EXETER LANDSCAPES · GARDEN DESIGN · EXMOUTH
Exeter landscapes garden designer ⋅ design exeter · exmouth
GARDEN DESIGN MENU ⋅ EXETER
GETTING STARTED
REDESIGN ⋅ UPDATE ⋅ YOUR GARDEN
Garden Design Themes ⋅ Exeter
Traditional ⋅ Garden Design
Contemporary Garden Design
Tropical Garden Design
Prairie Garden designer ⋅ design exeter
Zen Out And Relax ⋅ Japanese Gardens
Bulbs ⋅ Garden Design
MORE IDEAS ⋅ PLANTING COMBINATIONS
White Flower ⋅ Garden Design Exeter
A Slice Of Lemon
Green & Silver Foliage
Contrast Whites ⋅ Dark Colours
Cool White Wood Land
Turn Up The Heat ⋅ Hot Colours
FAVOURITE PLANTS
Grasses ⋅ Cost ⋅ Care
Hanging Baskets ⋅ Single Colours ⋅ Non- Variegated Blooms
Add Colour ⋅ Alliums ⋅ Agapanthus ⋅ Crocosmia
Bamboo ⋅ Garden Design Exeter
Box Hedging ⋅ Garden Design
Accessories
GARDEN DESIGN IDEAS ·
Over the years. Exeter Landscapes have designed and constructed gardens of all shapes and sizes. We are happy to carry out site visits. And offer advice on your gardening project. Popular garden design themes include
TRADITIONAL GARDEN DESIGN · COTTAGE GARDEN IDEAS · PRAIRIE GARDEN DESIGN
CONTEMPORARY GARDEN DESIGN · URBAN ZEN GARDEN DESIGN · MODERN GARDEN IDEAS
GARDEN DESIGN · BUILD ·
Exeter Landscapes Offers a Garden Design Build Service. The majority of our gardens, our designed are constructed in-house. This ensures our gardens are completed to a high standard. On budget and on time.
GARDEN DESIGN · LANDSCAPING EXETER
GARDEN DESIGN · LANDSCAPING SERVICES · EXETER
Garden Design Exeter · Site Surveys · Garden Design Plans · Planting Schemes
Landscaping · Paving · Decking · Raised Beds · Turfing & Artifical Grass
CREATING YOUR GARDEN DESIGN
Garden Decking Ideas
WHAT IS A GARDEN DESIGN THEME?
A theme is the ‘style of garden design’ you are trying to create, Exeter. It allows you to consistently pick materials, plants and design elements.
Enabling you to link key elements in your garden design. Creating cohesion and consistency design for your garden design. Common Garden Design themes include contemporary, traditional, tropical and zen garden design, Exeter.
CHOOSING YOUR GARDEN DESIGN THEME · DESIGNER
It’s time to choose your garden design theme, Exeter. Make sure you are comfortable with the style. And it fits in with your lifestyle and your property’s look and feels.
Remember most people want a low-maintenance garden! Which looks good all year round!
GARDEN DESIGN THEMES EXETER
It’s time to choose your garden design theme. You may want a traditional garden design, Exeter. How about a modern contemporary garden design? Or a tropical or zen garden design.
GET PERSONAL ⋅ FRIENDS GARDENS
Choosing a garden design theme is personal. It should reflect your tastes. You may like a friend garden. Maybe you want a complete change. Or would like to update a tired garden.
PINTEREST · WEB · VISIT GARDENS
Why not have look on the web for ideas and inspiration. Create a Pinterest of ideas. Visiting gardens can also be a source of inspiration, especially during the summer. And a trip to a specialist nursery is always worth the time and effort.
COMPLIMENT YOUR PROPERTY • EXETER
Try to complement your property’s look and feel. Always try to work with existing garden features. Remember a garden design theme is not in stone.
OLD AND NEW · GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
It’s ok to mix and match elements from different themes. Creating your own personal style. Finally. Bring it all together in your garden design. Check out our garden design themes for ideas of great garden design. Quality materials and construction will always stand out in any garden design.
POPULAR ⋅ GARDEN DESIGN THEMES ⋅ EXETERS
- White garden design ⋅ exmouth
- Contemporary garden design ⋅ exmouth exeter
- Tropical garden design ⋅ exmouth
- Zen garden design ⋅ exmouth
- Prairie garden design ⋅ exmouth
- Small garden design ⋅ exmouth
- Traditional garden design ⋅ exmouth • exeter
GARDEN DESIGN ⋅ IDEAS INSPIRATION ⋅ EXETER
Garden design themes ⋅ contemporary ⋅ traditional ⋅ tropical ⋅ zen ⋅ white garden
Garden design ⋅ garden design guide ⋅ ideas gallery ⋅ courtyard small gardens ⋅ garden makeovers
TRADITIONAL GARDEN DESIGN · EXETER
ADD A SEATING AREA · SANDSTONE PAVING
You may want a traditional garden design, Exeter. Why not add a traditional sandstone patio for outdoor dining? Sandstone natural stone paving is great value for money. And comes in a range of colours and sizes. Lay a three-sized pattern for a traditional feel!
TRADITIONAL SLEEPERS · CLASSIC PLANTING
Maybe you need a retaining wall. You want to add a raised lawn edging. an oak sleeper retaining wall to your garden design Exeter.
Why not add raised beds for extra planting? Classic planting ⋅ box hedging ⋅ alliums and bay trees.
MATERIALS · SANDSTONE PAVING · SLATE PAVING · OAK SLEEPERS · HARDWOOD DECKING
KEY PLANTS · BOX HEDGING · BEECH HEDGING · ALIUMS · CROCOSMIA · RUDBECKIA
CONTEMPORARY GARDEN DESIGN IDEAS
How about a modern contemporary garden design? Contemporary garden designs, work well with both traditional and modern properties throughout Exeter.
© Exeter Landscapes ⋅ modern garden ideas
HARDWOOD DECKING · SLATTED FENCING · LIGHTING
Hardwood decking looks great, especially with recessed lighting. Rendered walls are a firm favourite.
For privacy add a contemporary slatted fence to your garden designer ⋅ design exeter. Combine with strong planting. Bamboo, crocosmia and grasses. Add some colour kniphofia, rudbeckia and verbena.
MODERN BUILDS · RENOVATIONS · PERIOD PROPERTIES
Contemporary garden design works well for modern builds or renovations. If done well. Contemporary garden design can work well in period properties. Contrasting and highlighting the property’s period features and updating a tired and dated look. Combine quality sandstone paving with a bold planting scheme to create a design classic.
MATERIALS ⋅ CONTEMPORARY ⋅ GARDEN DESIGN · EXETER
Sandstone paving always looks great in a contemporary garden design. Choose strong muted colours. Add bold a paving design. With well-designed lines.
SANDSTONE EDGING · GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
Maybe add edging sets for definition. Compliment with a strong planting scheme. Combine interesting shapes with vibrant colours. Don’t overcomplicate your garden design. Avoid complicated curves. There will cost you more in terms of labour and can waste material.
Always add strong shapes. For a contemporary feel. Lay large paving stones. In a single-sized pattern.
ADD BORDERS ⋅ EDGING SETTS · GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
Add a contemporary stone border. Use complementary edging setts. Avoid garish geometric patterns. They will date over time. Add can be hard to live with. Use planting borders to ‘ bed in’ your paving. Softening edges. Creating subtle curves in your garden design exeter.
© Exeter Landscapes ⋅ contemporary garden design ⋅ designer
MATERIALS ⋅ CONTEMPORARY GARDEN ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
Design features ⋅ garden lighting ⋅ fire pits ⋅ slatted fences ⋅ decking ⋅ rendered planters
Paving ⋅ smooth sandblast sandstone ⋅ granite ⋅ kandula grey sandstone ⋅ porcelain tiles
Edging ⋅ borders ⋅ granite sites ⋅ ever edge
Retaining walls ⋅ render walls ⋅ k render ⋅ design clad
MATERIALS ⋅ IDEAS INSPIRATION
Materials ⋅ paving ⋅ decking ⋅ raise beds ⋅ fencing ⋅ ideas gallery
PLANTS’ ⋅ CONTEMPORARY GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
Use planting effectively. Soften your landscaping materials. Adding interest to your garden designer ⋅ design Exeter. Mask unsightly garden features. With climbers and hedges. For added interest. Add strong shapes to beds and borders. Plant garden borders with lush drifts of ‘hot’ colours. Create a backdrop. Add structural shrubs. Contrast colour with dark foliage. Create a focal point. Add specimen trees and shrubs.
© Exeter Landscapes ⋅ contemporary garden design ⋅ exmouth ⋅ designer
Focal points ⋅ pleached trees ⋅ olives ⋅ acers ⋅ tree ferns ⋅ silver birch ⋅ magnolia ⋅ beech columns
Red ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ kniphothia ⋅ gaura ⋅ camelia ⋅ rhododendron ⋅ hellenium ⋅ poppy
Blue ⋅ lavender ⋅ agapanthus ⋅ alliums ⋅ iris ⋅ echinops ⋅ verbena ⋅ eryngium
Yellow ⋅ rudbeckia ⋅ iris ⋅ tulips ⋅ achillea ⋅ azelea
White ⋅ iris ⋅ hydrangea ⋅ tulip ⋅ echinacae
CONTRAST HOT ⋅ COLOURS AND DARK ⋅ BACKGROUND
Medium ⋅ phormium ⋅ carex ⋅ festuca ⋅ pennisetum ⋅ euphorbia ⋅ pittosporum ⋅ heuchera ⋅ hebe.
Large ⋅ fatsia ⋅ smoke bush ⋅ mahonia ⋅ bamboo ⋅ mischanthus ⋅ acer ⋅ box balls.
Hedges ⋅ photina ⋅ copper beech ⋅ berberis.
Climbers ⋅ trachelospermum jasminoides.
PLANTS ⋅ IDEAS ⋅ INSPIRATIONS
Planting guide ⋅ choosing plants ⋅ how to plant ⋅ aftercare
Plant groups ⋅ shrubs ⋅ hedges climbers ferns ⋅ evergreen ⋅ low maintenance ⋅ wildlife plants
BOLD PLANTING ⋅ TOUCH OF ELEGANCE ⋅ GARDEN DESIGN EXMOUTH
Modern box ⋅ allium ⋅ skimmia ⋅ olive 1/2 standard ⋅ pittosporum ‘tom thumb’ ⋅ box hedging ⋅ eryngium
Silver ⋅ white ⋅astilbe ⋅ white tulip ⋅ gaura ⋅ pachysandra ⋅silver birch
Simple ground cover ⋅ acer ⋅ viburnum davidii ⋅ heuchera ⋅ shield ferns
Planting combinations ⋅ traditional ⋅ contemporary ⋅ zen
URBAN ZEN · TROPICAL GARDEN DESIGN IDEAS
TIMBER · NATURAL: STONE PAVING
Other garden design options include tropical or zen garden designs. These garden designs tend to use softer more natural materials. Timber and darker natural stones.
The Lived-In Look
They definitely have the lived-in look. And look great with reclaimed or aged materials. They have a rambling feel. Add zinc pots. Water features and corten steel sculptures.
BOULDERS · PEBBLES · WATER FEATURES
Large boulders and pebbles will look great in your garden design in Exeter. Natural water features sound and movement. And sculptures soften with foliage. Will add interest to any great garden design. Planting should be informal and natural. With the emphasis on foliage and texture.
Key plants ⋅ bamboo ⋅ phormiums ⋅ agapanthus ⋅ irises. Add some colour Canna Lillies, Echinacea and guara.
TROPICAL GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
© Exeter Landscapes ⋅ garden ideas
MATERIALS ⋅ TROPICAL GARDEN DESIGN EXMOUTH
© Exeter Landscapes ⋅ tropical garden design ⋅ designer ⋅ exmouth
WOW FACTOR ⋅ FOLIAGE ⋅ VIBRANT COLOURS
Combine lush foliage with vivid vibrant colours. With natural landscaping materials. Real timber decking and natural paving stone. For a contemporary twist. Add a hardwood slatted fence. Focal points. Water feature for movement. Specimen plants, tree ferns and palms.
MATERIALS ⋅ TROPICAL ⋅ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
Design features ⋅ hardwood decking ⋅ q-deck ⋅ slatted fence ⋅ sunken hot tubs.
Paving ⋅ slate ⋅ black limestone ⋅ granite
Edging ⋅ borders ⋅ timber ⋅ black limestone setts ⋅ ever edge
Retaining walls ⋅ softwood sleepers ⋅ hardwood sleepers
MATERIALS ⋅ IDEAS INSPIRATION
Materials ⋅ paving ⋅ decking ⋅ raise beds ⋅ fencing ⋅ ideas gallery
PLANTS ⋅ TROPICAL GARDEN DESIGN ⋅ EXMOUTH
© Exeter Landscapes ⋅ decking ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ phormium ⋅ garden design ⋅ exmouth
Add drifts of hot colours. Combine with a backdrop. Of lush green foliage. Add height and interest. Specimen plants, Tree Ferns and Palms. Enclose or screen areas. Add bamboo. Soften fences or walls by Adding climbers.
Focal points ⋅ tree ferns
Red ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ canna Lilly ⋅ camelia ⋅ rhododendrons.
Blues ⋅ agapanthus ⋅ iris ⋅ azelia.
Yellow ⋅ iris ⋅ kniphofia.
White ⋅ camelia ⋅ astilbe ⋅ yucca.
HOT COLOURS ⋅ BACKDROP OF LUSH FOLIAGE
Medium ⋅ ferns ⋅ phormium ⋅ hosta ⋅ japanese surge ⋅euphorbia.
Large ⋅ fatisa ⋅ smoke bush ⋅ bamboo ⋅ mahonia ⋅ acuba.
Hedges ⋅ laurel ⋅ bamboo screen ⋅ photina.
Climbers ⋅ trachelospermum jasminoides ⋅ hedera.
PLANTS ⋅ IDEAS ⋅ INSPIRATIONS
Planting guide ⋅ choosing plants ⋅ how to plant ⋅ aftercare
Plant groups ⋅ shrubs ⋅ hedges climbers ferns ⋅ evergreen ⋅ low maintenance ⋅ wildlife plants
PLANTING COMBINATIONS ⋅ TROPICAL GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
COMBINE HOT COLOURS ⋅ AND LUSH FOLIAGE
Modern tropical ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ helenium ⋅ hosta ⋅ acer ⋅ phormium tricolour ⋅ phormium ⋅ bronze ⋅ fatsia
Planting combinations ⋅ traditional ⋅ contemporary ⋅ zen
PRAIRIE GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER EXETER
© Exeter Landscapes ⋅ prairie garden design ⋅ designer ⋅ exmouth
HIT THE PRAIRIE ⋅ LOW MAINTENANCE GARDENS
Create a relaxed feel to your garden design in Exeter. Add movement and colour. Plant-coloured perennials with bladed grasses. Combine with natural stone walkways and timber decking.
MATERIALS ⋅ PRAIRIE GARDEN DESIGN ⋅ EXETER
Compliment drifts of colours with natural stone walkways. Add a traditional decking area for entertaining.
Design features ⋅ decking ⋅ timber edge walk ways ⋅ gravel path & beds.
Paving ⋅ slate ⋅ sandstone ⋅ porcelain tiles ⋅ granite.
Edging ⋅ borders ⋅ timber ⋅ bricks⋅ black limestone setts ⋅ ever edge.
Retaining walls ⋅ rendered walls ⋅ softwood sleepers.
PRAIRIE PLANTS ⋅ GARDEN DESIGN ⋅ EXMOUTH
CREATE A GARDEN WITH A RELAXED FEEL
Create a relaxed garden with an informal feel. Add movement and interest to your Garden designer ⋅ design exeter. Combine perennial grasses with drifts of subtle colour. Care for your grasses. Leave faded silver foliage for winter interest. Cut back and encourage new growth in early spring.
Focal points ⋅ olives ⋅ laurel ⋅ photinia miscantus ‘sinensis’
Red ⋅ hellenium ⋅ poppy ⋅ guara ⋅ sedum ⋅ echinacea.
Blue ⋅ agapanthus ⋅ verbena ⋅ alliums ⋅ echinops.
Yellow ⋅ rudbekia ⋅ sunflower ⋅ iris.
White ⋅ anenomes ⋅ aster ⋅ astilbe.
STRUCTURAL PLANTS ⋅ PRAIRIE GARDEN ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
IDEAS ⋅ helenium ⋅ stipa ‘feather grass’ ⋅ echinops ⋅ designer exeter ⋅ garden design exmouth
Medium ⋅ festuca ⋅ euphorbia ⋅ stipa ⋅ hebes ⋅ pennisetum ⋅ phormium.
Large ⋅ fatisa ⋅ smoke bush ⋅ phormiums ⋅ mahonia ⋅ mischanthus.
Hedges ⋅ photina ⋅ berberis.
Climbers ⋅ trachelospermum jasminoides ⋅ hedera.
PLANTS ⋅ IDEAS ⋅ INSPIRATIONS
Planting guide ⋅ choosing plants ⋅ how to plant ⋅ aftercare
Plant groups ⋅ shrubs ⋅ hedges climbers ferns ⋅ evergreen ⋅ low maintenance ⋅ wildlife plants
Planting combinations ⋅ traditional ⋅ contemporary ⋅ zen
ZEN OUT AND RELAX ⋅ JAPANESE GARDENS
© Exeter Landscapes ⋅ zen garden design ⋅ gardener ⋅ exmouth
ZEN OUT AND RELAX ⋅ JAPANESE GARDENS
FOR RELAXATION ⋅ MEDITATION
Complement traditional sandstone paving with large smooth boulders & light-coloured ornamental gravel. Add Barked areas. Adding contrast to gravel beds. Lighting will add an extra dimension. Perfect for entertaining in those long hot summer nights.
CREATE A MINI WOODLAND
Plant a string or cluster of multi-stemmed silver birch trees. Under plant with ground cover: Japanese pachysandra or vinca major. Add Japanese shield ferns, interplanted with white astille.
JAPANESE STYLE PLANTS ⋅ GARDEN DESIGN EXMOUTH
bamboo, fatisa japonica, phormium, hosta, pinus mugo and clipped box cubes. acers or maples: reds acers work well with red heucheras. and surprisingly green acers work well with new ‘lime’ green coloured varieties.
Focal points 1 ⋅ magnolia ⋅ cloud trees ⋅ classic topiary.
Focal points 2 ⋅ stone sculptures ⋅ clusters of boulders ⋅ stone seating areas ⋅ zen water features.
Small ⋅ cyclamen ⋅ crocosmia lucifer ⋅ japanese blood grass ⋅ fetuca ⋅hosta ⋅ pachysandra.
Medium ⋅ red camellia ⋅ azelia ⋅ white hydrangea ⋅ white magnolia ⋅ pinus mungo.
PLANTS ⋅ IDEAS ⋅ INSPIRATIONS
Planting guide ⋅ choosing plants ⋅ how to plant ⋅ aftercare
Plant groups ⋅ shrubs ⋅ hedges climbers ferns ⋅ evergreen ⋅ low maintenance ⋅ wildlife plants
Planting combinations ⋅ traditional ⋅ contemporary ⋅ zen
BULBS ⋅ GARDEN DESIGN ⋅ EXETER
Bulbs are extremely easy to grow in your garden. Add formal arrangements or natural drifts of colour to garden design. Great for adding an early splash of colour. A welcome break during those dull winter months. Bulbs are great value, especially when bought in bulk.
FORMAL SPRING COLOUR
Add aliums ‘globemaster’ and tulip ‘blue parrot’ and frame with buxus box hedging. Finish the bed off by adding ornamental gravel or a dense blue carpet of forget-me-nots.
EARLY SUMMER COLOUR
Create an informal Prairie garden. Add Iris ‘symphony’ for its subtle yellow colour. Combine with reds poppies and blues verbena. Add grasses for height and interest: miscanthus, stipa and festuca.
YELLOWS ⋅ BLUES
Combine yellow Tulip ‘sweet harmony’ and with a carpet of blue forget-me-nots.
Garden design ⋅ Complement with dark leave heucheras and berberis ⋅ Green leafed Euphorbia ⋅ White daffodils.
WINTER HOT COLOURS
Add Crocus ‘luteus’. Yellow goblets of colour, surrounded by a carpet of rich magenta – cyclamen coum. Add white snow drops, for that extra sparkle.
PLANTS ⋅ IDEAS ⋅ INSPIRATIONS
Planting guide ⋅ choosing plants ⋅ how to plant ⋅ aftercare
Plant groups ⋅ shrubs ⋅ hedges climbers ferns ⋅ evergreen ⋅ low maintenance ⋅ wildlife plants
Planting combinations ⋅ traditional ⋅ contemporary ⋅ zen
GARDEN DESIGN PROJECT COSTS · EXETER
For any garden design and landscaping project. Costs can easily mount up. Especially during a large build!
THE COST OF MATERIALS · GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
Materials are expensive. And you really get what you pay for. Especially when installing a natural stone patio. Cheap materials can be a false economy!
LABOUR COSTS · GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
Labor costs are cheap. And usually match the material costs! And if you are not careful your project can quickly spiral out of control. With extras and project slippage costs mounting up!
COSTINGS QUICK GUIDE · GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
Here’s a quick guide to project costings. And what to keep an eye on during your build. And some simple ideas on how to keep costs to a minimum!
MOUNTING COSTS ⋅ EXTRAS LISTS
Project costs easily and quickly mount up. Especially if you haven’t a detailed quote. With realistic costings.
Or you have forgotten to allow for some tasks. Essential to the garden design.
COMPETITORS ⋅ UNDER QUOTING
Many Landscapers simply under quote. To undercut their competitors. And secure the project. And they rely on the ‘extras list.
PROJECTS GOING OVERBUDGET
The project goes way over budget. With the customer footing the bill. Leading to tension and stress. If you have extras.
KEEP ABREAST OF EXTRAS · GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
Get a running total of the extras and project costs emailed weekly. May contractors will actively ‘seek’ extras. Seen as an easy way to generate extra profit. Rarely do they actively seek to save you money during the build!
PLANNING ⋅EXETER LANDSCAPES GARDEN DESIGN
It is possible to save time and money. Achieving more for less!
GET A BASIC GARDEN DESIGN IN PLACE
A basic garden design will help. Detailing each design element. Materials and plants.
PLANNING YOUR BUILD · GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
Your planning needs to be methodical and realistic. A detailed quote will help!
QUOTE EACH DESIGN ELEMENT
Each design element needs to be carefully quoted.
CREATE A LOGICAL ORDER · GARDEN DESIGN EXTER
And the project needs to be carried out in a logical order. Enabling you to save money at every stage.
GARDEN DESIGN PROJECT COSTS
For any garden design and landscaping project. Costs can easily mount up. Especially during a large build!
THE COST OF MATERIALS · GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
Materials are expensive. And you really get what you pay for. Especially when installing a natural stone patio. Cheap materials can be a false economy!
LABOUR COSTS · GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
Labor costs are cheap. And usually match the material costs! And if you are not careful your project can quickly spiral out of control. With extras and project slippage costs mounting up!
GETTING STARTED ⋅ GARDEN DESIGN ⋅ EXETER
Garden design ⋅ designer ⋅ exmouth ⋅ sidmouth ⋅ south devon ⋅ torbay ⋅ east devon
Time to get started with your new garden design, Exeter. Here’s our guide to re-designing your garden, Exeter.
CREATE STRONG GARDEN DESIGN ⋅ EXETER
Creating a strong design should always be your starting point. A good design will transform any garden design in Exeter.
KEY GARDEN DESIGN ELEMENTS
Helping you to identify key elements and focal points. Helping you to visualise the entire garden design, Exeter. Helping you to prioritize your overall project.
TYPES OF GARDENS
Over the years we have re-designed gardens of all shapes and sizes. Contemporary, traditional, and tropical garden designs in Exeter. For both traditional and contemporary properties. Urban Zen garden design is also gaining popularity.
Here’s our guide to re-designing your garden creating a great garden design through Exeter. Including key garden design themes, plants, and planting combinations for your garden design Exeter.
Plants · BBQs · Pizza Ovens · Woodstores
Our current favorite plants and garden accessories: are seating, BBQs, wood stores, and pizza ovens. Creating a great garden designer ⋅ design Exeter.
Re-design ⋅ Update Key Areas ⋅ Garden Design · Exeter
You may want to completely redesign your garden design. Or update key garden design areas in Exeter. Sometimes you don’t have the budget to redesign the whole garden design from scratch, Exeter. This is especially true of large mature gardens.
Update Key Areas · Garden Design Exeter
It’s sometimes a good idea to update key areas. Concentrating your time. Effort and money! You may want to create a new seating area. From decking or natural stone paving. Or create a pathway to link key areas in your garden design, Exeter.
Garden Make Overs · Design Exeter · Exmouth
This is where a maker over or updating key areas comes into play. Concentrate on key regions of your garden design. Rather than the garden as a whole.
Established Garden Design Exeter
Garden makeovers are great for established gardens. Which already contain key elements or focal points.
• Refreshing your planting can do wonders for your tired garden designer ⋅ design exeter.
• Cleaning your paving and brickwork. With a jet wash and specialist paving cleaner. Will smarted up any garden. At a relatively small cost. Especially if your budget is tight.
BUDGET · SIZE OF GARDEN · LEVELS· DRAINAGE
You need to think carefully about your budget. For your garden design Exeter. It is always more cost-effective to tackle the whole garden in one hit. Than attempt the garden design stage, by stage. For a large garden, this may be unfeasible. In terms of time and money. And you may need to prioritize your key design elements.
Materials · Labour · Garden Design · Exeter · Exmouth
Materials are generally expensive. Labor is never cheap. Some design elements can be materials-rich and labor hungry.
Rendered walls · block wall covered with rendered and painted. Look great in both traditional and contemporary garden design, Exeter.
Any wall will need a footing. To prevent cracks and the wall. Leaning and falling over. Over time.
Next, you need to lay the blocks. Add the stainless steel beading for the render. Add the render and paint. Labor and materials can be pricey! Especially when compared to a sleeper wall!
Raised beds⋅ Garden designer ⋅ design exeter
There are numerous uses for raised beds in your garden design. Add extra planting space to a courtyard garden. Sleepers look great and are good value for money in a traditional or courtyard garden. Plant with compact tall plants. Phormiums, grasses, and verbena will always complement each other in your garden designer ⋅ design exeter.
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Decking · Garden Design Exeter
Decking is great value for any garden design, Exeter. Softwood decking is easy to work with. And looks great. Especially when using smooth decking boards. Giving your garden design that boardwalk feels, Exeter.
Levels ·Decks ⋅ Garden Design · Exeter
Decks are great for changes in levels. Quality decking is always a classic in any garden design situation. Always opt for a natural timber deck.
Softwood Decking · Garden Design Exeter
Softwood decking offers great value for money. Available in both grooved and softwood decking boards. Hardwood decking will look great in any garden design throughout Exeter.
Installing Hardwood Decking · Garden Design Exeter
When installing hardwood decking. Think about using stainless steel screws for extra durability. Keep your decking design classic in your garden design.
Decking · Curves · Straight Lines
Add classic straight lines. Avoid curves. It’s more work and tends to look dated. Keep your decking boards straight and avoid diagonals. It makes your decking frame harder to design, wastes materials and looks fussy!
Creating a Boardwalk Feel · Garden Design Exeter
Go for the classic boardwalk feel in your garden designer ⋅ design exeter. Add recessed lighting. Allowing you to entertain well into the night.
Composite Decking
Quality composite decking may be an option for your garden design. It’s durable and comes in a variety of finishes and colors.
From faux timber to subtle shades of greys and light blues. Millboard is a premier composite decking product. Which will enhance any garden design in Exeter.
Paving · Garden Design Exeter
Paving can be relatively pricey. Especially when laying slate and granite paving.
Sandstone Paving
Opt for sandstone paving laid in single-sized pavers. Great value for materials. And the single-sized stones fill to reduce wastage. And labor for your garden design, Exeter.
Paths to link areas ⋅ Garden Design
Paths are a great way to add interest and link areas in your garden designer ⋅ design exeter. Straight paths look great in a formal traditional garden design. opt for strong curves for a contemporary garden design.
Paths · Paving · Natural Stone Setts
Sandstone, granite and slate look great in any garden design. Framing your paths with sandstone setts will add an extra level of detail to your garden. Try where possible to avoid steps, by creating a gradual gradient throughout your paths.
What is a level? · Garden Design · Exmouth · Designer · Exeter
It’s whether your garden is flat, or sloppy. Or generally uneven. Most gardens slope away from the house. The rainwater drains into the beds. And not your house.
Garden On Hills · Garden Design · Exmouth · Designer · Exeter
Some gardens are on hills. Many have retaining walls. Terraces or split levels. Or all three. Drainage can be a problem!
Fixing Levels · Garden Design · Exmouth · Designer · Exeter
Levels or a lack of them. Is always expensive. In terms of getting rid of materials. Bringing in materials. Or redistributing materials.
Decking · Levels · Garden Design · Exmouth · Designer · Exeter
Decking can be used to bridge minor unlevel areas. Drainage or waterlogging can be an issue in some garden design, Exeter. And is expensive to fix successfully.
Removing Clay · Top Soil · Garden Design · Exmouth · Designer · Exeter
If you are lucky. The first layer of your garden. Will be topsoil. Most of which. Will have been brought into your garden. Underneath. It’s likely you will hit the clay!
Getting Rid of Soil · Garden Design Exeter
When getting rid of soil. It’s a good idea to pile up the topsoil. And skip the clay. Saving the topsoil for turfing or filling raised beds. Hiring a mini digger. It will certainly help the clay removal.
Retaining Walls · Exmouth · Designer · Exeter
Adding retaining walls may be necessary. If your garden contains. Extremely changes in height. That can be expensive and time-consuming to construct.
Sleeper Retaining Walls · Exmouth · Designer · Exeter
This is probably the least expensive option for retaining soil. For small walls. 4-5 sleepers’ height. Concrete timber posts. Can be employed to hold the sleepers in place. For larger walls. It’s worth contacting a structural engineer.
One method involves slotting the sleepers into concerted steels.
SEATING AREAS · FOCAL POINTS · SCREENING AREAS
Most garden designs will need a seating area. For relaxation and outdoor dining. Adding areas for entertaining is always an important aspect of any garden design in Exeter.
It’s good to have at least one focal point in your garden design in Exeter. Decide on its location. A view from your house. Or from your garden seating area.
MASK AREAS · SCREENING · GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
Many areas have aspects that ruin your garden design, Exeter. The old concrete garage, storage sheds or outbuilding. They are practical and probably expensive to replace or even remove. Masking or screening could be your solution.
Hedges · Screening · Photina · Laurel · Yew · Garden Design Exeter
What would you like to hide? ⋅ Garden designer ⋅ design exeter
Many garden designs have unsightly areas. Things you can‘t really remove. Bins, the need for storage ⋅ recycling ⋅ garden tool ⋅ bikes. Old walls. Old sheds or outhouses.
Neighboring Properties · Garden Design Exeter
The view of neighbor’s satellite dishes! (my personal favorite) Maybe you are overlooked by neighbors and you want to create some privacy for your garden space. Screening may be the answer to your garden design prayers Exeter.
Why Not Add a Hedge For Privacy · Garden Design Exeter
A hedge is a green way to obscure unsightly features in your garden design, Exeter. Hedging options include modern photinia, fast-growing and easy to care for.
Hedging is always an option when trying to create some privacy in your garden designer ⋅ design exeter. It’s a long-term solution. As it can take a long time to grow! Think about its maintenance – avoid that nuisance leylandii. Option include pot-grown plants. These tend to be quite expensive. Especially the taller plants.
A Laurel Evergreen Hedge · Yew Hedges
Laurel hedging. Grows rapidly, creating a thick dense hedge. Can be labour intensive to prune. Yew is the king of hedges. Evergreen and lush. Prune carefully and lightly. Otherwise, you will create bare spots in your hedge.
Laurel hedging is more forgiving. Quick to gain height and evergreen. Can over time take over your garden design space. Requiring heavy pruning with a saw. The more you prune it the more it seems to grow back. It is resistant to honey fungus which seems to attach privet and the like.
Yew Hedging ⋅ Garden designer ⋅ design exeter
Yew hedging is the king of hedging. It can be slow-growing. Avoid cutting them back hard. As this can create holes in your prized hedging.
It can be easily scorched if planted during those long hot summer months. Once scorched there is no real going back for the plants. Becareful when pruning. Less is definitely more. Once you create a hole in your beautiful hedge is can be there forever!
Photinia Hedging ⋅ Garden Design Exeter
Photinia is an all-rounder. Fast-growing. Easy to care for and relatively easy to prune. Varieties are also available on flat trellis panels.
Creating instant cover on any fence or outbuilding. Its red leaves create a well-come winter interest. Fairly drought resistant. But does respond well to watering and feed during the summer.
Whips · Pot Grown Plants · Bare Root Hedging
Buying options include pot grown, whips, and bare root. Whips are the cheapest available in the autumn-winter months. Where the plants are dormant. Some may die, but they are so cheap it doesn’t really matter.
Add Pot-Grown Plants To Your Garden Design Exeter
Pot grown is the most expensive and can be planted throughout the year.
Bare Root Plants · Garden Design Exeter
Bare roots are kind of in between the two in price and maturity. The roots are bare – that is not in a pot. The roots do have a mesh around them. That you leave in place. Which retains some soil.
Rootballs are cheaper and generally put in those autumn-winter months. They need a lot of water and are prone to scorching. Some hedging plants are available as whips.
These are the least expensive and probably the quickest to plant. They will take a while to establish. Some will die. And the hedge can look scruffy for a few months. However, they are great for look runs of hedging when the value for money is a key consideration.
Planting · Watering · Feed · Hedging · Garden designer ⋅ design exeter
Plant in a trench and backfill. Available autumn and winter. When the plants are dormant. As with any plants water after planting.
Take Care in the Hot Summer Months
Keeping the plants will water during the summer can be problematic. Especially during long dry hot spells. Where your hedging can be scorched. Some plants do benefit from a sprinkling or bone meal or hedge in feed.
Climbers · White Jasmine · Clematis · Garden designer ⋅ design exeter
Climbers work well on fences, old sheds or out builds. Simple wire up your area and add your climber. White jasmine or Trachelospermum is great. Evergreen with a lush scent. White clematis is classic. Avoid ivy. It’s pretty invasive and becomes heavier. It will bring down your victorian garden wall.
Add climbers ⋅ Garden designer ⋅ design exeter
Disguise tired fencing or poor brickwork, with climbers. Simply attach wires and train the climbers against the fence or wall. White jasmine is evergreen. And offers all year-round cover.
Clematis are fast-growing and always a favorite. opt for a classic white variety. Honeysuckle is more vigorous and suited to a traditional garden designer ⋅ design Exeter. Saves the annual painting. Its works by replacing any rotten panels. I would avoid ivy. It does look good. But is a heavy climber and can pull down walls over time!
Other methods for masking areas
Slatted Fencing · Garden designer ⋅ design exeter
A contemporary slatted fence works well in both a traditional and contemporary garden design. A slatted fence can be used to clad sheds or outbuildings. They can be left natural, stained or painted. Timber options include planned softwood. Or planned hardwood. Such as cedar or meranti.
HOW TO ADD A SLATTED FENCE · GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
Why not update a tired fence or wall with a slatted fence in your garden design. Available in hardwood, softwood, or planed finishes. Slatted fences look great in traditional, contemporary, and tropical garden designs, Exeter.
Bamboo screens are a cheaper and quicker alternative. Great for tropical or zen garden designer ⋅ design exeter. Create a frame out of 2 x 4″ to attach your slatted fence, trellis or screen too. Hire a nail gun to make the project a lot easier!
Cladding · Garden designer ⋅ design exeter
Cladding works well on old outbuildings or garages. A variety of profiles are available. Including traditional Shiplap, Hardie Plank And TGV. Check out the Southern Timbers range. Cladding is tanalised. So can be left natural or painted. All Coat is great. No primer or under coat. Great coverage and one coat. Available in a great range of colours and finishes. Satin or matt always looks best in your garage design, Exeter.
SELECTING MATERIALS ⋅ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER[DIVIDER SCROLL_TEXT ]
Budgets · Taste · Quality · Garden designer ⋅ design exeter
Selecting natural materials will always help your garden design, Exeter. The materials will depend on your budget, tastes, and your overall garden design, Exeter.
Quality Materials
Quality natural materials will always look better and last longer. As they say. You get what you pay for. Saying that imported natural stone is good value. Even compared to man-made concrete products.
Natural Stone · Garden designer ⋅ design exeter
Natural stone will always enhance your garden design, Exeter. Natural stone ages well over time.
Natural stone · Slate · Sandstone · Granite · Limestone
Timber · Garden designer ⋅ design exeter
Quality timber looks great in any garden design in Exeter. Timber garden design ideas include Decking, contemporary slatted fencing, trellis, cladding and pergolas.
Exterior Timber · Treatment
All exterior timber is tanalised. Giving the wood protection from rot and insect attack. Timber is available in rough-sawn or planned finishes.
Boulders · Quality Timber And Natural Aggregates ⋅ Boulders · Pebbles
Boulder, pebbles, and shingle will all enhance your garden design. Combining complementary materials will always strengthen your garden design, Exeter.
Boulders will look great in a Zen or tropical garden design. Shingle looks great. Don’t overdo it. It’s not a car park. It’s not a great surface for tables and chairs. And forget bare feat. It looks got on a small scale. Around boulders.
Soften With Planting · Garden Design · Exeter · Designer
Finally, soften your hard landscaping with bold planting combinations. Always plant in groups, for maximum impact. And combine interesting foliage with strong vibrant colours. Creating a strong garden designer ⋅ design Exeter.
A personal favorite for foliage phormiums, pittosporum, tom thumb, box ball and bamboo. Color alliums, agapanthus, and crocosmia. For all-year interest stip grasses, Miscanthus grass, and tree ferns.
LOOK AT YOUR GARDEN DESIGN · EXETER
LOOK AT YOUR GARDEN DESIGN ⋅ CREATE A WISH LIST
It’s a good starting point, to create a wish list, for your garden design in Exeter. Be realistic, in terms of your garden space when creating your garden design in Exeter. And bear in mind your garden design budget.
Remember at the end of your garden design project. Leave some money for your plants.
What To Get Rid OF And What To Keep
Be practical. You can’t get rid of everything when creating your new garden designer ⋅ design Exeter. You may need a compost bin, storage for bikes, and an area for drying clothes. You can hide and mask areas and improve others! Try to prioritize your garden design in Exeter.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KEEP? ⋅ BE POSITIVE ⋅ EXETER GARDEN DESIGN
It’s always tempting to want a completely blank canvas when creating your new garden design. Great if you have a large budget and a lot of time when designing your garden. Some things are expensive to fix in any garden. A sloping garden. Removing large trees. Replacing existing patios.
Mature Plants · Existing Paving · Garden Design Exeter
You may be lucky enough to have some mature plants ⋅ trees and shrubs. They may just need a shape or prune. Maybe you have a natural stone patio, that needs a good clean or repointing. Saving money in your garden designer ⋅ design exeter.
WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE? ⋅ BE BRAVE! ⋅ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
Sometimes you need to bite the bullet and remove and replace it when designing your garden. Tired leggy plants. Mossy, thin lawns. Rotten timber ⋅ deck ⋅ fences or sheds. Old concrete pavers. Won’t enhance any garden designer ⋅ design exeter
Go For Smaller Beds For Low Maintenance
Large beds ⋅ can be hard to maintain. Go low maintenance ⋅ smaller beds ⋅ add bark and select drought torrent plants. Evergreen shrubs for all-year interest. Plant bulbs and perennials for a splash of colour.
Seating Areas ⋅ Garden Design · Exeter
You probably want a flat seating area for entertaining, with a table and chairs. Avoid gravel, it’s for car parks.
Create a contemporary sandstone patio for your garden designer ⋅ design Exeter. Paving options include sandstone natural paving, granite natural stone paving, porcelain and slate natural stone paving.
Render Walls ⋅ Garden designer ⋅ design Exeter
Add a white rendered wall raised bed, creating an ‘outdoor’ room, in your contemporary garden designer ⋅ design exeter.
Great for retaining soil in a garden. Or again creating more planting space. K-render is a great product. It has a pigment in it. And never needs painting.
Vegetable Garden⋅ Garden designer ⋅ design exeter
Create a vegetable garden out of softwood sleepers or decking boards in your garden design. Add drainage material and fill with soil and compost. Why not add an irrigation system or a leaking hose to cut down on watering during those long hot summer months!
FOCALS POINT ⋅ SEATING AREAS ⋅ GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
Add specimen trees or shrubs ⋅ Garden designer ⋅ design exeter
Some plants are fillers. Some plants add focal points in key areas in your garden designer ⋅ design exeter. Specimen plants add interest and structure to your garden design, Exeter.
Add Ever Greens · For All Year Cover
Evergreens are useful for all year-round cover. And many can be clipped into architectural shapes. Great examples include ⋅ box balls ⋅ bay tree pyramids ⋅ pleached photinia.
Specimen Plants Don’t Have To Be Expensive
Specimen plants don’t have to be expensive. But sometimes have to be planted on mass for maximum effect.
Palms · Bamboo · Garden Design Exeter
Bamboo always looks good. If well water and given the occasional feed. Palms are more expensive and useful in milder south climates. Avoid exposing your palm to high winds as they can end up looking tired and scorched in your garden designer ⋅ design exeter.
Magnolia · Camellias
Stellata magnolia has magnificent blooms. Camellias offer welcomed colored blooms in late spring or early summer.
Bamboo always looks impressive in any tropical setting. Tree ferns and chamaerops palms look great planted with phormiums and agapanthus.
WATER FEATURES ⋅ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
Water features always add sound and movement to any outdoor space. Wall-mounted fountains are great for courtyard garden designer ⋅ design exeter.
Water Features For Small Spaces
Where space is at a premium. If you have more space add a formal pool. Anything reclaimed will look good. Including galvanized troughs. If they leak don’t worry. Buy a square pond insert. Plant around it to disguise the pond liner. Soft to the top with large pebbles or shingle.
Large Ponds? · Child Friendly?
Avoid large ponds as they can be high maintenance. And are they not child or pet friendly?
Instead opt for a natural drilled stone, fed from a buried sump and grill. Power by a small electric pump. Disguised the grill with stones, pebbles, and planting. Sometimes a large shallow corten steel dish can add interest. Creating reflection in your garden design exter.
MORE IDEAS ⋅ FOR PLANTING COMBINATIONS
Here’s a selection of planting ideas we have used over and over again in our gardens.
WHITE FLOWER ⋅ GARDEN DESIGN
Exeter Landscapes White Combinations ⋅ foxglove ⋅ hydrangea ⋅ tulip ⋅ garden design ⋅ designer exmouth
An old favorite · Garden Design Exeter
Recreate the timeless classic. Restrict your colour palette. Select plants flowering in shades of white or cream. Create a white twilight glow.
Classic whites
Tulips ⋅ foxgloves ⋅ astilbe deutschland ⋅ white hydrangea ⋅ gaura ⋅ clematis ⋅ climbing rose ⋅ rises ⋅ pittosporum ‘tombia’.
CONTRAST WHITES ⋅ DARK COLOURS
Add a contemporary twist by adding darker tones. Contrast groups of white tulips contrast with ‘Queen of Night’ black variety. Surround white tulips with ornamental black grass (ophiopogon Niger Lilyturf).
Dark colours ⋅ pittosporium ‘tomb tumb’ ⋅ phormiums ⋅ smoke bush ⋅ black bamboo.
Exeter Landscapes Relaxing Plants ⋅ hellebore ⋅ silver birch ⋅ snowdrop ⋅ garden design ⋅ designer exmouth
TURN UP THE HEAT ⋅ HOT COLOURS
Hot Plants – Kniphothia ⋅ crocosmia ⋅ rudbeckia ⋅ garden designer ⋅ design exeter ⋅ garden designer exmouth
Add hot colours for extra zip. Combine red, yellow and purple hues. Plants ⋅ cotinus ‘royal purple, achillea, rudbeckia, kniphothia ‘red hot poker’, crocosmia, allium and echinops. Add a dark back drop of berberis or a smoke bush for added contrast.
Exeter Landscapes New Zealand Inspired ⋅ bottle brush ⋅ allium ⋅ smoke bush ⋅ garden designer ⋅ design exeter ⋅ designer exmouth
FAVOURITE PLANTS ⋅ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
Small garden designer ⋅ design exeter ⋅ oak sleeper raised bed ⋅ designer ⋅ exeter ⋅ exmouth
Here’s a selection of plants, I’ve used repeatedly in my garden designer ⋅ design exeter., Experience enables you to select plants that will work well in most design situations.
These plants are generally low maintenance. And will be happy in most growing conditions. However, most plants will need some care! Remember most plants don’t like to be waterlogged. This will rot them overtime. There are exceptions: Iris, some bamboo and hostas!
Favorite Plants · Japanese Zen ⋅ ⋅ Carex ⋅ Japanese blood grass ⋅ Pennisetum
GRASSES ⋅ COST ⋅ CARE · GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
Most grasses are relatively inexpensive and don’t require a great deal of care. There are deciduous and evergreen varieties.
Deciduous grasses turn ‘golden’ over winter. And create great architectural features in any winter garden design. Contrast with red-berried skimmia, for winter interest.
Deciduous Grasses Care
Deciduous grasses need a ‘hair’ cut in the early spring. To remove the winter thatch before the spring growth appears. Evergreen grasses will need a quick tidying in early spring. To remove any dead grass strands.
Caring For Miscanthus · Garden Design Exeter
If you plant miscanthus grass. Great for larger gardens. Prune back in late April with secateurs. Be careful not to remove any new shoots. Grasses can be easily divided to create new plants. But be careful not to lose the grass’s overall appealing shape.
HOW TO PLANT GRASSES IN YOUR GARDEN DESIGN ⋅ EXETER
LARGER GARDEN DESIGN ⋅ EXETER
Large gardens can be planted easily and cheaply with great swaths of grasses. Miscanthus and stipa being favourites. Creating movement and texture in your borders.
TEXTURES AND SHAPES
It’s important to add contrasting shapes and colors. Beds of standalone grasses can easily date! Add some shapes and height. Silver birch trees work well in a contemporary setting. Box and bay for a more traditional feel.
ADD SOME COLOUR ⋅ GRASSES GARDEN DESIGN
White agapanthus ⋅ allium ⋅ blue agapanthus ⋅ garden design
For a prairie garden design. Add rudbeckia, helenium and echinacea. When planting smaller grasses. Crocosmia, alliums and agapanthus work well.
SMALLER COURT-YARD GARDEN ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
Pots & planters ⋅ garden design
Grasses In Pots · Raised Beds
Grasses look great planted in groups in large pots. They also look great in raised beds. Combine with phormiums and verbena for a modern classic.
Zinc pots work well in a contemporary or zen garden design. Terracotta pots are great for that classic feel. Remember ceramic pots need to be frostproof. And it’s a good idea to elevate them from that cold winter patio. Four pieces of broken slab will work well.
Reclaimed Materials · DIY Pots
You can improvise. Old zinc water tanks look great & are sturdy enough for bamboo. Keep an eye out on gumtree & eBay. Make your own trough from reclaimed pallets or 6 inch gravel boards from your local builder’s merchant.
HANGING BASKETS ⋅ SINGLE COLOURS ⋅ NON- VARIEGATED BLOOMS
I’m not a huge fan of hanging baskets. However, they can look effective, when planted on mass with a single colour and a single variety. opt for bold non-variegated foliage.
REDS · WHITES · YELLOWS · GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
Red, whites or yellow flowers can work well. Bedding plants plugs can easily be purchased on-line, early in the season. Don’t be tempted to plant out, before the frost has finally receded. If you are prepared for a little leg work. These plugs are great value! J Parkers always have great quality plants.
Begonia ⋅ Geranium ⋅ cosmos ⋅ garden designer ⋅ design exeter
Begonia Non-Stop Yellow (Maxi Plugs) ⋅ https://www.jparkers.co.uk/begonia-nonstop-yellow-maxi-plugs-0013385c
Geranium Century F1 Red (Maxi Plugs) ⋅ www.jparkers.co.uk/33-geranium-f1-red-0006760c
Cosmos Xanthos Lemon Sherbet (Maxi Plugs) ⋅ https://www.jparkers.co.uk/cosmos-xanthus-lemon-sherbet-collection-1
ADD COLOUR ⋅ ALLIUMS ⋅ AGAPANTHUS ⋅ CROCOSMIA
Alliums look great with box and phormiums. Plants as bulbs in autumn. Choose from purple or white. Select globe masters for maximum impact. Or powder puff for larger areas.
Agapanthus For A Tropical Feel
Agapanthus looks great in a tropical garden designer ⋅ design Exeter. Blue or white flowers are available. Combine with carex grass, phormium, and palms for an exotic feel.
Crocosmia · Planted On Mass
Crocosmias always look better planted on mass. Select crocosmia lucifer for a rich red display. Contain them in raised beds or planters as they will spread over time. Combine with hebes and Pennisetum grass for contemporary garden designer ⋅ design exeter.
BAMBOO ⋅ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
Bamboo may not be everyone’s cup of tea. It’s great for screening. And cutting down the noise from neighbors.
Bamboo Pots & Planters · Garden Design Exeter
It can be planted in pots and planters. If they are large and sturdy enough. They can take over beds if left unchecked. Bamboo can be planted in beds in pots or retained using a bamboo membrane.
Bamboo Is A Thirsty Plant · Garden Design Exeter
They are thirsty in those long hot summer months. So, water well to prevent scorching. And excessive leaves falling.
Bamboo · Support For Windy Conditions
It’s worth giving some support in windy locations. Add an elasticated bungee cord halfway up the height of the bamboo. Tie to a fence or stakes. Looks great on its own as a screen. Add rocks and boulders for interest.
BOX HEDGING ⋅ TOPIARY ⋅ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
Box hedging ⋅ garden designer ⋅ design exeter
Why Box Hedging?
A firm favorite for any traditional garden design. Frames a bed perfectly. Remember is slow-growing so if you want lush thick topiary.
Planting Box Hedging · Garden Design Exeter
Buy mature plants and use at least 6 per metre. Works well with hebes and clipped lavender. Box hedging always looks great with oak sleepers. Add hebes and gauara for interest.
Box Hedging For a Modern Garden Design Exeter
For a more modern garden ⋅ design exeter. opt for shapes. If you have the budget. Group several box balls together. Or cubes look great surrounded by grasses.
Garden accessories ⋅ garden design ⋅ exeter
Add an outdoor fireplace ⋅ garden designer ⋅ design exeter ⋅ exmouth
Why not add some accessories to your garden design and landscaping, Exeter.
Accessories ⋅ Chimneys ⋅ firepits ⋅ woodsheds ⋅ seating ⋅ sunken hot tubs ⋅ pizza ovens
Create A Focal Point In Your Garden Design
Great for adding some interest to any garden design project. Why not add a practical focal point to your garden design project? Here are some of our top ideas for garden design accessories, Exeter.
Practical Or Purely Aesthetic · Garden Design Exeter
Many accessories are practical: BBQs, fire pits and chimineas. Other accessories can be aesthetic: sculptures and lighting for example.
It’s A Matter Of Personal Taste
Most accessories are a matter of personal taste. Try to complement your garden design and fit in with your garden’s layout. Maximizing your garden’s usable space.
Turn up the heat! ⋅ Chiminea ⋅ outdoor fireplaces ⋅ fire pits
Outdoor fireplace ⋅ garden designer ⋅ design exeter ⋅ exmouth
Extend The Party Into The Night
Why not extend the party into the night? Add some heat to your garden design. A simple fire dish will easily add some heat to those cool evenings. opt for a corten steel dish for maximum style.
Ceramic · Cast Iron · Steel Fire Dish
Chimineas offer good value. They are available in fired ceramic or iron. Chimineas are great as the chimney can direct the smoke away from friends and family. Smoke eye can be a problem on a windy night when using a fire pit. Chimineas are designed mainly for wood. As coal can in some cases causes them to crack.
Add a fire pit to your garden design project
Firepit ⋅ box hedging ⋅ garden design ⋅ exmouth ⋅ exeter
Why not go the whole hog and opt for a fireplace and chimney. Fireplaces will add some theatre to any late-night party. And are great focal points during daylight? Chimneys can be constructed easily from block work. And easily clad with render or stone cladding.
Create a covered wood store ⋅ add a putting green
Create a wood store ⋅ add a putting green garden design ⋅ exeter ⋅ exmouth
Create a covered wood store for your garden design and landscaping, Exeter.
Design A Wood Shed · Garden Design Exeter
Roofing options include timber shingles, slate, or tiles. The stacked timber looks great. A useful addition to your fire pit or log burner.
Why not add an artificial putting green to your design? Great entertainment for family and friends.
Create a seating area ⋅ size and materials
create a tropical paradise ⋅ garden seating ⋅ garden design ⋅ exeter ⋅ exmouth
Why Not Create A Seating Area
Create a seating area for your garden design and landscaping, Exeter. Think about a comfortable-sized area, for entertaining. 3 x3m is probably the smallest area you could comfortably get away with, for table and chairs.
Decking ⋅ garden seating area ⋅ designer ⋅ exeter ⋅ exmouth
Seating Areas · Materials · Natural Stone
Materials include paving and decking. Sandstone natural paving is great value. And works well with both contemporary and traditional garden designs. Kandla grey works well for a contemporary garden design.
Why Not Add Decking · Garden Design Exeter
Decking can work well in your garden design. Especially for elevated positions, at the end of a garden. Decking looks great in a tropical or prairie garden design.
Plants For Decking
Prairie garden design plants include grasses: stipa, miscanthus and carex. Add some colour: Rudbeckia, helium, and echinacea.
Choose your type of seating ⋅ metal ⋅ timber ⋅ rattan
Hardwood seating ⋅ box ball hedging ⋅ garden design ⋅ exeter ⋅ exmouth
Type Of Garden Furniture For Seating
Seating options include rattan, metal, or timber seating. Rattan is long-lasting and won’t rot or decay over time. It’s extremely comfortable and practical. Modular designs can be easily stacked and covered for the winter. Rattan styles include traditional and modern, available in a wide range of colours and prices.
Painting metal furniture ⋅ hammarite ⋅ Alythane ⋅ Rust-Oleum Combi Color
I like metal seating. It’s classic and looks great in any type of garden design. It’s not as comfortable as rattan. If you don’t have any, invest in some good cushions! Metal seating can be cast iron or aluminium. Over time, metal seating does weather and does require some maintenance.
Hammerite Paint · Garden Furniture
It can be painted easily. First, remove any flaky paint with a wire brush, scraper, or sandpaper. Most people paint exterior metal with hammarite – using a brush or spray. The colour can be limited, matt is the best finish.
Garden furniture ⋅ garden design ⋅ exeter ⋅ exmouth ⋅ devon
Rust-Oleum 7500 Alkythane Paint · Garden Furniture
Rust-Oleum 7500 Alkythane is a great metal paint. It’s not cheap. But great for most metals and can be mixed to any RAL colour. Try anthracite grey for a start.
Painting Your Furniture Black
Black can be problematic. Especially if you are painting the furniture outside. As the black paint will show up the slightest amount of dust and dirt. You can usually get away with one coat. Take care it will easily stain paving and timber!
Priming bare metal ⋅ Rust-Oleum Combi Color
It’s a good idea to prime any bare metal. This will help your paint too stick to the furniture. And prevent any paint from flaking off over time. Rust-oleum combi color is a great product, which can be used on both metal and plastic.
Rendered walls ⋅ garden design ⋅ exmouth ⋅ exeter
Applying paint ⋅ roller ⋅ paintbrush ⋅ water-based paints ⋅ oil-based paints
Make sure all surfaces are clean and grease-free. Whether to use a roller or a brush, is a matter of personal choice. For large flat areas. A roller will always be quicker. And will produce a flatter, brush-less finish. Brushes are better for uneven surfaces.
Paint usually comes in two flavours. Water-based and oil-based paints. Oil-based paints in the past. Were always considered more hardwearing. And associated with a high gloss finish. With advances in paint technology. The differences between the two type, are less distinct. Water-based paint can be hardwearing. Oil-based paint is messier. And does require more skill to get a good finish. Water-based paint is easier to apply. And more convenient to use. Its less messy, spills and brushes are easier to clean up! I’m a convert to water-base paint!
Add the wow factor ⋅ add a sunken hot tub
Tropical plants ⋅ garden design ⋅ exmouth
Why not add a splash of luxury. By adding a heated hot tub to your garden design and landscaping, Exeter. They look great with any tropical or zen planting scheme. Add tree ferns, phormiums, ferns and palms for structure. Add crocosmia, agapanthus and canna lilies for colour.
Combine with hardwood decking and add a bespoke slatted fence for extra luxury. And add some lighting for effect.
Create an outdoor kitchen ⋅ add a Pizza oven
Why not add a pizza oven to your garden design. A modern alternative to the traditional BBQ. Modern pizza ovens can create restaurant-quality food, in your own garden. Great for meat-eaters and vegetarians.
WOOD · GAS · Hybrid Fuels
Options include wood-burning pizza ovens. Gas-fired pizza ovens. And hybrids: fuel by both gas and wood. Many say gas ovens are just as realistic tasting, as wood. Gas is more convenient. Quicker to light, and easier to control the temperature.
What To Cook
Great for cooking pizza, bread, and meats. For example, legs of lamb. Why not add your own wood store, they look great. Keep your timber dry! Create a counter and a storage area around your pizza oven. An area to prepare & serve your food. And storage for utensils.
Design Trends · Outdoor Kitchens
Outdoor kitchens are the latest trend hitting garden designs this year. Forget the small BBQ. Go for the outdoor kitchen. Great for entertaining and partying. Add lighting to extend the party into the night.
Modular Kitchens ∙ Garden Design ∙ Exeter
Kitchen units are available in discreet modular units. Stainless steel finishes are a firm favourite. Easy to clean, with a contemporary look and feel. Countertops can be granite or brushed steel.
Ovens ∙ Grills ∙ Garden Design ∙ Exeter
Gas or electric options are available. Grills are great for meat and fish dishes.
Sinks ∙ Preparation Area ∙ Garden Design ∙ Exeter
Sinks can be added to your outdoor kitchen. Incorporating a food preparation area. And storage areas. You will need an insulated water supply and a wastewater connection.
RECIPES ∙ RECIPES ∙ RECIPES∙ RECIPES ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
TERIYAKI SALMON ∙ INGREDIENTS
2cm piece of fresh root ginger, finely sliced – finely chop…
2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely sliced add some flavour
3 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp mirin (rice wine)
Olive oil
4 salmon fillets (about 500g in total)
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
Marinate salmon in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Pan fry fillets. Add a splash of water if the sauce is too thick. Serve with rice or noodles.
JERK CHICKEN ∙ INGREDIENTS
12 chicken thighs, bone-in
1 lime, halved
hot sauce, to serve (optional)
FOR THE MARINADE
1 big bunch of spring onions, roughly chopped
a thumb-sized piece of ginger, roughly chopped
3 garlic cloves
½ a small onion
3 scotch bonnet chillies, deseeded if you want less heat
½ tsp dried thyme, or 1 tbsp thyme leaves
1 lime, juiced
3 tbsp soy sauce
3tbsp vegetable oil
3 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp ground allspice
FOR THE RICE & PEAS
200g basmati rice
400g can coconut milk
1 large bunch of spring onions, sliced
2 large thyme sprigs
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tsp ground allspice
2 x 410g cans kidney beans, drained
Blend the marinade in a blender. And marinate the chicken for the last hours. BBQ the chicken on indirect heat for around 30 mins. Boiled up the rice and peas. And serve with a squeeze of lemon.
GARDEN ROOM USES ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
Yoga Room ∙ Kids playroom∙ Man Cave ∙ Games Room ∙ Office Space ∙ Music Studio ∙ Bar ∙ Cinema Room ∙ GYM ∙ Guest Bed Room ∙ Utility Room
Installing a garden room is a great way of introducing extra space into your home. Great for a dedicated place for work or relaxation.
GARDEN ROOMS ∙ INSULATION ∙ ELECTRICS ∙ HEATING
Most garden rooms are insulated. Floors, walls and ceilings. Allowing all-year use.
Electrics · Sockets · Heaters · Garden Design Exeter
Electrics enable lighting and power for sockets. And heating to be added. Options include simple convection heaters. Or electric oil-filled radiators. It’s also possible to install a wood burner. You will need to install a stainless-steel flue through the roof.
Irrigation ⋅ Landscape Gardeners Exeter ∙ Landscaping
Keeping your Bed Watered
I dry bed can be a killer for most plants. Lack of rain. Hot Temperatures. Direct sunlight. And poor-quality soil. Can this all lead, to your bed drying out? Over those long hot summer months.
What can cause a bed to dry out and affect your planting?
Poor Soil ⋅ Landscape Gardeners Exeter ∙ Landscaping
Clay can be a problem. Your soil becomes waterlogged during those wet winter months. A Soggy mess. Plant roots become waterlogged. Causing the plants to rot.
Clay becomes dry as a bone. In those hot summer months. Cause plants to dry out. Clay limits root growth. And it’s generally low in nutrients. Most plants don’t do well in a clay environment. Options include removing it. Improve it. Avoid it.
Removing Clay ∙ can be an expensive option. It involves digging out the clay. Preferably with a mini digger. Getting rid of it. Skipping or grab hire. And replacing it with some better-quality soil. Topsoil is preferable. Especially screeded.
Improving Clay Soil ∙ is not for the faint-hearted. It involves adding some organic matter to your clay soil. To try to break it up. Composting from your bin will help. Make sure it’s well-rotted. And avoid adding any slimy part composted grass cuttings. Well-rotted manure is great. Rich in fibre and full of nutrients. Compost can also add. Clay breaker granules can add to individual planting holes.
Avoid the Clay ⋅ Landscape Gardeners Exeter ∙ Landscaping
Sometimes clay is found in pockets. Don’t plant there. If you want to. Consider adding a raised bed. This cuts out the effort of removing the offending clay. Create a timber structure out of sleepers. Softwood or new oak. And then fill topsoil. You can add some drainage materials before your soil. Rubble and bricks work well. Any excess water will drain out of the bottom of the sleepers. You don’t really need to add any drainage holes!
Bark ⋅ Landscape Gardeners Exeter ∙ Landscaping
The bark is great on two counts. It suppresses your weeds. And traps in moisture. Reducing evaporation from your beds. Preventing your bed from drying out. It does also rot down over time. Adding nutrients to your soil.
Feeding Your Beds ∙ Pots ∙Planters ∙ Plants
Finally. It’s a good idea to periodically feed your beds and pots. Liquid fertiliser is convenient for pots and individual plants. When planting a good hand full of blood, fish and bone. Will give each plant a good start. Great also for establishing new hedges. Chicken pellets are a cost-effective way of adding fertiliser to established plants. Add the pellets around the plant. Make sure the pellets aren’t swamping the base of the plant. They can scorch, the more delicate plants. As they are rich in ammonia.
Add an irrigation system. To your garden design exeter.
Cost Efficient · Dripers · Outside Taps
Irrigation systems have become cost-effective. Over recent years. They can be run off an outside tap. Battery-operated timers can be used to control your zones. Each dripper efficiently delivers water to each plant. They slowly saturate the soil. Reducing runoff. Prevent water loss from the bottom of plants.
Design Your Irrigation System
Irrigation systems deliver water efficiently to each plant or planter. Drippers saturate the soil around each plant. Reducing water loss from runoff. Or water flowing out of the bottom of your planters. The leaky hose can be added to beds. To water groups of bedding plants or coiled around larger shrubs. Valves can be added to create zones. Which can be manually turned off. It’s easy to add extra drippers or zones to existing systems.
Supplement Your Water Butt
Irrigation systems are a great way to supplement your water butt. Especially in those long hot summer months. And are a great way to ensure your plants are watered during holidays or weekends away.
Create a low-maintenance garden design, exeter.
Low Maintenance Gardens ∙ Garden designer ⋅ design exeter ∙ Designer ∙ Exmouth
Why not create a low maintenance garden. Allowing you more time to relax!
Raised Beds ∙ are a great way of adding planting to your garden space. Forget the kneeling and bending over! Great for gardens with poor soil, or clay conditions.
Adding topsoil on top of some drainage material will create the perfect growing conditions. Forget digging that clay soil. Raised beds are free draining. And a great way of creating vertical greenery. They work well in town gardens. Where space is at a premium. Or can be used to create herb beds or vegetable beds in larger gardens.
Softwood sleepers are great value for money. Shapes include traditional L shapes or rectangles. Or contemporary hexagons. Which can be stacked together. Creating a honeycomb structure. New Old sleepers can also be used. And are extremely long-lasting.
Bark ∙ Garden designer ⋅ design exeter ∙ Designer ∙ Exmouth
The bark is great for mulching your beds. Barks are great for controlling weeds. It smothers them. Preventing them from taking hold in your garden design. It’s also great for trapping moisture. It also prevents water loss from evaporation. Keep your plants happy. And reducing your time spent watering. Better for you. Your water bill and the environment.
Artificial Grass ∙ Garden designer ⋅ design exeter ∙ Designer ∙ Exmouth
Artificial grass has been around for a long time. It recently got more realistic in appearance and texture. Great for smaller gardens or areas on slopes which are hard to mow.
Looks Greate All Year Round
Artificial grass looks great all year round. It’s not a soggy mess in winter. Or a dried-out in those long hot summer months. Forget the constant mowing. The feed and weeding. It’s also child and pet friendly.
The grass is installed with crushed concrete and grano dust. For a firm smooth base. Next is the weed membrane. And finally the realistic artificial grass! The grass can either be nailed into place. Or stuck down onto timber or concrete border. With exterior glue.
Why Artificial Grass ∙ Garden designer ⋅ design exeter
Artificial grass is a low-maintenance product. That is extremely child and pet friendly. And looks great in gardens. Where natural grass struggles to grow.
Is Artificial Grass Realistic ∙ Garden designer ⋅ design exeter
Artificial grass has come a long way in recent years. Forget the shiny plastic grass. Found on your local fruit or veg stores. Artificial grass is extremely realistic in appearance. It even has a built-in brown thatch. Found in natural grass.
Does it require any maintenance ∙ Artificial grass is extremely low maintenance? Forget the constant mowing. Water during those long hot summer months. Or the stress of those hose pipe bands.
Great Lawn 365 Days of the Year ∙ Garden designer ⋅ design exeter
Artificial grass enables you to use your lawn 365 days of the year. Forget those muddy wet winter lawns. Artificial grass drains well and won’t leave muddy footprints in the lounge.
Is Artificial Grass ∙ Child ∙ Pet Friendly ∙ Garden designer ⋅ design exeter
Artificial grass is great for families with children and pets. Is resistant to damage from kids. Including those football matches in the rain. It will enable the kids to use the garden in those wetting winter and spring months. Artificial grass is resistant to pet damage. And can be easily sanitised.
Is It Easy To Install ∙ Garden designer ⋅ design exeter
It’s relatively quick and easy to install. Depending on the garden project! A good layer or crushed concrete. Creates the base of the artificial grass. This creates great drainage. And prevents the grass from sinking over time. A weed membrane prevents any weeds. And a layer of grano dust. Enables the grass to a have a level and smooth finish. And final the artificial grass!
CONSTRUCTING RAISED BEDS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
Raised Beds ∙ Terracing Your Garden Design ∙ Exeter
Raised beds are great for your garden design. Raised Beds are great for terracing a sloppy garden. Ideally, you would want to level your garden. This can be costly. Int requires a digger to move the soil and create a level.
Getting Rid of Soil ∙ Clay ∙ Garden Design ∙ Exeter
Scrap off the topsoil. And you are probably going to hit the clay. One option for your sloping garden is to create a flat terrace for entertainment. A patio or a deck. Retain the soil at the end of the patio using a retaining wall.
Skips ∙ It’s worth getting rid of the clay. Depending on the amount of clay. Will determine your method. Skips are a good option. Most skip companies put a limit on the skip size for soil. Usually a 6-yard skip. Due to weight considerations.
Grab Hire ∙ For larger amounts of soil. Grab hire is going to be your best option. They are not for the faint heart. You will need somewhere to stack the soil. And it’s a good idea to have a mini digger on hand. To stack up the pile!
Constructing Raise Beds ∙ Sleeper Retaining Walls ∙ Garden Design ∙ Exeter
How are you going to cut your sleeper is your first consideration. Chainsaws, circular saws, handsaws or chop saws. For safety. The chop saw is the bed option. It’s a good idea to have a trestle (also known as a bandstand) or a workmate. To rest your sleeper on.
Most chop saws won’t cut through the sleeper in one pass. One option, especially for softwood. Is to finish the cut with a handsaw. Alternatively, you can turn the sleeper and make another pass with the chop saw. It’s a good idea to mark around the entire sleeper. With a speed square!
Fixing Sleeper Together ∙ Garden Design ∙ Exeter
Timber lock screws are strong. However, they are hard to remove once in! Trouble some if you want to adjust your sleeper beds. Long timber screws work well. And can be carefully removed! Corner brackets are great for setting up your sleeper. Give your project extra strength. And steel window retaining straps. Are great for tying rows of sleepers together.
PROBLEM LAWNS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
Exeter landscapes guide to achieving a great lawn in your garden designer ⋅ design exeter.
MOSSY LAWNS ∙ REMOVE THE SHADE ∙ REMOVE THE MOSS ∙ OVERSEED THE LAWN ∙ THIN LAWNS ∙ WET WATERLOGGED LAWNS (QUICK FIX) ∙ ADD LAWN SAND ∙ WORM CASTS
MOSSY LAWNS ∙ You have a close look at your lawn. And it’s full of moss. Typically, mossy lawns are found in shady wet lawns.
REMOVE THE SHADE ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
Try to remove the shade. If it is due to trees and vegetation. Tree to reduce your tree canopy. And reduce any hedges and vegetation.
REMOVE THE MOSS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
For smaller patches. Rake out with a fine rake. For large areas. Use a mossy killer. Once the moss is removed. You are going to find you have a thin lawn. You can also use a commercial machine to scarify your lawn.
OVERSEED THE LAWN ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
Mix some good-quality grass seed with compost. And scatter other the thin patches. Water for the next couple of weeks.
DETTER THE BIRDS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
Depending on the local weather conditions. You want to have to add some string and foil. To prevent the local birds from feasting on your new grass seed.
THIN LAWNS ∙ If your lawn is full of dead thatch. First, hire a machine and scarify the lawn. Next, overseed with a mix of grass seed and compost. Water the seed well over the next few weeks.
MOSS ∙ CLOVER ∙ PLANTAINS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
A wet lawn can lead to a mossy lawn. Encouraging clover and plantains. At the expense of your grass.
WET WATERLOGGED LAWNS (QUICK FIX) ∙ Spike the lawn with an aerator. Use a manual system for a smaller garden. And hire a large machine for a large lawn.
ADD LAWN SAND ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
Next spread a thin layer of lawn sand onto the surface of the lawn. And then brush in the sand. Using a stiff brush.
WORM CASTS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
Worm cast can be a problem for pristine lawns. Especially If the cast are trodden into the lawn. Apply lawn sand. As described above. The large sand has FE or iron in the mix. Which irritates the worms. Driving them to lower down in the soil. Solving the problems.
YOUR SOIL ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
You cannot see it but the soil under your grass. Will determine the health of your turf. Newer gardens. Should have a good level of topsoil. Creating a healthy. Free draining lawn.
FINDING CLAY ∙ Digg a little down in your garden. And you are likely to hit clay.
CLAY SOILS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
We have all heard of London clay. Most areas of the country suffer from the gardener’s misery of clay. Good topsoil is free draining and fertile.
LOAM SOIL ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
The idea of soil loam. It is great for planting. And great for your lawn. Most lawns will benefit from a good four” of good quality topsoil.
ADDING EXTRA TOPSOIL ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
Sometimes the clay layer is localised to one area of the garden. It is possible to dig up the clay and replace it with topsoil. Especially if you want to create a bed for planting. It’s hard work.
DEALING WITH CLAY ∙ LAWNS ∙ GARDEN DESIGN ∙ EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
Heavy clay soil can be problematic for lawns.
CLAY WATER LOGGING ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
Clay soils can cause water logging. It is those wet winter months. Making the lawn unusable.
CLAY DRY LAWNS ∙ And bone dry in those long hot summer months.
CREATING BETTER DRAINAGE ∙ SLOPING GARDENS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
An uneven garden can create drainage problems. Pooling water in dips. Or water logging on the bottoms of slopes.
HIRING A MINI DIGGER ∙ And for larger areas it worth considering hiring a mini digger and a skip loader.
ADDING DRAINAGE PIPE AND A SOAK AWAY ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
This is really the last resort. For a waterlogged garden. The drainage pipe is made of ribbed plastic. And has perforations to let the water in and out.
DIG A SERIES OF CHANNELS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
The idea is to dig a series of channels. These are connected. To draw the water away from the waterlogged
area.
INSTALLING YOUR LAWN DRAINAGE PIPES ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
First, you need somewhere to direct the water too. This could be a soak away.
ADD A SOAK AWAY ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
A Soak away is a hole. At least 1 m cubed. Filled with brick and rubble. Ideally in a free-draining area of the garden.
CREATING FALLS ∙ There needs to be a fall between the drainage pipe and the soak away. Fill the channel first with shingle.
ADD SOME SHINGLE ∙ SOIL ∙ TURF ∙ Then add the drainage pipe. And another layer of shingle. Then reinstate the soil in the hole. Once you have added the soil. The excavated areas can be re-turfed.
TERRACING YOUR GARDEN ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
Great for new builds. Before you have turfed your garden area.
ADD A RETAINING WALL ∙ BLOCK RETAINING WALLS ∙ SLEEPER RETAINING WALLS ∙ VERTICAL SLEEPER BEDS ∙ HORIZONTAL SLEEPERS ∙ FOOTINGS RENDERING YOUR BLOCK WALL
ADD A RETAINING WALL ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
Retaining walls can be used to retain soil for beds, further down the garden. Or retain it at the edges. Allowing you to add a good layer of topsoil for turfing.
BLOCK RETAINING WALLS ∙ Block & Render Retaining Walls ∙ Garden designer ⋅ design exeter ∙ Designer ∙ Exmouth
BLOCK AND RENDER SLEEPER WALLS ∙ These walls work well in contemporary garden designs. Especially with built-in flower beds. There do require a little more work. Then the sleepers’ walls.
ADDING A FOOTING ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
First of you are going to have a footing. To support the wall. This needs to be set on form ground. Slightly below the surface of the wall. To protect the footing. From any frost damage.
FOOTING WIDTH ∙ The footing should be about 1/3 wider than the wall. On each side. The depth of the footing will depend on the actual height of the wall. The higher the wall. The deeper the footing.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS ∙ Walls over about 1.5 -1.8m. Should be designed by a structural engineer. Who will consider the soil conditions?
ADDING THE BLOCK WALLS ∙ Next is the block work.
FLAT BLOCKS ∙ Blocks can be laid flat. Gives you a width like a double-skinned block wall. This is a quick method. But you will use more blocks. And mortar.
DOUBLE SKINNED WALLS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
Most retaining walls. Are laid as double-skinned walls. With a cavity between the blocks. For the belt and braces approach. Mortar can be added between. The double-skinned blocks.
HOLLOW BLOCKS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
These blocks work out a little more expensive for a wall. They are heavier to handle. But potentially a little quicker to lay.
HOLLOW BLOCKS & STEELS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
They are great for retaining walls. That needs a little extra strength. Steel rebar can be added between the blocks. And the hollow voids can be filled with concrete. Giving you a steel-reinforced retaining wall.
RENDERING YOUR BLOCK WALL ∙ And finally, the render.
STAINLESS STEEL BEADING ∙ You will need to add some beading for all the edges and corners of your block wall. Stainless steel beading is ideal. As it does not rust!
TWO COATS OF RENDER ∙ the render is usually applied in two coats. The first is a scratch coat. Designed to give you a rough level. And scratched surface. Ideal for the second coat to adhere to.
FINAL TOPCOAT ∙ The second coat gives you your finished level & Texture. It’s sponged smooth!
PAINING YOUR REDENDER ∙ You will need good quality masonry paint. And large masonry brush.
WATER BASE PAINTS ∙ Most masonry paint is water-based. It is easy to apply. It is easier to mop up
spillages. And its easier to clean your brushes. Especially the acrylic ones!
WEATHER CONSIDERATIONS ∙ Dry warm weather is essential. Avoid cool damp days. The paint will not cure. And can ‘bleed’ everywhere.
SEALING THE RENDER BEFORE PAINTING ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
It is a good idea to ‘seal’ the rendered. This prevents the render from absorbing all your paint. And will give the paint a good surface. To bind to. Mix a watery solution of PVA and water. And liberally apply to the surface of the render.
K-RENDER NO PAINTING ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
Usually, the wall needs painting. However, you can use K-render. Which is impregnated with a coloured pigment. And so, you never need to paint your rendered walls.
SLEEPER RETAINING WALLS ∙ Options include an Oak hardwood sleeper. Or softwood sleepers.
ADDING AN OAK SLEEPER BED ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
Oak sleepers are hardwearing and will last a little longer. But are slightly harder to work with. And more expensive.
ADDING SOFTWOOD SLEEPERS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
Softwood sleepers are of great value. They are easy to work with. You can even cut them with a saw.
ROUTING THE EDGE ∙ Adding a routed bevel to the top edge. Always finished them off.
VERTICAL SLEEPER BEDS ∙ HORIZONTAL SLEEPER BEDS
Sleepers can be set either vertically or horizontally. Horizontal sleepers always look great in a traditional garden design, Exeter. Vertical sleepers look a little more contemporary. With curves and changes in height. And will fit in with your Contemporary Garden design, Exeter.
HORIZONTAL SLEEPERS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
It’s quicker and more economic to lay sleepers horizontally. This method suits straight runs of sleepers. And. Create a more solid. Long-lasting sleeper bed.
VERTICAL SLEEPER BEDS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
This method is great for creating curves and subtle changes in vertical height. The sleepers are cut down to the required length. And set in concrete. They look great. But it does take a little more skill, and labour and there is more wastage.
DO VERTICAL SLEEPERS LAST AS LONG ∙ Because you have exposed more end grain to the elements. This type of sleeper wall. Do not tend to last as long!
POSTS ∙ CONCRETE ∙ RSJ STEELS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
It is a good idea to add a post set in concrete. To give the sleeper walls a little more strength. To retain your soil.
STEEL AND RSJs ∙ Anything over 4 sleepers. It is going to require some RSJ steel to hold the sleepers.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
Anything over 1.5m is going to need the advice of a structural engineer.
REMOVING SOIL ∙ MOVING SOIL ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
Your only option may be to either remove some of the clay in your garden. And move some of the better soil around the garden.
STACKING YOUR TOPSOIL ∙ GETTING RID OF YOUR CLAY SOIL ∙ SKIP HIRE ∙
SKIPPER LOADERS ∙ GRAB HIRE ∙ GRADING AND MOVING SOIL ∙ ADDING BACK THE TOPSOIL ∙
STACKING YOUR TOPSOIL ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
First off, the bat. You are going to hire a mini digger. Start by removing the turf. And scrap off any good topsoil and stack out the way!
Be realistic about the amount of topsoil you are going to remove from your garden. It’s costly to remove and get rid of. Remember you need a minimum of about four inches of good-quality topsoil. For a successful lawn.
GETTING RID OF YOUR CLAY SOIL ∙ GARDEN DESIGN ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
Creating Bank ∙ one way is to create a bank in your garden. This is ok for large gardens. But defeats the object of the project. In a smaller garden.
SKIP HIRE ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ EXMOUTH
for smaller projects. It is possible to hire a skip to get rid of your clay soil. It’s a two-man job to tip the barrow full of clay into the skip.
SKIPPER LOADERS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ EXMOUTH
If you are on your own. It is a good idea to hire a skip loader! Most skip companies have 6 Yard skip maximum size. For soil. If you do not have a driveway. The skip will need to be left on the road. And you are going to need a skip license. Which is an additional cost for the project.
GRAB HIRE ∙ MUCK AWAY ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
For Large Loads. Grab hire is the most cost-effective method of getting rid of your clay. You are going to need somewhere to put the load of clay. Before the grab lorry arrives. This method is not for the fainted-hearted.
GRADING AND MOVING SOIL ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
Using the digger. Fitted with a grading bucket. It is possible to move some of the soil from the top of the slope. And drag it to the bottom of the slope. Creating a better level for your lawn
ADDING BACK THE TOPSOIL ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
Finally, it is time to add back the topsoil you saved. At the beginning of the process. Load up a barrow. Using the mini digger. And dot and dab the topsoil around the garden. Using a rake. Achieve a good level. For turfing.
FEEDING ∙ MOWING ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
FEEDING YOUR LAWN ∙ GOOD QUALITY SPORTS FEED ∙ FLY MOWERS ∙ ROTARY MOWERS WITH ROLLERS ∙ DON’T SCALP THE LAWN ∙ MOWER MAINTENANCE
FEEDING YOUR LAWN ∙ most established lawns with benefit from a regular feed. A healthy lawn. Is a strong lawn. They are thicker. And less prone to invasion from weeds. Spring, summer, and winter feed. Using a good quality sports feed with give you a healthy lawn. Try to apply on a wet day. Applying the feed with either a push or hand help spreader. Avoid walking on the lawn. Until the sports feed has been watered in. As the feed under foot. Can scorch your grass! FLY MOWERS ∙ Mowing a lawn it straight forward. Fly mows are quick. And inexpensive. Some do not collect the clippings. Which can lead to a build-up of thatch. With if not periodically racked out. Will cause your lawn to become thin. ROTARY MOWERS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH These are the halfway house. They are quick to mower large areas. Depending on how quickly you push the mower. They do suck up the clips. And the cutting height fly adjustable. These are usually belt drive. So, you do not have to push. The roller will give you the classic stripe. They are more expensive than standard rotary mowers. And the chain drives can easily get damaged. And they are slower than a push mower. always start the season with a high cut. And over subsequent mows. Drop the mower down. This will be easier on the mower. And easier on the lawn! always check the height of the mower! Before you start. Always test a small area of the lawn. Cutting the lawn too short. Will scalp the lawn. Leading to bare patches. MOWER MAINTENANCE ∙ Blades need to be kept Sharpe and balanced. OIL LEVELS ∙ At the beginning of the season. Give the moving parts. A quick oil with a 3 in 1 oil. Check the engine oil level. And top up. Always fit back the oil plug tightly. To prevent leaks. But be careful not to over tighten. SPARK PLUGS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH Over time the spart plug can get coated with carbon. Burnt fuel. Remove the spark plug with a spark plug socket. Clean with sandpaper or wet and dry. Check the gap. Which for most mowers is around 0.030 “. Using some feeler gauges. And refit. FEEDING YOUR LAWN ∙ GOOD QUALITY SPORTS FEED ∙ ROTARY MOWERS
GOOD QUALITY SPORTS FEED ∙ GARDEN ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
ROTARY MOWERS WITH ROLLERS ∙ GARDEN ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
START HIGH ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER ∙ EXMOUTH
DON’T SCALP THE LAWN ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN ∙ EXMOUTH
KEY GARDEN DESIGN CONCEPTS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ∙ DESIGN ∙ EXETER ∙ EXMOUTH
CREATING A THEME ∙ GARDEN DESIGN ∙ EXETER
The first stage. It’s to decide on a garden design theme for your garden. This will help you tie all your garden design elements together.
COMMON GARDEN DESIGN THEMES ∙ DESIGN ELEMENTS ∙ MATERIALS EXETER
TRADITIONAL GARDEN DESIGN THEMES ∙EXETER
TRADITIONAL GARDEN DESIGN THEMES ∙ Exeter Work well with a period property. Georgian and Victorian Properties. A Traditional Garden design is easy on the eye. Quality materials will age well. And a great planting scheme. Will mature over time.
TRADITIONAL DESIGN FEATURES ∙ GARDEN EXETER
PATHS ∙ PATHING ∙ paths and pathing always work well. In a traditional garden design. Sandstone Natural stone paving looks great. As does slate and limestone natural stone paving.
YOUR GARDEN DESIGN ELEMENTS EXETER ∙ Selecting a theme. Will help you design your garden design Elements. Paths, seating areas and focal points
SELECT YOUR HARD LANDSCAPING MATERIALS ∙ Choosing the right theme. Will help you to select the right hard landscaping materials.
CREATING A CONSISTENT PLANTING SCHEME ∙ Using your theme. Finally, create a planting scheme for your garden. Selecting the right plants. For the right growing conditions. Complimenting your garden design theme.
PLANTING ∙ GARDEN DESIGN ∙ EXETER ∙ DESIGNER ∙ EXMOUTH
PREPARING YOUR SOIL ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ∙ DESIGN ∙ EXETER ∙ EXMOUTH
GETTING STARTED ∙ It’s a good idea to get organised before you start planting. Beds can be tidied. Remove any weeds. Give your bed a good ‘forking’. Over time beds dry and infertile. Give your plants a good start. By adding some ‘food’ for your plants.
DRY BEDS ∙ CLAY BEDS ∙ INFERTILE BEDS ∙ Most beds will benefit from the addition of organic matter. It will improve the drainage of the soil. Add nutrients to help with your plant’s health.
ADDING MANURE ∙ If you can get it. Manure is worth its weight in gold. If full of organic matter. Which will help with your soil structure. Makes sure it well rotten! It’s available as a loose load. Or can be bought in large bags from your local garden centre. It’s also full of nutrients. Including nitrates. Which will help with your plant growth. The manures need to be mixed in well. With your existing soil.
ADDING COMPOST ∙ You may have a compost bin. It’s a bit of an art to getting great compost. It needs to be kept moist. And needs to be regularly turned. Avoid adding conifer waste. And large branches. Make sure the compost is well rotted. Before incorporating it into your soil. Lawn clipping can take a will to full compost. Try adding some fibrous garden waste.
BUYING COMPOST ∙ for smaller areas and raised beds. Bags of compost can be added. It’s also possible to buy tons of bags of compost. Which will work out more economical for larger areas.
FEEDING YOUR SOIL ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ∙ DESIGN ∙ EXETER ∙ EXMOUTH
BLOOD ∙ FISH ∙ BONE ∙ adding material rich in nitrates. Will really give your plants a good start. Blood, fish and bone can be blended into your raised bed. Or add to individual planting holes.
CHICKEN PELLETS ∙ Chicken pellets are extremely rich in a source of nitrates. And can be sprinkled around the base of your planting. Slowly releasing their nutrients. During rainfall or watering. Try to avoid it. Swamp your plants with the pellets. And avoid contact with delicate foliage. And the ammonia in the pellets. Can cause scorching.
ADDING PLANTS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ∙ DESIGN ∙ EXETER ∙ EXMOUTH
SOFTEN THE HARD LANDSCAPING ∙ Plant always looks great in any garden design. It adds interest. And is a great way to soften hard landscaping materials.
ADDING STRUCTURE ∙ it’s a good idea to add some shapes and structure to your planting scheme. Adding height and interest to your planting bed. Why not add plants with interesting foliage. And textures to your garden design.
PLANTS WITH TEXTURES & SHAPE ∙ phormiums, hebes, miscanthus grass, Stipa grasses, Pennisetum grasses, choisya and pittosporum.
ADDING FILLERS ∙ SHAPE AND STRUCTURE ∙ Cheaper plants can be added to your planting scheme. These plants can be thought as fillers. But they will an interesting backdrop to your garden design. Make your colours pop, in your garden design.
FILLERS ∙ VALUE ∙ PLANTS ∙ grasses, lavender, eulogiums, Elaeagnus and spirea.
ADDING COLOUR ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ∙ DESIGN ∙ EXETER ∙ EXMOUTH
THINK ABOUT COLOURS ∙ Now it’s time to think about the colours. Reds, yellows, blues, purples, pinks. And don’t forget the white garden design.
CHOOSING YOUR COLOUR PALETTE ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ∙ DESIGN ∙ EXETER ∙ EXMOUTH
KEY COLOURS ∙ Restrict yourself to two or three key colours. You will gain the most impact.
CREATE DRIFTS OF COLOURS ∙ By planting drifts of colours. Rather than planting individual plants. Always add colour and plants your like!
ADDING SPECIMEN PLANTS ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ∙ DESIGN ∙ EXETER ∙ EXMOUTH
You have added some shape and structure. Adding some colour. Next are the specimen plants. These are interesting plants. Which can be used to create a focal point. In your planting scheme.
And are usually your most expensive plants.
SPECIMEN PLANTS ∙ TRADITIONAL GARDEN DESIGN
Traditional Specimen plants ∙ Box topiary balls ∙ Box topiary Spirals ∙ Box topiary pyramids ∙ Bay trees ∙ Magnolia ∙ Olives Trees ∙ Pleached Trees
SPECIMEN PLANTS ∙ CONTEMPORARY ∙ ZEN ∙ TROPICAL GARDEN DESIGN ∙ GARDEN DESIGN ∙ EXETER
Specimen plants ∙ Tree Ferns ∙ Bamboo ∙ Cloud Trees ∙ Olives ∙ Palms ∙ Silver Birch Trees
ACCESSORIES TO PLANTING SCHEMES · GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
Adding planting accessories with always add interest to your planting scheme. Natural materials always work well. Boulders and aged timber. Can add interest to an urban zen garden design, Exeter. The decorative bark looks great. It reduces weeks. Prevent water loss. In those long hot summer months. Reducing the need for watering.
SCULPTURES ∙ GARDEN EXETER
Sculptures can look great in the right setting. Aged corten steel. Or stainless-steel water features.
WATER FEATURES ∙ GARDEN DESIGN
Water features can look great. In the right context. Adding a relaxing. Sound and movement elements to your garden design. Over those large koi ponds or a natural pond. They are expensive to install. And require a lot of effort to maintain. And they are not that child or pet friendly.
Small water features are great. For those smaller courtyard gardens.
WATER FEATURES ∙ drilled boulders ∙ Stainless steel blades ∙ Stone rills ∙ Wall mounted fountains ∙ Corten steel bowls
CREATING AREAS FOR ENTERTAINING ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ EXETER
Gardens are great areas for entertaining. Why not create a courtyard garden for a smaller inner-city garden? Or create a decking area. For a hot tub. It’s important to select the right materials for your garden design project.
PAVING ∙ SEATING ∙ CREATING ENTERTAINING AREAS
Paving is a great way to add an entertaining area to your garden design. Natural stone paving will always look better than concrete pavers. And it will age better.
NATURAL STONE PAVING ∙ Popular stones include ∙ sandstone paving ∙ granite paving ∙ Slate paving and granite natural stone paving.
PORCELAIN PAVING ∙ it’s a relatively new product for the UK markets. It has been popular in Europe and America for a lot longer. It’s hard-wearing. Extremely stain-resistant. And is available in a wide variety of colours and finishes.
PORCELAIN QUALITY ∙ You do really get what you pay for. The cheaper stones can be full of cheap fillers. And the stones don’t tend to age. And can develop holes in the finish. During cutting or through general wear and tear. These cheaper products tend to come from Asia. Whereas the better porcelain comes from Italy and Spain. It is double to ask your supplier to verify the country of manufacture.
CUTTING PORCELAIN TILES ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
Porcelain. By its very natural. It’s a tough durable material. That’s extremely hard to cut. First off, the bat. You will need to invest a good quality. Dedicated porcelain blade. Forget the small angle grinder. And go for a Wet Stihl petrol cutter. Or a wet table tile cutter.
LAYING PORCELAIN PAVING ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ EXETER
BRIDGE BONDS ∙ SBR ∙ TRADITIONAL MORTAR BED
Installing a porcelain patio. Is slightly trickier than traditional. Concrete or natural stone patio. As the porcelain is impervious. You will have problems getting the mortar. To stick to the back of the porcelain slab. It’s important to use a bridging bond. To help the mortar to stick.
ADJUSTABLE PEDESTALS ∙ RUBBER FEET ∙ PLASTIC FEET
Other methods include plastic feet. To create a sort of suspended floor patio. This method tends to use on roof terraces. Where weight is an issue. You create a void under the paving. Enabling great drainage. Avoiding cables and pipes.
This method is used for large format paving slabs.
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DECKING ∙ GARDEN DESIGN ∙ EXETER
DECKING ∙ DRAINAGE ∙ UNEVEN GROUND
Decking is a great way to add an entertaining area to your garden design project. It looks great. It’s great for areas where drainage can be an issue. Or areas of your garden. Where the ground is uneven.
SOFTWOOD DECKING ∙ CREATING ENTERTAINING AREAS
Softwood decking looks great. It’s long-lasting. And is tanalised. To prevent water damage. And attached by insects and rodents.
Ridged ∙ Smooth Boards ∙ Softwood decking is available in both. Ridge and smooth boards. Ridge boards are more slip-resistant. Especially on those cold frost mornings. Smooth boards generally look better. Gives your that boardwalk feel.
HARDWOOD DECKING ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
LUXURIOUS ∙ HARDWEARING ∙ Hardwood decking looks great. It’s rich in colour and luxurious in appearance. Most boards are planned smooth. And the timber is fixed with stainless steel screws. The boards are usually left untreated. Although the hardwood boards can be periodically oiled. To enhance their colour. And protecting the boards from splitting over time. And UV damage.
INSTALLING A HARDWOOD DECK ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
UNEVEN ∙ WATERLOGGED GROUND ∙ STILTED DECKS
Decks are great as they can easily cope with uneven ground. Or slightly waterlogged conditions. It’s possible to stilt your decking. Although it’s worth checking any local planning laws. Relating to raised decks.
STILTED DECKS ∙ timber or concrete post can be used. The posts are usually concerted into a hole. And tied into the decking frame. Using bolts, washers and nuts.
ADDING A WEED MEMBRANE
It’s a good idea to add a tough weed membrane. Before adding your timber base. This will prevent weed from growing up. Between your new decking boards.
DECKING FRAME ∙ CARCASSING ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
The decking frame creates a strong. The structurally sound base for your decking. Its usually constructed out of tanalised 4 x2” or 5 x2” timber joists. Held together with screws. The base usually has a frame. And noggins can be added between joists. To give extra strength. And prevent the timber from twisting. The joists usually have 400mm or 500mm joist centres.
Creating Boxes ∙ For large decks. Or awkward decks. It’s possible to construct your base out of a series of boxes. Which can be constructed and lifted into position. With a little help. The ‘boxes’ can then be levelled. And screwed or bolted into position.
LEVELNG YOUR FRAME ∙ GARDEN DESIGNER ⋅ DESIGN EXETER
CHECKING THE PLUMB ∙ It’s a good idea to level your frame before attaching your boards. Using a long spirit level. Check the ‘plumb’ of your decking across. down the length of the deck. Start off by raising and lowering the corners of your base. And
Check for movement or flex – ‘Chop’ out any voids causing movement. With timber packers.
CUTTING ∙ ATTACHING YOUR BOARDS
TIMBER LENGTHS ∙ It’s a good idea to work out your board lengths before starting the project. Boards usually run across your garden. They look better. And it’s easier to construct your decking frame. You want the least amount of joints in your decking. And the least amount of wastage. Any joins need to be staggered between alternative decking boards!
SCREWS FOR DECKING ∙ The cheaper green screws can be used for softwood decking. Use the stronger stainless-steel screws for hardwood decking.
COSTINGS QUICK GUIDE · GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
Here’s a quick guide to project costings. And what to keep an eye on during your build. And some simple ideas on how to keep costs to a minimum!
MOUNTING COSTS ⋅ EXTRAS LISTS
Project costs easily and quickly mount up. Especially if you haven’t a detailed quote. With realistic costings.
Or you have forgotten to allow for some tasks. Essential to the garden design.
COMPETITORS ⋅ UNDER QUOTING
Many Landscapers simply under quote. To undercut their competitors. And secure the project. And they rely on the ‘extras list.
PROJECTS GOING OVERBUDGET · GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
The project goes way over budget. With the customer footing the bill. Leading to tension and stress. If you have extras.
KEEP ABREAST OF EXTRAS · GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
Get a running total of the extras and project costs emailed weekly. May contractors will actively ‘seek’ extras. Seen as an easy way to generate extra profit. Rarely do they actively seek to save you money during the build!
PLANNING ⋅ EXETER LANDSCAPES GARDEN DESIGN
With careful planning. Again, it is possible to save time and money.
BRICK AND BLOCK WALLS · GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
Block and brick walls are always more expensive than sleeper retaining walls. Especially when you take into account the rendering and painting!
MANAGING SLOPERS · GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
Slopes can be graded with a digger. Reducing the need for costly steps.
CURVES VERSUS STRAIGHT LINES
The curves look great, especially in a contemporary garden design. Great for lawns and beds. However, they can work out more costly for walls and raised beds. In terms of time and materials. Sleepers will work well for long runs of straight retaining Walls.
ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS ⋅ EXETER LANDSCAPES GARDEN DESIGN
Buying materials is expensive. Taking a large part of your garden design budget. Labour is the other chunk.
By suggesting alternative materials or how to ‘tweak’ your design slighting. It is possible to save money. Whilst not compromising the overall look and feel of your project.
ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS · TWEAKING THE DESIGN
One way to save money is to tweak your design and install alternative materials. Many customers see the low price of porcelain and believe it’s a cheaper product. However, the labor costs can be higher than naturals stone walls
MATERIALS ⋅ SANDSTONE ⋅ SOFTWOOD DECKING
Sandstone paving looks great. And is excellent value for money. It will give you a natural-looking patio. Which will only get better with age.
Forget the concrete. Go for a natural stone product!
SOFTWOOD DECKING · GARDEN DESIGN EXETER
Softwood decking is significantly cheaper and easier to work with than hardwood decking. It’s great for dealing with uneven levels in your garden design. Which can be expensive to rectify.
Ultimate plant guide ⋅ garden design ideas ⋅ plants for places ⋅ planting combinations Decking ⋅ design ideas ⋅ products ⋅ construction ⋅ aftercare Garden design guide ⋅ garden design themes Paving guide ⋅ design ⋅ materials ⋅ drainage ⋅ suppliers More paving ⋅ pointing ⋅ Sealing stone How to plant ⋅ planting ⋅ watering Ideas inspirations guide ⋅ includes images of past work Garden make over guide ⋅ slatted fencing ⋅ low maintenance gardens Lawn care guide ⋅ turfing ⋅ soil types ⋅ drainage Courtyard ⋅ small garden design Garden clearance guide ⋅ clay soils ⋅ levelling Artificial grass ⋅ design ⋅ installing ⋅ clean