Design & Build: Southampton
The brief:
To create front and back gardens to the client’s specifications; ease of maintenance was paramount as was privacy and the client had very clear ideas about the plants they liked and the way the gardens were to be laid out. All lawns were to be levelled and all gradients had to be smooth to walk on.
The existing gardens were neglected, full of builders’ rubble at the front and weeds at the back while the area under the greenhouse had been used as a rubbish dump. Any garden features ie. plants, walls etc., that could be re-used were to be retained; everything else was skipped and removed.
Action: Front Lawn - Before, during & after
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In the front, the client wished for a large patch of lawn. The area was cleared, the soil raked and copious quantities of fertiliser added before turfing.
The planting around the edges was evergreen, interspersed with broom for colour and to add volume whilst the shrubs matured. A mix of escallonia, photinia and rugosa roses ensure year round interest. |
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Back Lawn before, during and after
The wall which had been the greenhouse base was replastered and painted, then used to form a raised bed. This was planted extensively with roses, lavender and geraniums; a specimen tree and shrubs behind provided privacy. Shingle beds in front provide a pleasing contrast to the wall and are easy to maintain whilst ensuring year round interest. |
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Decking & Greenhouse before, during and the raised bed after
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The wall which had been the greenhouse base was replastered and painted, then used to form a raised bed. This was planted extensively with roses, lavender and geraniums; a specimen tree and shrubs behind provided privacy. Shingle beds in front provide a pleasing contrast to the wall and are easy to maintain whilst ensuring year round interest. |
Shingle beds after
An air raid shelter, too big to move, was disguised using trellis fencing and climbers. The panel fencing on the boundaries was replaced as necessary and the long narrow bed along the fence line planted with shade tolerant varieties and roses.
Fence before and after