Low Maintenance Gardening Contract, Co Wicklow.

On visiting this contract the property was being renovated by builders. The front was quite small, so use of space would be at a premium. The back was exposed to neighbours on both sides due to low 1.4M high walls., The walls were old, unplastered and weak.

The back wall was higher to 2M and built with natural stone, the lower part looked well but higher up became unsightly due to bad pointing job. A couple of trees covered in ivy at the back wall afforded privacy but would have to come out as they were way past repairing, this left the whole garden exposed, with very little privacy.

The back of the house was South facing so ideal for seating. I surveyed the property and then sat down with the client to draw up a brief for his landscaping contract. Below is what we came up with:

Front:

• Gravel driveway Wexford beach pebble, to match dashing on house
• Tumbled oatmeal granite cobbles 100x100x100mm for apron and paths, paths to lead to front and side doors within gravel.
• Widen entrance for easy access with cars
• Insure enough space for two cars
• Put in ducting, roller bar and armoured/intercom cable to house for future electric gate
• Frame front door with planters. Recommended tall planters with Buxus balls
• Tumbled oatmeal granite cobbles 200x100x100 for beds raised 100mm above gravel level
• Keep beds as tight as possible to maximise space
• Grisellinia hedging to match in with surrounding neighbours
• Low maintenance

Back:

• Custom built Baumanns garden shed to fit in space between house and side gate, colour Ronseal Willow

  

• Remove existing spent trees and shrubs
• Plaster surrounding walls to strengthen and give clean look

  

• Install wall extension to give instant privacy, posts to be fixed with concrete footings, further strengthen wall using express nails connecting the two, colour Ronseal willow, material, 4×1 pressure treated Scandinavian Spruce, posts to be capped and left proud by 100mm to give interest, cap sections between with 4×1 allowing overhang and to insure long life

  

   

  

• Keep beds as small as possible to maximise lawn area for kids
• Lay 1.5 SWA armoured cable for future lighting of natural stone back wall, recommended using blue lights
• Install mixed sized limestone patio by house extending no further than 3.5M into garden. Grout joints with strong cement mix to insure strength, no weeds or ants. Limestone type Kota brown, I always recommend limestone as is very dense stone, requires no sealing and is easy to clean back to original colour

  

   

• Use 200x100x50mm tumbled oatmeal cobbles to create beds around garden. Create raised bed at back wall using 200x100x100mm tumbled oatmeal cobble behind mowing edge

  

  

   

• Create trellising using posts for wall extension and bull wire installed horizontally every 150mm, tighten using agricultural fence tighteners

  

   

• Lay new lawn using instant roll out turf
• Planting to consist of Specimen Trachleospernums speciosum on both side beds, trained onto bull wire trellising to give instant effect. Back bed to consist of Buxus sempervirens hedge under planted with daffodils.
• Low maintenance

Armed with the above information I created a simple garden design and quote. On our second meeting the client was very happy that all his points were considered and gave me the go ahead. The job went very well and the client was happy with the results.

Below is a video of the completed contract.