Landscaping Dublin, Design & Build, Sandymount

I previously did the back garden for this client (see project here) which won a landscaping award with the A.L.C.I. The front garden was the next stage. The original driveway consisted of uneven limestone cobble edging/apron, overgrown plants including a Jasmine which gave privacy from the road, a low rotten timber fence/divide between the neighbours, all resulting in a tired messy appearance to the front of the house.

I took photographs, surveyed the area and sat down with the client to draw up a brief. The parameters set out for my design are as follows:

• Limited budget
• Re-do using gravel
• The use of silver granite
• Retain privacy from the road and between neighbouring properties
• Side gate
• Planting to consist of Box hedging, Portugeuse laurel hedge between neighbours, Wisteria, Hydrangea
• Sliding electric gate finished with Iroko timber cladding
• Plaster all walls
• Timber wall extensions and fence
• Screen for three wheelie bins
• Retain as much area as possible for two cars

  

Using the above information I returned a week later with a scaled drawing of what I thought was the best design for the space. The client liked what she saw but the cost went over the allocated budget. To bring the project back in line we decided to drop the electric gate and put in services for a future date when moni allowed.

First the surrounding walls were plastered using a cement render. 600x300mm brush hammered silver granite slabs were used to define the space, create beds and apron. Armoured cable, intercom cable and roller bar set into the apron were installed for future side gate. The divide between neighbours and privacy from the road was achieved using hit & miss wall extensions created using 50mmx25mm planed pressure treated Scandinavian spruce latts. Posts from the wall extensions were used to create trellising using tensioned bull wire which allowed for planting and saved on space. Ballylusk dust was used as a sub base for the 8mm Ballylusk gravel laid no deeper than 25mm to reduce ridging from tyres. A side gate was installed at the side of the house using 100mmx25mm planed TnG boards, this gate created security, privacy and a utility area along the side of the house. A trellised whellie bin screen was installed to hide the three unsightly wheelie bins. The front door was framed using two privet lollipops planted into existing planters. Planting included Buxus sempervirens, Prunus luisitanica, Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’, Wisteria sinensis, Trachleospernum jasminoides and Ligustrum delavaynum Stds

Below is the work schedule which completed this driveway design:

• Remove unwanted plants/materials and cart to dump
• Remove existing driveway to a depth of 100mm and cart to dump
• Supply and lay 4” pipe & draw string for electric gate and intercom
• Supply and install wheelie bin screen for 3 bins and paint (Paint supplied by client)
• Supply, spread and compact 75mm layer of Ballylusk dust (9 tonne)
• Supply and install apron by gate/base for wheelie bins using 600x300mm brush hammered silver granite slabs including roller bar for gate, and access for electrics (12Msq)
• Supply and install apron by house using 600x300mm brush hammered silver granite slabs (10Msq)
• Supply and install edging for beds using 600x300mm brush hammered silver granite slabs (7Msq)
• Clear beds and fill with screened topsoil
• Plaster old and new walls with waterproof cement render
• Supply and install hit & miss wall extensions/fence using 50x25mm pressure treated Scandinavian spruce latts and paint (26LM, Paint supplied by client)
• Supply and plant beds with 81 Buxus, 9 specimen Portugeuse Laurels, Wisteria and 2 hydrangea ‘Annabelles’
• Supply and install side gate using 4” TnG Scandinavian white deal and paint black
• Supply and install bull wire trellising for climbers (13.5LM)
• Supply, spread and compact 25mm layer of Ballylusk gravel (4.5 Tonne)
• Supply and plant 2 Ligustrum delavaynum standards into existing pots using soil based John Inns compost
• Supply, plant and attach to wire supports 2 specimen trachleospernum climbers
• Remove all rubbish and cart to dump

  

  

  

The client was very happy with the results and recommended us to the neighbours after which we won another contract. If you like what you see and require a professional landscaper to carry out your works, contact Kevin Baumann on 086 8198444.