GR 2024 ep. 16
Category
🛠️
LifestyleTranscript
00:00The Garden Rescue Team are on a mission.
00:04What's not to like?
00:05To make garden dreams come true.
00:08Oh my God!
00:09Charlie Dimmock.
00:10Plants there, plants there, plants there, plants everywhere!
00:13Lee Burkill.
00:14Take me to my people, boys!
00:17Flo Hedlund.
00:18I've gone for the big bad boy.
00:20And Chris Hull.
00:21A couple of inches made all the difference.
00:23Tell me about it.
00:25Are here to answer your gardening emergencies.
00:28It's just a wild jungle.
00:30Okay, that's a challenge.
00:32Each week, two of our designers will go head to head.
00:35Now, I really hope you like this garden.
00:37The design we have gone for is...
00:40Drum roll, please.
00:43Lee!
00:44Yes!
00:45Flo!
00:47And whichever designer loses...
00:49It's all about my water feature.
00:51My water feature.
00:53Helps the winner build the garden.
00:56Turning garden dreams...
00:58Please, open your eyes.
00:59Into reality.
01:01Oh, wow!
01:03That is absolutely stunning!
01:10Today, the team are faced with a new-build nightmare
01:13in the East Midlands.
01:15I'm Kirsty.
01:16I'm Tom.
01:17And this is our garden in Daventry.
01:20Me and Kirsty met ten years ago now.
01:22Certainly the local lad, and you moved this way, didn't you?
01:25I did, moved up to the Midlands, furthest point from the sea,
01:28so I do miss the Daventry lifestyle.
01:31I loved the outdoor living.
01:33We got married two years ago,
01:35and we've just recently moved into this property just last year,
01:39so we've been focusing a lot more on the interior
01:43and, you know, neglected the garden space.
01:47The house may have the wow factor...
01:51..but, sadly, the couple's 110-metre-square plot does not.
01:58So, this is our patio area, if you can even call it that.
02:02Obviously, it's a small gesture,
02:04and, to be honest, we haven't used it at all.
02:07Kirsty's pretty keen to start growing her own veg,
02:09but I wouldn't say she's particularly green-fingered
02:12with what was an olive tree here,
02:14so it had a bit of a haircut, didn't it?
02:16Bit of a short back and sides.
02:18It was really twiggy, so it just needed tidying up.
02:25And that's not all.
02:27As well as being flanked by houses on two sides...
02:31We are overlooked, so we do need to try and combat those prying eyes
02:35when we're actually out in the evenings.
02:38..the plot is oddly shaped and incredibly uneven.
02:43So, one of the most annoying elements of our garden
02:46is particularly this part, especially with the levels, as you can see.
02:49It just slopes away, actually.
02:51It's a lot more dramatic than, you know, first meets the eye.
02:55I mean, I feel really little down here now.
02:57Kirsty's not really that small, but, yeah,
02:59we don't really know how to use this space.
03:01We do get sun for the majority of the day, which is great, of course,
03:04but it can get really hot,
03:06so it would be great if we could have some, like, more shaded areas.
03:09Despite the drawbacks, there are at least one or two reminders
03:13of Kirsty's past life in Devonshire for the couple to enjoy.
03:17The only bit of character we do actually have in the garden
03:20is our camellia plant that we inherited.
03:23It's looking a bit sad at the moment.
03:25It's also the bird baths.
03:27It's the only way we're ticing the wildlife into our garden at the moment.
03:30Yeah, and then we get, you know, the lovely mess that they leave on the fence.
03:36Competing for a chance to transform Kirsty in Tom's garden
03:40are Flo, with her curvy gardens packed with colour and scent...
03:44This garden's shouting, give me an identity.
03:47There's nothing there. It's a blank canvas.
03:51..and Charlie, whose rustic, wildlife-friendly designs
03:54bring vibrancy to any space.
03:58Now, I wonder if Flo's going to go down the pergola route
04:01or come up with something a bit clever.
04:05Well, you can see they've spent lots of time
04:08getting the house just as they want it.
04:10Absolutely, and they want that level of accomplishment
04:13out in the garden now, don't they?
04:15It's going to be a challenge for us, isn't it?
04:17Yeah, yeah.
04:18Especially with all the different funny areas.
04:20And lots of fence and brick wall, and it all just needs softening.
04:24I wonder what they want to bring to this garden to make it their own.
04:28Mm. Shall we have a look?
04:30I'm a Dartmoor girl, and I love the naturalistic plantings.
04:35I'd like to try my hand at growing some vegetables.
04:38We would be looking for a space that incorporates the elements.
04:42Earth, water, fire.
04:44I think you've thought about a fire pit.
04:46Certainly, it would be great to have a fire pit area, yeah,
04:49and a place to relax with a water feature, perhaps.
04:52We'd really like to have a space that's a little bit more
04:57We'd really like the garden to have a naturalistic and spiritual vibe.
05:02It would be great if it was a calming and relaxing space,
05:05as well as being practical.
05:07Well, OK, now, right up my street, that.
05:10You know, natural, wildlife.
05:13But on a new build, it's going to be a challenge.
05:16Yeah, cos at the moment, it is just all angles, isn't it?
05:19And awkward corners.
05:21So, budget-wise? 5K.
05:24Which, you know, for a garden this size is reasonable.
05:28It is. I think I could get quite a lot of Dartmoor into Daventry with that budget.
05:33Well, I'll meet you at that challenge, then.
05:38With £5,000 on offer to bring some spiritualism to Kirsty and Tom's garden,
05:43our designers get to work.
05:47The couple then choose their favourite design,
05:50and whoever loses helps the winner build the garden.
05:55The budget will be spent on materials,
05:57whilst Charlie, Flo and their trusty team of landscapers
06:00provide the labour for free.
06:07In Daventry, the pitches have arrived.
06:12We start off? Yeah.
06:14Kirsty, Tom, you wanted a garden that was full of atmosphere,
06:19wildlife, places to sit and entertain,
06:23without it being too formal.
06:26Now, this garden's going to be full of scent, colour, atmosphere,
06:32and also have a bit of a nod to Dartmoor,
06:35because, Kirsty, I know you're a Tavistock girl.
06:38It's a nice touch, isn't it? Yeah.
06:40Nice nod to Dartmoor. Absolutely.
06:43Hey, Kirsty and Tom. Hi.
06:46This is my garden that celebrates your love of nature and spiritual vibe.
06:51At the moment, your garden is screaming out for the flow treatment,
06:56for curves, for a journey that takes you around the garden.
07:00I like the look of that. A nice, large space,
07:02a lot larger than what we've got.
07:04The first challenge was to do something about the miniature patio.
07:09Now, you've already got this paving here, back gate and little patio.
07:14What I've done to make the budget go further is to use the same paving.
07:18I've got a horizontal line of stepping stones here that leads to the patio,
07:22which is exactly the same paving, so it'll all match together.
07:27But then the key thing is this pergola,
07:30and I'm going to use the chestnut palings, which is split,
07:35so it's triangular. It's normally used for fences,
07:38but we're going to use it to make this bespoke pergola,
07:41which will just be a bit different.
07:43That's brilliant.
07:44That's exactly what you were looking for, wasn't it?
07:46So I've given you a generous, curved patio,
07:50and as it's south-facing, as it's really hot,
07:53obviously you need some kind of protection.
07:56And rather than just go for your regular square posts,
08:00I've kind of taken that whole organic, natural feel
08:04and used posts that are round,
08:07so this pergola is smooth and curvaceous.
08:12I really like the look of that pergola.
08:15As always, Flo is utilising plenty of curves in her design,
08:19but another request from Kirsty and Tom is a place to grow their own.
08:24So these are just raised veg beds here,
08:27so you've got the fence you can use for growing runner beans up it,
08:32and then what I wanted to do is give you
08:35a little potting-up table with a bench.
08:38Now I know, Kirsty, you wanted to try your hand at some veg growing,
08:42so I've given you a cute little potting table
08:45and a raised bed that's a fair size, but, you know, not too overwhelming.
08:49Yeah, nice. I really like the idea of having my own veg area.
08:53Yeah, it's something you wanted to start, hasn't it?
08:55Yeah, absolutely.
08:56So far, both designers are nailing the brief,
08:59but how are they planning on delivering a spiritual element to the garden?
09:04You then come down to this area of the garden.
09:07This is much more natural, almost with a Dartmoor feel to it.
09:12So I'm going to plant up the trees
09:14because that's great for the birds to roost up in.
09:17Then you've got the key feature here, which is this seating area.
09:21We've got a pond and then we've got dry stone wall seat
09:26that we're going to plant up with chamomile and toad flax.
09:31That's a really nice idea, isn't it? A nice, quiet area.
09:34Charlie's hitting the spot with her Dartmoor-inspired chill-out area,
09:39but flow's far from done.
09:41So you've got a fire pit here, some seating.
09:45This little area here is not visible from the house,
09:51so actually it is really secret,
09:53and midsummer, with the tall grasses as well,
09:55it actually is completely screened off.
09:57So this is a place for you to create memories.
10:00It's a private little space where you can just have fun
10:03with friends and family, kick back and relax.
10:07I really, really like the sound of that.
10:09It's a very clever way of dealing with those awkward levels, isn't it?
10:12Now we've got this zone here, which is about the R&R.
10:16It's the lounge zone.
10:18I've given you this sail shade here, which sits on that angle.
10:22This patio here, I've used pebbles,
10:25but what I've used is a stabilising grid.
10:28So the pebbles sit on the grid, so actually nothing will move.
10:32It's actually really comfortable underfoot.
10:35With flow providing not one but two chill-out zones,
10:39can Charlie's planting win Kirstie and Tom over?
10:42I also want to mix in with the planting things like dog roses,
10:46because you've got the hips on them, which the birds will enjoy,
10:50and then you can also use them as well.
10:53Mixed in with the lavender and then dianthus,
10:57because that's got a really gorgeous scent to it of cloves.
11:00I love the sound of all of that planting.
11:03So I'm going to use some big foliage plants like fatsia
11:07and great big hand-type leaves that are really dramatic in the garden.
11:11Rosemary, thyme, lavender, sage.
11:15You're overlooked, actually, from your neighbours.
11:18So I've given you trees and I've placed them strategically
11:22that when you're on the patio here or here,
11:25they provide a bit of screening.
11:27It should certainly help with the overlooking issue, shouldn't it?
11:31I've loved designing this garden. I'd love to build it for you.
11:35So pick me and let's do this.
11:38Gosh, two really strong designs.
11:41Lots to think about.
11:43Flo and Charlie have gone all out to win them over.
11:47Now it's up to Kirstie and Tom.
11:50Charlie's put in a pond here.
11:52We've obviously got the lovely drystone wall seating, which I love.
11:55Certainly naturalistic, isn't it?
11:57I really, really like the way Flo's incorporated this sunken fire pit area.
12:01Absolutely. It really suits our lifestyles.
12:04We've got a tough decision to make. Very tough decision.
12:07Only one of the designs can win.
12:11So will it be Charlie with her chestnut pergola,
12:15drystone wall and wildlife pond?
12:18Or Flo with her sweeping curved patio, pebble beach lounge area
12:23and ribbon of wildflower meadow?
12:26Right, you ready? I'm ready, yeah.
12:30Hi, Charlie and Flo.
12:32Charlie, we really like your design,
12:34especially the use of incorporating lots of rustic materials.
12:39Flo, we really like your design.
12:41We particularly enjoyed the fact that you incorporated different zones
12:44from dining to lounging to relaxing.
12:47So after much deliberation, the winning design is...
12:53Flo. Yay! Well done!
12:57I'm shocked, but please, I literally thought you had it.
13:01Really loved the informalness and how it kind of takes you on a journey
13:04moving from each different zone.
13:06And, yeah, it particularly has the Flo treatment.
13:08Yeah, I went crazy with the curves
13:10because they wanted something quite organic,
13:12so I was just drawing these curves everywhere, trying to get them to all align.
13:16Yay! Come on, we're going to do this.
13:20In Daventry, the landscapers, led by project manager Ben, have arrived...
13:29..and get straight down to tackling the first problem area in the garden.
13:35You got it? Steady, steady, steady.
13:37Got you, got you, got you. You got me? Yeah.
13:39Well done, well done.
13:41Here we go then, team.
13:42Now, this garden, it just slopes away to the corner behind my left.
13:47The sunken fire pit is going to go down there.
13:49We can move some of the soil back to level it up to help us,
13:53but we do have to get this level.
13:55We have absolutely loads to do.
13:58Let's crack on. Do it!
14:05A key feature of Flo's design is a giant sweeping patio.
14:12So, out come the old pavers to be recycled elsewhere.
14:18Three metres. Hang on three metres, that.
14:24And in comes the spray paint to mark out the new shape ready to be dug out.
14:34So, Andy's doing the dig out for us
14:36so we can get the correct depth ready for the MOC to come in.
14:40Now, the issue we have is Flo wanted all those curves going in there.
14:45Now, because we're creating those curves,
14:47we're then going to have the wastage
14:49because we're cutting into those square corners.
14:52But we're going to use that wastage...
14:54No!
14:59Flo's design also features a chill-out zone along the garage wall
15:03that utilises a sail for shade.
15:06Clearly, the post ain't level.
15:08James, it's very level.
15:12But the poles have to be bedded two feet deep on a ten-degree angle for safety.
15:18You can get a lot more tension on the pole
15:20without having this slight incline on it.
15:22If the wind gets up ever, we've got to make sure
15:24that this is not going to go flying into the next-door neighbour's garden.
15:28So, that's the plan with this.
15:30In the far corner of the garden...
15:32The rest of it.
15:34..precision is the name of the game.
15:39The sunken fire pit that'll be bordered by wildflower turf
15:42also needs digging out.
15:45If we don't get it bang on, we are in trouble,
15:48especially because she's keeping the existing lawn.
15:51So, you can see the line that's going around,
15:54and we're going to have to dig it out.
15:57With the posts for both the sail shade and pergola done,
16:02the landscapers are making cracking progress.
16:06Yes, mate! Lovely. Beautiful.
16:12What a change already.
16:13Look at the view.
16:14You can see it's taking a while to get to the bottom.
16:18It's been a long time since we've done this.
16:20It's been a while.
16:22It's been a long time.
16:24I've been digging it for the past four years.
16:26It's been a long time.
16:27And it's been a long time.
16:28And it's been a long time.
16:29And it's been a long time.
16:30And it's been a long time.
16:32It's been a long time.
16:33What a change already, looks amazing. Jamie is smashing out that grind stabilising membrane that's going in there.
16:41We have gravel going in there, the border's coming along, Tory has set up the sunken fire pit area.
16:47And then if we go past this digger, we can see how Andy's getting on.
16:52Hey Andy, how we doing?
16:57It's coming along.
17:00It really is taking shape, still loads to do.
17:05Where's Flo?
17:08Well Ben, our designers will be with you any minute now.
17:12Let's have a look, let's have a look.
17:17Ooh, the guys have done a lot, look at this.
17:21Wowee, is all I can say.
17:23It is taking shape.
17:25Look at all those curves you curvy queen.
17:29I love it and I think in any space I always try and put a curve in.
17:33Down in the corner, I'm making a grand saying about this, down in the corner.
17:37I feel something's coming up here.
17:39There's going to be this little hidden nook where they can chill out in the evening with a fire pit and hanging out.
17:46That's what I want you to tackle.
17:48That's what I'm up to.
17:50Did you make the lead up?
17:51Yeah, lead up.
17:52Make it nice and soft for Charlie but that you're down in the dingly delve.
17:57Yeah, I'll call down to you at some point.
17:59I'm going to go check this out.
18:01Yeah, okay, I'll holler down to you later.
18:07This garden for Kirsty and Tom is all about the vibes.
18:11Stepping out of the house, they now have this very generous patio.
18:15It's a sunny garden so the pergola, I'm going to plant some climbers up
18:19and eventually that will create a nice canopy over.
18:22It will make it really comfortable for them to sit and enjoy this space.
18:26And then they might want to take a journey this way, curving around to this area here.
18:33Kirsty and Tom wanted a space where they could put out their sun loungers, read a book, do some meditation.
18:39So I've created this curved area here, this kind of zen zone, I call it.
18:44If we follow the curve around, it resolves here and this area,
18:49there's going to be a raised bed and a potting table
18:52because Kirsty and Tom, they want to try their hand at growing vegetables.
18:55Ben, could you pretend to be a raised bed for us?
18:59Raised bed here?
19:00Yeah.
19:01This one?
19:02That's right and I'll be the potting table.
19:04How does that?
19:05That's the nicest looking raised bed and potting table I've ever seen.
19:09The potting table's pretty.
19:11The raised bed looks a bit dodgy, eh?
19:13Yeah, I don't think we should grow in that.
19:23Charlie's wasting no time getting stuck into the fire pit zone.
19:29But it looks like Flo may have had a change of heart.
19:33Hello.
19:34What are you doing? What are you doing?
19:36Oh, you're changing the design on me.
19:39Yes, I am.
19:40Come in, step in.
19:42Come into my cosy area.
19:44I look at this space and actually I think it needs to be bigger,
19:47it needs to be more generous and actually it needs to be further away
19:51from the fence from a safety point of view.
19:53Yes, safety.
19:54We're digging into, the meadow turf is still going to be here.
19:57Right, so that will make this lovely actually.
19:59Yes.
20:00Because you're going to cut into, because it slopes down,
20:02you're going to cut in more so it's going to make you feel
20:04almost enveloped in meadow.
20:06Exactly.
20:13That is way better.
20:15Yes.
20:16We've got one, two, close to three metres, which feels better.
20:26It's now up to Charlie to manage the redesign.
20:36Right, we're almost there.
20:38Dug out this space and it's made it way better.
20:41It has become a secret sunken garden.
20:43If you look at how far down we are from the patio,
20:47you're going to have seats here and the meadow grass
20:50is going to come up about a metre.
20:53So when you're sat down from the patio windows,
20:56you won't know that anyone's actually here.
20:58So it's going to be a lovely space for Tom and Kirsty to sit, relax.
21:04Our next thing is to get some aggregate down.
21:08Basically, it gives a good firm base...
21:15..and it will stop the pebbles that are going on top
21:18sinking into the soil.
21:26On the opposite side of the plot...
21:29Oh, I've got a raised bed!
21:31Where do you want it? Lovely.
21:33Just here, just lining up with the edge of the garage.
21:38Beautiful.
21:40Flo's turning her attention to the chill-out zone.
21:45The idea is that this more intimate space
21:48will remind Kirstie of a pebble beach
21:50in her beloved home county, Devon.
21:54So if you're wondering what this curious texture is,
21:57it's ground-stabilising matting.
21:59And what it does, it holds all the pebbles in place.
22:03The pebble grid matting costs £380 and is extremely durable.
22:08So normally you would have pebbles or gravel down
22:11and they would just shift around,
22:13but it literally just keeps, as you can see, it in place.
22:17So they slot into little hexagon shapes
22:20and then we'll put a layer on top, this is a top dressing.
22:23So when we've got the pebbles down and we've got the cell shade up,
22:27the planting, this space is going to be 100%. Can't wait.
22:35With a tonne of pebbles used, Flo's Midlands Beach
22:38should be the perfect spot to chill out and escape the midday sun.
22:50I'm just assembling the fire bowl.
22:55And this is another key part of the secret garden
22:58at the bottom in the sunken area.
23:01The whole idea is it's like sitting around a campfire.
23:05You're going to have the meadow grass sort of round you.
23:08So you could be on Dartmoor, you could be just sitting at a festival.
23:13So it's going to have a really lovely feel to that area.
23:16Now, fire bowls, you can get all sorts of different ones.
23:20This one, £75, and it's a nice sort of big, broad one.
23:25It's got air vents in it so it burns easily,
23:28handles, and then it's going to be up on feet as well.
23:31So it'll just be raised up,
23:33which will make it even more sort of noticeable in the sunken area.
23:38Just got to get it together.
23:45The team may be making progress.
23:50But if this garden is going to have the relaxed vibe
23:53Kirstie and Tom are looking for,
23:56it's going to need some life.
24:05Ooh, nice!
24:07Very pretty! Pretty, pretty!
24:10So lovely. I love achilles.
24:13Flo spent over a quarter of the £5,000 budget on planting
24:18to cater to both Kirstie and Tom's individual tastes.
24:22This is the statement tree in the garden.
24:24It's a flagpole cherry.
24:26Here it comes, here it comes!
24:29Yep, yep, yep, yep. Keep going, keep going.
24:32Right, I'm following you.
24:34OK, turn it up a little bit.
24:36There we go.
24:38Cherry tree coming through.
24:40You've got a real cross-section of plants here, Flo.
24:43Yeah, well, what's really interesting with Kirstie and Tom
24:46is that they have very different preferences.
24:49So Tom's all about the strong architectural type of plants.
24:53OK, so this type of thing.
24:55Yeah, and Kirstie's more softer, cottagey garden.
25:00And you've got to make them go like that somehow.
25:02Yes, yes.
25:03That's going to be difficult, isn't it?
25:05I know, I know.
25:06I mean, there's some plants that sort of go either way.
25:09So grasses can look very architectural,
25:11but then at the same time they can also look very loose and meadowy.
25:16But actually, one of my favourites is sitting right here.
25:19It's the viburnum davidii.
25:21Again, it's another one that could be quite architectural
25:24because when it grows it does that mounding type effect,
25:27so it looks quite architectural.
25:29And I just love it because of the big leathery, glossy leaves
25:32and then the berries that come afterwards.
25:34So, see, I quite like the nandina.
25:36I think that's a really good shrub for a small garden
25:39because you get the red foliage in the spring,
25:43you get flowers in the summer,
25:45and in the winter you get berries.
25:47I mean, what more could you want from a shrub?
25:49It is an all-rounder, isn't it?
25:50It's a real all-rounder.
25:51And it grows slowly, so it doesn't take over.
25:54Well, it's all nice chatting about plants around here, but...
25:58We've got to get planting.
25:59Yeah, you've got a garden to do.
26:07Kirsty and Tom are really keen to have some produce
26:10that they have grown and they can pick and use.
26:14To get them started, I've given them some easy-to-grow herbs.
26:18They're quite thirsty plants just when they're establishing,
26:21but once they are established, actually,
26:23they like to be baked in the sun.
26:25So we've got some sage, we've got some thyme,
26:29we've got some oregano, curry plant and fennel,
26:32things that they can use in their cooking.
26:35And this is just a starter kit.
26:37I'm giving them the beginnings of hopefully a habit
26:40that they are going to go on to develop and really run with.
26:49One of the most dramatic features Flo is proposing
26:53is a ribbon of wildflower meadow
26:55that'll zone the fire pit area from the rest of the garden.
27:00Now, because we're laying meadow turf
27:03that likes actually quite a poor soil,
27:05we've mixed in some sand with the topsoil.
27:10That's basically done so that the grasses
27:13don't overpower the actual meadow plants.
27:16Meadow turf rolls are laid in the same way as lawn
27:20but are made up of wildflowers and grass.
27:23Once laid, this border will soon grow
27:26into a multicoloured wildlife haven.
27:29Now, this one was about 25 pounds a square metre
27:34and it's gorgeous. We've got lots.
27:36Beautiful.
27:37We've got clover, achillia.
27:40We've got ladies' bed straw.
27:42Now, what you'll find with meadow turf when you buy it
27:46is the grasses they use are less vigorous ones
27:49so they won't take over the actual flowering plants.
27:53When it comes to the maintenance of your turf,
27:57you normally trim it twice or three times a year
28:01if you've got really fertile soil.
28:03It takes a lot of the growth out of the grasses
28:06by cutting in the autumn as well.
28:09Off you go. Cut us a circle.
28:13Not what to do with your best saw.
28:15You use an old saw.
28:17That's your... It's Lee's.
28:22You'll be in trouble.
28:24Am I in it?
28:26I saw that.
28:27No.
28:28You said it before.
28:31I didn't. I didn't.
28:34There we go.
28:35And we'll keep that for over there.
28:37At 25 pounds a square metre, we don't want to waste it.
28:40And I'm going to have a little chat with Flo
28:43because I was just wondering whether we ran a bit of meadow turf
28:47around the back as well
28:49because it'll come up high and it'll slightly cover up the fence
28:53so they will be totally enveloped in meadow.
28:56How romantic is that?
29:00While Charlie powers on,
29:02Flo is desperate to get the last of the landscaping finished
29:07and Lee has an idea of how to take the giant pergola
29:10to the next level.
29:13This is the moment of truth. We're going to put the crossbeams up.
29:17A well thought is, you know, you've designed it splaying out that way.
29:21Mm-hm.
29:22How about we have it splaying that way as well?
29:24Ooh, like a bit of a sort of take-off.
29:26Yeah, well, it's just it opens that part of the garden
29:29with your big focal point down there.
29:31Yes, exactly.
29:32Happy with that?
29:33Love the idea, yeah. Let's do it.
29:35Let's do it.
29:36At a whopping three by three metres,
29:39Flo's pergola is built with 14 timber poles.
29:43First one in?
29:44First one in.
29:45Lovely.
29:46And that, combined with the sail shade,
29:48means there's a total of 16 used in her design.
29:55That is going to go, I reckon, about there then.
29:59Fantastic.
30:00Right, it's all coming together, got this area all sorted.
30:03I'm loving the way the meadow turf rolls down into the dip.
30:07Love that.
30:08Yeah.
30:09And then all I've got to do is get the seats in.
30:11I'm thinking three here.
30:12Yeah.
30:13And then two over here, looking back at the garden.
30:16And then, the last thing, the water feature, just there.
30:20Woo-hoo!
30:21Lovely.
30:22Woo-hoo!
30:24This has got to be the simplest water feature I've ever done.
30:28It's basically a metal bowl with a little solar pump in it,
30:32and we're going to put some pebbles in,
30:34so it's really a posh birdbath.
30:37But the birds will come down, and having some pebbles in there
30:40means that it's easier for them to get to the water.
30:43First things first, water's always level,
30:45so I need to make sure it is level.
30:48So I'm just going to put down one of these slabs,
30:52about there, on sand,
30:55because if Kirsty and Tom want to move it somewhere else,
31:00it'll be nice and easy to move,
31:02and the sand will just work into the soil.
31:13OK, that's level.
31:15So, literally a case of bowl goes on, gently, gently.
31:20Pop the pump in, fill it up with water,
31:23a few pebbles, beautiful.
31:25Poshest birdbath in the area.
31:34Hey, guys. Hiya.
31:36Hey, so this is the sail shade that's going to go in this area.
31:39I thought you couldn't put your bedding sheets out to dry
31:42while it's such a nice day.
31:45So there are three... It's triangular shape.
31:48So we've got to get it up on the hooks.
31:51If you look, there should be a joy in it, which is your end flow.
31:55You'll never get the duvet in it.
31:57It's too hot for a duvet.
31:59Right, then.
32:01I'll get my able assistant to help, because I'm a bit short,
32:04so I can't quite reach up there.
32:06Cheers, Ben. Hello.
32:08Go on, then. Down and over here, this side.
32:10I'll hand that one to you. Thank you.
32:14Put that on there, and then...
32:16And then the last one goes up over there.
32:18So, for 50 quid, which is what this sail shade costs,
32:22Kirsty and Tom have now got cover and protection from the sun.
32:27Once in place, tensioners pull the material taut,
32:31so it doesn't sag.
32:33It's worth getting as big a sail shade as you can,
32:36because the more generous it is,
32:38then the more cover you're going to get,
32:40the more comfortable you're going to feel.
32:42This is a stylish addition to the garden,
32:44very in keeping with Kirsty and Tom's style.
32:47It just tops off this area, and it's another one off my list.
32:56With the landscaping finally complete...
32:59That's better, I think.
33:03..the planting can get under way.
33:10And one of the key beds in Flo's design
33:13connects the pergola area with Charlie's fire pit zone.
33:20Here we go.
33:22That's looking great. That's looking great.
33:24So, we've got the height from the trees, the screening.
33:27The nandina here is going to give us coverage of the fence,
33:30slowly growing up.
33:31And the great thing for Tom and Kirsty,
33:33as it's their first garden, having shrubs in there
33:36is really good to have a framework... There you go.
33:39..and not have too much maintenance,
33:41which is lovely, but they do require cutting back and sometimes staking.
33:45So, that just gives them the framework.
33:50Like many new builds,
33:52Kirsty and Tom's garden is ringed by a rather boring fence.
33:56So, Flo's included a climber at the back of the border
34:00to help soften it.
34:02Here we go.
34:03Just digging out a nice big hole for this clematis.
34:06It's an evergreen clematis.
34:08It's called a Serosa Wisley Cream
34:12and it has these lovely cream flowers that are scented.
34:17Really nice.
34:18This gets about 10ft tall and it will spread about 6ft across.
34:23What I do need to do is put some vertical wires in
34:26so that it can grow up the wires.
34:28The first year, what you would do is cut it down to about 12 inches high.
34:33What that does is all these side buds shoot,
34:37lots more stem, so it will be thicker and it will grow up.
34:40The second year, you cut it down to about a metre high
34:44and then all those buds again, so it will basically get thicker and thicker.
34:48So, it's nice and deep in the ground.
34:51The next thing is to put the wires up.
34:57Another key addition is the holly tree.
35:00They can be found all over Dartmoor...
35:02Brilliant.
35:03..and can grow up to 15m tall.
35:06It's a big one, huh?
35:09I'm going to wiggle it around a bit. I need to see what's the best side.
35:14Could you turn it 90 degrees towards you?
35:19Yeah, that's better.
35:21Every plant has a facing side, a good side,
35:24and given that it's going to be largely viewed from the house,
35:27we're getting the best side of the plant looking out.
35:30So, this is a tree that's going to really make a statement in the garden,
35:34be viewed from the house all year round
35:37and be a great addition to this garden.
35:47Right, just getting a tree in here.
35:50Flo wanted a tree to give a bit of height to this sunken seating area
35:54and also to screen the neighbours,
35:56and she's chosen a tree that's really popular for small gardens.
36:01It's a mountain ash, or sorbus.
36:04This one is known as autumn spire,
36:07and it's beautiful in the autumn, absolutely amazing,
36:11because the berries are yellow, but the leaves are bright red
36:15and the contrast is absolutely fantastic,
36:18and it's just fabulous for wildlife,
36:21because early in the spring you get these big umbells of white flowers,
36:25which the bees love,
36:28and then come the autumn time you've got the berries, which the birds love.
36:47This big pergola, I thought I'd choose quite a large specimen to plant here.
36:52This is a honeysuckle, which for beginner gardeners is a really good choice.
36:56It's pretty much bulletproof as a plant.
36:59In terms of maintenance, the best time to prune it is in spring.
37:03Prune it sensitively, take it down, so you can then actually control its growth.
37:08It's going to smell great, it's going to bring wildlife into the garden,
37:12it ticks all the boxes for what they want.
37:20Oh, that smells gorgeous.
37:23I'm going to just use my hands.
37:28As the day draws to a close in Daventry.
37:32It's been quite overwhelming today,
37:35with all the different zones, trying to get them to marry up.
37:38I'm using whatever strength I've got left just to get this one plant in.
37:43It's time to find the remaining plants a new home,
37:49and with the team giving it their all,
37:53Flo's spiritual retreat for Kirstie and Tom is finished.
38:02We made it! Yes, yes!
38:04I have to say, at one point I thought...
38:07It felt a bit overwhelming at times for me, yeah, I've got to be real.
38:11But look how it looks.
38:13I mean, you wouldn't even know now that this garden was an odd shape.
38:17It just... I love the Flo.
38:19Yeah, Flo.
38:22Yeah, but you know what I mean.
38:24It just meanders round, you wander down here,
38:27you wander through the meadow up to the chill-out zone.
38:31I think what I've given them is that journey through the garden,
38:35the curves that pulls you round,
38:37and then when you're sitting here, you can look back at all of it.
38:41I think they're going to absolutely love it.
38:44I'm going to go and get them. You're going to have to move.
38:48When the team arrived,
38:51this boring, bland and blank canvas was unused and unloved.
38:58The tiny patio was a waste of space.
39:01One corner of the garden sloped nearly half a metre,
39:05making it a dead zone.
39:07And, other than plain grass,
39:09the only plant of note was Kirstie's rather sad olive tree.
39:15It couldn't be more different
39:17than the relaxing rural haven the couple craved.
39:23Now it's been transformed into a spiritual, calming oasis.
39:29From the house, a dramatic, sweeping curved patio
39:33provides ample room for entertaining
39:36and is framed by a giant, rustic pergola,
39:40adding structure and privacy.
39:44A bed of gorgeous perennials draws the eye to the end of the garden,
39:49where the difficult, sloping corner
39:52has been levelled and transformed into a cosy nook,
39:57complete with a fire pit, a water feature
40:00and an arc of wildflower meadow grass.
40:04Kirstie finally has a space to grow her own,
40:08and even though they're hundreds of miles from the coast,
40:12Kirstie and Tom can now lay out on their own pebbled beach,
40:16shaded by a giant sail.
40:21The perfect reminder of seaside trips to Devon.
40:27But is it the garden they've been dreaming of?
40:31Kirstie and Tom, you asked for a garden
40:34that had naturalistic and spiritual vibes,
40:38and you wanted to be able to do what you love, which is entertain.
40:41And now is the moment when you get to see it.
40:44So, one, two, three.
40:49Wow. Absolutely incredible.
40:52Thank you so much.
40:54I'm so glad you love it.
40:56Oh, big smiles. They love it.
41:00The patio's just, like, completely...
41:02It's transformed everything, hasn't it?
41:04I just love the way it curves.
41:06And then this pergola.
41:08It's a big statement for quite a sizeable garden.
41:11I know. Your focus is so drawn in,
41:13you've completely forgotten about all of those properties.
41:16So, from here, we'll just follow the curve around.
41:19I've been cheekily calling the Zen Zone.
41:23That reminds me of, you know, Devonshire beaches.
41:27Yeah, that's it.
41:29And then with the sail shade, you've got the cover from the sun.
41:33We can see ourselves chilling here in the shade.
41:35So, over here, then, is your little growing zone.
41:41Wow, look at that.
41:43Yes, my veg area.
41:45You've started me off.
41:47So, you haven't made it too big, because sometimes it's going to be overwhelming.
41:50And I like the height of it as well.
41:52Yes, yes.
41:53I knew Kirsty would like the veg bed area and the potting table.
41:59So, this holly tree, it's your classic Christmas tree shade.
42:03I was just going to say that. It just reminds me of Christmas.
42:06You're from Dartmoor, and that's a strong pull for you.
42:09So, I was looking for some plants that had a connection to it.
42:12That's my little piece of home.
42:14That's that country feel, isn't it, as well?
42:16And the berries are great for birds.
42:18That's bringing wildlife into the garden.
42:20Well, and I can hear the water feature as well,
42:22so if you have that next to it, they'll appreciate that.
42:26I'd say that's the easiest water feature I've ever made.
42:29Bish bash bosh, and how the birds will love it.
42:32It feels nice and private down here, doesn't it, now?
42:35Yes.
42:36There's a climber there. There's an evergreen clematis on the fence there.
42:40And over time, that will fill this wall.
42:42It's beautiful, and it's winter flowering as well.
42:45I already can't wait to see it next year.
42:47Thank you so much.
42:48Thank you to all the garden rescue team.
42:50It's been a stellar effort.
42:52I mean, it looks superb.
42:55Beautiful garden flow.
42:58It's exceeded all expectations.
43:00Definitely excited.
43:01It's a totally different garden.
43:03I can't wait to get all my friends round, all the family.
43:06Very eager to see it.
43:24For more information, visit www.fema.gov