Landscaping Dublin, Garden Design/Contract, Ardilea, Clonskeagh, Dublin

I was recommended this contract from a previous client, who I did work for 4yrs previous. This house had been completely renovated and the builders had just left.

The front was completely cobbled, with red roadstone pavior which looked unsightly and took away from the front of the house. There was a cast iron divide to the back garden which looked industrial. The back garden was just mud with overgrown Grisellinia hedging both sides an overgrown conifer hedge along the back mixed with Grisellinia. This back hedge alone took up 4m of the garden. Behind the hedge was a broken up and rotten shiplap fence, providing a boundary from about 6 properties. There was no need for site survey as the client had architects drawings which was helpful as the property was all angles. The front of the house was East facing.

After walking the site for 30mins I sat down with the client to draw up a brief. The brief we hammered out was detailed and helped me in creating a workable garden design. The design could be summarized as follows.

Front:

Removal of red paviors and create Ballylusk gravel driveway

Break out concrete paths by front of house and replace with beds

Create steps and landing to front door using bullnosed brush hammered oatmeal granite

Supply and install apron using tumbled oatmeal granite cobbles, include roller bar and all services required for electric gate

Supply and install drainage by house to remove excess water

Reduce height of Grisellinia hedge substantially both sides

Create beds using tumbled oatmeal cobbles, cobbles to be 75mm proud of gravel

Plant up beds with suitable, standards, shrubs and perennials

Create paved area for playing of basketball using 60x60cm brush hammered oatmeal slabs

Remove cast iron divide and replace with timber divide and wide gate

Back:

Spray lawn with translocated herbicide to kill off grass in preparation for instant roll out lawn

Create raised patio area to level of internal floor using brick slot drain and 60x60cm brush hammered oatmeal slabs, grout lines to be in line with inside to connect interior with exterior

Create raised bed at edge of raised patio to act as living railing and create room effect

Create lower patio

Supply and install steps, all steps to be half bullnosed

Create fire pit using Donegal quartz, include seating

Create utility area for wheelie bins and clothes line

Create herb area

Include black bamboo by house to contrast with white walls

Supply and install Mowing edges where required to reduce maintenance and add definition

Remove conifers, stumps and rotten fencing

Supply and install new 7’ high fence using concrete posts, 1’ high gravel boards and 6’ high pressure treated shiplap fencing panels

Paint fence with two coats of Ronseal Sage

Supply and plant 9 3.5M high Acacia dealbata to create screening

Supply and plant 3 x 4M high silver birch

Supply and plant 2 x 2M high Magnolia grandiflora

Transplant any suitable plants

Import 40 tonnes topsoil to bring up levels

Create dedicated area for trampoline using Portugeuse oatmeal cobbles, hardcore and pea gravel

Supply and lay 380msq instant roll out lawn

 

So far this landscape contract has taken approximately 6 weeks, done in two stages with one more to go. The client kindly posted this comment about my service.

“Kevin has just completed a fantastic job on the front and back garden of our house. He constructed a large granite patio area at the back with raised flowerbeds including steps and seat, a herb garden, fire pit, screened wheelie bin area, side fence and gate and provided us with specialised planting throughout. He has a very detailed knowledge of plants and was able to recommend the exact plants for us to finish our job . They look super. He removed our old paving stones at the front and replaced them with 3 fabulous flower beds, a granite patio, and a new tumbled oatmeal cobble skirting at our driveway entrance and apron. He installed new drainage and completed our drive with Ballylusk chippings. Many landscapers are good at either hard or soft landscaping, but Kevin is excellent at both. This combined with his unbelievable attention to detail is where Kevin excels.”

Below is a video taken after the second stage was completed.