Low maintenance garden, Sandymount, Co Dublin

This garden had an East facing aspect. The drainage was very bad due to close location to the sea and therefore a high water table. There were many mature plants, some poorly placed and in bad condition. The garden was overlooked on both sides. Common ivy had taken hold in beds and against back wall with a lot of perennial weeds among existing plants. The internal tiling of the rooms leading into the garden consisted of 600×600 Porceline tiles laid in the square on square style. Access into the garden was by side gate and posed no problems

After completing site survey, I sat down with client to discuss expectations, ideas  and problems with garden. The clients requirements were as follows:

  • Resolve drainage problems
  • Create large seating area to catch morning and evening sunshine
  • Keep as many mature plants as possible
  • Additional planting to improve existing
  • Create and enhance privacy
  • Shed for extra storage
  • Low maintenance a big issue as couple, both working
  • Child friendly
  • Garden lighting
  • Set budget

Armed with the above I created a scaled drawing which took into account all of the above apart from the garden lighting which put us over budget, however I  was able to include the installation of armoured cable through the garden for future garden lighting. On presentation of the drawing the client was happy to proceed and paid the 10% deposit to book us in.

The landscape design included a large patio created using 600×600 polished blue limestone slabs laid in line with the internal tiles to make a connection between outside and in.

Polished limestone patio
Polished limestone patio

On the South side of the garden I included a hammock which gave a bit of structure at a very cheap price.IMG_0970

Hammock
Hammock

The drainage problem was got rid of by laying a Synthetic lawn on clean quarry screenings which in effect acted like one large soak away and created low maintenance. The Synthetic grass lawn was edged by 200x100x100 tumbled oatmeal cobbles laid 50mm proud of the lawn level creating beds and adding definition to the space. The beds were then planted with suitable shrubs and perennials. Low maintenance in the beds was achieved by first laying geo-textile matting around the plants and then covering with a 50mm layer of Greenking soil conditioner. Raised beds were installed either side of the garden using cement rendered 4″ solids and planted one side with bamboo, the other with Calamagrostis gramineus creating privacy this was further enhanced using wall extensions and two tall planters planted with standard olives. The back wall extension was finished with weather sheeting boards to match in with the 8×6 Baumanns garden shed included for storage. Both were painted with Ronseal Willow matching the window frames of the house.IMG_0972

Wall Extensions
Wall Extensions

Herbs for the kitchen were planted both in the beds and planters, herbs in pots were Oregano, Parsley, Chives, Mint, and Basil the planters were placed in one large group of varying sizes and looked very well. Herbs planted in beds included a standard Bay laurel, prostrate Rosemarys and Thyme  Other plants included Pieris Formosa planted in a tall planter to frame the doors, Libertia spp, Busus sempervirens, Acorus graminea ‘Evergold’, Genista lydia, Phormium ‘Cream delight’, Hydrangea spp., Heuchera ‘Purple Palace’, Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’ and Pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’. All the plants were chosen with the client at Garden World Nurseries, Kilcoole, Co Wicklow, which gave the client final say over planting and how much spent.

Baumanns Garden Shed
Baumanns Garden Shed

 

This landscaping contract came in within budget and the client was very happy. If you require an award winning landscaping service contact Kevin Baumann on 086 8198444.

 

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