Garden Design Buckinghamshire - Gabion Retaining Walls

Gabions are really useful when you can't dig footings but need to retain soil or create raised beds.  They can be built on compacted ground, or a small bed of compacted MOT Type 1 hard core (scalpings).

 Garden Design - Denham - Buckinghamshire - under construction 

I have designed gardens around four new houses for a property developer on this sloping site in Denham, Buckinghamshire.  The site is surrounded by woodland and the tree roots cannot be disturbed.

  Garden Design - Denham - Buckinghamshire - under construction

 The boundaries of the gardens have been defined using gabion baskets filled with stone to retain the new terraced levels and create separation from the adjoining woodland.  The gabion retaining walls blend well into their surroundings and do not interfere with the tree roots.  This is an aesthetically pleasing way to deal with a practical problem.

Garden Design - Denham - Buckinghamshire - under construction

Gabions are also quick to build and therefore much cheaper than brick or blockwork.  However, they must be built carefully so that they lean back into the slope they are retaining - this is called a batter.  They also need quite a substantial - usually 1m wide - bottom course.  The front of the gabion basket should also be wired into a supporting post behind the gabion at intervals to stop the baskets bowing outwards when filled.

Garden Design - Denham - Buckinghamshire - under construction

You can keep costs to a minimum by using a gabion stone like this one from Miles Stone which is simply tipped into the gabion baskets.  A more polished look can be achieved, like these curved gabion walls with a stacked stone facing in my St Albans, Hertfordshire garden design.  However, these will take longer to construct, require a larger quantity of more expensive fill material and therefore cost more - sometimes almost as much as a brick or blockwork wall.

Garden Design - St Albans - Hertfordshire

If you'd like me to design your perfect garden please get in touch.  You will find all contact details as well as other examples of my work on my Web site.  You can see more of my work on my Facebook page. 

Garden Design Tips - 7 Things to do in your garden right now

There are plenty of things to get on with in your garden in the Autumn.  Some people don't like to tidy up too much, preferring to leave piles of leaves and hollow stems on plants for insects to shelter in over winter.

However, there are some things that you can do that won't discourage insects and will give your garden a head start on next year.

1.  Plant new shrubs and hedging – autumn is the best time to put in plants.  They are not quite yet dormant so will start to establish whilst there is a little warmth in the soil.  Then in spring they have a headstart and will grow on more quickly than spring plantings.

 

2.       Plant spring bulbs – late winter and early spring are dull times in the garden.  Plant Snowdrops, Anemone blanda, Crocus, Narcissus, Tulips and Alliums for a show that will start in December and go on into the early summer.

3.       Tidy the lawn – scarify and aerate the lawn. Give it an autumn feed – there are different types of feed for spring and autumn, make sure you choose the right one.  Apply moss killer and lawn weedkiller then fill any resulting bald patches by sprinkling on a bit of topsoil and some new grass seed.

4.       Prune shrubs apart from those that flower on the current year’s growth such as Forsythia. Remove dead branches and any that are crossing.  Reduce the size of the plants to keep them in their allotted position and make sure they don’t encroach on paths or neighbour’s gardens.

5.       Prune Wisteria. Remove all long, whippy shoots as these will weaken the plant.  Prune all side shoots off the main framework of the plant back to about 4 buds.  Remove all dead growth and, if necessary, reduce the overall size of the plant to keep it in its allotted space.  You will get many more flowers if you prune the plant quite hard, but do not remove all the flower buds – the fat growths you can see in the leaf junctions with the stem.

6.       Turn your compost over and add some cardboard.  Too much green waste, especially grass, will make the compost slimy and smelly, adding shredded cardboard will prevent this.  You can also enrich the compost by adding some stable manure from any local yard - the best compost comes from well=rotted stable manure when the horses are bedded on shavings. 

7.       Take some hardwood cuttings.  Especially useful for plants that might not make it through a hard winter.  Cut off a stem at the base of the plant.  Remove the soft growth tip and cut the stem into sections with a diagonal cut just above a bud.  Dig over a strip of garden and insert the diagonal cut ends of each cutting into the trench and firm the soil around each one.  Or, you can put them around the edge of a plastic pot filled with multi-purpose compost. Throw a piece of garden fleece over the cuttings when the temperature drops.

 

If you'd like me to design your perfect garden please get in touch.  You will find all contact details as well as other examples of my work on my Web site.  You can see more of my work on my Facebook page.

Garden Design Buckinghamshire

Although not quite finished and despite the scorching weather this garden design in Denham, Buckinghamshire is looking gorgeous.

A new timber-framed house was constructed and the garden was designed with two distinct areas.  To the side of the house is a wooded area with lots of mature trees.  This was cleared of scrub and some of the smaller trees and gravel paths were laid to give a circuitous route around the area.  There is a small clearing with a fire-pit for contemplation and enjoying a quiet moment.

The back of the house has a large swimming pool with a hot tub and a timber-framed pool house.  There is a sweeping herbaceous border as well as other mixed planting with shrubs and perennials around the pool area.  The swimming pool terrace is reached by a set of curved steps that lead up from the dining terrace near the house.  There is also a large, fully-equipped outdoor kitchen with a built-in gas barbeque, a pizza oven, a fridge and a sink, and plenty of cupboards with stainless steel doors.

At the front a formal parterre of clipped Box and Lavender with feature Olive trees creates a beautiful entrance to the property.

The garden is enclosed by flint and brick walls to echo the original materials used for building all around Buckinghamshire.  An original gate was re-made for a side entrance and the design echoed in the main pedestrian entrance gate and driveway gates.

The driveway was paved with resin-bound gravel.

If you'd like me to design your perfect garden please get in touch.  You will find all contact details as well as other examples of my work on my Web site.  You can see more of my work on my Facebook page.

Contemporary Sloping Garden Design, Crowthorne, Berkshire

This awkward shaped garden in Crowthorne, Berkshire was in great need of a makeover. The plot slopes from back to front as well as across its width and wrapped around the house in an 'L' shape.
The clients wanted a contemporary style, low maintenance garden where they could spend time entertaining friends and family.

The brief was to create more useable space, a large seating and dining terrace by the back of the house, an area of lawn and a place to enjoy the evening sun.  The rear garden needed to be secure and private and a new driveway was required at the front of the house with easy access and parking for two large cars. 

 Front garden Crowthorne, Berkshire - Before

 

 Front garden Crowthorne, Berkshire - After

The new front driveway was paved with stabilised gravel and has a raised planter as well as planting along the boundary to soften the space.  Two cars can get in and out and park easily on the new driveway which also includes an area for bin storage and a new front step.  The front driveway is secured from the rear garden with a single-rail pergola with baton screens and a lockable gate that matches the baton screens.

  Rear garden Crowthorne, Berkshire - Before

 

 Rear garden Crowthorne, Berkshire - After - Upper Terrace

The rear garden comprises three outdoor rooms at different levels.  There is a raised terrace immediately accessible from the kitchen with built-in benches, rendered blockwork walls, black Limestone paving and a Bio ethanol fireplace table with a black Limestone top.  The terrace is enclosed by a single rail pergola and baton screens which also help to disguise the old concrete garage. The wood is painted black to give a contrast to the white painted walls and provide a dramatic backdrop to the planting.

  

Rear garden Crowthorne, Berkshire - Before

 

  Rear garden Crowthorne, Berkshire - After - Lawn Area

From the terrace there is an archway between baton screens with cut out windows lined with brushed steel frames.  There is a step down through the archway onto a lawned area with herbaceous borders full of pretty summer flowering perennials and grasses.

 

Rear garden Crowthorne, Berkshire - Before

 

Rear garden Crowthorne, Berkshire - After - Lower Courtyard Area

From the lawn there is a step down into a small courtyard area with outdoor sofas and raised beds sheltered by a pergola.  This area is perfect for enjoying an evening drink catching the last rays of the sun.  It is a peaceful, intimate space that feels private and relaxing.

 

  

Rear garden Crowthorne, Berkshire - Before

Rear garden Crowthorne, Berkshire - After - Lower Courtyard Area

If you'd like me to design something that is perfect for your lifestyle and requirements please get in touch.  You will find all contact details as well as other examples of my work on my Web site.  You can see more of my work on my Facebook page.

Why Garden Design is a Good Investment

Building a new house or extending an existing home provides a wonderful opportunity to look at the whole site, including the garden.  Not only does a well-planned garden look beautiful, it creates an outdoor room with extra space for eating, relaxing and entertaining. The garden is often neglected, but when designed correctly it creates valuable, useable space that can be enjoyed all year round.

Sunny Sheltered Courtyard - Garden Design in Crowthorne, Berkshire

When extending a property or building a new home it’s easy to focus on the inside of the house and forget about the garden until the last minute.  After the builders and budget have gone the view out of the sparkly new bi-folds is of a garden which now resembles a ploughed field.

Kerb appeal and elegance in this Woking, Surrey front garden design

 

People are often reluctant to spend extra (around 10% of the cost of the garden) on having a set of professional garden design plans prepared.  However, no-one would build a house, or an extension without plans to give to the building contractors.  The garden designer’s role is the same as an architect when building a house - they make sure the garden is built correctly and act as a conduit between the landscape contractors and the client. 

 

Garden design plan - Egham, Surrey

It is tempting to go straight to the landscapers.  When building a simple patio or deck this can work, but for a whole garden makeover, or when dealing with a tricky space it’s really worth paying a garden designer to prepare the plans.  An experienced designer will be able to provide a complete set of plans including technical drawings and specifications that tell the contractors exactly how the garden should be built.  A set of garden design plans will remove the margin for error when constructing the garden and ensure the budget is well invested.

  3-D visual of garden design in Crowthorne, Berkshire

If you'd like me to design something that is perfect for your lifestyle and requirements please get in touch.  You will find all contact details as well as other examples of my work on my Web site.  You can see more of my work on my Facebook page.