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

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.