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

Designs for Small Gardens

Posted on May 27th, 2010

Morning Patio

Afternoon/Evening Patio

The design of small gardens is particularly challenging to deterimine the optimum space allocation for the Patio and Planting areas as well as the practical demands for Utilities like waste bins, clothes lines etc. Despite the lack of space it is still possible to achieve a layout which is not only pleasing and practical but also on a modest budget. 

Simple sweeping Stepping Stone Pathway

A recent project example illustrates some of these points, in which we provided the happy owner with two Sandstone Patios (Morning and Evening Sun), a series of sweeping curves to delineate the planted areas (Raised Sandstone Kerbing) and an informal but eye catching Stepping stone path which links the two Patios across a modest area of bright and cheerful stone chippings.

Sandstone Kerbing for clear but effective retention of planted areas

Despite the compactness of the area, I believe a little imagination is all that is required to design and build affordable Small Gardens which are visually interesting, easy to maintain and where the space has been handled in a very practical and appealing way. Who says everything must be straightlined or linear. Even in small spaces, sweeping gentle curves also play a vital role within the overall design.

Designs for low maintenance Townhouse Garden Patio

Posted on May 16th, 2010

Here’s a practical and attractive solution for a  good size Town House garden in which the owner expressed interest for a bright, practical but low maintenance garden design. The solution featured a combination of Indian Sandstone Paving (Mint) along with Sandstone Kerbing for the Raised edges and Ballylusk Stone chippings.  To emphasise a more informal structure a curvolinear layout was selected for the patio areas as well as Stepping Stone style pathways. 

A simple layout with designs to appeal, which is well executed and a very affordable solution for a low maintenance Townhouse Garden Patio.

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. 

Sandstone Garden Patios

Posted on November 14th, 2009

Our efforts over the last twelve weeks are now coming to fruition, and as we begin to complete our final touches, all aspects are begining to come to light and reveal with great excitement the pleasing lines, levels and of course the natural beauty and colour of natural sandstone patios.  In this project we have used Ravena sandstone for all patio works.

Patio Garden

Posted on October 3rd, 2009

More photos from work in progress on Sandstone Patio works, Retaining Wall with integrated steps and excavated channel for Sandstone lawn edgings.

Garden Patios, design details in construction

Posted on October 1st, 2009

As with many aspects of life, the beauty and appeal of well designed garden Patios is not only to be found in the design detail but also within the constructional details. Natural stone paving such as Indian Sandstone can produce fantastic results. Time, care and attention are all pre-requisite, experienced and skilful cutting and installtion are essential but the results ALWAYS provide the desired results. 

The attached photos from our current project clearly illustrate many of these key points, Sandstone Paving (Ravena) in a range of sizes, several individual hand cut pieces to complete the random joint pattern, Sandstone Kerbs used as Step Risers and Sandstone Setts for Patio perimeter trims.  

Sandstone Steps

Laying Sandstone Slab on Sand & Cement Bed

Sandstone Paving featuring Random Joint Pattern

Sandstone Paving with Step Detail and Sett Trim

Sandstone Patio with consistent line profile

Sandstone Patio over split levels

Hard Garden Landscaping

Posted on September 30th, 2009

Some more photos to show progress on our Hard Landscaping works, ie, constructing Raised Sandstone Walls, Sandstone (Ravena) Garden Patios and link Sandstone Pathways. Some photos also show preliminary ground preparation including Hardcore Foundations (Sub-base)  for paved areas and also one (Vegetable garden area) of the several new  water taps installed throughout the garden.

Later this week we will commence marking out the garden for installation of lawn edging (Sandstone Sett) which will permanently define the lawn profile and separate it clearly from perimeter planted areas. As the hard landscaping works progresses, work will shortly commence on the installation of garden lighting ahead of the soft landscaping elements which include tree and shrub planting, ground grading and preparation for installation of roll turf lawn.

Building a new Garden

Posted on September 25th, 2009

The current fine weather is an ideal time to achieve good progress with site works, and this is evident with a number of project aspects, ie, fencing including painting is now completed and the ground is being slowly cleared of any residual debris from earlier excavations and trenching.  

Meanwhile the Retaining Sandstone wall for the Raised Vegetable garden area is progressing well and begining to take shape, whilst the main patio area which will be extend over a number of levels and featuring Indian Sandstone (Ravena) is begining to evolve and to take shape.

GARDEN PATIOS – PATIO GARDENS

Posted on August 18th, 2009

Sandstone (Ravena)

Granite (Grey)

Sandstone (Mint)

Limestone

Granite (Yellow)

When it comes to deciding which and what type of patio, many people focus on colour. Yes a very important factor but so too is choice of stone, area size and levels. Bright warm colours are very popular, but others prefer rich hot colours whilst the neutral contemporary colours are becoming increasingly more popular. If colour is the most important feature of the Patio area this will largely determine which stone you may select.

Sandstone (Mint)

Granite (Grey)

Sandstone (Mint)

Sandstone (Ravena)

Nothing compares to the natural beauty of sandstone paving for patio areas. Slight variance in tones, even the presence of fossils are vividly revealed after a shower of rain and during sunny spells the results are a light and inviting space to be. Natural stone paving provides an enduring sense of style, is extremely hardwearing and very easy to maintain in optimum condition.

Here are some examples of the more popular choices. For more examples see: www.owenchubblandscapers.com/patios 

Granite (Grey)

Sandstone (Mint)

Sandstone (Mint)

Sandstone (Mint)

Granite (Grey)

Sandstone (Mint)

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.