Martina's Garden
Stile
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Martina's Garden
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Our favourite paving stone at that time was Stonemarket's range of "Millstone Flags". These are still on the market and are available in grey or yellow, i.e. resembling either old or new York Stone flags. For new properties yellow is generally the appropriate choice.
The second phase was the construction of the raised tiers at the back of the garden. Grade 2 railway sleepers were Darren and Alison's preferred choice of material for the retaining walls. These were held in place with vertical poles concreted into the ground. The first tier would serve as the lawn.
Unless specifically requested by a customer, we generally recommend smooth chamfered deck boards, rather than the currently fashionable grooved ones. Apart from being easier to keep clean they are also cheaper and calmer on the eye. Incidentally, contrary to popular belief, decks do not get slippery - certainly no more than slabs - as long as they get a reasonable amount of sun. And, in any case, who would build a sun deck in the shade?
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Last modified: 06/11/2009 |
In
common with many new
housing
developments, Darren
and Alison's garden
began as a
rectangular patch of
clay and builders'
waste, bounded by
ugly fences. Because
of the height and
dominance of the
rear fence, an
important
consideration was to
draw more attention
to the foreground
and to create an
attractive
transition between
the levels.
The
first phase of the
construction was the
paved patio. 
The
second tier - the
two corner triangles
- would become
flower beds where
shade tolerant
climbers and shrubs
could grow to mask
at least some of the
bottom boundary
fence.
Completing
this part of the
garden produced an
immediate
improvement, the
green turf and
unusual geometry
already drawing the
eye away from the
fences.
The
third phase was the
construction of the
raised sun
deck. 
The
fourth phase was the
construction of the
pond and the
associated
"wetland"
area.
Planting
was done through a
landscape fleece to
help prevent weeds
becoming established
and to stop the
gravel working its
way into the ground.
The gravel and
fleece together
would reduce
moisture loss
through evaporation.
The
final phase was the
addition of the
pergola and the
fence (not shown) to
separate the garden
from the driveway.