We started off by walking around the garden, discussing the plants with our customer. We decided to keep a few of them, but the majority would be removed. Flo worked her way around the border, digging up smaller plants to keep and dispose of.
Then we got to work using the hedge cutter to take down both shrubs to the ground, to make it easier to dig them up. We raked up the debris as we went. There were quite few carnations in the garden, so we kept some of them to use in the final planting design.
The rose, pictured below, was decided to be kept in the final planting plan, as it had belonged to our elderly customer’s sister, who had passed away, and had sentimental value for the family. We pruned out dead, damaged and crossing stems, creating an open shape, ready for next season’s flowering.
Whilst the rose was being pruned, Flo was grappling with the shrubs, using loppers to cut through the thickest part of the stems, and then began using a mattock and spade to dig out the roots. It was hard work, but she did a great job. Thankfully, the wet weather prior to this, had helped to soften the ground.
Another plant that we decided to keep, was a large peony, which can be seen top left of the picture below. As the plant was going over, due to heading towards the start of autumn, we cut it back to the ground. New growth will spring forth in the springtime.
A shady area near to the side gate, was overgrown with tree saplings and weeds. We removed these, levelled out the soil and exposed a drain cover.
We were lucky with the weather, being generally sunny, which was great for the jet washing of the driveway on the second day. This was hand weeded prior to power washing, as we do not use chemicals. The jet wash is then used on stubborn weeds that are tricky to remove. We will sweep in kiln dried sand on a sunny day, as we ran out of good weather towards the end of this project.
Whilst the driveway was being worked on, we then started scalping the lawn of the turf. We bagged this up and removed it along with the green waste. As the borders weren’t being hugely altered, we laid out the new plants, as we wanted to plant them before the rain came.
Our customer was keen to have lots of colour, so we planted three different types of Lavender, along with Penstemmon’s, gaura, geums, salvias, and the carnations that had been in the original garden. We planted some small shrubs along the border by the bay window, including pittosporum, potentilla, and convolvulus cneorum. With a weigela and hydrangea in the shadiest part of the space by the garden gate.
We brought in some landscaping bark to be used to lay as a mulch. This is great for suppressing the weeds and retaining moisture in the soil. It also helps to improve the soil and looks good as a top dressing.
On the third day we continued scalping the lawn, and then prepared the ground, just in time for our turf delivery.
We laid down the turf, horizontally to the house. Once we got down the main body of the lawn, we then cut curved borders, joining at the entrance of the space.
We under planted the rose with the carnations, and once the mulch was laid it was good to see the shady area by the gate looking smart and tidy.
We are really pleased with the outcome of this garden, as were our customer and their neighbours. Check back in with us soon to see what we are up to…
