5 inspiring designs for hard landscaping projects

1. Creating a family-friendly, low-maintenance garden
   Gardening isn’t everyone’s forte, and landscape gardeners often find their brief includes keeping things as low-maintenance as possible. Using decking and patio instead of lawn is a simple way to minimise garden upkeep while ensuring the space is as useable as possible. We love the way Karen McClure’s family garden is fun for children, but it’s easy for mum and dad to keep the space looking smart year-round by using low-maintenance composite Millboard for decking and a cleverly concealed trampoline under artificial grass.
2. Transforming a small rooftop into a city escape
   Small gardens can be challenging, but Wardrop Design’s execution of this rooftop garden in Bloomsbury is a wonderful example of how a space can be maximised by using decking. This design is especially effective because it makes the space feel larger than it is by using the same decking to create built in furniture and minimise additional clutter. The planting softens the design, making it a relaxing and tropical space to enjoy and providing the clients with an escape from the city below.
3. Sticking with the classic materials pays off
   Much as we love some of the slick, contemporary designs that are so eye-catching, sometimes only a classic design crafted from traditional materials will do. And that’s exactly what Langdale Landscape’s formal garden project in Kent achieves with the traditional stone patio around an elegant swimming pool. This classic and timeless approach works perfectly for this formal design, enhanced by a colourful planting scheme to add dynamism.
4. The artful use of curves in hard landscaping
   Ian Kitson’s Estuary Garden is a perfect example of how hard landscaping can be made the highlight of a garden design. In 2017, this garden won a SGD Award, with the judges celebrating its ambition, “Bold and beautifully constructed, the garden ticks all the hardscape boxes. Beautiful curved retaining walls and hard detailing demonstrate the greatest degree of difficulty, beautifully executed.” The garden is a fine illustration of how hard landscaping doesn’t always have to be solid edges and corners.
5. Maximising functionality with outdoor cooking and dining areas
   Country Living Magazine cites outdoor dining as one of their main gardening trends for 2018, and we’ve seen it over the past several years too – the demand for desirable outdoor dining spaces isn’t going away. We love this Holland Park garden that was artfully designed by Landscape Associates, using high quality patio and different levels to define areas and add interest. Take it a step further and be inspired by this incredible outdoor kitchen by Urban Landscape Design, complete with an oversized pizza oven and bar area for the ultimate entertaining garden.

For the ultimate in creating low maintenance gardens for your clients and ensuring they enjoy the space you have created for them for years to come, use Growtivatation’s Product That Works range of specialist landscape gardening materials. The range includes weed control, drainage, ground stabilisation and ground control geotextile fabrics for all.

Use our geo fabric product selector to ensure you select the right geotextile fabric for your application, or read more about our range by downloading our Product Guide.

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