Garden Landscaping Example - Step-by-Step

A step by step example of some of the stages in a basic garden construction

This landscaping example is for a private customer who had a large back garden full of weeds and brambles. Initially we were called in to conduct a full land clearance the garden. Having seen the us make short work of the bushes and brambles, they decided to speak to our garden design team (this description is illustrated with photos).

Before		After

At the outset, it is best to involve the customer as much as possible in the planning. So after a number of different ideas and site meetings, a garden design/plan was designed with a view to organising the stages of work which would be needed, up to the point of completion.

As the customer was partially disabled and intended to invite a number of disabled (wheelchair-bound) colleagues to the garden, certain special requirements were taken into consideration during the design stage. Primarily, the design of the flowerbeds which would border the garden was altered; they were raised to three feet high which allowed for easier maintenance and viewing.

	The first step when work started on the site was to clear any vegetation from the area. We then cultivated the soil, which was also roughly levelled. Not only did this give us a clear area to work within, but it also meant that the area defining the flowerbeds and the 60 foot path could be easily marked out.

	Once the site had been prepared, the next job was to construct the base for the cobbled path on the inside of the raised borders. The path was made three feet wide, and the curves in it were softened so as to allow reasonable access for wheelchairs. The base itself was laid on a bed of scalping and sand to allow for adequate foundations and drainage.

	Next, a trench was dug to contain the flowerbed's retaining walls, which were constructed using individual logs sunk into the ground and set in concrete. The borders were then undulated to make the garden more three-dimensional, allowing for low-maintenance plants to be planted at the lower border areas and plants which need more attention to be planted at the more accessible areas.

	One of the central features of the design was a circular patio placed in the middle of the garden. This was later circled with Beech trees, tied centrally above the patio to form a pergola, giving cover and forming a focal point for the eye.

	The sand which had been placed over the scalpings was then levelled off. This formed a good base onto which the cobbled path was laid. The paving used here was Driveset 50, chosen for it's visual appearance against natural textures such as grass and wood.

	Finally, the end is in sight! The central lawn area was levelled off, and conditioned by applying a layer of topsoil. This adds nutrients to the soil and created a rich base for the new lawn. Lastly, the area was covered with high-grade turf.
So within a period of four weeks before Christmas the garden was transformed, laying the groundwork for a planting plan and more action in the spring!