- 2 days ago
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00:00The Garden Rescue Team are on a mission to make garden dreams come true.
00:10Charlie Dimmock, Lee Burkill, Flo Hedlum and Chris Hull are here to answer your
00:27gardening emergencies. It feels disorganized, a bit chaotic. It's a bit of a shocker.
00:32Each week two of our designers will go head to head. Pick me and let's do this.
00:37The garden we're going to go with is... Drumroll!
00:44Lee. Oh yes!
00:46And whichever designer loses... The race is on.
00:49...helps the winner build the garden. Good idea. Did you get that on camera? Lee said good idea Charlie.
00:56Amazing.
00:58...turning garden dreams... Open your eyes.
01:00That's so overwhelmed.
01:02...into reality.
01:04That is amazing!
01:10Today the team is in Tanworth, where Mum Jade and daughter Charlie...
01:14You know all the shades?
01:16...have recently moved to a new house.
01:19Do you fancy a brew?
01:21Yeah, go on then. Go on.
01:23Oh, they're so nice.
01:25That's all right.
01:26You're bestie.
01:27Want to check me in some water?
01:30I think we live more like housemates rather than Mum and daughter.
01:34Definitely friends.
01:35You're not my best friend.
01:36Yeah, definitely friends.
01:37We say bestie.
01:38Bestie a lot.
01:40Except for when it comes to the washing up and then...
01:42Oh, yeah.
01:43No.
01:44Also in the house we have two cats, Nell and Rowan.
01:48Rowan's a rescuer and Nell's just a pampered diva.
01:51We moved in in November 2023, so we've only been here for about six months.
01:57Oh, perfect.
01:58Can I put some in the little one or so?
02:03We're actually thinking this is our forever home.
02:06Most definitely.
02:07I think it's just perfect for the both of us.
02:10Yeah, it's a nice size for two adults, two kittens.
02:14And we're in walking distance of everything we could possibly need.
02:20Accessibility is important for Charlie, who was recently diagnosed with epilepsy.
02:25So, being diagnosed with epilepsy was a big shock.
02:30I'm taking seven different tablets a day.
02:34Currently that has worked, so I'm not having any kind of full-on seizures.
02:40I think, as well, this house is absolutely ideal
02:43because we are in the town centre,
02:45which means Charlotte's free to use public transport,
02:49and it's a little less worry for me as well,
02:51knowing that everything's on the doorstep for when she needs it.
02:55Charlie and Jade's house is convenient and cosy,
02:58and the garden, at just 17 square metres, is even cosier.
03:03So, welcome to our tiny garden.
03:08We've only been here for six months,
03:11and there's not really much that we have actually done to the garden
03:14except for and pop this table here so that the cats had somewhere to hide
03:19when we had our Great British reign.
03:22Our previous garden was full sunshine,
03:25and this is our first experience of a shade garden,
03:29and we're not quite sure what will work and where to put things.
03:34I think cos it's so small, you have to really focus on making use of every inch.
03:43And plants from previous owners have outgrown their welcome.
03:47So, taken in the sides of the garden, these have more than outgrown the space,
03:53and we're not quite sure what to do cos they are actually taking over.
03:58So, we've got a tiny patch of decking,
04:01but everywhere you walk it's completely uneven, isn't it?
04:05There's also bits that are broken off anyway.
04:10Plus, we've got this big slope
04:12that means that water converges down this side of the garden.
04:18I don't think the garden reflects us and who we are,
04:22because it is just empty and there isn't any character.
04:26It just needs a bit of love.
04:28Definitely.
04:29And to give us a hug in return.
04:35Chris and Lee are raring to design Charlie and Jade's garden.
04:39Ooh.
04:40Right, so here we have Charlie and Jade.
04:42Ooh, hello.
04:43Mum and daughter.
04:44Lovely.
04:45Ooh.
04:47That's less than lovely.
04:48Yeah.
04:49I mean, it's not a very big space.
04:50It's tiny.
04:51Yeah.
04:52I mean, you leave the house and then you're right there.
04:54Do you know what?
04:55Sometimes smaller gardens are actually...
04:57I think they're harder because it's every little detail,
04:59you really have to make it count, don't you?
05:01Yeah.
05:02If you get your proportions wrong,
05:03the whole thing just feels a bit...
05:04Exactly.
05:05OK, well, we've got our hands full on this one, I reckon.
05:07Shall we find out what they actually won?
05:09Yeah.
05:10Hi, Chris!
05:11Hi, Lee!
05:12Thanks for joining us in our garden.
05:14So, I absolutely love pink.
05:17From the very paliest blush
05:20right through to plum colours in all our flowers.
05:24So, please come to our tiny garden
05:26and make it into 50 shades of pink.
05:29Yay!
05:31That is cool.
05:32OK, so, super pink.
05:34I love that.
05:35Bold, beautiful, colourful.
05:37That's what you need in a shady garden, liven it up.
05:39Never really seen you wear much pink, though, Chris.
05:41Just you, wait.
05:42Currently, the only access to the garden is through the house.
05:47So, we would love if we could have a gate installed.
05:51Ooh, that's a pretty important one, then.
05:53So, it's going to have a brand new access way for it.
05:55Yeah.
05:56Access through the house?
05:57No.
05:58None of that.
05:59So, we would love a curl up with a book kind of nook.
06:02And if it's not too cheeky to ask,
06:04please could you tackle the small, slightly sad space at the front?
06:09Potentially hide those bins.
06:12Ah, yes, those ugly bins on the front.
06:15Yeah.
06:16Gotta hide them away and maybe we could do something really nice
06:18to conceal them.
06:19Yeah.
06:20We would also love a cat climbing kind of perch area for our two cats.
06:26Now, there's a lot to get in this garden.
06:27Shelter, the pink, the cat things and all the front.
06:31I mean, how much money have we got, Lee?
06:33Well, we've got £4,500, which I think is quite good given the square meterage.
06:37Yeah, it is a small garden, but then it is two sides,
06:40so we do have to make that count.
06:41I think I'm getting a few ideas somewhere in there.
06:44Lee and Chris must create a design that fits Jade and Charlie's £4,500 budget.
06:53Charlie and Jade must pick their favourite, which the losing designer will help build.
06:58The designers and top team of landscapers provide the labour for free,
07:02leaving the entire budget to spend on materials and plants.
07:07Back in Tamworth, the designers' pitches are in.
07:14Ooh, excited!
07:17Are you ready?
07:18I think so.
07:19Jade, Charlie, this is your garden, 50 shades of pink.
07:23This is probably one of the smallest gardens we've done on Garden Rescue,
07:27so you've given me a difficult task of packing in all these things that you want.
07:31Now, just here, this is where your back doors are,
07:34so we'll come out of those onto a brand new patio for you.
07:38So what I'd like to do is give you some new plank paving in here
07:42and then we'll leave out some of the slabs
07:44and we'll put reclaimed old-looking materials in them
07:47just to give it a bit of character.
07:49That looks so nice.
07:51Now, Jade and Charlie, you've only got a really small garden,
07:55but I have really packed a punch in bringing you my very own
07:59Cherry Blossom Forest Garden
08:01that's going to make you feel like you're somewhere in the foothills of Japan,
08:05but also surrounded by flushes of pink, purple and dusky red.
08:10Oh, my God, wow.
08:12Now, the first thing I've done in the garden
08:14is to give you a really beautiful paving surface.
08:17Now, to give you that Japanese-style feel,
08:19I've chosen this Wood Effect Porcelain Paving.
08:22Oh, wow, that's much nicer than decking.
08:24Definitely, yeah.
08:25Yeah.
08:26You get to walk down your very own cottage garden pathway.
08:29Oh, that's really solid.
08:30So you can use some aged bricks, nice and wide, really generous,
08:34and then either side of that you're going to have some amazing planting
08:37spilling out over the edges.
08:39Typical cottage garden plants that will take some shade.
08:42Things like tiarellas.
08:43I'm totally going to have to Google that.
08:45I was just going to cite the same thing.
08:47On each side of this beautiful porcelain butterfly paving
08:51are going to be these two blush pink beds.
08:54We're going to use things like astilbies, some climbing roses,
08:58maybe some verbena,
09:00things that are going to work really well in this part of the garden.
09:03On the left-hand side, you'll notice this wooden zigzag.
09:06Now, is this a path for the two of you
09:08to precariously balance through the garden?
09:10No.
09:11It's for your cats to provide a bit of interest
09:14as they zigzag through this generous herbaceous perennial bed.
09:18Now, the reason why I've gone for this cherry blossom forest approach
09:21is that it's going to give you a really consistent design,
09:24allowing me to pick a few absolutely beautiful pink flowering specimens
09:29to bring privacy and interest.
09:31The first is going to be this beautiful Acer in this central square bed.
09:35The next tree in the back left is our first cherry tree,
09:39which is prunus incisor, the bride.
09:42The next tree is this, which is going to be the flagpole cherry.
09:47Oh, gosh, I do love a cherry tree in the garden.
09:49This is where the view really opens up to your beautiful reading nook.
09:53It's a really amazing structure at the end of the garden,
09:56and I think this is the perfect spot for it.
09:58I've never even thought about putting it at the back of the garden, either.
10:02It's going to be a simple timber construction,
10:04some generous-sized timber benches,
10:06and then you'll have a very sweet little shingle roof.
10:09That looks so good.
10:11And also what it does is it allows access to the back of the garden,
10:16because I know you really wanted us to put in a gate.
10:19Ooh, delivery drivers. Thank you, Chris.
10:22Something else I've added in this garden are these two perches.
10:27Well, this one is going to have a top on it,
10:29so the cats can sit up there and survey the garden,
10:32and this is going to be a bit of an obelisk as well,
10:34so the roses can climb up through it.
10:37Well, that's the cat sorted.
10:39As we get to the back part of the garden,
10:41this is where the real focal point is.
10:43It's your custom arbour with a green reef,
10:46and I've given it a bit of a Japanese feel
10:49by adding a piece of trellis on the right-hand side.
10:52I also know that you would really like a gate to the back part of the garden.
10:56Delivery drivers again are going to thank you, Lee.
10:59Chris and Lee have ticked all the cat-friendly,
11:02sheltered and pink boxes so far.
11:05But Jade and Charlie were also hoping for help
11:08with their even smaller front garden.
11:11So you can see on this little plan here,
11:13what I'd love to do is give you a little bench,
11:15and then off to the side of that,
11:17I want to build you a bespoke bin store with a green roof,
11:21and it's going to really make the front of your house look so smart.
11:24That is going to be such a good hideaway for those bins.
11:28I know you want to sit outside on the front step,
11:31chat to your neighbours and get the last of that evening sun,
11:34which is why I've designed you this one-of-a-kind little twin bench
11:38that's totally free-standing.
11:40The two of you can sit there
11:42and then you'll be flanked by beautiful roses or jasmines.
11:46I mean, that is a show stuffer and a half.
11:49Yeah, absolutely perfect.
11:51I really, really love this garden.
11:53We're packing a lot into a tiny space,
11:55so I hope you pick this one.
11:57I want to see those pink roses.
11:59I mean, it's just so exciting.
12:01So, Jade and Charlie, rather than just accept any old pink,
12:04why don't you take a journey to my beautiful cherry blossom garden?
12:08Now what we're going to do?
12:10Green, there's too many decisions.
12:11Charlie and Jade must decide their favourite garden design.
12:20So, for me, I just absolutely love both of them.
12:24They're both amazing.
12:25Yeah, they are both gorgeous.
12:27I mean, that shelter bit there increases.
12:30It'll be such a lovely little area to read, to have a little gossip.
12:34As for the trees on Leigh's, I love that combination of trees.
12:38Which one did we pick?
12:39I don't know.
12:40They're going to be both amazing, aren't they?
12:42Right, Leigh, we've heard back from Jade and Charlie.
12:45Oh, exciting.
12:46Shall we see what they say?
12:48Hi, Chris. Hi, Leigh.
12:50Oh, they're so full of energy.
12:52Yeah.
12:53Wow, you guys have not made it easy at all, have you?
12:57The amount of times we've changed our minds has been insane,
13:00so just know that it was super close.
13:03Tough decision.
13:04Go on, then.
13:05Who's got it?
13:06Who's got it?
13:07Ooh.
13:08But, obviously, we did have to make a decision, so...
13:10Ready? Ready?
13:11Drum roll, please.
13:12Ooh.
13:13We are going with...
13:15Chris!
13:17Yes!
13:18Yes!
13:19Well done, Chris.
13:20That was a 50-50 knife-edge reaction, though.
13:23It was.
13:24It looks like I'm going to be wearing pink.
13:25I can't wait.
13:32Project manager Ben and an expert team of landscapers
13:35have just two days to bring a pink and peaceful place
13:39perfect for cats and humans to Tamworth.
13:44So, first thing, we've got to strip back everything.
13:47Pretty much everything's coming out
13:49and we've got to take that back to be able to get in
13:52the structure that Chris wants to build.
13:54Tiny garden, but loads to crack on wood,
13:57so let's get this fence down, yeah?
13:59Hit the button.
14:00Hit the button.
14:04With access to the back garden currently lacking,
14:07the first thing the team needs to do is fix that.
14:10You ready?
14:11You ready?
14:15Next, it's on to clearing out the wonky old decking
14:18and general rubbish.
14:23Good job!
14:25While Lee and Monty concentrate on overgrown shrubs.
14:28That's Lee's version of planting.
14:31Destruction.
14:33Lee has done a magnificent job taking back the shrubs
14:37that we've got here to create the space ready for the structure
14:41to be built.
14:42But the issue we have now, now we've lifted up the tiles
14:46and the slabs and bricks that were down there.
14:49We're finding the ground is all over the place really.
14:53To prepare the ground for new paving,
14:55Jamie, Monty and Andy are digging down and creating more level ground
15:00before applying membrane and gravel for a sub-base.
15:04Right Monty, you pull that back.
15:06Yeah.
15:07Let's put it that way around and then when you tip the stove,
15:10it just rolls over, it doesn't hold it up.
15:12Oh yeah, it keeps it down like that.
15:14Yeah.
15:15Once gravel is down and compacted, Andy can start to lay Chris's paving of choice.
15:24Right.
15:25Taking the drain pipe off.
15:26Because down in the corner here, we've got a bit of a crude drain.
15:30It's just an open drain, not very light looking at all.
15:33So, instead, I'm thinking, these are our lovely sandstone slabs.
15:38If I can cut a hole through that perfectly to fit the drain pipe,
15:42it'll look a lot neater, a lot tidier.
15:46Jamie, Monty and Lee are working at the rear of the gardens,
15:49preparing ground and wood for Charlie and Jade's reeding nook.
15:54Me and Monty are just making good progress,
15:57digging the holes, ready for the gazebo.
15:59Lee's just over to the side, sanding the posts.
16:02So, we should be in a position where we can get the legs in.
16:06Chris's design creates a sheltered reeding nook
16:09with a pitched roof for that classic look.
16:13We're just trying to figure out the angles
16:15for both the ridge and the cuts on the wall plate.
16:19And you've just got to get it right.
16:21Then once we get these two, they'll be our templates.
16:24We can just cut all of them then and build it in one go.
16:27To connect the reeding nook to the rest of the garden,
16:32Chris has designed a brickwork walkway that leads to a patchwork patio
16:37that will also be bespeckled with bricks.
16:40Andy, that looks lovely.
16:45Absolutely lovely.
16:46How are those?
16:47Yeah.
16:48It is a lovely contrast.
16:49It does work.
16:50The really soft, subtle colour to it.
16:53I'm wondering now if I start half a brick...
16:56Yep.
16:57...and they're going to stag it into there with both sides into there like that.
17:01And then we cut in...
17:03Yeah.
17:04...to the slabs just there.
17:05With our next row of slabs.
17:06Oh, beautiful, mate.
17:10Jamie and Lee are making progress,
17:12preparing a patchwork roof for the reeding nook
17:15to be made from cedar shingles.
17:19Nice to see the shingles are starting to go on the roof.
17:22They're overlapping them.
17:23I think half-lap as much as we can, yeah?
17:27Yeah.
17:28Half-lapped it.
17:29All different sizes.
17:30Working their way up to the top
17:31and then we've got the ridge tiles to go on.
17:35With Andy making good progress with the brickwork walkway...
17:39It's like magic.
17:40Oh, legend.
17:42The team has worked hard to create patchwork patios
17:46as well as a reeding nook in just one day.
17:49They're as ready as can be for Chris and Lee in the morning.
17:53What was the theme again today, Lee? Can you remember?
17:55Something about pink.
17:57What do you reckon?
17:58I'm not really a fan of pink, to be honest.
18:00Well, I mean, I am.
18:01I think I'm rocking it really well.
18:02Obviously.
18:06Oh, my word. Look at this.
18:08I mean, I know it was small, but this is bije, isn't it?
18:10It really, really is tiny.
18:12But look at this beast.
18:13Lovely.
18:14But this isn't the only bit of the garden.
18:16There's the front garden as well.
18:17But I really want you to do a bin store out there and a bench
18:20because that's where the sun is, isn't it?
18:22And does the bin store have to be pink or can we deviate?
18:24Pink is the theme.
18:25It is the theme.
18:26But no, you can do whatever you like.
18:28If I'm bright while I'm off from the bins.
18:29Right.
18:30And I'll be off in here.
18:32Now, this really is a big feature for such a tiny garden.
18:36It's quite a bold move, but I really think it works.
18:38And the guys have done such a good job on putting it together.
18:41And look at this.
18:42The world's smallest brick pathway.
18:44But it's these little details that are going to give this garden
18:47a bit more of a cottagey feel.
18:49And I said it was all about the details,
18:51and this is where it's happening.
18:52I love what you've done in here, Andy.
18:54And I've also noticed that cutting in round there.
18:57Train, yeah.
18:58You notice all them little details, don't you?
19:00In a small garden like this, you do.
19:01Well worth doing.
19:02Got nowhere to move in here, haven't we?
19:04The landscaping team has already been busy this morning.
19:08Lee, the carpenter, has made a slight adjustment to a bench
19:11Chris has designed for the reading nook.
19:13Hey, this is all right, the first bench going in then.
19:15I'm just lucky at it, because we're using this 4x4,
19:17it's really substantial.
19:19These are concreted in.
19:20I think we'll just put a 45, of course, there.
19:23So it'll be floating, you know what I mean.
19:25That sounds nice.
19:26Okie doke.
19:27We'll craft on that.
19:28While Lee builds brackets to create a floating bench,
19:31Chris wants to add the finishing ridge tiles to the shingled roof.
19:36I really love cedar shingles, because they've got so much character,
19:41but it's a really traditional way of doing a roof.
19:44Now they are a bit of a luxury item as well.
19:47This roof part of this shelter probably comes to about 750 quid,
19:52which is quite a lot when you could do it with ply and felt
19:56just to make it waterproof, or you could even use corrugated metal.
20:00But it doesn't quite have that rustic character that these shingles have.
20:08It's worth noting that they're called blue label shingles,
20:11which means they're the highest quality, they're quite uniform,
20:14but they're also from sustainably managed woodlands,
20:17which is exactly what we love.
20:21Lee and Ben are busy designing a wooden storage unit
20:25to hide the bins at the front of Charlie and Jade's house.
20:28To fit perfectly, we'll go 1.5 metres.
20:31OK. Yep.
20:32We'll take back to front 900 mil.
20:34Bins are sliding there, both of them.
20:36Very nice.
20:37Charlie and Jade can pull them out nice and easy.
20:39Just because you've got bins doesn't mean you can't have style, eh?
20:41Absolutely.
20:44Lee's on saw duties to get the wood for the frame of the units cut.
20:48I absolutely love it when nothing goes to waste in the garden.
20:52And Ben has been really clever because the measurements that he's given me
20:55are all perfect proportions of one length of wood.
20:58So for some of the measurements, they're cut in half,
21:00and others, it's two thirds and a third.
21:03So there are no off-cuts, no waste, nothing to go in that skip.
21:06Brilliant.
21:07Once the wood's cut...
21:09Beautiful.
21:10Beautiful.
21:11...Lee can build the frame, screwing vertical and horizontal posts in place.
21:16Right.
21:17Well, we couldn't find a pink drill.
21:19Ha, ha, ha, ha.
21:20But you found a pink present.
21:22Ha, ha, ha, ha.
21:24OK, so that's the frame finish for the bin.
21:27Now, you may have noticed that there's a missing piece, and that's at the front.
21:30The reason for that is that if we had a timber across the bottom,
21:33how would you get the bins in and out?
21:35So you always need to consider that.
21:36We also want to put some doors on to make this really pretty
21:39so it looks like a beautiful feature.
21:41Chris's design creates more woodwork at the back garden
21:45in the form of some playful obelisks.
21:48I really wanted to give the cats somewhere to sit and survey their garden
21:53because I know that was really, really important.
21:55And what it also does is it frames the view from the house
21:58across the brick pathway and the shelter.
22:01And in a small garden, it is actually really, really useful
22:04to put in more features and details
22:07because rather than opening the door and seeing the whole garden at once,
22:11it catches your eye and you notice all these little things
22:14and it doesn't seem as small anymore
22:16because there's so much stuff in it.
22:18Andy and Monty are installing a new gate for access to the back garden.
22:37It's open nicely.
22:39It's open just like again.
22:41Are you staying there as well?
22:43Well, I'm a bit post this side.
22:45I'm just going to stay here all the time.
22:47You want to come in? Yeah, here you go.
22:49Yeah.
22:50Now, I think this is a perch that the cats are going to absolutely love.
23:04It's so simple to do, but it's just quite a bit of fun, really.
23:08The dedicated space for the cats in the small back garden
23:12was part of the reason why Charlie and Jade were attracted
23:15to Chris's design in the first place.
23:17So, our cats absolutely love time in the garden
23:21and they always want the door open.
23:24So, whatever the weather is, they want to be outside.
23:27So, to have a shelter for them to be under,
23:30but then also a sun deck for them to be bathing and watching butterflies,
23:36they're just going to be made up, aren't they?
23:38They're going to look a little bit.
23:48This is looking really smart, mate.
23:50We're nearly there, aren't we, look at that?
23:51I think we are, it's lovely.
23:52Jade really wanted this entrance in
23:54because it was all boxed off and had that big conifer hedge, didn't it?
23:57Yeah, it's a grand entrance, isn't it?
23:59It's a very grand entrance.
24:00It's a lovely one, yeah.
24:01Can I test it out?
24:02Go for it.
24:03Thanks, Sarah.
24:04Oh, look at that.
24:05Look at that.
24:14With bespoke doors created for the storage unit,
24:18the bins are ready to make their grand entrance too.
24:24It's nice, isn't it?
24:25Look at that.
24:27Just got to clad it now.
24:28Yeah.
24:29And green roof.
24:33To complement the storage unit,
24:34Lee has created a bench to sit in front of the space.
24:38When it comes to front gardens, people often overlook them
24:41as a place where you can sit and relax.
24:43People tend to just rush through them, get inside and get in the back garden.
24:47But with this house, it's got that double aspect.
24:49So in the afternoon, I want them to be able to sit here and relax.
24:52And by having the bench here next to the beautiful bin store covered in growing plants,
24:57it's going to feel really relaxing.
25:00Now, for the moment of truth, how far in do we want it?
25:07Right, I think that's about right.
25:08We've got a little gap, a little breathing gap for some ventilation,
25:11maybe a few nice cushions, and then Jade and Charlie can sit here in the evening,
25:15have a gab with the neighbours and catch the last of the evening sun.
25:19So I'm just putting in the timber edges that are going to hold in all of the gravel in this area,
25:34which means that we are so close to being able to bring plants in.
25:39Once this is done, we can get some greenery into this garden.
25:42Chris is standing by his promise to bring a rather bold planting scheme to Jade and Charlie's new garden.
25:55Ta-da!
25:56Look at all this pink.
25:57So pink.
25:58And we can't ignore this massive hydrangea paniculata.
26:02It's more like a tree than a shrub.
26:04Isn't it?
26:05You've got to find room for it in that tiny garden somehow.
26:07I know, but you've got some fab specimens like your ferns that are going to love shade,
26:10the persicaria and your beautiful roses as well.
26:13I know.
26:14And it's kind of one of those things in a small garden.
26:16It's always counter-intuitive to put lots of stuff in it,
26:18but it does make it feel bigger, doesn't it?
26:20Definitely.
26:21Do you think it's pink enough?
26:22I think it is pink enough.
26:23And I like the fact that you've got some red and purple in it,
26:25because if it was just one shade of pink, like us, it could be a bit monochromatic.
26:29No, it's nice.
26:30And I love the rich greens as well.
26:32And the whole idea is that it just softens it all up and it will spin out over the edges.
26:36Very romantic little garden.
26:37It's going to be a nice, romantic, feminine touch.
26:39That's what it needs.
26:40A bit softening up on the edges, but...
26:42Oh, yeah.
26:43I love it.
26:44Look at these persicaria.
26:45Oh, a bit rouge.
26:46You can tell they're ready for shade when they're all dark colours like that.
26:49You know they love the shade.
26:52While Chris considers plant positioning, Lee's ready to add some extra details at the front.
27:00He and Ben have created a kind of tray for the top of the storage unit to hold a living roof.
27:06So me and Ben are just putting the finishing touches to the binstone.
27:09We've got this big lip and you might think, well, what's this for?
27:12And it's to house the sedum.
27:13So we're going to line this like a pond liner.
27:15Put the sedum in so that when it rains, the water can then drain off to this back corner.
27:20So the pond liner will protect the wood from rotting by putting some drainage holes in the back.
27:24It means that any water can dissipate out of the back of the bin.
27:27It's going to look really nice.
27:28Awesome.
27:29Thanks, Ben.
27:30There goes the last piece of this living roof.
27:52Now Chris has chosen these living roof tiles that are already planted to make it really easy.
27:57It's a really good idea to attract wildlife.
27:59And in this green roof, what we've got is a mix of different sedums or stone crops.
28:04And there's probably about five or six different species because you get different flowers at different times of the year.
28:10But what Charlie and Jade are going to love is that when they're sat down there on the bench in the evening,
28:16they'll just see a buzz of all sorts of little insects flying over this.
28:20And believe it or not, there's more pollen in a space like this
28:24than there are probably in the same equivalent herbaceous perennials.
28:27I think this is a really nice touch.
28:29And it just shows that Chris has really considered every detail, even in this small front garden.
28:33This plant is the star of the show.
28:44Chris's considerations are currently focused on safely positioning a feature plant.
28:50Hey, that's a big one.
28:53Isn't it?
28:54Who doesn't love a massive hydrangea?
28:58Remind me again, Chris, what's the colour scheme for this garden?
29:01Ta-da!
29:02Do you think we match well?
29:04That's beautiful.
29:05It's nice, isn't it?
29:06I'll tell you what you do need.
29:07A little surprise for you.
29:09Can't plant without a pink trowel.
29:11Oh!
29:12Just for you.
29:13Do you think I'm going to plant that with this?
29:15Maybe.
29:16No, maybe not.
29:17Maybe some of the smaller ones.
29:18Yeah, the little ones.
29:19I really appreciate this.
29:20I'm going to cherish this.
29:21Oh, you're welcome.
29:22Before getting stuck in with his new trowel, Chris wants to ensure each plant is positioned
29:27so their heights, colours and features enhance the details of his tiny garden design.
29:35We need to fill in this gap back here.
29:39Oh, there you can go in there.
29:41It'd probably squeeze.
29:42Or a rose, actually, might be nice.
29:44Yeah, that'd be nice, because it's next to the Boston farm.
29:48Do you know what?
29:49I think I've planted myself into a corner here, Chris, with all these beauties.
29:52That's all right.
29:53You can stay there and plant away.
29:54You don't need to come out.
29:56There's a lot of very nice stuff in here, isn't there?
29:59Looking really nice.
30:01Chris is positioning the hydrangea close to the house to draw Charlie and Jade's eye into the garden.
30:08Now, this hydrangea is a hydrangea paniculata, so it has these panicle-like flowers, which
30:14are in this amazing point where most people probably, when they think of a hydrangea,
30:18you think of those big, blousy, mop-head hydrangeas you see in your Nan's garden.
30:23But this is really different, and it works really well in this garden because it gives
30:28so much height against this boundary, but it's actually very easy to look after.
30:33If they do start to get a bit too big and a bit too dominant, all you need to do is cut
30:38them down low in spring, and then they'll regrow out, and that's a really good thing that
30:44you can do to your hydrangeas if they have a bad shape or they go a bit long and wispy.
30:48Just cut them back right at the start of spring before they're budding up.
30:52It'll be perfect.
30:54So, underneath Chris's gorgeous hydrangea, I've got one of these beautiful estrantias.
31:09Now, estrantias are one of my favourite plants for damp, shady spots because they're beautifully
31:15delicate, and this is a real fantastic specimen.
31:19This one's called Jill Richardson, after the quite infamous Estrantia breeder, Jill Richardson
31:24herself.
31:25Now, this is a really rich, dark wine colour.
31:28What I like about them is that over time they tend to bulk up into these little mounds
31:33and tufts.
31:34So, underneath this hydrangea, or in a damp corner near a fence, they add a little pop of colour
31:39and daintiness.
31:40This Estrantia, Jill Richardson, is going to be a wonderful addition to Chris's garden,
31:45because it's delicate, it's got that beautiful dark red, and it just feels really opulent.
31:56To ensure bins at the front are completely hidden, Andy's cut batons to size so Lee can
32:02attach cladding.
32:09What's really nice about doing shady planting is that you can almost imagine it's like the
32:18understory of a woodland, so you want to pick plants that kind of socialise together very
32:23well, and a plant that's great at that is this Lyriope muscari.
32:28It loves the shade, but it still has these vibrant purple flowers which complement the pinks
32:34that are elsewhere in the scheme.
32:36And it's an evergreen as well, so you're going to have that foliage all year round.
32:41But they work wonders in a garden like this, especially if you put them near the edge of
32:47a path like I have, because that evergreen foliage hangs out over the edge and softens
32:53it all up, and that's going to make this garden look very lush and full.
32:57I must admit I don't often plant this much pink in one sitting, however it works out fabulously.
33:22I mean just look at all the colour.
33:24I completely agree.
33:25It is a bold move, and I think people, if you said, oh I'm doing your pink garden,
33:28people would probably go, oh.
33:29A lot of new gardeners tend to just pick one of this colour, one of that, and they blob it all round.
33:34But actually if you can restrain yourself, your garden instantly looks better for it.
33:38Yeah.
33:39Yeah, I think this is a perfectly beautiful garden, Chris.
33:43Thank you very much.
33:44Don't milk it.
33:45Take a look at this super dainty, beautiful flower.
33:56It's the Japanese anatomy, but looks can be deceiving because this flower is anything but
34:01dainty.
34:02In fact it's pretty much indestructible, and it can be quite invasive, but the reason why
34:07it's a really clever choice for this garden is that all the borders are neatly controlled
34:10by these edges.
34:11What will happen is that these Japanese and enemies will send runners out throughout the
34:15garden.
34:16So any space that doesn't have a plant in, in a few years, certainly will.
34:20But the great thing about the enemy is totally bulletproof, you don't really have to water
34:24it or look after it at all.
34:26But also it gives late season forage for honey bees and other insects, so it's a great way
34:30to extend the season.
34:31So I think this plant is going to keep this garden living and breathing all the way through
34:36autumn.
34:37With plants in place and all the main structures too, Lee's adding finishing touches to the
34:57gateposts, Charlie and Jade's initials.
35:00How are things in the pink palace?
35:13It is beautiful, calm and serene.
35:17Look at this.
35:18Such a transformation, Chris.
35:19And the fact that this just feels so calm given we've got all these neighbours.
35:23And with the roof over your head and the surrounds here, you just feel nice and calm and cosy
35:29in here, don't you?
35:30Yeah.
35:31Because you've got that stop and rest point.
35:32Whichever way you come in, stop and rest, have a look at these gorgeous plants.
35:36I think we've really deserved this stop and rest, actually.
35:38Yeah.
35:39I mean, it would be nice just to have a little snooze now, but I reckon we should probably
35:42get them out.
35:43Good morning, Charlie.
35:44Good morning, Charlie.
35:49Charlie and Jade's tiny garden was once home to wonky decking, a patio that pooled and overgrown
35:56shrubs and weeds.
35:58But with a £4,500 budget, it's been transformed into a small oasis with rustic weeding nook, patchwork
36:11patio and obelisks for cats, all framed by shades of pink.
36:16There we go.
36:17Oh, Charlie.
36:18Yeah.
36:19Jade, Charlie, why don't you tell me very quickly what this garden was like the last time
36:25you laid eyes on it?
36:26Oh, bless you.
36:27It was just absolutely empty.
36:30I really hope that I've delivered the garden for you.
36:34So, please, open your eyes.
36:36Oh, my gosh.
36:37Oh, my gosh.
36:38Oh, my gosh.
36:39Oh, my gosh.
36:40Oh, my gosh.
36:41Oh, Chris, honestly, it's so nice.
36:45Oh, my gosh.
36:48Oh, Mum.
36:49Oh.
36:50Wow.
36:51Oh, we've got tears, and they're good tears.
36:55I'm not surprised.
36:56This garden is absolutely delightful.
36:59I can't thank you enough.
37:01It's just tough.
37:02It's tough to be, sorry.
37:03Amazing.
37:04I mean, before, as soon as you came out, you weren't grieved of anything nice, though.
37:07You had all these overgrown shrubs.
37:10It was a real sort of quite, you know, sorry, but it was a very sad-looking garden, wasn't
37:14it?
37:15It was so sad-looking.
37:16I just can't stop looking, Chris.
37:17I just can't stop looking.
37:19But the first transformation is you've got this brand-new patio.
37:23Oh, it's just so sweet.
37:25Yeah.
37:26Like, really cute.
37:27Honestly, Chris, it's just beautiful.
37:30I just love how the...
37:31It's beautiful.
37:32The brickwork kind of breaks it all off, doesn't it?
37:34Yeah.
37:35Yeah, I love it.
37:36Well, it's still quite sleek, and it gives you that cottagey effect that you wanted as
37:39well, with the reclaimed bricks.
37:40Definitely.
37:41It's just so much brighter, isn't it?
37:42The whole thing is just...
37:43I don't know how, but it's just so much brighter.
37:45Yeah.
37:46Which is gorgeous.
37:47It's going to be the envy of all your neighbours, this garden.
37:49Our home time!
37:50Yeah!
37:51Yeah!
37:52Chris has brought all of those amazing details by drilling the bricks and the pavers.
37:56Lovely stuff.
37:57And why don't we have a stroll into the centre of the garden?
38:00Once met by nothing but rotting decking, bordered by weeds and overgrown shrubs, now the centre
38:11of the garden features a patchwork walkway with foliage, softening the edge of paving
38:17and pink scented flowers, drawing Jade and Charlie in.
38:23And this is where you've packed all of your favourite plants, and these are going to knit
38:26together over time.
38:28Absolutely stunning.
38:29And then you've got the matching oveless, one for the cats.
38:32Oh, God, I didn't even notice the perch.
38:34How have I only just noticed that?
38:35I know.
38:36Do you think they're going to love it?
38:38Oh, it's beautiful.
38:40I'm just trying to debate whether they're going to be under it first or on top of it.
38:43Yeah.
38:44Yeah, I mean, I think the cats are actually going to be up there as well.
38:46That's it.
38:47It's just a little stepping stone straight off.
38:49I just would like to point this beauty, this hydrangea out.
38:53Hydrangea.
38:54What do you think about the colours on this?
38:55It's just stunning.
38:56That's you somewhere.
38:57Yeah.
38:58If I could have wrote a list of all my bestie plants.
39:01Yeah.
39:02You've chosen them, Chris.
39:03You've chosen all of them.
39:04The textures.
39:05Yeah.
39:06And the movement.
39:07I just keep seeing all the roses as well, starting through.
39:10There's a few key plants that really pick out the pink colours, but then we've got some
39:14more sort of calming greens and the whites just to contrast them in there as well.
39:19I was so worried you were going to go down the barbie line.
39:23But every tone of pink you've chosen is just spot on.
39:27Yeah.
39:28Spot on.
39:29Beautiful.
39:30Beautiful.
39:31Beautiful.
39:32Where the rear of the garden was unwelcoming, with nowhere to sit or any reason to come
39:37out, now a generously proportioned shelter with family-sized benches and that cedar shingle
39:46roof can be accessed from both sides.
39:50Yeah.
39:51See, this is your reading nook.
39:52Very generous.
39:53Beautiful.
39:54Your little hut in the forest.
39:55And what I really love about it is the cedar shingles on top.
39:58They're going to look great, actually, even from the bedroom window.
40:01They're going to weather and go silver over time, but give it loads of character.
40:05Nice.
40:06Why don't we have a sit down in here?
40:09It's nice, isn't it?
40:11Chris, it's so comfortable.
40:13So, the guys have been working really, really hard on this.
40:16They've done some beautiful detailing work on all of this tinder, so it's built to last,
40:21this thing.
40:22It is beautiful.
40:23It is absolutely beautiful.
40:24But there is another feature that we haven't talked about yet.
40:28Oh, yeah.
40:29This is your very own brand new gate that accesses the garden.
40:32It's just such a quaint little gate as well.
40:35I was just about to say, it's really cottagey, isn't it?
40:37So, speaking of, there's a couple of little details that you won't have seen yet on this
40:40gate.
40:41Why don't you have a look?
40:42Oh, my God!
40:43Charlie!
40:44Your very own initials carved into them.
40:47Oh, it's just so beautiful.
40:49I just, yeah, I don't even know how you could have pictures in your head to put initials
40:55on a gate, and it just, it's stunning.
40:57Do you know what?
40:58In such a small space, Chris has had a stroke of genius in bringing this really beautiful
41:03garden.
41:04Well done, Chris.
41:05So, there is one last bit of the garden that we need to go and see, though.
41:09The front space of Jade and Charlie's house had no potential but just bins and some long-forgotten
41:16pots.
41:17It now has a dedicated bench for watching the world go by, and a storage unit to hide the
41:28bins with a living roof to welcome wildlife.
41:32What a transformation of such a small space.
41:35Easy access for the bins.
41:40And then this sedum mat on the top of the roof, this will grow out and next year you'll
41:47see some amazing flowers on it.
41:49It's going to be absolutely covered, and it's so good for pollinators as well.
41:52So, this would just be beautiful, won't it?
41:54And then, I know this is the sunny spot, isn't it, you guys are saying?
41:56It is, yeah.
41:57So, you've obviously got your own bench.
41:58Yeah.
41:59With my little frog hiding in the leaf.
42:02That's perfect.
42:03Well, there you go, too.
42:04Absolutely lovely.
42:05Lee has been working on this very hard today.
42:08This has been his still passion project.
42:10Definitely say thank you to Lee as well.
42:12Why don't we go and say thanks to him?
42:13Oh, definitely.
42:14Oh, my God, definitely.
42:15Come on then.
42:16Thanks, Chris.
42:17After you, back through the garden gate.
42:19Which is a perfect place.
42:20Welcome back to your super dreamy garden.
42:22Oh, my God, Lee.
42:23Thank you so much.
42:24We've been hearing about how much you've been doing.
42:26Oh, do you know, this is all Chris, all the details.
42:29No.
42:30It's been a complete pleasure helping him realise this dreamy vision for you.
42:33Yeah.
42:34We just needed to say thank you, Lee, and Chris, and all the team.
42:38Yeah.
42:39It's been an amazing experience, and the garden is just a dream.
42:42It's our dream.
42:43Yeah.
42:44And now it's in our garden.
42:45Do you think we've ticked all the boxes, everything you wanted?
42:48Everything and more.
42:49Everything just.
42:50Well, I hope you enjoy it.
42:52We're going to leave you to it.
42:53Yeah.
42:54And you can enjoy your pink garden forever now.
42:57Thank you so much.
42:58We definitely will, won't we?
42:59Definitely.
43:01Having this space means the world.
43:03It means that we can get out in the fresh air.
43:06Yeah.
43:07Just have some quality time.
43:09This is our forever home, and we're going to be forever in this garden.
43:15We've got no choice now.
43:16Our initials are carved in the gate.
43:17Oh, definitely.
43:18We're going to stay?
43:19Haha.
43:20Haha.
43:21We've got the flowers here.
43:22I know.
43:23I'm going to stay.
43:24Haha.
43:25Yeah.
43:26Bye.
43:27Bye.
43:28Bye.
43:29Bye.
43:31Bye.
43:32Bye.
43:33Bye.
43:34Bye.
43:35Bye.
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43:38Bye.
43:39Bye.
43:40Bye.
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43:42Bye.
43:43Bye.
43:44Bye.
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