TierramadreLandscape.com

I'm looking for a company near Glasgow to do our driveway and I was going to go with mono block. What should I be asking these companies so I don't get ripped off? Also we want to landscape our back garden which has a steep downwards slope. We thought decking straight out over it was the best solution. Any other ideas? We would need to put up an 8ft fence if we go for decking. Do you need planning permission for that? There is only woodland behind us. Can anyone out there recommend a company for either? Many thanks.
Glasgow, Scotland!

McPherson Landscapes
Kirkmuir farm
Kilwining road
Stewarton.

I worked for them for 7yrs and i can highly recommend them, they don't advertise for work as the work they do is to such a high standard all work they get is by word of mouth. Sorry cant remember phone no off hand.

2007-03-08 07:59:33 by stepmadlin

We also carry garden containers, container garden, Bonsai pots, bonsai pot, large bonsai pot, mica bonsai pot, cascade bonsai pot, tokoname bonsai ...

I am a landscape gardener, and I am looking for some way to take pictures of a clients garden, upload them to my laptop then sit with the client and re-design the pictures with input from the client. Possibly a graphics tablet? photoshop? touch sensitive screen ? so I can draw straight onto the digital images. It would be good if there was a package available that provided different options of pre made objects such as fencing, block paving, turf, decking, shrubs which could be placed onto the photograph to show what the finished garden would look like. I have seen a kitchen designer use something similar where he took a picture of the clients kitchen, then showed her what it would look like with the new kitchen fitted.
Any ideas
Thanks

There are Computer-Aided Design (CAD) programs that are designed to do exactly what you want and I am sure that using a graphics tablet would the the easiest and most accurate way to use it if you are not well versed in using the touch pad on your notebook.

Here are a few links to such programs:

http://www.dynascape.com/

http://www.cadopolis.com/autocad_addons/ EZ-Plant_AutoCAD-Software.shtml

http://www.prolandscape.com/

This should get you started ...

Photoshop while a powerful program is designed for shooters (photographers), pre-press tech's and post production wizards.

2008-08-06 20:48:30 by jeff m

We want to get our garden re-designed... that would include, a design, taking up the grass and decking we currently have and then laying the new garden.

We are looking to have a decking and stone only garden.

Our garden is approx. 50 ft by 15 ft... obviously i know every company will charge differently etc but does anyone know roughly how much this may cost us?

Yuo need to find a good garden designer and a good building contractor. If you live in the UK. try http://www.ratedpeople.com/ which is a site where you can specify what you want done. Up to 3 local companies will contact you, and you can read reviews of their work by other local people who've used them. We found an excellent company to replace our boiler recently, and found the reviews very helpful, as we had no idea who to ask.

For the building work, it's a good idea to Google 'DIY driveways' and inform yourself in advance about what a good company will plan to include in their specifications, (eg how deep the excavations for stonework will be, what materials and processes will be used, how surplus soil and rubble will be disposed of etc. Also ask if the work is guaranteed if anything does go wrong.) Then you can make a list of questions to ask when each company comes to estimate for the work, and are less likely to be ripped off. We had a new block paved drive recently and we found there was a big difference between the three estimates we obtained, not only in price but in the expertise of the builders concerned. (Yes I know you're not planning a drive but the methods are the same whatever the scale.) As to how much, well, you'll just have to get some estimates and find out - your question can't be specific enough for anyone who hasn't seen what you want to do and where you live.

2008-12-16 12:46:40 by ♥♥H & Baby Due 051109♥♥

Hi all.....

I am in the middle of re vamping my back garden and would like some suggestions as to what I can do!!

I have just uplifted the grass that was in my back garden as was fed up with it, and would like to do something with the space.

The area is about 8mtrs x 8mtrs and was just wondering what I could put down at a very cheap cost.

I have priced up chuckies/small stones and decking, but both are quite expensive.

If anyone had any ideas as to what I could do..I would love to hear from you...

Cheers

Consider going for reclaimed materials, such as paving, wood, bricks etc, which could all work out cheaper.

If your area is square, it can help to break this up, by using other shapes, especially any curves, which adds more interest. My other main focus when designing is never to allow all of a garden to be seen at any one point, so add in vistas, and screening, which helps a garden seem bigger, and increases interest.

Choose plants that have differing foliage shapes and colours, have some evergreen as well as deciduous plants, and plan for 12 months of interest, not just the summer period. There are plants that will flower in winter, if you include some of these, such as winter Jasmine, Jasminum nudiflorum. Also, vary the height of your plants, so that you don't view something similar to a hedge, of standard size.

Raising plants from seed is the cheapest option (bar getting free cuttings or small plants from friends etc). And you can get a huge display for low cost.

Easy plants,from seed, for high impact summer colour, include Sunflowers, Nasturtiums, Calendulas and Californian Poppies. As you'll often get several hundred seeds per pack, a little can go a long way.

Use climbers to grow up any fences/walls, to add extra appeal too. Honeysuckles are beautiful, and are generally strongly fragranced.

So, that's a quick intro to my approach - use height, varied leaf shapes, colours and flowering times, as well as plan for all the year. Shop around for any reclaimed materials if possible, and consider using seeds for cheap high impact planting, potentially covering more of your area with other materias, as time and money allows.

Hope this helps. Good luck! Rob

2009-05-26 12:58:51 by Russell

I live in Oakland, CA, and these "mystery flowers" appeared in my deck garden. I'm including links to pics for easier identification. The first flower started out with white petals, but now they're turning a fuschia color. The second flower now has a white star-shaped five petal design with a yellow center. Does anyone know what these are?
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l56/sl euthgrrl/mysteryflower1.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l56/sl euthgrrl/mysteryflower2.jpg
The first photo actually shows two different mystery plants. The chamomile-like flowers are in the forefront, and there's another mystery vine-like plant in the background.

This guy will tell you...

go to his web site: I'm sorry I forget the site, but I know how to get there:

Head to iBtraveling.com and scroll down to find on the left hand side it states something like "Free plant tips" and click on his link. You can email him and he'll probably know.

By the way, I've signed up for his newsletter and have found lots of garden tips. He has great ideas and thoughts too.

Wish you luck!

2007-01-10 20:42:42 by oaksterdamhippiechick