Small Terraced Garden in York

This was a job we built for  some clients who had a design drawn by new, upcoming garden designer Amy Lilly.

The garden was in quite a state when we went for a site visit.

This is the garden once Chase Garden had finished with it.

There is a half circle patio area as you step out of the patio doors and then another step onto a full circle seating area. These are built from new to look old bricks sourced from the York Handmade brick company.

We pointed these with a dry mix morter which distressed the bricks nicely.

The brick paths were built after some complicated mathematics as they slope and curve on several different axis!!

The wooden feature gives height and something for climbing plants to trail up and over.

Two circular lawns lead you down to the end of the garden and are seperated with reclaimed timber sleeper steps. The lawns are edged with everedge.

We are now taking on work for 2012.

Call now and avoid dissapointment.

Too many people wait until the weather is better, this is a mistake as all the good firms are booked up by then!

2 Tired Full Garden in Horsforth 2009

We worked as maintenance gardeners for a local private Dentist practice and the owner asked us to come up with ideas and designs for a complete overhaul of his back garden.

The garden was set up from the house level and was a very plain sloping area of grass with some large conifers. The clients requirements were to have a lawned area for the young children to play on, some seating and entertaining areas, a working area with scope to grow fruit and veg and some colourful plants.

Once we had come up with a design the client loved it was time to clear everything so we had a blank canvass to work with.

The design consisted of a split level area so with an area this size it was imperative we hired a mini digger to excavate. Due to access however, we had to barrow 30 tonnes of rubble round the house and into around 5 maxi skips. (in the rain!!) This took a full day on its own and with a friend helping labour.

We decided to paint the fence whilst the garden was empty as it would be much easier than having to squeeze behind any features we put in.

The retaining wall needed to be very strong due to the fall pressures so deep footings were built and a double layer of blocks and stone were used to construct the wall.

Due to young children being present the steps to the top level had to have a large surface and quite small step heights.

The completed retaining wall. The stone was sourced from the same quarry that was used in the building of the house to match in as well as possible.

Seating areas need to be positioned in prime position for maximum sun hours. A sunken patio gives a more secluded, private feel.

The lawn being layed. A lawn designed for rugular foot traffic and play should be a hard wearing turfseed and not a decorative one.

A planting plan was drawn and plants sourced from our local nursary.

Planting completed. It is important that larger plants go at the back and enough room is left for growth and spread.

The completed bottom seating area in Indian Riven stone in Autumn Brown colour. This was used as coping stone around the edge to enable the walls to be used for seating also.

A bespoke compost bin was made from treated timber to utilise all space available and keep the quality spec for all aspects of the job. A plastic bin would look out of place.

A slighty raised vegetable bed was built from chunky timbers and a hedge of Rosemary bushes planted on the border between levels.

All resulting in a final garden we at Chase are very proud of.

(The greenhouse was outsourced from a local company, as were the iron railings.)

York Garden (winter 10/11)

Full hard landscaping overhaul in a small garden

This was a job we did for a lovely retired couple living in large, brick terraced house in the centre of York with a smallish, narrow garden to the rear.

Being keen gardeners themselves the planting areas were wonderful and although the garden was nice to start with some of the hard landscaped areas were getting a bit tatty and unsafe in the wet and cold months.

We worked from a drawing designed by a Garden Designer friend of ours called Amy Lilly (whos number we can provide if you are interested)

The design incorporated Amys favourite brick edged circular patios, pathways and decked seating areas.

As you can see certain areas needed a change and the clay tiles to the right, which formed the old paths were extremely slippery and dangerous in wet weather.

As you can see above, we removed a large Silver Birch tree (which was chopped into fire wood and used by the client), took up all the old pavers and gravel, filled in the old pond with rubble (after safely re-housing the fish!!) and levelled it all out ready to start with the transformation.

Winter 2010/2011 hit us hard and kept us off work for well over a month in total!!

Our designer is a big fan of brick patios like this and we think they look great. These are in fact new bricks fired to look old. If you tap bricks you can tell whether they are suitable for use as a patio. The higher pitched the sound, the harder they are. A soft brick should not be used as they will crumble in cold winters.

These patios take longer than usual, but we think they are definately worth it.

A mix of brick and stone areas compliment each other brilliantly.

The curved lines give more interest to an already interesting seating area.

For those who question why we are made to study mathematics, here is a reason why. A good grasp of pie, pythagorus and areas is needed to create truely amazing gardens.

Steps up the next level of the garden. Again using the brick edged theme.

Once pointed up the steps and low level are almost complete and I think youll agree look great.

The top level of the garden has another circular seating area, however this one has the Indian Riven Stone in the centre of the brick outline.

The old decked area is replaced by a new deck bench made from chunky timber.

Treated timber like this should last a good 50 years at least if built correctly.

A bespoke timber arch was built on site. These can be bought relitively cheaply, however a good craftsman can build a nicer, sturdier, all together better piece for a little bit more, but not extortinate.

And so the garden is complete and ready for planting. The clients being keen gardeners wanted to plant it themselves, but we can incorporate a lovely planting plan should you be clueless about plants.

The view up the garden

The view from the top of the garden

The completed deck bench area