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

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.

BLOOM 2009 – a blooming success

Posted on June 1st, 2009

This years’ event the third in succession is certain to exceed all expectations. The weather has been magnificent and the paying public have come in droves. On Sunday alone the attendance figures were in excess of 18,000 and by the end of the show on Monday in excess of 60,00 visitors will have attended. 

As one of many particpating exhibitors, BLOOM 2009 has proved to have been an enormously successful event, and visitor interest in garden products contrasting starkly to some pre-event concerns that the current economic conditions and recessionary fears would have a significant dampening effect. Not so, the level of interest and purchases made by visitors at BLOOM 2009 was simply overwhelming and dispelled any evidence of recession.

We featured a cross selection of products from our GARDENSTUDIO and all proving very popular. Not surprising, there was great interest in our Victorian Summerhouses, TITAN stainless steel water features and of course our range of ORB Swing seats.

From the moment doors opened at 10.00am right throughout the day to closing time at 6.00pm, there was a consistent heavy traffic of visitors to our stand effectively resulting in opportunities for any break to be few and far. This has been very much the case since the show started last Thursday! Monday is the final day it will no doubt be as busy as previous days and one could be confident that it might in fact be the busiest of all days.

Although the fine almost Mediterranean type weather has been a contributory factor in the success of this years’ event, there is no doubt that the organisers and exhibitors have also made great efforts to make this year’s show better than ever. Ultimately great thanks and acknowledgement must be made to the paying public who once again  demonstrated clearly in their tens of thousands that under the right circumstances taht there is considerable demand and interest in gardening and that over the last few days at least there was little evidence of any recessionary gloom.

Here are some photos of our product exhibits taken just before show opened on Sunday. I would also like to congratulate Eddie O’Brien, the Entrepeneur and inventor of  The Hangout Gazebo Clothesline (as featured on RTE’s Dragons Den) who co-exhibited on our stand with great success. The Hangout is an outstanding example of Irish enterprise and innovation and was hugely popular with visitors to BLOOM 2009.  Not surprising when you consider some of the Hangout’s product attributes including energy and cost savings, environmental friendly, multifunctional all weather clothesline which is also a useful garden centrepiece and ideal for a variety of garden entertainment activities. Congratulations and well done again Eddie who is seen demonstrating hanging clothes using the Hangout.

Water Features for gardens

Posted on May 1st, 2009

The soothing sound of cascading water can create a relaxing and welcome feature in any garden. Although there is a wide range of styles from which to choose, for reasons of safety (young children), space availability and low maintenance preferences, people will invariably choose a Reservoir type water feature which is compact (typically 1.0m – 1.8m Diameter) and requires no plumbing. Reservoir water features are the essence of simplicity: water is pumped from the sunken reservoir up through the feature stone (or Stainless steel feature etc) and trickles over the feature to drain back to the tank or reservoir below. This process is simply repeated and apart from an occasional top up of the water during extended dry spells (some water loss can be expected due to evaporation but also the family pets can be partial to an occasional drink!!) reservoir water features require little attention. Here are examples of some popular styles:

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.

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.

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

Some useful criteria for selecting a Stainless Steel Water Feature

Posted on February 7th, 2009

When it comes to selecting a stainless steel water feature, there is a very large range of styles and sizes from which to choose. Before making your final decision, there are some important aspects to be considered during the selection process.

These include quality of stainless steel material, not all stainless steel is the same. Ideally select grade 304, this has excellent grade finish and is particularly durable. Simple and easily accessible means of securing the water feature is particularly important. For example tall narrow features might appear elegant but if used externally can become very unstable during windy conditions and topple over. An effective means of securing the feature in position is therefore essential. Small adjustments may also be required in order to get the optimum performance and an even water flow. Afterall you do want to enjoy mesmerizing flows and soothing ripples? Sometimes some minor adjustments to correct the vertical and horizontal levels might be required. If this is not possible you could end up with a water feature which is off balance and be leaning and consequently the water flow will not appear uniform and even.

Most stainless steel water features come with plastic reservoirs which are intended to be buried in the ground. Some manufacturers offer additional trims to facilitate the free standing of reservoirs on a hard surface, however these are rarely satisfactory and can be very difficult to secure. A better solution for a free standing feature is to select an integrated feature, ie one which comes with a stainless steel reservoir and finished to a very high standard. In better quality designs, it should not be possible to see any fixings, pump or indeed inside the reservoir. Integrated stainless steel water features because of their superior finish are particularly suited for above ground installations and are ideal for a range of areas of applications including private and commercial interiors. They may of course be installed on a patio area.

Lastly but not least ensure the water pump is reasonably quiet, there’s nothing worse than the intrusive noise of a poor quality pump to interfere and disrupt the soothing sound effects of running water. Pump capacity is very important, it is not uncommon especially with cheaper features to have pumps which have a very limited capacity to achieve good user controlled variable flow rates for the particular feature. Ensure the pump has adequate capacity to provide sufficient water flow that is appealling to you. Do bear in mind that on very windy days it might be advisable to reduce the flow rates, so a facility to adjust the flow rate easily is very desirable. There is no doubt that a water feature is a wonderful addition to any interior or exterior environment, and if your feature is particularly good quality you will also enjoy some potential health benefits of a localised ionised atmosphere which can result from running water. The effect is somewhat similar to what people experience after a heavy downpour of rain, a refreshing sensation on the local atmosphere.

These pointers should ensure a wise decision when selecting your stainless steel water feature.

New Year New Features – adding a water feature for soothing sounds

Posted on January 2nd, 2009

The soothing sound of cascading water can create a relaxing and welcome feature in any garden. Now with the colder months approaching, this might be a good time to prepare for the installation of a water feature to be enjoyed when spring returns.

Practically speaking, any garden can be improved by the addition of a water feature, but space and maintenance requirements will usually dictate that a compact (typically 1.0m – 1.8m diameter) Reservoir Water feature be used. The functionality of Reservoir features is simplicity in itself. Water is pumped from a sunken or concealed container up through the decorative element for example a stone boulder (but other popular choices are Stainless Steel and Driftwood) to trickle over the feature and drain back into the reservoir. The process is repeated, no running water supply is required to operate such features and apart from an occasional top up of the water level during prolonged hot spells, these water features are virtually maintenance free.

Despite their size limitations, reservoir water features are a compelling and visually attractive addition to any garden irrespective of style or size. Appearance can also be enhanced by positioning river cobbles, ornamental Grasses and low growing specimen trees nearby.

Water features are also very popular for their sound effects of cascading water which many people enjoy for its soothing relaxing effects. This offers much potential to introduce a dynamic dimension and transform an area of the garden which would be very difficult to achieve with planting. Because of their compelling appeal, water features are best used as discreet sculptural forms and ideally positioned within well planted areas.

Always eye catching and because of the mesmerizing appeal and sound of running water, it is no surprise that on or near the main Patio is the most popular position for water features. Careful attention to the detailing of the water feature and a thoughtful selection of plants will result in superb compositions. Stone and water are very important elements and no garden is complete without the sound of water gently cascading over stones.

The inclusion of some adjustable spotlights can add fantastic nightime drama allowing you to get more enjoyment from the water feature and planting forms. More details and examples of some of water features can be found here www.owenchubblandscapers.com/waterfeatures