Every now and then we are asked to implement some rather unusual garden landscaping throughout the Harrow and Hillingdon area. Our latest installation was no exception with a prominent pergola and terraced Marshalls stone walling with sandstone paving.
The most challenging aspect of this project being on a slope was creating equal and level terraces. The house is elevated up from the pavement by about 1.2 metres in height. Being 6 metres long this enabled us to create three equal terraced patios 2 metres long and a manageable 400mm high. This will allow the home owner, Tony the chance to sit outside on warm evenings. This will also allow him to utilise the south facing aspect to grow a selection of herbs and flowers in pots.
The most challenging aspect of this project being on a slope was creating equal and level terraces. The house is elevated up from the pavement by about 1.2 metres in height. Being 6 metres long this enabled us to create three equal terraced patios 2 metres long and a manageable 400mm high. This will allow the home owner, Tony the chance to sit outside on warm evenings. This will also allow him to utilise the south facing aspect to grow a selection of herbs and flowers in pots.
This latest project was not just a matter of creating a terraced front garden. Tony and Phillipa where now in their seventies and conscious they may need to stay away from steps for the pathway down to the pavement.
This basically meant a sophisticated brickwork structure to encase the terraces while allowing a consistent slope from the front door down to the street level. The difficulty with this is getting the sloped pathway to pass the terraced brickwork without exposing any foundations. Always a tricky endeavour but one we have gained much experience in over the years.
This basically meant a sophisticated brickwork structure to encase the terraces while allowing a consistent slope from the front door down to the street level. The difficulty with this is getting the sloped pathway to pass the terraced brickwork without exposing any foundations. Always a tricky endeavour but one we have gained much experience in over the years.
Not only was the levels on this particular project interesting tony wanted their walls to have a traditional dry wall effect. He had commented to us during the consultation that he loved the dry stone walls of the west country on family holidays in the past. In the end we decided to build the walls and raised beds with Marshalls marshalite buff pitched walling. Although this is a far dry from natural stone it can be successfully split down the middle to reveal a rock like surface.
We laid the jagged split bocks on end to create a sharp and rustic dry stone wall effect to the top of the brickwork. This was also a good way of preventing the local school children stopping on the corner and sitting on his front walls.
We laid the jagged split bocks on end to create a sharp and rustic dry stone wall effect to the top of the brickwork. This was also a good way of preventing the local school children stopping on the corner and sitting on his front walls.
As if the garden was not now unusual enough Tony wanted a large pergola in the front garden. I did have some concerns about this as this just is not the done thing in the gardens of North Harrow. We used 12 foot posts and 6x2 timber to create a 4 metre by 1 metre pergola. We notched out the joists so they fit comfortably over the braces.
The result is a rather striking pergola! When we asked Tony why he really wanted such a large structure to the front garden he giggled and replied ' Chistmas lights'. 'Oh and an 8 foot blow up father Christmas. Each to their own I suppose but I have to admit I will certainly be driving by at christmas to see Santa claws!!.
The result is a rather striking pergola! When we asked Tony why he really wanted such a large structure to the front garden he giggled and replied ' Chistmas lights'. 'Oh and an 8 foot blow up father Christmas. Each to their own I suppose but I have to admit I will certainly be driving by at christmas to see Santa claws!!.
Although this landscaped front garden is unusual it demonstrated just how diverse and exciting garden landscaping can be! Harrow and Hillingdon have a diverse array of ages and cultures making landscaping here always very interesting. If you are considering looking for a landscape garder in the Harrow or Hillingdon area dont hesitate to contact Harrow and Hillingdon landscape gardeners today.