Gardens

Typical gardens

Most Toronto gardens are comparatively small and rectangular. They are usually laid out with the walkway, to the left or right of the yard, going straight out to the garage/parking area. In this case, our clients wanted a dining area in the garden immediately in front of their deck stairs. They also wanted privacy from the south side and an attractive yard with both grass and planting areas. In the middle picture, the privacy difference is clearly seen when compared to the chain link fence in the first picture. And the planting area, with its Magnolia centrepiece, contains perennials and evergreens. The clients are delighted with their lush private oasis in their downtown home. To see enlargements click on links above photos.

Before

Immediately After

Three Months After

The garden shown below was exposed on all three sides. The lawn was full of craters and bumps and an old chain link fence on the alleyway side had been partially crushed by a fallen tree. The only thing the clients were happy with was a patio area immediately next to the house. They wanted a new graded lawn that would lead down to a patio area and a planting bed along the fence on both sides. They wanted as much privacy as possible. They needed a shed built in which to store tools and athletic equipment - but didn't want it to look too shed-like. We put up a retaining wall to contain the patio area and graded the lawn down to the far end. A six-foot fence was erected and the shed was built to the client's specifications (with ski racks and lots of head-room). Wood trim and a window were added to soften the shed's look.

Click here to enlarge

Like the first garden on this page, this yard is long and narrow. It had no lawn, walkway or planting beds - just a lot of dirt. Our clients wanted to have raised beds for planting in the back of the yard and a planting bed to run alongside the garage. They also wanted a grass area for their toddler to play on and an interlock seating area to watch their child from. The beds and lawn were installed as planned and our clients chose two intersecting circles, from the stone catalogue we provided, as their seating area. The other area of concern was the large, slightly leaning wall of the garage. Our solution was to erect two lattice-work structures that could be adjusted to give the illusion of an upright wall and to plant two silverlace vines as a fast-growing embellishment for the wood. Two years later, we replaced the old fence with a new cedar one. Click on links to enlarge.

Before

Three months after

Two years after

Shade Garden

Raised Bed Garden

This garden was built under the shade of a blue spruce where grass couldn't grow. The bottom branches were trimmed up and new soil installed for the new plants. Very easy and has immediate impact!

Hidden away behind a screen of tall cedars was a small space that our client wanted to fill with tall flowers. But he wanted to be able to sit and work at his garden. So we built him stone walls with an easy reach to the centre from almost any place he wants to sit.

Roof Garden  BEFORE - Nice wooden structure with no life! We put in a planter in the middle along the rail and some raised platforms around the floor's perimeter. Window boxes were hung on the inside rail around the decks perimeter and terra cotta planters along the top of the rail. Tables were made to hold the client's bonsais.

AFTER - Window boxes were planted with annuals in a variety of colours. Hanging baskets were hung to block out the neighbouring houses and a Japanese maple in a stand outside the rail was added to the west side to further enclose the space.

Raised beds and stairs

BEFORE - The front yard was nothing but dirt and had a bank so steep you couldn't stand up when it was wet.	Overhead shot shows the intersecting lines of the wood and the unusual pattern of lower stairs. Broader and less steeply inclined stairs help small children and older people climb more easily.
AFTER - The front yard shows a world of difference. What looks like a jigsaw puzzle now contains rich earth and healthy plants that are a welcome sight all year long.	Detailed shot of the lower stairs shows how interlock colour blends and makes a smooth transition from the public sidewalk to the wood. Sealing the wood will help keep a clean look for years to come.

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