder.

Posted on July 22nd, 2009

Many gardeners I know have been patiently waiting for a real low energy alternative to providing good practical lighting performance in the garden. For some time, the CFL lamps have been leading the charge (mainly in Bollard style lighting) with LED a poor second and solar a very poor distant third.

Traditionally, some LED producers claims of high output values have always been influenced by marketing speak and the results frequently disappointing but not any more. A new LED wonder has now become available and we recently completed a landscaping project in which for the very first time all the garden lights installed were fitted with LED lamps. In this particular case, the fittings were all fitted with the latest 3 Watt GU 10 LED lamps. But these are no ordinary LED lamps. No, here we can genuinely talk about a high light output that is comparable to the  light output of a standard GU 10 50W lamp. The light provided is best described as ’warm  white’ which is much more popular and softer light than the typical LED ‘cool white’ light which for some people can appear to be a bit harsh or clinical looking. This new little LED wonder is certain not to disappoint?

Appropriately named Greenlamp, this latest and delightful piece of LED technology with it’s 3 Watt rating and performance is incredibly a low energy user. It can be installed in any regular mains GU 10 fitting so no need to worry about transformer, has a staggering working LED life of over 50,000 hours (which is more than x 50 longer than the life of the standard GU 10 lamp , no UV radiation and is without question the ideal long life and low energy lighting solution not just for garden areas but also throughout the house including kitchen, living and bathroom areas. In fact any where there is a GU 10 50W lamp you can reduce your electricity usage costs by over 90% by switching and replacing existing lamps with this wonderful new 3 W GU 10 LED. 

We are now using these powerful 3 W GU 10 LED lamps to not only illuminate Water Feature areas but also Specimen Shrubs and Trees and other planting. Even with 10 fittings in the garden, the owner in return for fantastic lighting levels, will only be using 30w of electricity. Incredible but excitingly true.

Our eco-future, demands that we be more conscious of our environment, and here is a wonderful example of fantastic innovation which is truely bright & white but with comes with eminent green credentials.

A little bright white wonder for sure which everybody will be seeing more with and for a great deal less.  Thats good news for me and you but also our shared environment.

Planting Garden Planters for instant pleasure

Posted on July 3rd, 2009

Using the innovative modular patented Deroma ‘Repeat’ Planters with carefully selected Specimen Plants provides not only a superb visual and fragrant treat but an instant and practical solution to achieving impact in the garden and patio areas featuring specimen and architectural plant stock.

The modular design of the Deroma ‘Repeat’ Planters makes them the obvious choice for an instant but imaginative and flexible choice for spatial definition, and featuring a clever internal automatic means of irrigating the plant rootball there is no more need need to worry and inconvenience of  regular watering of plants. Deroma ‘Repeat’ takes care of this, allowing you more time to relax and enjoy the views.

The featured installation demonstrates clearly the versatility of using the Deroma ‘Repeat’ planters in gardens and with some thoughful consideration of plant selections, superb compositions are within easy reach for instant pleasure.

 Deroma ‘Repeat’ range comprises of four unique planter types, the Rosenpot (Large individual planter) and the modular units, vase, corner and trough. All available from our showrooms: GARDENSTUDIO, in Terenure, Dublin 6W.

Planter gardening

Posted on June 25th, 2009

Here are a few photographic examples from a recent project in which the client required an instant but attractive garden featuring subtle tones. The task was to design  a planting scheme using a Planter layout which would provide some screening of patio areas but also good access and visibility to lawn and wider garden areas. 

Here we feature a range of specimen plants in an eye catching arrangement whilst exploiting the unique modular design features of the Deroma Repeat Planter range. 

The Deroma Repeat series is available from GARDENSTUDIO, Terenure, Dublin 6W. For more details: info@owenchubblandscapers.com

A sturdy Garden bench that’s built for comfort and durability

Posted on May 25th, 2009

Looking for a comfortable, hardwearing garden seat/bench but one that is very good value and requires little maintenance ? Well here’s a design  which is influenced by the style of the classic Park bench and because of it’s excellent ergonomic profiling is also very comfortable to sit on. Produced from pressure treated spruce it is tough enough to withstand  all that the traditional Irish weather can offer and go on doing so for 20+ years and more.

At 1800mm long (6′ 0″) there’s plenty of sitting space for at least 3 adults. Available in two formats (flat pack and ready assembled) with  prices starting at € 235.00 (incl VAT) offering great value for money. So no more need to worry about annual painting or staining, simply admire the timber hues as they gracefully turn a silver grey in time and leaving you more time to enjoy the garden from the comfort of a sturdy bench.

So whether you prefer to put the feet up or sit up, there’s hardly a more comfortable and affordable hardwearing alternative to this classic style Park bench. 

The product comes complete with an easy to follow assembly instruction and all timbers are pre-drilled which means that with the help of a cordless driver, the unit can be assembled in a little over 10 mins.

The product will be available for sale from our exhibition stand (Outdoor Retail Area, Stand Nrs # 35, # 36,  & # 37) at the BLOOM 2009 Garden Festival, 28 May - 1 June 2009 as well as from ‘Owen Chubb GardenStudio’  in Terenure, Dublin 6W. Delivery and Assembly services are also available (extra charges may apply).

Patented Garden Planters with stunning forms

Posted on April 26th, 2009

The stunning and patented 'Repeat' garden planter range from Deroma

The 'Repeat' collection looks good from every angle.

Low Maintenance Garden Design

Posted on April 21st, 2009

 As is so often the case with designing in small spaces, the big big challenge is drawing a balance between looking good but yet having sufficient space in which to enjoy it. Recently I had the pleasure and opportunity to return to a garden which we had designed and built almost two years ago. The clients I am delighted to say are still very happy, in fact they say they love the garden! As do their two beautiful young children! So it was very good that I had this opportunity because it also helped me to correct an earlier oversight when I had forgotten to take any photos of the project when it was completed.  

By way of background, the site is located in an old Dublin suburb near the sea, a period house would describe the external architecture, but the clients had been planning a major refurrbishment to completely re-model and modernise the interiors. I was invited at a very early stage even before the architect had completed his designs, to meet the clients (well technically at the time they would have been ‘prospective clients’)  and discuss posssibities and potential for designing the garden.

In essence they were seeking a garden which would be more contemporary than traditional, low maintenance and would be family friendly, plants were also to be child (very young) friendly but appealing to adults, and also be bold but space efficient. The new building design had effectively split the garden area into two sub sections. The main garden area was to be the lawn area where parents and children would play and the second area would be the location for the patio for  socialising with family and  friends. The architect had designed the boundary of the interior and exterior in a such a clever but effective way whereby the garden was fully visible from anywhere from the back of the house. The house was south facing so was getting plenty of daytime sunshine but had some intrusive details and required more privacy (as the before photos illustrate). Also what is not apparent from the ‘before’ photos is that a significant chunk of the original garden area would be lost to the new house layout putting more pressure on the layout of the garden design.  A further point worth noting was that the boundary walls were in very poor condition and it was agreed that with the exception of the old rubble/limestone wall on the east side which was to be tidied up but retained, the other boundary walls would be demolished, rebuilt and the sand & cement rendered finish would be painted in a light tone to reflect the proposed interior style and colour scheme and simultaneously provide a distinct contrast with the rubble wall. 

This design project made an early but strong case for utilising a stone which would discreetly reflect the characteristics of the new architectural style but expressed in a bright but confident style. Large floor to ceiling high glazed panels created a seamless transition from garden to house and plenty of potential to observe a ‘panoramic’ view of the garden areas.  The split between play and patio areas was also emphasised by the juxtapositioning of both areas. In order to create the illusion of more space all planting was selected for locating in Raised Planting Beds with the  key advantage that such planting would be more visible but also easier to maintain.  For impact , some very attractive Architectural specimens including chamerops, trachycarpus as well as some topiary examples of ligustrum were used. Low level planting featured Acorus Ogon, Euonymus emerald gold, Convolvulus cneorem and Hebe Heartbreaker.  Lighting was discreet but evident as was the ‘S’ shaped Stainless Steel Water feature. The stone selected for the paving (patio and pathway) areas etc was granite, with the additional bonus that it made an ideal material for use as capping stone for both the new Boundary walls as well as the Raised Planting Beds. A selection of photos show some key features, and note that this is the garden, two years later! 

View of Rear wall.

In my opinion the garden looks every bit as fresh today as it did two years ago and I will be confident that it will continue to look well. One of the clients made  avery interesting comment about how little effort was required to keep the garden in shape. She said “it take such little effort, I sometimes forget to do it”.  Now that’s what I’d call low maintenance. I’m particularly proud of this project because it illustrates simply but effectively, that it is possible to mix classic and modern styles in such a way and in a comparitively small sized modern sub-urban garden. The results speak for themselves, despite the rather simple layout, each area has some uniqueness but yet at the same time share a common style/identity. They also meet the functional requirements of the owners and various users. In design terms the overall impression is modern and emphasised by the colour and materials used. The owners lifestyle is probably typical of young modern Irish families,  which love the garden not so much perhaps for the planting, yes of course they are important but  rather the overall enjoyment and satisfaction comes from I suppose of the time spent in the garden with their  young children or entertaining with friends.  It is very often this sense of achievement, helping clients get more fun, get more use from the outdoor space, which makes us feel privileged but fortunate to be landscapers. Good garden design is not just about nice looking aesthetics but getting more fun and use from this critically important aspect of our living space.

Some Landscaping Befores and Afters…

Posted on April 18th, 2009

They say a picture can tell more than a thousand words. Well let’s try this out, here is a random selection of phoographs from of a selection of our completed garden projects portfolio. 

The photographs illustrate perhaps a particular aspect from the project, and although the selection was random but collectively might provide some useful visual reference on design, layout, patio and broader landscaping details.

The  photos  show how the individual garden looked ‘BEFORE’  we commenced landscaping works and the impact following completion of landscaping is shown in the ‘AFTER’ photographs.

The Beehive Composter – a form with function

Posted on April 17th, 2009

Beehive Composter in traditional white

Although the distinctive form is deliberately reminiscent and influenced by a traditional Beehive, the Beehive Composter unit is essentially a garden composter.  The attractive design causes great confusion at garden shows with many curious onlookers believing the product to be a beehive. This unique looking garden composter is much more appealing than the typical bland and often ugly plastic looking equivalents. Instead of people trying  to hide or disguise a plastic composter, the Beehive Composter unit on the otherhand has a very distinctive and although a fully functioning composter unit it is too good looking to be hidden. This Beehive Composter is a show-off and we expect that owners would display it in a much more prominent position within the garden.  Very popular especially amongst owners of townhouse gardens, is to use the unit as a Garden Tidy, ie to store garden handtools, bucket, watering cans etc.  

The Beehive Composter unit is the ‘top of the range’ choice and it will make your compost corner an attractive feature. No need to hide plastic tubs or rotting heaps at the bottom of the garden anymore. The Beehive Composter is designed to meet the requirements of the discerning user and is an excellent composter particularly for townhouse gardens where ‘form comes before function’. It can also be used as an attractive garden tidy/store for tools etc. Quality of workmanship and finishing sets our beehive composters apart. Choose from the very popular flatpack or one of our ready assembled models. Our Beehive Composters are supplied in natural ready for you to paint or stain in the colour of your choice.

We believe our Beehive Composter is the best quality available with a high level of workmanship and finishing. It’s constructed from mahogany WBP ply which will give a longer outdoor life.

The composter has a capacity of approx 230 litres, measures 560×560 x880, and comes with a hinged lid for ease of depositing all manner of household and garden waste. The completed compost is removed via a panel at the bottom.

The Beehive Composter will make an beautiful design statement in any garden. Prices (incl VAT): € 129.00 (Flatpacked); € 159.00 (Assembled).

For some very useful information about composting see an earlier SUNBLOG: http://www.owenchubblandscapers.com/news/entry/popular-questions-about-composting/

A Classic Garden Bench

Posted on April 16th, 2009

When it comes to choosing a bench for the garden,  are you like many other people and prefer the comfort and looks of the classic ’Park Bench’ design? Park benches are much more comfortable and attractive and are made for relaxing and enjoying the outdoors. Unlike the usual almost ‘orthopaedic’ looking benches with straight backs, right-angled corners which can cause discomfort to the lower back  and thigh muscles areas as well as behind the knees, the Classic Garden Bench is designed for informal but relaxing seating postures.  The gentle but distinctive sweeping profile curve of the Classic Garden Bench is very ergonomic design which fits snugly around the lower spinal area as well as providing plenty of upper body lumbar support and yet a more informal but relaxing sitting posture.  This becomes very apparent once you sit on the bench and right back into the lower curve of the Classic Garden Bench. Instinctively you will want to unwind, lift your feet off the ground and feel the aches and stresses gently fade away. The park style benches are also ideal for a group of people to sit together and reminisce. Some people might simply want to put the feet up and simply stretch out.  So when it comes to selecting a garden bench, go for one which is proven, comfortable to use and weatherproofed (so need to worry about taking it indoors or buying expensive covers).

Classic Garden Bench

Classic Garden  Benches are produced from pressure treated timbers (usually Spruce) and can be left outdoors in all weathers. The traditional weighty cast iron sides have been replaced by a sturdy timber sub-frame and the bench with open sides is much easier to change the position of the bench.

You’ll be delighted to know that this high quality well made Classic Garden Bench is available (from Owen Chubb Garden Landscapes Limited) in two formats ready assembled or flatpacked for self assembly with prices starting from  just over  € 235.00  (incl VAT).