Wednesday 18 May 2011

Garden Design Ideas - Small Shallow Garden - Update 1

The build has now started on this small garden in Warfield, Bracknell, Berkshire. The garden is small and shallow and a great challenge for a garden designer.

The saying goes that you have to break a few eggs to make an omlette and this is my garden design equivalent. The garden has been completely cleared to create a blank canvas for my new contemporary design.



The garden gets very boggy due to heavily compacted clay soil and an underground stream. To combat this, drains under the lawn will be channeled into a massive central soakaway.



Footings for the raised beds that will enclose the perimeter of the garden have already been excavated and concreted. These raised borders will give immediate height to the planting, and enclose the garden with a strong geometric structure giving personality to this rather featureless space.



The paved areas have been set out and are about to be excavated. They will then receive their 75mm sub-base of MOT Type 1 hardcore (scalpings). In places where some rather soggy blue clay has been found we are digging down a little deeper for the sub-base to ensure a really firm foundation for the paving.



Next week the garden will really start to take shape when the walls go up. The retaing walls that form the pergola seating area and curved grass alcove will be faced with this lovely slate cladding. The rest of the walls will be rendered and painted.



Have a look at this previous post to see the before photos and garden design plans.

If you need help designing your garden please visit my Web site for all contact details.

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