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

Stainless Steel Water Feature to brighten a corner

Posted on September 1st, 2010

TITAN 3 Column Stainless Steel Water Feature in Raised Planter Bed

A relatively simple, easy to instal and no mess way to brighten any corner is to instal a water feature in a raised bed. A raised bed does not require breaking of the existing ground surface or paving. In this instance pressure treated pine sleepers were used to construct the raised bed, scale was carefully considered to fill the available space as well as provide space for planting. The elegant 3 Column Stainless Steel Water Feature makes good use of the vertical space and provides an eyecatching display with the soothing sound effects of trickling water. 

A nice surprise to greet the schoolchildren when they return from their summer break.  

An attractive and soothing feature for any space

Shellboy – a re-newed life for an old Water Feature

Posted on July 31st, 2010

How nice and unusual it was to have the opportunity to bring new life to an old dis-used ornamental Water Feature, which was affectionately known by  it’s owner as  ‘Shellboy’. For simplicity, ease of access and given the space constraints, a purpose built Raised Planter Bed was constructed from pressure treated Pine Sleepers. The planting scheme comprised of evergreen planting with the emphasis very much on plants with low maintenance requirements. Looking good all year was important too but for some seasonal colour highlights compact Azalea ‘Geisha Pink’ and later in the year Liriope Muscari) also featured. Bamboo planting provided good height in the background as well as some  interesting rustling sound effects during gentle breezes. The foregroundplanting featured a mix of  Carex and Acorus ornamental grassess and several Hardy Ferns planted along the sides. The composition does appear full and very satisfying which combined with the soothing sound of trickling water created by Shellboy helps to create a distinctly relaxing courtyard atmosphere.

I hope to return some evening to take some photos of the LED spike spot lighting.  

Raised Beds with Natural Stone

Posted on July 15th, 2010

Raised Bed built with Grey Sandstone with Drystone finish

Sandstone Raised Bed with Limestone wall capping

Granite Garden Design and Landscaping

Posted on June 27th, 2010

Detail of Bullnosed Granite Wall Capping

Granite is such a wonderfully beautiful natural stone, so versatile, it can look good in classic as well as contemporary garden design settings. Always looking good and always easy to maintain, being bright  it can also make the available space look much bigger. Although available in a range of sizes, colours and finishes, bush hammered silver grey is perhaps the most popular choice. Here are some updates from another current project which features granite throughout the garden ie patios, pathways, wall capping for Raised Beds as well as Granite setts for delineating the perimeter lawn edge and triims to patios, patios and water feature. Here all construction work has been completed, soil levels are being adjusted for commencement of planting stage but before doing so we are allowing any residual weed to develop and areas sprayed to eradicate any lingering weed.

The layout might appear harsh to some but when all planting has been completed this will add a beautiful vivid green contrast to the current stark appearance of the granite to create a more refined balance of contemporary modern urban beauty.

Granite paving provides an effective bright & clean finish

Defined lines, consistent jointing and seamless transition to garden area

View towards rear garden and Granite capped Raised Planting Bed

View towards main Granite Patio and Rear Garden Shed

Seamless transition, no steps from House to Patio areas

Granite capped Raised Planting Beds along perimeter

Granite Pathway with granite sett edging

Granite setts at Raised Planting Bed also provides an easy mowing edge

Granite wall capping an excellent finish as well as a useful seating area

Bullnosed Granite Wall capping features an attractive rounded edge

Granite paved Patio areas demand high levels of finishing

How to plant a mature Olive Tree

Posted on June 26th, 2010

How to plant a mature Olive tree ? Sometimes the only way is up, up, over and in! Earlier today site works were temporarily disrupted as we focussed our attentions on the exciting task of planting a mature Olive tree in the purpose built Raised Bed.  This magnificent and beautiful specimen Olive Tree (originally from Italy of course!) which apart from weighing approx 2 ton was too big and too bulky to be taken through the side access areas. No our plan was to hoist the tree over the rooftop and into position. An 80 ton crane was hired to provide us with a much needed lifting hand! 

The whole procedure was fascinating and very exciting to watch, it required calm concentration by the Crane Operator who aided by an abled Banksman controlled the lift and manoeuvered this beautiful but bulky heavyweight into position with apparent ease. 

From initial set-up to planting the tree in-situ required less than 90 minutes to complete. When all the excitement of the lift was over, normal site works resumed.

However there is no doubt that the real excitement and wonder of having such a beautiful specimen Olive tree in this garden will hopefully linger gracefully with the proud owners and all visitors to this garden for many years. The added advantage of the informal seating provided by the Raised Bed wall capping is an ideal spot for that chat. That must surely be a real exciting prospect! 

Raised Planting Beds

Posted on June 25th, 2010

Raised Planting Beds or simply Raised Beds fulfill a very useful role in many gardens. Some popular reasons for using Raised Beds include, a purpose built planting environment with good soil (especially useful where existing soil/growing conditions are poor), elevating planting area for added impact, especially useful in gardens featuring low level low maintenance planting schemes, more accessible and less bending and therefore more practical for older gardeners. Of course Raised Beds offers scope for introducing additional planting levels on a site which owners might consider a ‘little flat’, they are also a very useful solution for offering some protection from potential accidental damage by running pets, playing children, football etc.

Raised Beds can be constructed in any shape, size and almost any layout. Popular choices include Pine Sleepers, rendered Concrete Blockwork, Brickwork and perhaps top of the class Natural Stone (Sandstone, Limestone, Granite, Quartz etc). Almost any plant, shrub, tree can be grown in Raised Planters. But increasingly Raised Beds are being used to grow Fruit/Vegetable produce. Indeed Raised Beds are a very useful solution for constructing Raised Water features.

Raised Beds can be position on any surface including soil, grass or hard surface and depending on preferred material and construction methods, can be relatively quick and easy to complete.

In summary, the key advantages to utilising Raised Beds:

- provides solution to grow in areas where currently scope is limited (no soil or poor soil conditions)

- provides an ready made control solution for preferred soil conditions (eg provide a lime free growing zone in lime conditions)  

- easy access with good soil little digging is required  

- ideal for gardeners who do not like bending

- offers protection from accidental damage by family pets or playing children

- add additional heights or focal points to the garden design

- ideal for growing a wide range of plants, shrubs, trees, fruit and vegetables. 

Small Garden Design Ideas – Raised Beds

Posted on June 2nd, 2010

RAISED BEDS featuring pressure treated PINE SLEEPERS

Raised Bed with sweeping curve layout

An important challenge in designing and building Small Gardens is to utilise the available space to provide practical and visual interest. Raised Beds which can be be constructed in a range of materials and in different sizes and formats are a very useful design idea or feature for the small garden. Not only do they provide easy access and easier maintenance of plants but can be a feature within the garden area. In this example we have used pressure treated Pine Sleepers to construct the Raised Bed and another interesting aspect of this example is the layout, ie a combination of gentle arc and linear layouts reflecting the sweeping curves of the lawn areas.

Another aspect is the inclusion of herbaceous planting at ground level in front of the Sleepers to provide a two tier arrangement to the planted are. The photos show the excellent Scabiosa columabria ‘Pink Mist’, which reaches 25-45cm (Raised Planter Bed is 45cm) and produces beautiful pink flowers from June – September each year. Some spacing between the Scabiosa was left for additional planting of Spring bulbs. 

Raised beds are an easily accessible and eyecatching idea for inclusion in small garden areas with sweeping curves offering additional interest in contrast to the more usual linear layouts.

Raised Bed with foreground planting at ground level

RAISED BEDS add a new level and focus to the garden

As good then if not better than now

Posted on March 29th, 2010

Our first garden project to be completed in 2010 featured some of the strong design elements which were also popular in 2009 and I have no doubt that in 2029 this garden will also look equally as good then if not even better than now! 

Key elements include a green backdrop (here we simply painted the existing fencing) to provide a warm but contrasting backdrop against which plant form and colour appears much more distinctive, Ravena Sandstone paving for the morning and afternoon Patio areas but also a sweeping pathway which links both Patios and access to Garden Shed. For added impact and friendly garden for the young family, we included two Raised beds constructed from Pressure treated Pine sleepers, and yes, not all Raised Beds must be or are linear. I particularly like the curved Raised bed which amongst other plants features the rather interesting but compact but heavy cropping apple fruit tree (“Coronet”).

The Raised beds will provide a simple but exciting way for the parents to engage with their young family and collectively enjoy ‘family gardening’. Yes it certainly is very exciting and rewarding to see the younger generation develop early interest in plants and outdoor spaces. An dyes I have no doubt this new garden will bring lots of fun, learning and shared experiences to all, and I have no doubt that long after we are gone, it will be as good then if not better than now. 

Growing your own – raise your levels

Posted on November 14th, 2009

What better way to start your own vegetable garden than raising the ground levels and highlighting with appealing finish such as Sandstone walling complete with perimeter planting of Box hedging and Holly standard specimens.

Vegetable gardens need not look like mere working areas, but with a little creative thinking and skillful construction can make a distinctive addition to any garden.

So if you are planning on growing your own fruit and vegetables, pay some attention to the structural form, and by raising the ground levels, you’re not only creating ideal growing environment with enhanced soil and drainage conditions, but also the prospects of another appealing focal point.

Landscaping with Ravena Sandstone paving

Posted on August 6th, 2009

A recent garden landscaping project completed in Blackrock, Dublin incorporated an interesting combination of features including Extended Patio areas, sweeping Sandstone Garden pathway, Sandstone Raised Bed which amongst other items included a Mill Wheel water feature, some very attractive Olive Standards, a new  fence constructed from pressure treated Timber cladding and discreet lighting using the latest high output low energy LED lighting.

The photos were taken during wet conditions which perhaps is useful to see how beautifully vivid and varied the colours of natural Sandstone can be. In this project the Sandstone paving (and wall capping) is Ravena, an increasingly popular alternative choice to the more widely used Sandstone Mint. Ravena appeals to those who prefer to have a more muted tones in dry conditions to the ubiquitous yellow tones typical of Sandstone Mint. Another feature of Ravena is the pink/wine colourways which are much more evident during wet conditions. On closer examination some hints of the yellow tones are also visible.

The Raised Planted Bed was constructed using White Sandstone and the wall capping is of course Ravena sandstone. The layout was designed to be essentially one level thus maximising the use of the various areas and also  providing some additional flexibility to the use of the recessed paved area. This approach also influenced the layout of the Raised bed which was essentially linear but incorporated a full circle to circumvent the Mill Wheel water feature which the clients were keen to incorporate in the new scheme. Looking at the photos the colour of the Mill Wheel is remarkably similar to the Ravena Sandstone.

I would also like to point out the results of the skill and workmanship in several aspects of the paved areas including the linear and curve cutting and installation. Grass margins were re-defined to conform with the new levels set by the paving hence the extended soil areas adjoining the old lawn and new paved sections.

Frequently we receive feedback on how useful and informative our SUNBLOG is to readers seeking design and layout ideas.  I also receive requests from readers to show more ‘Before’ as well as ‘After’ photos from our project portfolio. So here are a few ‘Before’ photos from this particular project.