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

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

Design for Gardens at GARDENSTUDIO

Posted on June 8th, 2009

An update on the terrific graphic design work which is being done by  BAMMEDIA on our behalf. A big thanks to Bridget who is doing super work on defining our design identity and ethos for our GARDENSTUDIO and I’m sure you will agree, the graphics for Point of Sale Display panels featuring a selection of our Garden products many with Unique Styles is simply inspiring.

We had a fantastic response to our products at BLOOM 2009 and I look forward to welcoming many visitors to our new GARDENSTUDIO showrooms in Terenure. 

GARDENSTUDIO

Posted on June 2nd, 2009

Our new showrooms located at Unit 1, Fortfield Lane, Fortfield Road, Terenure, Dublin 6W (entrance to Fortfield Lane is next to the Topaz Service Station on Fortfield Road) is open to the Public. Unfortunately because of heavy commitments of our landscaping project workload, we can only facilitate visits to our Showrooms by prior appointment. We can also offer flexible visit times, eg, outside normal office hours as well as Saturdays. 

Our GARDENSTUDIO features an exciting range of unique and exciting well designed garden products including Water Features, Victorian Summerhouses, leisure Garden Furniture, Deroma Planters, handcast Bronze Garden Sculpture etc, several of which were exhibited with great success at BLOOM 2009.

 To make an appointment to visit our GARDENSTUDIO, simply call us on 087-2306 128 or send us an email to info@owenchubblandscapers.com

 We very much look forward to your visit.

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.

Room for more activity?

Posted on March 26th, 2009

Major career choices and decisions are driving the growth in demand for Garden Offices. When one considers the average daily commuting time for many people is now in excess of two hours and double that and more for some, it is hardly surprising that people are increasingly looking at the option of working from home. Many new business start ups also start out as home offices in the garden of the family home. The advantages are clear but careful consideration of your office needs and home garden can provide a win-win solution.

A Home Office and a Garden Room from Victorian Garden Architecture can make all the difference to ensuring you achieve maximum return for your investment. A Victorian Summerhouse can satisfy all the requirements for a Home Office together with all the benefits of a stunning Garden Room which has broad appeal for all the family. Unlike many contemporary Home Office designs, the classic design features of a Victorian Summerhouse are essentially an integral aspect of garden environments. Despite the origins as an elegant Garden Room or Studio, the Victorian Summerhouse is a synthesis of classic design and contemporary manufacturing methodologies. Unlike its predecessors, the modern Victorian Summerhouse is a result of some innovative design and smart modular manufacturing. Bespoke on-site construction methods have been replaced by an engineered factory built model. The customer benefits from superior specification and finish and installation which is completed in two days or less, which means minimum disruption and a more cost effective way of providing the additional space.

The Victorian Summerhouse - a synthesis of elegance and craftmaship

A Victorian Summerhouse is not only a practical solution for a Home Office but when you outgrow the need for a Home Office, you can be assured that you will continue to enjoy the many benefits of a Victorian Summerhouse as a classic Garden Room. The Victorian Summerhouse provides the extra space you need to work, rest and play.

Introducing TITAN Stainless Steel Water Features

Posted on March 8th, 2009

A brief word about our recently launched range of TITAN Stainless Steel Water Features. ’TITAN’ – the power to impress, represents a superior range which we hope will be very popular within the  Residential & Commercial markets.

TITAN Stainless Steel Water Features represent the most technically advanced and superior finish water features available in the market. Not only are TITAN water features stunning looking, they have been designed and built to be a robust premium product.  

TITAN Stainless Steel water Features with stainless steel water reservoirs will set new standards as the most popular specification for free-standing and retro-fit installations. Ideal for homes, offices, restaurants as well as a host of other commercial and amenity environments. If you want to make a trouble free BIG impression with a free standing water feature, and enjoy all the the soothing and calming effects of a powerful water feature, you need a TITAN Water Feature – the power to impress.

Perfect Patented Planters

Posted on March 1st, 2009

We’ve just received a sample order from Deroma (Italy) of their new ‘Repeat’ range of Planters which comprises a series of stunning looking but most advanced Planter design available on the market. We are absolutely overwhelmed how they managed to create something so beautiful, so simple but with so much intelligence and functionality. Congratulations and well done to the product design team at Deroma.

But what makes these planters so good, well for starters, they are light weight, in-built water reservoir, UV resistant, robust, becaus eof double wall construction there is no risk of any bulging by plants of outer wall. They can be used indoors as planters or outdoors as pots. The range comprises a series of four unique designs: Repeat Trough, Repeat Rosen Vase, Repeat Corner (front & back versions) and Repeat Rosenpot. They can be used individually or in an endless series of modular combinations making them ideal for for a high-end target customer for homes (Patios, Decking, Conservatories) or public spaces such as Hotels, Restaurants and Offices.

The ‘Repeat’ range is made of rotomoulded plastic they are resistant to frost and UV. Deroma means excellence in design, form and function and the authentic original products and the Deroma ‘Repeat’ range is available exclusively in Ireland from Owen Chubb Garden Landscapes Limited. 

For more information, visit:

http://www.owenchubblandscapers.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4

The art of the Stainless Steel Water Feature Form.

Posted on February 14th, 2009

Stainless Steel 3 Column Water Feature

The appeal of Stainless Steel Water Features has become very popular, with a vast range of sizes, shapes and styles now available. The popularity of Stainless Steel water features owes much to the versatility of the material which is ideal for reflecting water movement along its frictionless surface, and the fact they can look equally well in both classic or contemporary gardens. Stainless steel as a material is very durable and easy to maintain and with its highly reflective surface especially if polished can have stunning effects in a lush green garden settings. The forms can range from basic geometric shapes, for example spheres, to walls, tall and narrow, or small and broad, to newer more abstract forms now becoming available. The more popular forms tend to epitomise the perceived qualities of stainless steel and these forms tend to be taller and perhaps more elegant. These characteristics although fine for water features but when not in use miraculously appear to take on an art form in a garden setting. Stainless Steel Columns are a good example, and when clustered as a ‘three piece’ with varying heights are quite distinctive especially when underlit at night. Whereas some might prefer the more abstract forms many continue to prefer the simpler less obtrusive forms, and whether your preference is for an elegant or bold form within the garden area, most will agree that the stainless steel water feature as an art form is quite distinctive and eye-catching.

TITAN 4 Stainless Steel Water Feature

Planting Driveways

Posted on August 10th, 2008

When planning Driveways (Front Gardens), it does seem inevitable that in most cases that the parking of cars will take precedence over the ‘garden area’ and that the space allocated to parking of cars is much more important than the areas for lawn or plants! This inevitability is probably not too surprising, especially where the amount of space available is not too generous, but in cases where there is lots of space for both, the same trends are also tending to be driven by owners preference for ‘low maintenance’ solutions. But whether there is no space or no time, there is no excuse for drab, dull, even lifeless Driveways. For many owners, it is certainly a challenge to find a pleasing solution, ie ample space for parking and sufficent planting to be attractive. There are a number of idaes which can be utilise to improve overall gardening appeal, lawn, large or small, green is pleasing and eye catching, raised beds can also give added impetus to smaller planted areas, and in severe cases where there is no planting possibilities, nice planters or containers can be very effective to create a softer look.

Some owners clearly love their gardens and take great pride and devote attention to create and maintain a beautiful front garden. Driveways and Front gardens are important aspects of the property, but also critical for ‘Kerb appeal’ when it comes to selling the property. Front Gardens provide a great opportunity to frame the house with practical parking and complimentary planting.

For some the preferred choice is the minimalist approach, in other words, wall to wall hard surfaces or similar paving, cobble lock, patterned concrete and increasingly simple gravelled surfaces. Tarmac is thankfully no longer as common in urban areas, but in fairness when it’s done right and within an overall well developed plan/design, not the worse of finishes. But sadly I suppose the demise of tarmac has more to do with well publicised examples of unscrupulous traders and poor workmanship.

In many cases the typical Driveway/Front Garden is limited in size, car parking dominates space and planting is a poor second. Driveway finishes will vary and many options from which to choose. Many will select one of four popular options (Natural Paving, cobbleock, gravel, and concrete). Budget permitting, the preferred choice for many owners would be natural stone paving (Granite, Limestone, Sandstone). The intrinsic qualitie sand strength of natural stone paving is very popular, this might be the refined but hardwearing elegance of granite, or the rustic charming colour tones complete with fossil elements of sandstone or the rippling textured surfaces of limestone. A more cost effective solution is a combination of natural stone paving and stone chippings/pebble. Where there is considerable traffic, I would personally prefer Granite as a more sophisticated and durable stone and one which surprisingly requires little maintenance to retain its original beauty.

Designing Driveways or Front Gardens offers enormous scope for selecting plants. Even with much of the available space being allocated to the car(s), one can still choose plants to suit any layout including hedges which traditionally used for boundaries and privacy (some favourites here include Taxus- CommonYew, Prunus Lusitanica – Portuguese Laurel, and Photinia – Red Robin). Trees, shrubs and Hedges are not only good for defining the boundaries, or creating privacy but can also be use dot great effect to create compartments/spaces especially within the larger gardens.

Some Driveway Design Tips

If you’re constructing from the start, try and find space no matter how small for some planting, whether this be some architectural/specimen plant and/or a modest shrubbery and/or herbaceous border. One can also use different size containers to add colour and interest. Me, I would always prefer to compromise some colour and select evergreen shrubs over herbaceous/deciduous planting. Looking good all year especially during our long dormant season is more important than some less herbaceous perennials in the borders during the summer months. Also herbaceous plants in a lot instances require regular work to maintain an optimum performance. Ideally if space allows, a lush green lawn is a perfect partner for the Driveway and specimen and perimeter planting for visual impact.

Plan the Driveway layout so that the cars do not obstruct the pedestrian access footpaths and green spaces are positioned to optimum effect. How often do you see the paths dissect the Driveway, no need really, in fact a winding path can be more effective and introduce the visitor to the garden in a more visually stimulating way. Planning layouts which keeps pathways clears of cars is especially important in gravel driveways.

It is very important to give careful consideration to selecting the right Driveway gravel. Remember pebbles with their characteristic rounded appearance may look more attractive but are more suitable to ornamental areas, i.e., where there is little or no pedestrian or car traffic. Being rounded they never lock and are therefore impossible to compact, just think how difficult it can be to walk on a pebbled beach. Pulling Wheelie Bins or pushing Baby Strollers over pebbles is equally very difficult, whilst cars tend to create ridges which become very unsightly. If you prefer a gravelled area, select a chipped stone and there are many sizes, shapes and colours from which to choose.

Selecting plants for the Driveway is just as challenging for the Rear garden, I mean the choice is almost endless, and with newer more compact varieties becoming available every year, there is really no excuse for not having an interesting looking Driveway. Aim to achieve balance between the openness of the area and the planted spaces; a lush vivid planting scheme is surely a warm welcome to any Driveway. Apart from ground conditions, site aspects, planting selection can be a very personal matter, but as stated, better to err on the side of caution, looking good all year, low maintenance but even so, you can still achieve visual interest. Some of our personal favourites would include the following:

• • Specimen Trees: Olive Tree, Sorbus Acuparia Autumn Spire, Laurus Nobilis (Bay), Ilex (Holly), Chamerops and Amelanchier Ballerina.
• • Shrubs for screening/Boundaries: Cotoneaster Cornubia, Photinia, Prunus Lusitanica, Taxus, Mahonia Charity, Camellia and Pittosporum Tom Thumb.
• • Low Level Shrubs: Buxus, Lavender Hidcote, Andromeda Blue Ice, Hebe Frozen Flame, Pachysandra Terminalis, Pieris jap Katsura, and Halmium Libanotis.

For a more traditional but nonetheless distinctive look, a Rose garden featuring Rose Standard forms and Flower Carpet Ground cover creates an excellent coherent look with the added bonus of scent. Some maintenance is required, not a lot, but most will die back for the winter months.

So no matter what the size of your site is, small, medium or large, there is no excuse for not having a stimulating Front garden and a practical Driveway. Careful planning and some thoughtful consideration, it should be possible to specimen tree (s), shrubs and some herbaceous perennials or ground cover in your garden to produce a surprisingly varied but interesting composition with a rich variety of colour, form and texture.
And the great thing is that if you make a ‘mistake’ or wish to change the order of things, well it’s quite easy to do. So go ahead and experiment and bring the garden back into Driveways!