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Garden Rescue Season 11 Episode 8
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Short filmTranscript
00:00The Garden Rescue Team are back.
00:02Hallelujah!
00:04This time Lee...
00:06Peony Heaven!
00:08Charlie...
00:09Busy, busy little bee.
00:10Chris...
00:11Sometimes you need to go old school.
00:13And Flo...
00:14Hello!
00:15...will be joined by four familiar faces from the gardening world.
00:19OK, let's gallop on then.
00:21Go on then.
00:21Yee-haw!
00:22Joe...
00:23Team Garden Rescue.
00:25Sue...
00:25We've got a little vignette of pots.
00:28Dermot...
00:28I think I've been accepted into the garden.
00:31And Francis...
00:32You just can't beat a cherry tree.
00:34In each garden, two of our designers will go head to head.
00:37We've decided to go for...
00:40Flo's design!
00:42Yes!
00:43Come on!
00:44And the winning designer...
00:45Does that make me the boss?
00:47Gets a helping hand from the runner-up.
00:50Stop pulling!
00:51It's garden war!
00:52That is fantastic!
00:54Turning garden dreams into reality.
00:58Open your eyes!
00:59Oh my God!
01:01That is incredible!
01:02Oh my God!
01:04This is gorgeous!
01:06This is our garden!
01:07This is our garden!
01:25My name is Reena.
01:27And I'm Vin.
01:30We also have a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Britvi.
01:34I did it!
01:35You did it!
01:36We bought this house in 2021.
01:39We actually ended up seeing 65 houses.
01:43Yeah.
01:43And...
01:43Still got the Excel sheet for that as well, haven't we?
01:45We landed on this house.
01:47It did need a lot of work.
01:49Oh, yeah.
01:49When we came...
01:51The renovations was absolutely massive, wasn't it?
01:53Because our view when we came in is to kind of have that country feel, but also bring a lot
01:59of us, you know, like our Hindu culture.
02:02Indian heritage, yeah.
02:04And throughout the renovations, there was one thing that brought the couple peace.
02:09I took my meditation very seriously about 12 years ago, when I nearly lost my life to Crohn's disease.
02:16With the meditation, it really helped me to kind of self-reflect and also accept the condition as well.
02:23When I kind of realised that the meditation was a great tool for me, I just kept on doing it
02:27daily.
02:30But when it comes to the garden, it's anything but tranquil.
02:34So here is our...
02:36Very in progress garden.
02:38Garden.
02:42This definitely doesn't reflect who we are currently, and we would love to inject a bit of us in the
02:47space.
02:48It'd be great just to come out here and not think about what we need to do, and it's just
02:53about chilling, really.
02:55Yeah.
02:56And unfortunately, as we come out of the house, this area doesn't leave us with much walk space.
03:01We've manually put these bricks down so that we could walk across.
03:06I feel that it's not safe for Prithvi.
03:09Especially, like, with all the stuff going on here and our lovely concrete slab over there.
03:15It's fair to say the garden doesn't quite have the foundations it needs.
03:21This concrete platform was there from when we bought the house, and we'd like to do a lot more with
03:25this as well.
03:26It can serve a lot more purpose than just being sore to our eyes every time we walk out to
03:31this garden.
03:31Yeah.
03:33We would love this place to be a more usable space.
03:36We do have a lot of family, friends that come and visit.
03:39Yeah, we'd like it to be welcoming, vibrant, lots of colours around.
03:43Lots of colour, yeah.
03:43Yeah.
03:45Yeah, getting the garden sorted would be a massive relief for us.
03:48I think it's one of those projects that we've tried to tackle since moving in, but we've just not had
03:53the energy to do it.
03:54So, we're really, really grateful, aren't we?
03:58Absolutely.
04:00I was looking for her watering can this morning.
04:11Hoping to bring his calm style to Vin and Rina's garden is Joe Swift.
04:16Here we are.
04:17Here we are.
04:18Yeah.
04:19Fresh air.
04:20Wind.
04:21Chill factor.
04:23Along with resident garden rescue designer Flo Hedlum.
04:31Okay.
04:32Flo, our clients are Vin and Rina.
04:35They've got a two-year-old daughter.
04:38This is what their garden looks like at the moment.
04:41Mm-hmm.
04:41It's a bit boring.
04:42I mean, it's a blank canvas and a bit higgledy-piggledy.
04:45Lawn, lots of hedging.
04:47Yeah, and you look back at the house and there's just absolutely nothing going on, really.
04:51Yeah.
04:51I mean, the positives are it's nice and flat.
04:54It's nice and level.
04:55Yeah.
04:55And there's a hard standing of concrete here where there was probably a shed or something before.
05:01So, you know, whether to live with that or to take it out or something is quite a big decision.
05:07Right, shall we see what they want?
05:08Absolutely.
05:09Let's go.
05:09Hi, Joe.
05:10Hi, Flo.
05:11Hi, Flo.
05:11We'd really like a cosy area with a pergola and decking area.
05:16Somewhere where we can chill as a family and host family and friends.
05:20Yeah, that's nice.
05:20Family goal.
05:21Yep.
05:22We'd also love a garden that's got that Zen feel, peaceful feeling as well.
05:27Somewhere where we can meditate with these.
05:28Mmm.
05:30Love a bit of meditation.
05:31Yeah, that's a nice element to bring into it, isn't it?
05:33We'd also love to have a fire pit in there as well, wouldn't we?
05:36Somewhere where the family can sit around together.
05:39Summer evenings outdoors, lovely.
05:41Also, a little bit of a food patch where we can grow our own organic veggies.
05:46I think it's a great thing to have in the garden anyway, just a little plot where you can grow
05:49stuff.
05:50And with their daughter as well, teaching her how to garden and, yeah.
05:53Absolutely.
05:53Lastly, we would love an area for Britvi with hopefully a swing, please.
05:59Ooh, a swing!
06:01Now, I like the sound of that.
06:03So, please, we would love a Zen, grow your own garden, family healing place.
06:09Alright, so, this is a nice brief.
06:11It needs to be calm.
06:13They want a place to relax and do meditation, but also a space for some fun.
06:18Lovely.
06:19You want to know the budget?
06:19I do.
06:204K.
06:22Decent, decent.
06:24I mean, the lawn's decent already, so maybe some of that could stay.
06:27Yeah.
06:27Reusing as many materials as we can as these stepping stones, some of that patio stuff.
06:32Yeah.
06:33Feeling confident?
06:34Yes.
06:35Whoa!
06:36That was a strong yes, wasn't it?
06:38Yeah, I like it.
06:39I know, bring it on.
06:43Flo and Joe will create designs that'll meet Vin and Rina's £4,000 budget.
06:49Once the favourite has been chosen, the losing designer will help with the build.
06:54A top team of landscapers will provide their labour for free, so the full budget can be spent on materials
07:00and plants.
07:05Back in Wilmslow.
07:06I'm excited.
07:07Let's go for it.
07:08The designs are delivered.
07:11Hi, Rina.
07:13Hi, Vin.
07:13Hello.
07:14Hey, Flo.
07:14I want to tell you about this beautiful garden I've designed for you, and I've called it a zen produce
07:20garden.
07:20That looks absolutely brilliant, that does.
07:23So, Rina and Vin, this is the garden I've designed for you, and hopefully I've come up with something that
07:28you'll really like.
07:30Whoa, look at that.
07:31So, you come out of the house onto this large deck, it's a versatile space.
07:35You have a dining table and chair, nice sunny spot for growing veggies, but it also works nicely with the
07:41lawn.
07:42So, the lawn is for yoga, dining area, relaxing area, playing area.
07:48That's something that we've always wanted from the start.
07:51Yeah.
07:52You've got a new patio as you step outside of the door.
07:55So, this is the perfect spot for you to maybe come out and have a morning coffee, and it's the
08:00perfect vantage point to take in the whole garden.
08:03Oh, that would be lovely.
08:05It would be a nice place to chill.
08:07And then the destination point in the garden is the deck and pergola.
08:13Oh, we've always wanted a pergola.
08:16And I know Vin, you wanted a space where you could do your meditation and your yoga.
08:21It's also a space where you can relax.
08:25Whilst Flo has created a stage for yoga and family time, Joe has given Vin and Rina something more tucked
08:32away.
08:33Then we've also got a fire pit, because I know you wanted a fire pit for those sort of summer
08:37evenings.
08:38Oh, wicked.
08:39There's maybe some oak logs dotted around or some simple stools dotted around a fire pit.
08:44And I'm going to put that on top of you've got that concrete hard stand.
08:48Well, rather than spending money smashing it all out, I thought we'd keep the budget for other areas and gravel
08:54over it.
08:54And then through here, we've just got some wilder planting linking into your hedges.
08:59Oh, that'll smell lovely.
09:01Yeah, it'll bring in the bees in the garden as well, won't it?
09:04Now, you may have noticed there's a fire pit here.
09:07Oh, Flo's put a fire pit in too.
09:09And that's the perfect spot, I think, for it.
09:11You've got your easy chairs there, you've got your fire pit.
09:15Behind it, I planted a shrub that I'm currently obsessed with.
09:19It's a winter flowering viburnum.
09:21And the beautiful thing about it is from November to March, it's smothered in these beautiful pink fragrant flowers.
09:29Oh, I love that there'll be colour in the garden through the winter.
09:31Yeah, it's cool.
09:32To meet the family's health-conscious needs, both Jo and Flo have integrated raised vegetable patches and spread produce throughout
09:40the garden.
09:42Generally, the flower beds are going to be places, well, for ornamental plants, also flowering plants, but also foraging.
09:49So things like wild strawberries, maybe some fennel, an apple tree, so that your daughter can go out there and
09:57just forage and pick a few bits and pieces.
09:59So, you know, everywhere you're surrounded by plants, you're surrounded by edibles.
10:03There's plenty to do in this garden, even though it's a pretty small space.
10:08Ooh!
10:10This L-shaped raised bed just by the patio means that the growing part of the garden is very close,
10:18accessible to the house.
10:19You'll be able to come out and tend and maintain it and then eventually harvest your food really easily.
10:27And it'll be good for Brithvi too.
10:29Yeah.
10:30Joe's given the couple a statement tree, along with the element of fun they were after.
10:35So in the back right-hand corner, we've got this cherry tree and underneath it is the swing seat, because
10:41I know you wanted a swing seat.
10:43And the cherry tree is wonderful because when it's in blossom, you can have, well, in Japan they call it
10:49hanami.
10:50Hanami!
10:50Hanami!
10:52You picnic under the cherry tree and it's celebrating the cherry blossom, but actually it's celebrating nature in its fleeting
11:00beauty.
11:01Because one minute it's in flower and the next minute all those flowers are down on the ground and you're
11:06surrounded by them.
11:07Oh, that's gorgeous.
11:09Flo's included a fig tree for both the fruit and to act as a screen from her playful addition.
11:16You guys said you wanted a swing and I was like, well, let me give you a swing that's more
11:20than just a swing.
11:21And I've gone with this saucer swing design.
11:25Yes!
11:26It's a great space for actually just a little bit of, you know, gentle meditation, but it's also fun as
11:33well, which is why you want a swing in the garden.
11:35Oh, that's gorgeous.
11:36I'd really love to build this garden for you, so choose me and let's do it.
11:41Oh, thank you Flo.
11:42I think I've hit all the marks that you wanted on your design.
11:46You know, you've got the yoga, you've got the grain of veggies, you've got the foraging, the fire pit, the
11:50swing seat, the cherry tree.
11:52They're all in there, but they're all so beautifully designed together.
11:55How can you say no?
11:58That's going to be really tough, isn't it?
11:59Yeah, I don't know how we're going to choose because I like aspects of both designs.
12:05Vin and Rina must now decide which they prefer.
12:09This bit over here with the veg patch on Joe's is amazing.
12:13Yeah, my favourite bit's the swing of Joe's.
12:15I just love the swing and the fact that it's underneath the cherry blossom is just gorgeous.
12:20And this deck in here that Joe's done as well, that's absolutely brilliant.
12:24And the strawberry patches and stuff.
12:27I like the amount of foliage that Joe's put in.
12:30I think it definitely adds a lot more colour into the garden.
12:34That's Joe's, let's have a look at how it flows now.
12:37Well, I really like this one too.
12:40My favourite thing is the pergola.
12:43Definitely the pergola for us, yeah.
12:45And with the veg patch just being there.
12:48At least we can check up on our veggies before we do anything else, can't we?
12:51That's true, yeah.
12:51I really like parts of both designs and I think it's going to be a really hard choice for us
12:55this one.
12:56Yeah, it's very true.
12:57Should we go and have a brew and think about it?
12:59Yeah, definitely.
13:00I think we're going to need like three or four with this.
13:06Mmm.
13:08So we've heard back from Vin and Rina.
13:10Here we go.
13:11Here we go.
13:12Hey, Flo.
13:13Hey, Joe.
13:13Thank you so much for sending over such wonderful designs.
13:16We thought we had too many ideas and you managed to incorporate all of them.
13:20That's good.
13:21Joe, you really hit it with the swing at the back, especially with the cherry tree behind it.
13:25And you gave us a lot of learning to do, especially with the foraging.
13:29Foraging?
13:29Foraging in the flowerbeds.
13:31Yeah.
13:31We like that.
13:32And onto Flo's design, we absolutely love the pergola.
13:35We thought it was a nice place to relax.
13:37Also that it covered the concrete base that we're just not very fond of.
13:41And secondly, we liked the overall manageability of it.
13:44And that we didn't have to spend too much time with the upkeep.
13:47And lastly, we really liked the feng shui.
13:49Feng shui?
13:50I know, right?
13:51You know all about that, do you?
13:52They said it, not me.
13:54So, on that note, we would really like to go ahead with the design for...
14:01Flo!
14:03Whee!
14:05Nice.
14:06Thank you very much and we can't wait to see it made into reality.
14:09Oh, well done.
14:11Yeah.
14:11Well done.
14:12All right.
14:12I think it's a feng shui that swung it.
14:14Feng shui.
14:15Good a thunk, right?
14:16Yeah.
14:16So, what jobs have you got for me?
14:17There's a swing.
14:18The saucer swing.
14:19Oh, yeah.
14:19Put that together.
14:20Put that together.
14:21Oh, we can have a little swing on it.
14:22Is it a flat pack?
14:23I hope so.
14:24No, no, no.
14:25You see the...
14:25You've got to rope it all.
14:26Oh, what?
14:27Yeah.
14:27I'll bring me Alan Key anyway.
14:29Just in case.
14:32Flo and Joe have just two days to rescue Vin and Rina's garden.
14:37They'll be supported by a top team of landscapers.
14:41At the helm, his project manager, Ben.
14:44Here we go.
14:49Hello, team.
14:50Here we are in Wilmslow, and we have a zen produce garden.
14:54We're going to give them a brand new natural stone paved area.
14:58Yep.
14:59Flo would love if we could repurpose these 900 by 600 pavers, creating the stepping stones,
15:06so it takes you from that paved area straight next to the paved area that we're going to do.
15:11Raph, we're going to put in a little L-shaped raised bed.
15:16Simple 6B2s just creating a raised bed in there for us.
15:19We've got a simple rectangle deck that's going to cover that ugly concrete base that's there.
15:25And then above it, we'll have a machined, round-polled pergola going on there.
15:31Oh, boy.
15:31And then just behind us, we are going to build a swing.
15:36Now, you're testing that out.
15:38We're going to build it.
15:38Well, you're getting the lightest one to test it first.
15:41Shortest.
15:42Shortest, yeah.
15:42Shortest.
15:43Shortest.
15:44That is it in this garden.
15:46We can't get a digger in there, so it's all by hand.
15:48So, good luck.
15:49Let's do it.
15:50Come on.
15:51Let's go.
15:56First job every garden we build is to clear it.
16:01But not everything's destined for the dump.
16:06Lovely old Yorkstone slabs.
16:08You can't skip them.
16:09Too nice.
16:10Too nice to throw them, Russ.
16:12They look good to me, mate.
16:13Along with the Yorkstone, the team will repurpose some of Vin and Rina's old slabs.
16:18But first, Ben's got the mammoth task of unloading nearly 320 metres of timber.
16:25I've nearly emptied my van.
16:27As you can see, full of wood.
16:30We're trying to put them in piles so we don't get messed up.
16:37Jamie gets going on the sub-base.
16:42And Raphael gets his hands on some wood.
16:45I want two, eight, ten, don't I?
16:47I'm working on a raised bed for Flo, which is going to contain fruit and veg.
16:52Mark up me timber.
16:53I eat fruits.
16:54It's now and again.
16:55Now and again.
16:57Yeah.
16:58I eat whatever's put in front of me.
17:00That's me.
17:05The beds will form an L shape, which Flo has carried through her design.
17:12With the ground now level, Andy can start laying the patio, which will be extended to ten square metres.
17:21So Flo's chosen these lovely natural sandstone slabs.
17:26Nice grey colour.
17:28Really good contrast to the red brick.
17:30To cover the concrete block, Flo's designed a four by four metre deck and pergola.
17:38For which Jamie's been busy forming the base.
17:46Right.
17:47That's the last corner post in and secure.
17:50So, the outer frame's done.
17:52We'll fill it with the joist and then we can lay the deck boards on top.
17:56And that'll be a nice decking area.
17:58With the frame built, the upright posts for the pergola can be attached.
18:02All good.
18:04However, Flo's design isn't straightforward.
18:08So, instead of all the square wood that we always build the pergolas out, she's going for a machined rind
18:14pole.
18:14Now, it makes it a lot trickier for us because square going up against square, perfect.
18:21But we've got rind going into the square.
18:24Let's go, Jay.
18:27Okay.
18:27With the posts attached, the joists go in so the floor can be laid.
18:34Now it's time for Raphael to tackle the curves.
18:37As this post, the leg of the pergola is round, it's given me a task in order to cut the
18:45hole of the decking around it and make it look nice and neat.
18:49Raphael marks out the centre point of where the posts will sit in the plank, then cuts a 100mm hole
18:56the same width as the pole.
19:00You feeling confident, mate?
19:01I'm feeling quietly confident.
19:03Yeah.
19:04Oh, look at that.
19:05We'll give you that.
19:06We'll give you that.
19:09I'm happy with that.
19:10I'll sleep good tonight.
19:11I will.
19:12Stand back.
19:13Kissing myself.
19:17The boys are doing fantastic.
19:19Andy is smashed out the pavement over there.
19:22We've started getting the stepping stones in.
19:24Jamie and Raph flying down with the decking.
19:28It's all coming together.
19:31You winning over there?
19:32Yeah, getting there, mate.
19:33Nearly there.
19:34Keep going.
19:36With solid progress made, the team can clock off.
19:39All set for Flo and Jo's arrival in the morning.
19:48Lovely day, Flo.
19:50Yes.
19:50We've got sunshine.
19:52I sorted this out.
19:53Did you?
19:54Yeah, I sorted it out for you.
19:55Thanks, Jo.
19:55Today is all about being zen and mindful.
19:59Do you meditate?
20:00I do a bit.
20:01I don't have to because my mind's empty enough.
20:03All right.
20:03All right.
20:04Okay.
20:05No comment on that one.
20:10Guys, this is amazing.
20:12I'm so happy.
20:14Yeah, a lot going on.
20:15Loving the patio.
20:16And look, we've reclaimed and reused these.
20:19Yeah.
20:20They're nice slabs, actually.
20:21So that corner there is where the swing is going to go and I want you on swing detail today.
20:26Okay.
20:26And also all the planting around the edge, the top edge of the deck pergola.
20:32Okay.
20:33Yes, yeah.
20:34I've got you.
20:34And what are you doing?
20:35You're on zen duty?
20:36I'm on zen duty.
20:37You're on meditation duty.
20:37Yeah, yeah, yeah.
20:38I'm just going to be in the middle there in half lotus.
20:40Like...
20:41Yeah, for the whole day.
20:42Well, right.
20:43I'll go and get my head around this swing then.
20:45Yeah.
20:46Have a swinging time.
20:47Yeah.
20:47Oh, yeah.
20:51Andy, you're doing a grand job.
20:53Hello, Flo.
20:54Yeah.
20:55I'm loving it.
20:55Looks a bit better, doesn't it?
20:57Yes.
20:57So, yeah.
20:58Good size.
20:59Good, generous size.
21:00They can step out here and have their coffee in the morning and take in the whole garden.
21:06So, normally, in my designs, I use a lot of curves and circles, but I've really stuck
21:10to the geometry in this one to really accentuate the fact that we have this really sharp hedging
21:16around the garden.
21:17So, there's a theme with L-shaped motifs in the garden, the stepping stones, for example,
21:23to get from the patio over to the deck.
21:26We've laid them out in an L-shape, so we can get from here to there in an L-shaped
21:31way.
21:32Jamie!
21:34Yeah.
21:34Nice work, guys.
21:36Yeah, we're getting there.
21:36Yeah.
21:37Looking good.
21:37We're just about to put the tops on, the pergola.
21:39Mm-hmm.
21:39At the moment, we've put one on the outside.
21:42Yes, that looks good.
21:43If you're happy with that.
21:44Yes.
21:44And then, what do you want us to do?
21:46Just space them equally?
21:48Space the three in the middle equally.
21:49Yes.
21:50All right.
21:50Brilliant.
21:51Yes.
21:53With the pergola's roof in place...
21:57So, what's the plan here, then, Ben?
21:59Joe's also making sure the swing, which uses the same posts, is secure.
22:03Wow.
22:05So, I've dug the four holes now.
22:06Nice and deep.
22:07Me and Jamie got them in.
22:08We've gone 600 deep, but we've also gone on a bit of an angle.
22:13So, we're looking for the structural integrity...
22:16Oh, yes.
22:17...of this swing.
22:17And also, the soil.
22:19I mean, you've gone down 600 there, and it's just beautiful.
22:22I mean, it's compacted, but it's really nice topsoil, actually.
22:25Back time we had some nice soil.
22:26It's the right colour.
22:27It's brown.
22:28It is.
22:29That's how it should be.
22:30Exactly.
22:30Yeah.
22:30Nice one.
22:31We'll get it done.
22:31Excellent.
22:33Back at the pergola...
22:34Super flush.
22:35Fantastic.
22:37...Flo's helping Raphael create some privacy.
22:40We're putting slats on the back of the pergola for two reasons.
22:43It hides the hedging, which isn't particularly great here.
22:47It's a little bit patchy.
22:48And also, it just creates a really nice wall at the back of the pergola,
22:52and it makes it feel more like a room and a little bit more stylish.
22:56Raph?
22:56Yeah?
22:57Let's go.
22:57Come on in.
23:02That's looking good.
23:03I was just saying how good the soil is in this garden.
23:06And this one patch through here is absolutely rubbish.
23:10I mean, there is topsoil in there, but it's also a mix of old bits of slate.
23:13But I think if we break it up and add organic matter, and then when we plant each plant in,
23:19we put more good soil in and some organic matter, should be able to get some plants to establish through
23:24here.
23:25I mean, on the whole, the soil is great, but they've given me the rubbish bit.
23:27It's always the way.
23:35Oh, Andy, this is looking great.
23:37Getting there.
23:38Almost finished, right?
23:39Raph's cut it all perfectly.
23:41And I'm just screwing it together, levelling it up.
23:44Won't be long.
23:47The great thing about this raised bed is it's going to give Vin and Rina a chance to really get
23:53their fingers into the soil and start to learn about growing food.
23:57And it always tastes so much better when you have actually put it into the ground and tended it, and
24:03then you can pick it and eat it.
24:05The grow boxes were an important choice for Vin and Rina in picking Flo's design.
24:10They'll play a part in managing Vin's Crohn's disease, as well as the family's health.
24:16We're really excited about the veg patch.
24:18It's important for me to eat organically, but as a family as well.
24:23Yeah, you just hear about more, like, you know.
24:26Use of pesticides and stuff like that.
24:28So if we can kind of shy away from all that and make sure that what we put on our
24:33plates is absolute pure.
24:38The plants have arrived.
24:40Yeah.
24:40So let's put them some speed.
24:41I've never seen you move so fast, Flo.
24:45Woo!
24:47Plants!
24:47Van full of plants.
24:48Nothing better, is it?
24:50Honestly.
24:50Look at your fig.
24:52Beautiful.
24:52Oh, I've got a fig envy.
24:55It's a beautiful plant, that.
24:57Lupin.
24:57Lupin-tastic.
24:59Yeah, they're gorgeous as well.
25:01Great colours.
25:01Hydrangeas.
25:02A bit of hydrangea.
25:03And a lot of, there's edibles, quite a few edibles going in here.
25:05Yes, yeah, yeah, of course.
25:06Yeah, it's a zen produce garden.
25:08Yeah.
25:08Right.
25:09Right, okay.
25:10Get them off.
25:10Better get them off, I suppose.
25:12I'll start with the heavy ones.
25:14Oh!
25:15Oh!
25:15Oh, my back.
25:16I'm really excited about getting the fig off.
25:20It's going to look absolutely stunning when it's in place.
25:27Lovely hydrangea.
25:31Plants unloaded.
25:32Time to test the load of the swing.
25:34Are we going to do the final test?
25:36What was that?
25:36Are you going to swing on it?
25:37Yeah.
25:38Right, you move the ladder.
25:39Okay.
25:39Don't you have a dangle?
25:40Oh, wait, hang on a minute.
25:42Yes!
25:42I didn't realize you were going around that way.
25:44It's all right, isn't it?
25:45That's very...
25:46We don't actually need to put a swing in there, do we know?
25:51Look at Flo.
25:53She's meditating.
25:55You just channel your inner zen.
25:57It's not just a quiet moment Flo's eyeing up.
26:00She's placing guides for her L-shaped border.
26:06So what I'm doing is I'm marking it out,
26:08and actually using this pink string is really good
26:10because I can see exactly where it lines up.
26:14This corner here lines up with the edge of the deck,
26:17and that corner over there lines up with the middle
26:21of the French windows.
26:23I'm happy with that.
26:25It's going to crack on.
26:26With the border lined up, it's marked out.
26:29Okay.
26:30And cut.
26:32Whilst Raphael continues digging,
26:34Flo's spotted another project to task Andy with.
26:38A lot of nice stone there.
26:40Yeah, it's too good to throw in the strip.
26:42Yeah.
26:42Definitely.
26:43Using the salvaged York stone.
26:45I'm thinking, why don't we build one of those stone towers?
26:48Yeah, we definitely could do.
26:50Yeah.
26:50Nothing with too jaggedy an edge.
26:52Yeah, yeah.
26:52But then nothing too uniform either.
26:55Yeah, yeah.
26:56See what I can do.
26:57Good man.
26:58To keep the stones in place,
27:00Andy is securing them with a rod through the middle.
27:04Once the right shape is chosen, it's a case of drilling a hole and slotting into place.
27:09Right, Ben, I've got the magic glue on.
27:11Beautiful.
27:12So what is it?
27:14It's a zen contemplating area.
27:17I have to think about that.
27:19I have to think about that.
27:23Right.
27:23I just don't know the height.
27:25The height.
27:25Well, we can play around with the height.
27:27We can do minor adjustments here.
27:30We can bring this down.
27:31I've done it with a backpack before.
27:33I mean, come on.
27:36How's that?
27:37I think I'm going to have a go.
27:38I don't want you pushing me from behind or I'm not a three-year-old.
27:41Come on.
27:42No.
27:43Good luck.
27:44What a nice little swing on there.
27:46I tell you what.
27:47I tell you what.
27:48Mate, that looks good.
27:49Oh, you know what?
27:50It's actually quite nice.
27:52Believe it or not.
27:53I'm feeling a bit queasy, but...
27:55That's the most work he's done all day.
27:57That's the most he's moved.
27:58With the swing tried and tested.
28:00Watch this.
28:01Dismount.
28:02Oh!
28:04The pergola is built.
28:06I love this spatial that you put on here.
28:08It's all about the finish, Gil.
28:09It is all about the finishing.
28:10There you go.
28:11Great work.
28:13And the beds are ready to home their new plants.
28:17This is a really lovely plant.
28:19And Flo has placed it right on the corner of this pergola
28:22and it sort of creates a lovely vase-shaped, deciduous shrub
28:26and it'll get to maybe two, two and a half metres tall.
28:29It's a philadelphus and the common name is mock orange.
28:33It's got a beautiful scent and when a light breeze catches them,
28:37it's just incredible.
28:38I'm just going to do a little bit of light pruning before I plant it.
28:41It's a little bit congested in here and so it's a really good opportunity
28:46when you're planting something just to take out some of the weaker growth
28:49and start creating the shape that you want to achieve over time.
28:54and that creates a sort of open shape.
28:56It lets the air circulate through it and it just sort of helps it sit nicely,
29:01he says, as he takes just one more.
29:04And it also has a wonderful autumn colour as well.
29:07It goes like a buttery yellow.
29:08Beautiful.
29:16With the structural foliage taking shape, the team put down 2.6 tonnes of Cotswold gravel
29:27and the plants keep coming.
29:29Got a lot of plants, mate.
29:31Do you know what? I'm going to have to dig out a bit more of a border.
29:35I've lifted quite a lot of turf and dug over quite a lot of beds.
29:38Yeah.
29:39So...
29:39I'm denominating myself from that job.
29:43OK, sure.
29:43I'll just keep bringing them in.
29:44Yeah.
29:44There's another 400, is that right?
29:49Flo decides to extend the border to fill the entire front of the pergola.
29:54Meanwhile, Joe's nestling in the smaller specimens.
29:57So I'm just planting this little beauty.
30:00Now, this is a perennial wallflower.
30:03There's annual wallflowers which will just last a season
30:06but this one comes back every year, which is great.
30:09I mean, it's not a long-lived plant.
30:11It'll last three, four, five years.
30:13The great thing about it is it creates a lovely soft mound
30:17of this silver green foliage, which is evergreen.
30:21And then it throws up these wonderful spikes of flowers
30:24and there's loads of buds coming, you can see.
30:26So if you're in a Zen meditative garden,
30:28you want something that's going to flower for a long period,
30:31you know, take you through and chill you out.
30:33And this one is definitely on the list.
30:47Now, one of the key plants in this design is the fig tree.
30:51And figs can grow in open ground and that's great if you have a lot of space
30:54because they can get really big.
30:57But they're happiest when their roots are a bit restricted
31:01and that helps actually to produce a lot more fruit.
31:04So I put it in this pot and I put it in this place in particular
31:07so that they can see it from the house.
31:10And of course, being a fig tree, it produces fruit.
31:13And that's another reason for choosing this tree
31:16because it's a garden for produce.
31:19So at the moment there are a couple of figs on there
31:22and they'll be ready end of the summer, September time.
31:27And so it'll be a great time to harvest the fruit.
31:40Brilliant.
31:44A lot of digging in gardening.
31:46I bought my own spade though.
31:50Because it's a beauty to dig with and I keep it nice and sharp,
31:53which is important.
31:57So going in this hole is this Portuguese laurel,
32:01Prunus lucitanica.
32:03And it's an evergreen, as you can see.
32:05And you can clip it pretty much to any shape you want
32:07or just let it grow loose, it'll get quite big.
32:09But you can see it's got some hessian around the base,
32:13so it was bare rooted.
32:14And if you get a plant with hessian on it,
32:17always leave the hessian on
32:18because then that keeps the original soil around the roots
32:21and basically just rots away over the next year or two.
32:23The hessian will rot away, the roots will grow through it
32:29and it's a lot happier.
32:31It's a nice plant.
32:37Some things in the garden aren't meant to be left in the ground forever though.
32:42Right, that's the last of the rainbow carrots gone in.
32:46Now Vin has Crohn's disease and so it's really important
32:49people with Crohn's disease to be able to eat fresh fruit and veg
32:53and also to be able to control what they eat.
32:57And so in consultation with Vin, I've put together this array of produce.
33:02We've got strawberries, they're going to grow over the side.
33:06The rosemary's going to trickle over the side as well.
33:07And fun things like the pumpkin, which is going to be great for their daughter to see grow up
33:13and also the leaves will train over the side.
33:15This produce garden is a key part of the garden design
33:19and the family I'm sure are going to love it.
33:32Right, this is a great plant.
33:34A really, really good plant.
33:35This is pittosporum tenuifolium golf ball.
33:40You can see why it's called golf ball because that is its natural shape.
33:44And because it's evergreen, it has a lovely sort of structural quality
33:46to the garden tying all the planting together.
33:49Flo's got a couple in this garden and one's going right here next to this Philadelphia
33:53just to hold that corner nicely.
34:06The last bits of gravel swept in and the garden's ready for one of Flo's favourites.
34:12I'm slightly obsessed with Wyburnhams and in particular this one Charles Lamont
34:16because it's one of those plants that gives you joy in the winter
34:20and it flowers from November right through the winter to about March.
34:25So at a time in the garden when actually there's not a lot happening
34:28you've got this profusion of flowers, the beautiful fragrance.
34:33It's a reason to open the windows or actually come outside in the garden.
34:36So this is a plant that's easy on the eye, gives a lovely peaceful vibe
34:40and perfect for a garden that's dedicated to zen and well-being.
34:49As the final elements to the zen garden are placed, such as the fire pit,
34:56Flo and Jo get to have a moment of reflection.
35:05Oh! You beat me to it!
35:06Fancy seeing you here Flo.
35:08Well done, what a great garden!
35:10This is nice isn't it?
35:11Yeah, what a lovely spot here!
35:13I know!
35:13Imagine what it was like before, there was nothing going on whatsoever.
35:17There was nothing going on.
35:18Now there's so much to want to do here.
35:22You've got your terrace over there, you've got your swing seat,
35:24you've got your yoga spot and you've got the seating.
35:28And their produce area as well.
35:31Of course, of course.
35:31It's a sort of interactive space.
35:33And equally just this little space here I like actually just for, you know.
35:37Yeah.
35:38Have the fire going, watch the stars.
35:40Yeah, yeah, yeah.
35:41Lovely. Well done.
35:42I'm going to leave you to it.
35:43Good luck.
35:48Vin and Rina's garden was soulless and uninspiring, cluttered with rubble and a bare concrete patch.
35:58But just two days and £4,000 later, it's an oasis of calm and serenity.
36:06With fresh vegetables to pick, luscious planting,
36:14a swing and statement pergola on which to meditate and entertain.
36:21Here we go, here we go.
36:23Sit down.
36:25Here they come.
36:32So, Vin and Rina, two days ago, your garden looked very different.
36:38Concrete jungle.
36:39Concrete jungle.
36:40Concrete jungle.
36:40Your words, not mine.
36:42On the count of three, please open your eyes and have a look.
36:47One, two, three.
36:50Open your eyes.
36:51Oh, my God!
36:53This is gorgeous.
36:55This is our garden.
36:57Oh, thank you so much.
36:59Thank you so much, Ray.
37:00Pleasure.
37:01What a pleasure.
37:04This looks like a show garden.
37:05Oh, they love it.
37:07They absolutely love it.
37:09Vin and Rina once stepped out onto a small patio with nowhere to go and nothing to do.
37:17Now, a large grey sandstone terrace greets them out of the house.
37:22And spacious raised beds teeming with produce are perfect for Vin's health conscious regime.
37:29This is such a nice area to sit then, isn't it?
37:32Yeah, I love it.
37:33And then, of course, you know, it's all about the produce, isn't it?
37:36You've got your own kitchen garden here.
37:39Oh, my gosh!
37:39It's got...
37:39Oh, baby.
37:40I can't wait to start gardening.
37:42Yeah.
37:43Yeah, there's a lot going on.
37:44There's a lot going on.
37:46You know, we've got strawberries, we've got tomatoes, we've got pumpkin, lettuce.
37:50I mean, just, you know, a lot to take in and a lot to...
37:56Literally.
37:57Literally, yeah.
37:57Literally.
37:57Yeah, literally.
37:58I love it.
37:59Oh, wow.
38:00Yeah, they love the veg patch.
38:01It's going to make a big difference to their lives.
38:03They're really going to get into growing.
38:04So, there were some elements in the garden that we wanted to reuse.
38:08So, the stepping stones are originally from your garden.
38:13It's amazing, and they look like they were just made for this.
38:16But that takes us in, you know, an L shape over to the pergola.
38:22So, shall we step that way?
38:26Previously, Vin and Rina had to step over a makeshift brick wall
38:30to cross the back of the house.
38:35Now, salvaged stepping stones take them to their new, restful fire pit hangout.
38:41Complete with Andy's bespoke, reclaimed York stone sculpture.
38:46So, you've got this nice little area here just to sit out and chill and relax.
38:51Wonderful.
38:52Look at the sky.
38:52We see a lot of stars in this area, so it's quite nice to be able to sit here and
38:56do that.
38:57Yeah, absolutely, yeah.
38:57And watch the stars.
38:57Yeah, absolutely, yeah.
39:01It's a lot, isn't it?
39:02It's a lot.
39:03It's speechless.
39:03Absolutely speechless.
39:04And actually, just before we go up onto the deck, I want you to spin around and just see this
39:10little creation.
39:11All of these stones were in the garden already, and one of our amazing artisan landscapers has created this tower.
39:19Wow.
39:19They look a lot prettier than they were before.
39:22So, it's just a nod to, you know, a spiritual item in the garden.
39:27Yes.
39:27Let's go up onto the deck.
39:30The biggest eyesore of their old garden was a hefty concrete base.
39:35A relic from a previous owner, it was unusable and unwanted.
39:41Now, a stunning new deck stands in its place.
39:45A dedicated space for Vin to meditate and for the couple to entertain.
39:51Climbers will rise up the round posted pergola, creating a stage for serenity.
39:59I love this.
40:00No more concrete slab now.
40:02No.
40:02That's amazing, baby.
40:03No, absolutely.
40:04And, you know, I wanted to make it generous enough that you could get two yoga mats on here.
40:08Definitely more so.
40:10Yeah, beautiful place for us to do some yoga, meditation, have people around.
40:15Absolutely.
40:16Entertainment space.
40:17For sure.
40:19Yes, yes.
40:19And, you know, when you spin around, you're taking the whole garden.
40:23Oh, I love it.
40:24Oh.
40:25This is 100% better than what the garden used to be, so thank you.
40:29You can hear the wind chimes as well.
40:31Yes.
40:32Yes.
40:33Yeah, we put one up there.
40:34Oh, thank you so much.
40:36So, the L-shaped border has your fig tree over in that corner.
40:40It is really stunning to look at, this tree.
40:43Yeah.
40:44Especially when I'm working from home, it gives me something very beautiful to look at.
40:48So, I'm looking forward to seeing that grow, for sure.
40:51And, of course, there's a swing.
40:53Every garden leaves a little playful element, doesn't it?
40:56Yes, definitely.
40:56I'm excited to try it.
40:58Never mind for three.
40:59Let's go.
40:59Awesome, thank you.
41:00Let's go this way.
41:03The lawn used to be bare.
41:05The hedges enclosed the garden.
41:07And there was nowhere for the family to have any kind of fun.
41:13Now, the family have their own swing to relax or play on.
41:18Screened from the house by a luscious L-shaped border.
41:24Who's going first?
41:25I will.
41:29Oh, I love it.
41:31This is perfect.
41:32And it's a great height for her as well, right?
41:34Oh.
41:35And then when you lie back and you look at the sky.
41:38Oh, this is amazing.
41:39You're only allowed two more swings.
41:42Oh, yeah, the swing.
41:43Here we go.
41:43They're taking interns on the swing.
41:44Great.
41:45This is brilliant.
41:46Thank you so much, Flo.
41:47This is amazing.
41:48And of course, you know, this is a complete team effort.
41:52Yep.
41:52My leading man for today is Mr. Joe Swifty.
41:58Hello.
41:58Hello.
41:59Yeah, I can see you love it.
42:01It's a great design.
42:02It's a great design.
42:03It works beautifully well.
42:05It's absolutely brilliant, isn't it?
42:07Everything that we've wanted.
42:08I can't believe it's ours.
42:10Definitely.
42:11I can't even remember the old garden, actually.
42:13So, yeah, you've done an absolutely brilliant job.
42:15Everybody, the whole team.
42:17It's a pleasure.
42:18Hopefully, the sun will always shine in this garden.
42:22It's such a beautiful light.
42:23Yes, yeah.
42:24Now, it's sort of magical, isn't it?
42:25Well, of course, the garden is also for, you know, your family, for Pruti.
42:29So, you know, you should get her out to enjoy it.
42:32We definitely will.
42:33We'll keep her out.
42:34Definitely will enjoy this.
42:35I don't think we'll be able to get her in the house now.
42:37No.
42:38It's a good sign.
42:39Oh, thank you.
42:41Pleasure.
42:41Let's go have another hug.
42:42Yeah, let's have a hug.
42:43Come on, come on, come on.
42:44A group hug.
42:45A group hug.
42:45A group hug.
42:49Well done.
42:50We'll leave you to enjoy the garden.
42:52Thank you again.
42:53Thanks.
42:58Look, you've got a swing just for you, darling.
43:03I'm gobsmacked.
43:04Yeah, I'm shocked, speechless, and, yeah, that's the thing for me.
43:08I'm always gabbing away, but, yeah, today, you've absolutely blown me away.
43:13You've got your own swing.
43:14Yay!
43:16It's a bit like a postcard at the minute, and I'm not sure how to use it, but we'll get
43:23there.
43:23We've got all the time in the world to contemplate and do our thing, so, yeah, we're real looking
43:27beautiful today.
43:30That's awesome!
43:33Goodbye.
43:33Goodbye, bye, bye.
43:41Bye-bye.
43:42You can see all the sun.
43:43Bye-bye.
43:44Bye-bye.
43:46Bye-bye.
43:50Bye-bye.
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