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

A new family garden with design, interest and uses

Posted on December 24th, 2009

Once the site had been cleared, worked commenced on grading the site and to create a series of terraces with the highest at the back (upper lawn) and grading downwards towards front (a planted buffer zone separating lawn area from football area) which was also separate from the enclosed vegetable garden which was next up from the entrance level and garden shed.

Some other works completed included the construction of an enclosure for the puppy as well as some wall cladding/trellissing to conceal some unappealling unrendered blockwork wall finishes etc.

Entrance to Dog Enclosure

Planting at Dog enclosure featured Hardenbegia and Libertia.

View of entrance (southern) to enclosed Vegetable garden area

Enclosed Vegetable garden Entrance/exit (northern)

Stepping stone pathway linking Vegetable garden to Garden Shed

View towards Boundary of prepared ground of Vegetable garden

View towards House of well prepared ground of Vegetable garden

A rendered and secure garden shed

View of football play area

View of upper lawn area

Sandstone setts were used to delineate lawn profile

View of Ornamental Grasses/Herbaceous planting area

Feature planting included Tree Ferns and slow but low growing Bamboos

Old granite wall provides an excellent backdrop to planting scheme

The gentle sweep of lawn edge/planted areas provides added interesting

Sweeping lawn edges create variable planted space possibilities

The original Post & Panel fencing was painted green to make it less conspicuous

Practical and robust planting (Pittosporum Tom Thumb and Libertia) at rear of football area

Roll turf provides an ideal and instant finish look to a new lawn

Timber cladding with trellissing provides a coherent but attractive finish

Instant lawns with roll turf

Posted on November 14th, 2009

There’s no faster or perhaps better way to achieving a new lawn than using roll turf. As the photos show, less than 24 hours after installation, during what has been some of the wettest spells in Irish weather, the new lawn is looking remarkably good and in two weeks will be well established bearing little evidence of its recent installation.

Not only are roll turf lawns relatively quick and easy to instal, however very good ground preparation is important, they provide an instant but complete finish to the new garden. Not surprising therefore that when it comes to creating a new lawn, many people will prefer to use roll turf.

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.

Last days nearing the finish

Posted on November 11th, 2009

Another week, in fact week 12 since site works commenced back in August, and we expect what will be our final week to conclude all outstanding site/landscaping works. Fortunately for us much of what remains to be done is not hugely weather dependent or at least we can make provision for wet conditions. 

Sequencing of outstanding tasks for new lawn is important and ahead of preparing the ground and stone burying, we laid the limestone pebble dressing in the vegetable garden. This has turned out to be a quite simple, neat but nonetheless appealing area. The raised beds constructed from larch timbers complete with well prepared topsoil with plenty of added soil conditioner making for an attractive but hopefully productive growing medium.

After completion of the ground grading and stone burying works, and to protect the area from heavy rains which would make the ground unworkable, the area was covered with plastic so as to maintain reasonable dry conditions. The plastic covering is peeled back as the installation of the roll turf progresses. You’ll note from the photos the use of plywood sheeting which allows access and installation to proceed without causing any damage to the new turf and/or ground levels. Installation of roll turf usually starts at the rear of garden and progresses towards the front. 

In the front garden, the hardcore sub-base of the driveway area has been extensively rolled and compacted after which it was blinded with a very fine hardcore dust, which was also rolled and compacted. The area is now ready for the final top dressing, ie the ornamental stone finish. The dust blinding reduces any risk of the hardcore sub-base becoming loose and churning with the top dressing. The planting of the perimeter beds as well as top dressing with bark mulch has also been completed. 

A New Lawn with roll turf

Posted on January 25th, 2009

Fed up with the constant battling of trying to defeat weeds in a patchy lawn? Well, you’d be surprised how quickly a jaded weedy patch can be replaced by a glorious eye catching lush green lawn, that not only makes the garden beautiful but perhaps even bigger. For professional tips on how to achieve the perfect finish, read on.

When it comes to replacement, the three key decisions relate to timing, when can the work be undertaken? Which will give better results seeded or roll turf and finally cost, what is the most cost effective way of replacing an old lawn? First of all, a new lawn especially a roll turf lawn can be installed pretty much any time of the year except of course during very cold and/or wet spells. On the other hand, a seeded lawn is best done during April-October, when the ground conditions are drier and soil temperatures are a little warmer. The ground preparations for both methods is identical. The new lawn requires good ground preparation. A seeded solution will take longer to develop and if the ground preparation have not been carefully completed, weeds are likely to appear very soon and prove to be tough competitors with the new grass shoots compete for valuable soil moisture and nutrients. The time and effort involved from seeding to lawn becoming established can be several months before a firm, hard wearing attractive surface is achieved. Roll turf on the other hand can become very established within a matter of only a few weeks, and within a month should be well able to withstand all the rough and tumble of children playing football etc. But for many people the main reason for preferring roll turf to seed is very clear. Roll turf have the distinct advantage of having the ‘finished look’ when completed. The only aftercare during the initial weeks involves keeping the grass moist but this will also apply to a seeded area.

If you wish to replace/install a new lawn, here are a few useful tips:

• Remove existing lawn (Tip: prior to commencement of works, spray old grass with a systemic weedkiller) in a small area, a flat spade should be adequate, for larger areas, consider hiring a sod cutter machine

• Dig or rotovate the soil to at least the depth of a spade, 12”/300mm

• Remove all stones, builders debris etc

• Apply a good fertiliser (e.g. pre-turfing feed) to area by raking into the soil

• Rake the area to produce an even smooth level and a fine tilth finish to surface

• Water the area well and allow it to settle

• Prior to installing the new lawn, ensure the are is generally dry.

Installing the new Lawn

Ideally new roll turf should be installed as soon as possible after delivery, if for any reason, this is not possible, roll turf may be rolled out onto a flat surface and if kept moist, can be stored in this fashion for up to 48 hours. Under no circumstances are the individual sods to be left rolled up for an extended period as new grass will quickly deteriorate and turn yellow.

• Begin by the laying the sod along the longest straight line, and ensure that subsequent lines are staggered, i.e. row 1 starts with a full roll length, row 2 starts with a half roll length and roll 3 starts with a full row length

• Push edges together and ensure all joints are well butted, a sharp knife will be required to cut sods ( I find an Old Bread Knife ideal). Avoid any small cuts as these will tend to be poor at retaining moisture and will dry out very quickly. Instead adjust lengths of last two rolls so that the end piece is not narrower than 12”/300mm wide

• Avoid during installation walking on the new turf, use wide boards or plywood sheeting

• After installation is completed, water well and continue daily until approx 2 weeks by which time the new sods should have become well knitted and rooted in the ground

Aftercare for the new Lawn

To retain the vivid green lush look of a new lawn and good healthy grass growth:

• Continue feeding the lawn every six weeks during the growing season (April-October) and do not forget to apply a winter feed later in year (which is a specially formulated feed to ensure strong root development)

• It is very important during the initial few months that the new lawn does not dry out, so if necessary water regularly

• Do not allow the grass become too long and generally avoid cutting the new lawn shorter than 2”/50mm. Frequent cutting (except during wet spells) is ideal to maintaining a beautiful finish.