Garden Rescue episode 33 2024

  • 13 hours ago
Garden Rescue episode 33 2024
Transcript
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 Hedlum.
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!
00:46Ah!
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!
01:09Awaiting the team this time is a run-down garden
01:12that needs to work for both two-legged and four-legged owners.
01:18Hi, I'm Toby.
01:19And I'm Alicia.
01:20And welcome to our garden in sunny Bristol today.
01:23So, I'm from Gloucester.
01:25You're from down near, sort of, Dorset Way.
01:28When we got together, I was living in Gloucester,
01:31but we decided to compromise, so I moved to Bristol.
01:35Project manager Toby and IT supplier Alicia
01:38took the plunge and set up home in the city two years ago.
01:43I just realised Bristol is a city.
01:46There's a lot more to do here than where he's from,
01:48which is ultimately a cul-de-sac in the middle of nowhere.
01:52They may love buzzing Bristol,
01:55but when it comes to their large 110-metre square garden,
01:59it's a different story altogether.
02:03So, we can start with this area here,
02:07which is a completely unusable space.
02:10Yep, it could do with being a lot bigger
02:12to allow us to put a table and chairs
02:14or sun lounger or anything usable here.
02:17Yeah.
02:18And as you can see from our poor excuse for a lawn,
02:21it's very sloped, it's not very nice.
02:25Very holey.
02:26Yeah, there's lots of lumps and bumps
02:28and old building material in it.
02:30There's also a distinct lack of any planting,
02:33flowers, plants, anything... Yeah.
02:35..down both sides of the garden.
02:37It's got no character, no personality,
02:39just very bland and boring,
02:41and this space isn't very usable either as a lawn.
02:44When we have tried to put tables and chairs up there,
02:47you tend to find that one chair winds up hanging off the slope.
02:50Yeah, we've not had our family friends over very much
02:55since we moved in a couple of years ago.
02:57Alicia and Toby are not the only inhabitants
03:00of this odd-shaped garden.
03:04So, this is one of our rabbits, Marble.
03:07He is four-and-a-half years old.
03:10Although their floppy-eared friends have the run of the space,
03:13the couple are hoping to make it even more bunny-friendly.
03:19I think, to benefit the rabbits,
03:21any plants or flowers that we do have put into the garden,
03:24they'd have to be rabbit-friendly,
03:26things that aren't going to be toxic to them.
03:28So, please, Garden Rescue...
03:30..come rescue our garden.
03:32Competing for a chance to transform Alicia and Toby's garden
03:36are Chris with his structured contemporary designs...
03:39I mean, yeah, this garden is so utilitarian.
03:42What this needs is a new lease of life.
03:44..and Flo, who loves to break with convention
03:47with her curvy, creative gardens.
03:49I want to put colour or I want to put a bit of colour.
03:52I'm going to put a bit of colour.
03:54I'm going to put a bit of colour.
03:56I'm going to put a bit of colour.
03:58I'm going to put a bit of colour.
04:01I want to put colour or I want to put textures,
04:03I want to put lots of fun things into this garden.
04:11Bunnies!
04:12That's fun. Yes.
04:14It needs to be safe for them. No toxic plants.
04:16Oh, I feel for them.
04:18They really need a garden that they can bring family and friends to.
04:21That's something they can be proud of.
04:23I know. You don't want to be bringing anyone round to this.
04:26No way, no way, no way, yeah.
04:28I mean, you really want a kind of destination point in that garden, don't you?
04:31Yes, yes. And an elegant way to get from the house down to the destination.
04:36Yeah, I know. This slope at the moment with the little step,
04:39it's just completely unusable, so we have to think of a clever way to tackle that.
04:43It's a really big garden and there's loads that they want to pack in there,
04:46but I think there's something else they want to pull out the hat for us.
04:48Oh, yeah.
04:53In terms of what we would like from our garden,
04:56um, I think we would really like a space where we can entertain,
05:00socialise, also to double up as like a relaxation space.
05:04And then, yeah, perhaps that sort of barbecue area over here as well,
05:08maybe to keep it far enough away in terms of the smokiness.
05:13We'd like to bring a bit of boho chic into our garden.
05:16The primary focus for that specifically is around the seating area and having that comfy vibe with
05:22the lighting, so cushions, maybe a floor mat, maybe blankets,
05:28and just an area to relax that's really comfy and cosy.
05:34But we just need colour in the garden, to be honest.
05:38Come on, boho chic. I mean, what do you think? When you think boho, what sort of style?
05:41I think kind of, you know, kind of relaxed, kind of, you know,
05:44loose styling, but actually lots of textures.
05:47That's it.
05:47Knit knacks.
05:48Bunnies, boho, it's got it all going on.
05:51And a budget of 6K.
05:52Hey, I mean, that's healthy.
05:54It's very healthy.
05:55It is a big garden, but I think if you're clever about it, we can make that work really well.
06:03Chris and Flo now have to use their design expertise to create a garden that works for
06:07the rabbits as much as Alicia and Toby, with a budget of £6,000.
06:14The couple then have to choose one of their designs,
06:16and whichever designer loses must help the other build it.
06:21The budget will be spent on materials with Chris,
06:24Flo and their landscapers doing the work for free.
06:28In Bristol, the pitches have arrived.
06:32So the designs are in, excited to see what they look like.
06:37Alicia, Toby, this is your garden, boho bunnies.
06:40Now, I know you wanted a garden that was all things boho chic.
06:45You wanted a space to entertain with some seating under a bespoke pergola.
06:50You wanted your very own barbecue area.
06:53You wanted to embellish that journey from the gate to the back door.
06:57And most importantly, the garden needed to be open and safe
07:01so your bunnies could have a run around.
07:03You read the brief there.
07:05Hi, Alicia, Toby and the rabbits.
07:08I'm really excited to talk to you about this design.
07:12It's boho chic.
07:14I've given you a garden that is full of texture and detail
07:19and a place I hope you're going to enjoy and love to be in.
07:24I love that she says hello to the rabbits.
07:26Now, coming out of the back door here,
07:28at the moment, you've got that very small bit of patio,
07:30which really doesn't offer you much.
07:32So I wanted to give you a slightly more generous space.
07:36So we're going to step off of this patio
07:38onto the pathway that runs down here,
07:39where there'll be another step again.
07:41Now, there will be a slight fall on the grass,
07:43but it will be much more minimal.
07:46This whole journey, I just wanted to embellish it a little bit,
07:48give it a bit of colour and a bit of life.
07:50So either side, we've got these planting beds there.
07:52I want to fill them with lovely, colourful plants,
07:55some nice textural grasses, some beautiful flowers, very simple.
08:00And as you move through this space,
08:02this is where you come to your barbecue area.
08:04Now, I know the budget isn't going to stretch to buy you a barbecue,
08:07but I just put it in to show you
08:09that there's plenty of space to move around it when it's there.
08:12The other thing I've done here is I've made a kind of stepped bed here.
08:16So you're going to get plants at different heights.
08:18That would be quite nice, actually, with all the plants running up it.
08:21Chris has hit the ground running,
08:23offering a new larger patio, a cooking spot and colourful planting beds.
08:29So what can Flo counter with?
08:31Let's make this journey interesting, make this journey circular.
08:35And I thought of, you know, a lot of those heritage buildings
08:39and theatres where you've got this lovely descent down into a space.
08:44And so I've given you this path that curves and takes you down the garden.
08:51I've given you a really generous pergola here.
08:54I've used roundposts because I like roundposts.
08:58And I've painted the legs gold because Alicia, I know you like a bit of bling.
09:02And climbers, scented climbers scrambling up the pergola
09:06that over time will give you even more shade and scent.
09:10I've used pallets, upcycled them to make some very generous lounges and painted it blue.
09:16I've given you some wooden shelving on the back wall.
09:20And I've used festoon lighting right across the back.
09:23Very boho chic.
09:25This area in the middle for dining or maybe dancing.
09:29And then the barbecue station over here.
09:32So I've given you a brick built barbecue.
09:36There's a worktop space here with a slate surface.
09:39And then some more upcycled pallet furniture.
09:44That's a nice idea.
09:44Sustainable touch.
09:45Yeah.
09:46So I've given you a really simple water feature here.
09:50And it's nestled in this little curve of lavender.
09:55Very sensory and relaxing.
09:57Flo's going all out with her all-encompassing patio
10:01that includes a built-in barbecue and a place to party.
10:04But Chris is far from done.
10:07Now you wanted a kind of bespoke, boho chic, very embellished seating area.
10:12And that is exactly what I've given you.
10:14I wanted to start it off with a big pergola that covers that seating area
10:18and just lets plenty of light through.
10:20But it gives you some dappled shade.
10:22I wanted to make some bespoke bench seats
10:25that are going to have outdoor cushions on them.
10:27And it's all about the styling.
10:29And they're going to be a nice teal color.
10:31But to contrast that,
10:33I'm going to give you some nice patterned mustard yellow cushions
10:36just packing in color and detail everywhere.
10:39You love mustard.
10:39And I like mustard yellow.
10:41Now the embellishment doesn't stop there.
10:44You're going to have a coffee table.
10:45You can have some drinks out there.
10:47I want to have hanging lights draping off it
10:49just so everywhere you look,
10:51it's really homely and full of little details.
10:54Now not only is this a great entertaining space
10:56where you can get your friends and family around,
10:58but it can also be a really relaxing, calm and tranquil space
11:02so you can just put your feet up and read a book.
11:04I love that.
11:06Chris and Flo's designs are proving similar
11:08with their boho chic seating areas.
11:10But what do they have planned
11:12for Alicia and Toby's beloved rabbits?
11:14In the center of the garden,
11:16I've given you three raised beds, different sizes,
11:19and they all perform a different role.
11:22This big one here nearest to the house
11:23is going to be packed with pollinator plants.
11:26The middle one is for the rabbits.
11:28So lots of veggies.
11:30The rabbit's going to love munching on.
11:33And then the third one here
11:35is going to have flowering shrubs, roses,
11:37actually plants that are rabbit friendly.
11:40Now at the moment, if you were sat there,
11:42you'd be staring at your rabbit hutches.
11:44So I wanted to make a bespoke slatted screen
11:47out of pallet wood.
11:49Now with the rabbits,
11:50I've given them this really big, generous lawn area still
11:53so they've got loads of room to run around.
11:55But the thing to remember,
11:56all of this planting is going to be perfectly safe for them.
11:59No toxic plants at all.
12:00No toxic plants, good.
12:01That's good news.
12:02And most importantly,
12:04the rabbits are going to be over the moon
12:06with their new play space.
12:07Now I really love this design.
12:09So I hope you pick me.
12:11I'd really love to give you this garden.
12:13So pick me and let's do this together.
12:16Now Alicia and Toby have to pick a winner.
12:20So will they choose Chris's design
12:22with its flowering borders,
12:24pergola with boho chic seating
12:26and a bunny friendly lawn?
12:28I love the way that there's so much grass
12:30for the rabbits to run around on in Chris's.
12:35Or Flo's riot of colour with a party patio
12:38complete with built-in barbecue,
12:40pallet seating
12:41and a rabbit friendly raised bed full of veg.
12:45I really like Flo's seating area that she's given us.
12:49Yeah.
12:50And the journey is quite interesting as well
12:52through the pathway.
12:54Only one design can win.
12:57Who's it going to be?
13:01We've heard back from Toby and Alicia.
13:03Yeah.
13:04I'm just so excited.
13:05I just want to know what the result is.
13:06Come on then, let's see.
13:07Yeah.
13:08Hi Chris and Flo.
13:10We've had a really, really tough time
13:12deciding between both designs.
13:15Both of them hit so many of the characteristics
13:18that we were looking for in our next garden.
13:20But yeah, we finally decided upon...
13:23Go on.
13:24Chris's design.
13:29All right, well done, put it here.
13:31There we go, there we go.
13:32So we're now really looking forward
13:33to you guys getting started on our garden
13:36and bringing this design into reality.
13:38I'm happy about that one.
13:39It's fun, isn't it?
13:40You don't get to do funny gardens very often.
13:42Absolutely, well done, well done, yeah.
13:44We're going to have fun building this one, I think.
13:46And I'll need your help with all the colours in it.
13:48Oh yeah.
13:51The landscapers, led by project manager
13:54and local Bristol boy, Ben,
13:57are all set to bring the boho to Bristol.
14:05Right, my babbers.
14:07What language is that?
14:09What language was that?
14:10You're in my neck of the woods, aren't you?
14:12We're in Bristol here.
14:13Let's start with the challenges.
14:16Behind us there, you can see the slope from the house
14:19straight to that gate.
14:21Chris has attacked it by starting with one platform
14:26of patio here, a path stepping down,
14:29or we might just use the gradient and create the path
14:33that takes us to the lower area here,
14:36which is the main seating area.
14:38So quite a lot of paving for you to do there, Andy.
14:43Yes, looking that way.
14:44Can I help you?
14:45You certainly can.
14:46I think I will need to.
14:47Now, Lee, let's start with the biggest bit.
14:50We have a huge pergola going in, massive chunky posts.
14:55We have a L-shaped sofa, bespoke coffee table,
15:00and, Tory, we have a bit of screening just behind here.
15:05Loads to do, absolutely loads to do.
15:07So we better crack on.
15:09Yeah?
15:09Yeah.
15:10Let's get it done.
15:10Talk to us proper, so we can understand what we're doing
15:12and we'll get it done for you.
15:13Get it like what, in a what, eh?
15:15I didn't know what that meant.
15:16I'm not too sure.
15:20There's no time to learn the lingo,
15:22because it's time to get on with the first job.
15:25The concrete slabs that make up the patio by the house
15:28and at the bottom by the garage
15:29all have to be removed to be recycled later.
15:34There's also a massive timber for Lee to check off
15:36for the pergola, bespoke garden furniture, and the screen.
15:40I've also got you some cushions, rugs, froze, solar lights.
15:52Just let me know when you're ready for everything, mate.
15:54Cheers.
15:57Lucky it's water-resistant.
16:00Are you sweating already?
16:02I am, and I've done, though, yeah.
16:03Just the thought of all the work you've given me.
16:06And the fact that it's going to be the hottest day of the year today.
16:08And I'm ginger.
16:09Come on, let's get some factor 50 on.
16:11Come on, dude.
16:15With all the old pavers lifted,
16:16there are two new porcelain patios to create.
16:20But the ground up by the house first needs to be enlarged and levelled.
16:27What's the next stage for us?
16:28Well, I've just dug off either side of the concrete.
16:31There's another concrete slab at the top.
16:32Yep.
16:33So I've dug off either side, because we're going to extend it.
16:36So I'm going to get stoning up and get started paving up there.
16:39Can I help you with the stoning?
16:40You certainly can.
16:40Let's go and do it.
16:41You can do it.
16:44Some hardcore is needed before the new pavers can be laid.
16:50The old, uneven, lumpy lawn also needs removing.
16:56With the new, larger patio yet to be laid,
16:58the pergola can't be built in situ.
17:00So it's going to be a bit of a challenge.
17:02With the patio yet to be laid, the pergola can't be built in situ.
17:06So it's vast roof has to be built elsewhere.
17:12Lucky enough for me, the neighbour's let us use his car parking spaces
17:14so I can get all this set out and made.
17:17Because obviously Andy is in there now laying the slabs where I need to be.
17:21So once this is made, we can carry it in,
17:23work out where the two internal posts are going.
17:26OK, patio outside the back doors are starting to go down now.
17:31I'm coming out another slab.
17:34So we have 1.8 and then we've got the width of the conservatory or the back doors.
17:39The path is going to the side here.
17:42Jamie's started that.
17:43He's levelled off the area here.
17:45That's perfect.
17:46Loads of turf down there.
17:48But starting to take shape up here and starting to come together.
17:52Starting to take shape up here and starting to come together.
17:55Let's go and have a look how Andy's getting on down there.
18:02How are you getting on up there, Ben?
18:04I, yeah, I'm doing really well.
18:07I'm about halfway through what you've got done.
18:11How far are we coming out?
18:13Five.
18:13Five slabs.
18:14Three more courses.
18:15And that is taking us perfectly past where Tore's going to get the screen in.
18:22Yep.
18:23Amazing.
18:24And that's going to screen the rabbits, is it?
18:26Yes.
18:27Are the rabbits in there?
18:28No, they're on holiday.
18:30Are the rabbits having a holiday?
18:31They're on holiday.
18:32Oh, have they gone on a hair-a-plane?
18:40I nearly didn't giggle.
18:41I just felt sorry for him.
18:42I thought I'd give him a giggle.
18:46He'll be chuckling all day now.
18:48It's the hottest day of the year.
18:50Oh, yeah.
18:56But the landscapers aren't deterred by the heat.
19:00Three, two, six.
19:06Well, that's one wall for Andy's workshop.
19:08Oh, look at that stud wall.
19:10Now that Andy's lower patio is almost done,
19:14one way or another, the pergola roof will find a way into the garden.
19:18Look at those two walking like ducks.
19:21Just in time...
19:22It's nice, isn't it?
19:23...for Chris and Flo to check up on how it's going.
19:30I'll tell you what, this is a bit different, isn't it, Flo?
19:32Look at the size of that pergola.
19:34Yeah, I know.
19:35It looks like a deck there, doesn't it?
19:36Yes.
19:38But this garden, I mean, it just sloped away to nothing.
19:41It wasn't usable at all, was it?
19:43But we had to do a lot of paving to make this work.
19:46Absolutely.
19:47But it's a very generous space.
19:48Oh, isn't it?
19:49So it's going to feel lush.
19:50Exactly.
19:51And this whole garden, the theme for me is that boho chic.
19:54So to me, that means, like, lots of embellishment,
19:56like froze and rugs and cushions.
19:59There's another key theme in this garden, isn't there?
20:01Yes.
20:01The bunnies.
20:02The bunnies.
20:03So I'd actually like to give you free reign with the bunny area today, Flo.
20:08OK, lovely.
20:08So one thing we need to do is a bit of a privacy screen across here,
20:12just to separate it so you're not staring at the hutches all the time.
20:14OK, cool.
20:15But, you know, you can go crazy with some ideas for these bunnies.
20:18Make them, you know, whatever you want.
20:20A little fun area.
20:21And what are you up to?
20:22So I'm going to be working in this area here,
20:24because Lee has got loads of timber work to do.
20:26So I'm going to help him with the bench, the pergola.
20:29And then there's a lot of planting to go in as well.
20:32Fantastic.
20:32All right, well, I'm going to channel my inner bunny.
20:35And I'll see you later.
20:36All right.
20:36Cheers, Flo.
20:42So this is going to be the boho chic seating area that is just
20:46full of loads of lovely details.
20:49And the whole idea with this is it's going to have some dappled shade
20:51from the pergola above, with some climbers growing over it.
20:54And then underneath, we're going to have some bespoke furniture.
20:57And as we move into this area garden, this is where there's a lot of
21:03going on, because we've got the barbecue space going in here.
21:05And then we've actually had to deal with some really difficult levels,
21:08because before the ground, it sloped all the way down to the paving there.
21:12And it was just a bit unmanageable.
21:14So by putting in a simple sleeper step up there,
21:17we get some nice step beds, and it eases the gradient of this path.
21:22Now, the whole idea with this is to make a much more interesting journey
21:25from the gate up to the back doors.
21:28And to do that, we're going to be using a lot of wood.
21:30And to do that, we're going to be using a lot of this lovely porcelain.
21:35Now, getting onto this patio here.
21:37It's a very simple touch, but it makes such a big difference
21:40because they had a really narrow strip of those concrete pavers.
21:43And just making it a little bit more generous
21:45makes a step out of those doors much more inviting.
21:50So far, so good.
21:51But there's still a long way to go.
21:53Right, Flo, it's all hands on deck.
21:55I need your muscles.
21:56Oh, come on.
21:58We've got to get that top on the pergola.
22:00Yes, all right, let's do this.
22:03With the paving for the bottom patio finished
22:06and the pergola's posts now cemented in,
22:09it's time to fit the huge roof.
22:14Right then, Lee, you're the mastermind behind this.
22:16So you take it away and we'll just be your muscle, all right?
22:18So the plan is we're going to lift these two corners over these posts.
22:23Yeah.
22:23Should be the right width.
22:25Yeah, yeah, I'm sure they are.
22:26Measure three times, put posts in four times, so they should be right.
22:30Right then.
22:30Right.
22:32It's heavy.
22:33All right.
22:44The pergola is so big and heavy,
22:46it has to be anchored directly onto Toby and Alicia's garage wall.
22:52That's if they can muscle it onto the front supporting posts first.
22:56It all hinges on Lee having got all his measurements spot on.
23:00Oh, yeah.
23:01What's it got on?
23:01Yeah, it's on.
23:02Like a glove.
23:04It worked even better than I thought it went to.
23:06Yeah, perfect.
23:07How lucky were that?
23:08Pergolift.
23:10Hey, it fits.
23:11It fits perfect.
23:12It looks lovely, doesn't it?
23:13All my work here is done.
23:15All right, so I'll get this back leveled up,
23:17get that screwed on and then we can sort it out.
23:20Lovely.
23:20Cheers, chaps.
23:21Well done.
23:22Cheers.
23:24With the timber upright securely fixed to the garage wall,
23:27the first step towards giving Alicia and Toby a cool boho chic garden is done.
23:35Now, one of the main features of this garden is this show-stopping pergola.
23:39Now, there's many ways we could have gone about making this,
23:41but for this garden, it's all about being very clean and modern.
23:45So I've gone with a very simple construction.
23:47Got the big chunky posts and a simple framework.
23:50Now, if you were doing a more traditional pergola in a country garden,
23:53something like that, you could have all of those fun details
23:56with angles coming off the ends and more layers on top,
23:58but that's not what I wanted here.
24:00And it's become even more simple
24:02because we've actually fixed it straight into Toby and Alicia's garage,
24:05so we don't need posts on that side either.
24:07And this will really come to life when we've got all the beautiful details in here.
24:11We've got the bench, all the rugs and the cushions.
24:14That is when it will look amazing.
24:16But it's actually relatively cheap for the value that it gives to the garden
24:20because it's come in at about £400 and we're working with a £6,000 budget,
24:25so I think that's pretty good value.
24:27Now, if you did have a bit more budget to play with,
24:29you could upgrade the timber just to make it a little bit more impressive.
24:33So something that I quite like to use is cedar posts
24:36because they weather really nicely and they have a beautiful, smooth finish.
24:40But with a bit of sanding and a bit of love, this will look just as good.
24:45At the end of the pergola,
24:47a timber slatted screen will hide the bunnies' living quarters from the rest of the garden.
24:52And Flo has a plan to embellish Chris's design.
24:57This landscape fabric is helping to screen this area
25:01and when the slats go on top of it, it's going to look really good.
25:06Adding the fabric means that light can still get through
25:09while providing enough of a screen to make that all-important seating area feel secluded.
25:15Okay.
25:16Actually giving us our two-metre height as well there.
25:19Yeah, all right.
25:21Cool.
25:21Phase one.
25:22It's nice actually because it does let a little bit of light in.
25:26It does.
25:28Can you see me, Flo?
25:29Yeah, you look like a jellyfish.
25:32All right.
25:32Right, get the slats on now.
25:34Yeah, bit of cutting.
25:45Lovely little leg.
25:47I know I've got lovely little legs.
25:48That's what my mum always said to me anyway.
25:51One major reason why Alicia and Toby chose Chris's design
25:55was because of the promise of a stylish bespoke L-shaped outdoor sofa and coffee table
26:01which all have to be handcrafted from scratch.
26:04I'll tell you what, Lee, I'm loving the look of this.
26:06Like it?
26:07Very, very tidy.
26:08And I like it because even if you don't have the cushions on it,
26:11it's still going to look really smart.
26:12That's what I'm trying to achieve.
26:15Now you might not like this.
26:17Don't like a boat.
26:19I've got a bit of a design tweak.
26:20Okay.
26:21So obviously it was going to be an L-shaped bench before
26:24but I want to keep this middle area of the patio free.
26:27No coffee table.
26:28No coffee table.
26:29You don't have to build that.
26:30But there's going to be a boat coming, isn't there?
26:33There's a little but.
26:33I think it's all right.
26:34We are still doing a table but I want to build it into the corner of it there.
26:38Oh, yeah, yeah.
26:38So it should simplify the way you're going to make the bench.
26:41Make it a proper L-shape, won't it, with an incorporated table, yeah?
26:44Super.
26:44Right, I'll give you a hand.
26:45Yes, you better do.
26:46Yeah, especially now.
26:57And with the first bench built, it's time for Chris to give it a road test.
27:02Now I absolutely love this seating and it's really what this garden needs.
27:06Something bespoke, really nice touches with the seating and big chunky posts.
27:11But if you wanted to do something like this at home,
27:14the cost of the timber alone is probably around 400 to 450 quid.
27:18And then to get the comfy seats, these are another 180 pounds for what we're doing.
27:23And obviously, we've gone to a lot of lengths getting the detailing right here
27:27with the beautiful angles on the back, but it's totally worth it.
27:31One down.
27:32Now the huge frame for the second bench needs constructing
27:35before the intricate slat work can be attached.
27:39There we go.
27:40Yep.
27:43Look at that.
27:44So, I'm going to put that.
27:46Thing of beauty that is.
27:54Certainly not going anywhere, is it?
27:55No, it's not blown away if we have a hurricane.
27:57Glue, glue.
27:59Glue, glue.
28:07The couple were also excited by the promise of something special for their bunnies
28:13and Flo has the job of making it a reality.
28:18Tori.
28:19Hello, Mum.
28:20Look what I've got. I've got some treasure.
28:24Some skip treasure.
28:27I'm thinking we can use these for the bunny arches.
28:32Yeah, it's a good idea.
28:33Stuff.
28:33I've just so happened to have my pallet breaker.
28:36These are designed specifically.
28:39Ah, you see, when you've got the right tools.
28:43Right tools for the job.
28:44Yeah, man.
28:46Once Tori has cut some simple timber spikes out of the pallets,
28:50the top can be attached, creating an instant rabbit assault course.
28:54This is perfect because these three chunky bits
28:58I'm going to use to make a little arch for the bunnies to run under.
29:05But Flo can't resist adding an extra touch.
29:10Right, that's one of my bunny projects done.
29:14So that's going to go in the ground now.
29:16And then as they travel underneath here, they get a little sensory experience.
29:20It's cute, isn't it?
29:22With the landscaping for the main garden and the rabbit garden well underway,
29:27Flo and Chris...
29:29Look at all that colour!
29:31...can turn their attention to the planting.
29:34What you got for us today?
29:36I'll tell you what I've spotted that I like already.
29:39See those penstemon there?
29:41The £6,000 budget has allowed Chris to go to town with varieties
29:46to achieve that relaxed boho chic look.
29:49It's what you need in a trendy modern garden.
29:51Some lovely soft grasses.
29:56Spending over a quarter of it on a vast array of grasses,
30:00climbers, shrubs and beautiful perennials.
30:04None of them toxic to rabbits.
30:06They're going to look great in my border.
30:08That's what you think.
30:09I want them in my border.
30:10I'll fight you for it!
30:17Which side do we want it on?
30:20Originally, the garden didn't have any planting beds,
30:23but Chris's design has incorporated three large ones
30:26situated along both fences and by the pergola.
30:31I am loving how this planting scheme is looking already.
30:35The whole theme for the garden is boho chic.
30:38I mean, and it's really hard to understand
30:39how that gets translated into a planting design.
30:43But for me, it's just all about really nice textures and colours.
30:47And obviously, the whole theme of the garden
30:49for Alicia and Toby is modern.
30:51So I've gone for quite a contemporary planting scheme,
30:54but it does use lots of traditional plants as well.
30:57Now, to make it contemporary,
30:58I've gone with lots and lots of grasses.
31:01So I've repeated them through the beds
31:04and they're going to add different levels
31:05of height and texture.
31:07And the key thing with that
31:08is you get grasses for every position.
31:10So some are going to grow much taller in a sunny spot.
31:13Some will be much more textured and low down
31:16or you'll get really beautiful ones
31:17like this penicetum redhead
31:19have these really dark, fluffy heads on them.
31:23And the fun thing about penicetum
31:25is that they're actually called the bunny tail plant.
31:31Isn't it good?
31:35Flo's taking control of the largest bed
31:37that runs the length of the fence
31:39from the top of the garden
31:40down towards the bunny's area at the bottom.
31:43One of the critical things
31:44about the planting on this side
31:46is A, height to cover a lot of the fence
31:50because there's a lot of fence.
31:51So we've got some big structural plants at the back
31:54and then we've got this ribbon of color
31:56running down the border.
31:58All the plants are rabbit friendly
31:59and we've brought lots of color
32:01into this side of the garden.
32:02There's some oranges, some yellows,
32:05some purples, pinky reds,
32:08vibrant colors that are really going to
32:10set this garden on fire.
32:17Now this is one of my favorite all-round plants
32:20that can suit any garden situation.
32:22This is a pittosporum golf ball.
32:25Now it's a brilliant evergreen shrub
32:27because unlike a lot of pittosporums,
32:29it stays very compact in a little ball shape
32:32and you get the nice contrast
32:33between the tight ball here
32:35and then the more luscious,
32:37With vibrant planting a must,
32:39Chris's scheme allows pops of color
32:41throughout the garden.
32:43Flo is planting one of her personal favorites.
32:48This hibiscus is called sop blue
32:52and just look at that blue.
32:53It is actually amazing.
32:55It's a lovely sort of violet color
32:57with a bit of purple in the middle.
33:00It's a really beautiful color.
33:01It's a really beautiful color.
33:02It's a really beautiful color.
33:04It's a really beautiful color.
33:05Bit of purple in the middle,
33:07very open flower,
33:08and it has a quite a tropical feel.
33:10And it's a plant in this border
33:12that looks very striking
33:15and really kind of grabs your eye.
33:17Now hibiscus are actually really easy to grow
33:20and this one is very hardy in this country.
33:23It's pretty unfussy
33:25and actually just good soil drainage
33:29and feeding it,
33:30watering will actually mean
33:31you have a very happy plant.
33:34Now it can grow up to about three meters
33:39but if you want to keep it a bit more compact
33:41you can cut it back in the spring.
33:45Chris wants the border
33:46that runs the length of the new patio and pergola
33:49to be a riot of color.
33:52And this lovely perennial
33:54is agastache blackadder.
33:57The reason I've chosen this
33:59to go along this border
34:01is because it adds so much height,
34:03vibrant color,
34:04and movement
34:05and that's exactly what I want through here.
34:08This is kind of one of the main thoroughfares
34:10through the garden
34:11and as you move through here
34:12you get a glimpse through this step border.
34:15So what I really wanted to get
34:18was a view through the agastache,
34:20through the pennisetum
34:21and then the texture planted behind.
34:24Now agastache is a great perennial
34:26if you're doing any kind of big
34:29perennial matrix borders
34:30where you want a bit of drama
34:32and a bit of height.
34:33They do really well planted en masse
34:36or you can do what I've done in this border
34:38because we've got a smaller space
34:39I've put them through as ones
34:41and repeated them
34:42and they will fill out quite a lot in time
34:44so what you can do is in autumn
34:47once the weather cools down a bit
34:48you can actually get your spades
34:50chop it in half
34:51and divide it
34:52and then you've got two plants!
34:54What's better than three plants?
34:56I think this is going to look lovely through there
34:59and when I'm sat here
35:00I can already pick up the other plants that I put in
35:03and it's that repeating pattern
35:04that ties this border together
35:05I love it!
35:08While the planting has been taking shape
35:11Lee has been putting together the furniture
35:13for the seating area
35:14and he's almost done!
35:18Sorry Lee I left you in the lurch a bit
35:19I was doing all the planting!
35:20Are you alright?
35:21I've just finished it!
35:24You were probably glad of the peace and quiet
35:25weren't you?
35:26Oh god yeah!
35:28This looks lovely!
35:29Amazing little side table!
35:30And what I really like about it
35:31is because it's modular
35:33you can have a play around with the layout can't you?
35:34Yeah they can figure it out how they want
35:35yeah
35:36I dare say it
35:37are we there?
35:38Are we done?
35:39A little bit more fell in
35:40with my little sander
35:41but it's 99% there!
35:44A couple of touch-ups then
35:45get it in
35:46get the cushions on
35:48love it!
35:51Meanwhile not content with her rabbit assault course over ground
35:56Flo now seems to be planning
35:58some more bunny fun underground too
36:01This is another addition
36:02now it's a tube that I found in Ben's van
36:04and actually it's really useful
36:06I'm going to employ it as a little tunnel
36:10a little run for the bunnies
36:12so what I've done is
36:14I've slightly dug the pipe into the ground
36:18this end
36:19and then I'm banking the soil on this side
36:22and I'll bank it on this side as well
36:23so it holds it in place
36:25and then it's on the edge of the lawn
36:28and the turf is going to roll over the top
36:30so it's just to make it really secure
36:32that it's not going to move around
36:34once the bunnies start going in and out of it
36:38So as Alicia and Toby are sat on the patio
36:40they can watch the rabbits enter and exit
36:43their little tunnel
36:44and all the plants here are all non-toxic
36:48very rabbit friendly
36:52As the garden enters its final stages
36:57it's time for Lee's handcrafted furniture
37:00Good job we're so strong aren't we?
37:02Cheers yeah
37:03To take pride of place in the outdoor boho boudoir
37:08Oh yeah
37:09The details tie the entire design together
37:13The cushions, the froze and the lights
37:18And as the sun begins to set in Charlton Hayes
37:23the bunny run is finally done
37:26No it's wicked
37:27I think the rabbits will be over the moon with that
37:29And the garden is at last finished
37:33Ah what a day
37:37Yeah very very hard work but what a transformation
37:40I mean this is the dream spot isn't it?
37:42It's beautiful
37:44I mean to sit here looking out at all of this
37:47this complete transformation
37:49You have styled them well Mr Hull
37:53I'll take that
37:53It really does feel very boho
37:56Very cool and very much like home away from home
38:00Yes I mean I love it
38:01I could sit here all evening with my drinks on the table
38:05but it's not my garden is it?
38:06It's not your garden it's Alicia and Toby's
38:08and I'd quite like to go and get them
38:10Yeah yeah do that
38:14When the team arrived Alicia and Toby's garden
38:16suited neither them nor their pet rabbits
38:20It was bland and sloped
38:22with a lumpy lawn and a tiny patio
38:24that led via a tiny path to another tiny patio
38:30There was no colour and nowhere to entertain friends and family
38:36Now Chris has truly pulled the rabbit out of the hat
38:40and transformed the ugly plot into a contemporary space
38:44oozing style and pizazz
38:47A porcelain patio by the house is the perfect spot
38:50for morning coffees
38:52and to survey their beautiful new garden from
38:56A now level lawn stretches down the garden
38:59bordered by a path and colourful planting beds
39:06A raised patio is now a compact cooking area
39:11and from there a vibrant border
39:13leads the eye to the entertaining area
39:15with a huge pergola providing shade and a place for climbers
39:21Underneath Lee's bespoke furniture takes centre stage
39:28finished with boho touches to create a cosy atmosphere
39:33Alicia and Toby can now while away the hours
39:36watching their bunnies disappear down rabbit holes
39:39as they safely explore their huge adventure playground
39:45Chris has ticked all the boxes
39:47but will it be a thumbs up from the couple?
39:51Alicia, Toby, you wanted a garden that was everything boho chic
39:56You wanted it to be a place where you could invite your friends and family around
40:00and of course I cannot forget
40:03the most important thing in this garden
40:05is your lovely bunnies
40:07So we had to accommodate them
40:09So please open your eyes
40:14Oh my god
40:15Oh wow
40:16Okay that is different
40:18Oh my god
40:18That is completely unexpected
40:20Wow
40:21Thank you so much
40:22Yeah thank you very much
40:23That's all right, it was hard work
40:26The chairs are amazing
40:27And look down
40:28And all the purple and the pink and the yeah
40:32Brand new patio
40:34Have you just, I've just noticed a tunnel
40:36Ah yeah, well we'll get to that
40:38But Flo's been working very hard on some funky little features over there
40:44The bunny tunnels
40:45Oh my god
40:46The bunny tunnels
40:47Aren't they wonderful? I'm glad they like them
40:50Totally unrecognisable
40:53I mean even just having fresh turf down in this garden makes a huge difference
40:58Right, so this is the first part of the journey, your new patio
41:01Amazing
41:01But why don't we take a little saunder down into the garden?
41:03Absolutely
41:04Oh look at the little steps
41:06Didn't even see the steps
41:07Sweet isn't it?
41:08Oh yeah
41:09So obviously what we've done is we've stepped the levels up here
41:12which is really nice because you get kind of borders at different heights
41:15And then
41:16It's beautiful
41:17I know you wanted a barbecue area didn't you?
41:18Yes absolutely, it's perfect
41:20So it's the prime spot for the barbecue to go
41:23and actually get a really nice view back across it from here
41:25Yeah you do
41:26And what do you think about the planting?
41:28I love it, I absolutely love it
41:29I think it's nice because we'll be able to see the rabbits from wherever we are as well still
41:33but there'll be plenty of colour
41:34Yeah
41:35So yeah it's beautiful
41:36No the colours are amazing
41:37And that was a big thing for you wasn't it?
41:39You didn't want really deep planting beds where the rabbits might get lost
41:42so they're all manageable and nothing's going to be too much for you
41:45Yeah we need to be able to shoot them away from the plants as well
41:47Yeah that's it
41:49That patio gives them so much more access to the garden
41:53That's a thumbs up
41:54Oh this is nice
41:55This is perfect isn't it?
41:57How does this feel?
41:58I can see myself out there every morning with a coffee
42:00Yeah
42:01But and the evenings and the lunches
42:03Yeah yeah
42:04All day long
42:05The colours
42:06Exactly
42:07Now Flo has been exceptionally busy in her end of the garden
42:11so she was sort of working all the way down there today
42:13and she's made a bit of a rabbit run
42:16Still an amazing job
42:17I can see a tunnel
42:18So there's a tunnel and at the other end
42:22are some kind of sensory little goalposts for them to run from
42:25Yeah
42:26They're amazing
42:26And they're really sweet I mean it's a bit of fun
42:28and you know once the plants grow up around them
42:31I reckon the bunnies will love going in and out of there
42:33No absolutely
42:33Definitely
42:34So the big question, was it all worth it?
42:37Absolutely
42:38Absolutely
42:39Yeah 100%
42:40Where do we sign up for the next one?
42:42Yeah yeah okay
42:44When you get another house we'll come and do that one too
42:46Perfect
42:49With the evening drawing in
42:51it's time to let the other owners of the garden have a look
42:54Oh the bunnies!
42:56They love the garden
42:57They love the little bits and pieces
42:58I'm so happy because you know
43:01really it's all about the bunnies
43:02I mean it's about Alicia and Toby as well
43:04but it's about the bunnies
43:07Chris absolutely hit the roof
43:10Yeah it's beautiful
43:11and it's pretty much more than we would have ever expected
43:15Yeah
43:39you