This new build garden had a straggly lawn that didn’t grow very well, due to builders waste and poor soil that was originally added into the garden whilst it was being built. So, the boys went in and removed the lawn and the construction of the garden got under way.
They built retaining walls and created the correct levels for the different stages of the design. Grey limestone paving at the top of the garden to step on to from the patio doors, across to a hoggin, self binding gravel section, down some steps to the lower level of the garden, filled with a gravel area and planting.
This design has three different patio areas, all in different materials that compliment each other. The grey paving and warm ochre hoggin work really well together, and the South Cerney gravel, which is a cream coloured rounded limestone matches the hoggin which is a graded limestone.
We prepared the soil in the lower part of the garden, added membrane and then south cerney gravel on the top. Whilst we did this we also planted and mulched the borders.
For the planting we used a variety of shade tolerant and/or loving plants. Either side of the steps we placed spring flowering Epimediums, with low growing varieties of Pittosporum, ‘Bannow Bay.’ Astilbes, Ferns, Pulmonaria and Christmas box were set out throughout the garden, using repetition to encourage the eye around the garden.
Small Ornamental flowering Cherry trees were added in two places of the garden. Both are suitable for small gardens. We also included a Cercis siliquastrum or Judas tree at the bottom of the garden. All will give good interest throughout the year.
We used a wacker to compact the hoggin to make a solid surface. It really gives the garden a bit of a wow factor!
The paving slabs were pointed with a light, platinum jointing compound which makes the slabs stand out. We mulched with a dark, decorative bark that will decompose down into the soil, creating better soil and retaining the moisture in the summer and making weeding far easier.
In the triangular border we planted a hydrangea, japanese anemone along with a Weigela. These will fill up this space nicely.
The Judas tree, with ferns, pulmonaria and tiarella below will also fill out this area, hiding the fence as they grow.
Come back to us again to see how our next project is going…
