Sleeper and natural stone contrast
Sleeper and natural stone contrast

This garden was a standard town house garden, surrounded b y 2M high walls, garden shed, concrete paths and lawn. The lawn was typical to what you see in many young houses built in the Celtic tiger with 25mm soil laid on top of compacted sub-soil and builders rubble. The compacted layer stops water draining away, leads to anaerobic conditions, unsatisfactory for healthy grass growth. After surveying the site and discussing the clients requirements we came up with the following brief:

Replace lawn with gravel

Decking

Garden lighting

Ericeceous planting

Raised natural stone beds

Irish materials where possible

Liscannor stepping stones

Soften surrounding walls with trellis

Soften garden shed

New side gate to create utility area along side of house

Our landscapers started this landscaping contract by clearing all grass, unwanted plants and rubbish from site and carting to dump. The raised beds were created using black natural stone from a quarry in Wicklow. To create interest and contrasts we included railway sleepers laid vertically at intervals along the run.

Railway sleepers contrasting with black limestone
Railway sleepers contrasting with black limestone

The beds were finished to a height of 40cm so as to double up as seating. The raised beds were then filled with a soil and peat mix to create required ericaceous conditions. Peat on its own dry’s out easy, is hard to re-wet and allows fast leaching of nutrients. The timber deck was installed at the same level as the internal kitchen floor, this created the feeling of an outdoor room and connected the house to the garden. The materials used were pressure treated pine sourced from Woodfab, Aughrim,  Co Wicklow.

Pressure treated decking
Pressure treated decking

Our landscapers then installed the Liscannor stepping stones. The stones were hand picked and varied in size, they were laid randomly on a 3:1 cement mix and led to the garden shed which was moved to the right hand corner of the garden and hidden behind the raised bed. Terram geotextile was laid around the stepping stones to create a membrane against weeds in the gravel area. Ballylusk gravel from a quarry in Ashford,Co Wicklow was laid to a depth 0f 50mm, the baige colour of the gravel contrasted nicely with the black of the Liscannor stepping stones.

Liscannor stepping stones in Ballylusk gravel
Liscannor stepping stones in Ballylusk gravel

 

Creating contrasts
Creating contrasts

The pressure treated native pine trellising was connected to the wall by 50x50mm latts, this would allow easy removal should the walls need future painting. Our landscapers then planted the ericaceous beds with heathers, camellias, azaleas, rhododendrons and Bamboo hedge to soften garden shed. Finally the side gate was installed to create a utility area along the side of the house for storage of wheelie bins, ladders etc.

Bamboo hedge softening garden shed
Bamboo hedge softening garden shed

 The client was very happy with the result and the contract came within budget. If you require a professional, insured service, contact Kevin Baumann on 086 8198444

LandscaperKevin Baumann
Kevin Baumann is an award-winning landscaper with vast experience in garden design. Kevin has spent 20+ years honing his landscaping skills on projects across Dublin and Wicklow. In 1992 he graduated from the National Botanic Gardens with a National Diploma in Garden Design and landscaping. He then successfully completed a Higher National Diploma & Bachelors of Science Degree (Hons) at the University of Leeds. In 1996 he was conferred with an Honours Degree in Horticulture & Garden Design. Kevin has won numerous awards for his garden designs. He has been awarded Gold ALCI Awards for gardens created in 2016, 2014, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2006, 2004, A gold medal in Garden Heaven Show RDS in 2002 and Gold Medal Prize at the Maynooth Garden Festival in 2000. Kevin has also been featured in Irish television, radio and horticultural literature, showcasing his knowledge in garden design & Construction.

Expertises: Landscaping, Garden Design
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