Pro Landscaper October 2013

Concept to Delivery

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

October 2013

BARE ROOT TREES WHY YOU SHOULD BUY

LET’S HEAR IT FROM

LISS/CSCS

TIME IS RUNNING OUT

JAMES ALEXANDERSINCLAIR OUTDOOR CREATIONS

MID CENTURY MODERN An exuberant 1950s inspired show garden Cover October final.indd 1

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Bradstone Assured, our own We’ve been doing this for installer scheme to help drive 50 years. No-one knows your business forward. landscaping better.

Design ideas

Garden designs from the professionals and practical DIY toolkits.

As seen on TV

It’s not just TV where you will see our name.

We support our brand through press, internet and social media too.

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Today, we’re more committed than ever to pushing back the boundaries and providing installers with the most innovative and inspirational products available. Combining the broadest choice with the best quality and approachable expertise with unrivalled experience, to keep Bradstone on top.

To find out more, visit www.bradstone.com or call us on 01335 372222.

A member of the Holcim Group

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Concept to

Delivery

DESIGN, BUI AND MAINT LD, AIN October 2013

October 2013 | Volume 3, Issue 10

Welcome to October 2013

BARE RO OT TREES WHY SHOULD YOU BUY

LET’S H IT FROMEAR

LISS/CSCS

JAMES AL SINCLAIREXANDER-

TIM RUNNING E IS OUT

OUTDOO R CREATIO NS

MID CE TURY MODERN N

An exubera inspired sh nt 1950s ow garde n

Welcome to October and autumn. You will know that since the beginning of 2013, Pro Landscaper has been supporting the Three Peaks Extreme challenge team, a group of robust individuals from within our industry, determined to give something back for the benefit of others not so fortunate due to one reason or another. We are pleased to report that all the challengers were successful in their task and despite some gruelling moments even managed to keep smiling (see page 76). The sum raised (well in excess of £16,000 to date) is phenomenal and we hope to be able to congratulate each and every one of the team at FutureScape in November.

ALL ENQUIRIES Tel: 01903 234 077 Eljays44 Ltd County House, 3 Shelley Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1TT Tel: 01903 234 077 EDITORIAL editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk Director – Lisa Wilkinson lisa.wilkinson@eljays44.com Assistant Editor – Rose Hales rose.hales@eljays44.com

ADVERTISING Business Development Manager – Jamie Wilkinson jamie.wilkinson@eljays44.com

@jimeljays

PRODUCTION Design – Kara Thomas Printed by Pensord Press Ltd, Gwent, UK

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Published by ©Eljays44 Ltd – Business Intelligence

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CIRCULATION Subscription enquiries: lisa.wilkinson@eljays44.com

Managing Director – Jim Wilkinson jim.wilkinson@eljays44.com

Pro Landscaper is published 12 times per year by Eljays44 Ltd. The 2013 subscription price is £95.00.

Subscription records are maintained at Eljays44 Ltd, County House, 3 Shelley Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1TT, UK. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Eljays44 Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers.

The publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss of, or damage to, uncommissioned photographs or manuscripts.

Equipment Editor – Joe Wilkinson joe.wilkinson@eljays44.com EDITORIAL ADVISORY PANEL Mark Gregory Chairman of APL and Landform Consultants Sam Hassall LandPRO Ltd Russell Eales Lawn care expert Karl Harrison Decking expert

There is so much good about our industry that it is difficult to understand why hoards of school and college leavers aren’t queuing up for jobs in this sector – and this topic is one that will be hotly debated at the View From the Top event at FutureScape; Sue Biggs, Director General of the RHS, will talk about the Horticulture Matters report – the RHS’s involvement to get people interested in a career in horticulture along with Phil Jones of ISS, Yvette Etcell of Gavin Jones, and Andrew Wilson of Wilson McWilliam Studio. Other topics at this event will be discussed by Mark Gregory of Landform Consultants, John Wyer of Bowles & Wyer, Clive Ivil of Quadron and Matt O’Conner from John O’Conner. We all have a job to do to ensure the future of this amazing industry so shout about it whenever you can.

Have a good month, looking forward to meeting as many of you as we can next month at FutureScape.

The Association of

Professional Landscapers

Pro Landscaper is proud to be an affiliate member of BALI

Pro Landscaper is proud to be an associate member of The APL

@lisaeljays

AND THERE’S MORE... www.prolandscapermagazine.com Read everything from up-to-date news to the digital version of the magazine Download the Pro Landscaper App Available FREE from the App Store CONTRACTORS A RCHITECTS Landscape Hub ARCHITECTS GARDENERS LANDSCAPERS ARCHITECTS www.landscapehub.co.uk CONTRACTORS GARDENERS HUB CONTRACTORS ARCHITECTS Visit, join and debate within the LANDSCAPERS DESIGNERS A landscape community Landscape

www.futurescapeeevent.com Save the date – 19 November 2013 Twitter: @ProLandscaperJW Facebook: Pro Landscaper LinkedIn: Join the Pro Landscaper group

MANAGEMENT Managing Director Jim Wilkinson Director Lisa Wilkinson Business Development Manager Jamie Wilkinson Business intelligence

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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Contents

October 2013 6 News Shed Round up of industry news

10 You Gotta Win-Ter Survive!

We take a closer look at The Landscape Hub’s Win-Ter Work Campaign

13 BALI National Landscape Awards 2013 Award winners announced

14 Association News The SGD Autumn Conference, the APL Networking Seminar, and BALI members come together for AGM at SALTEX OPINION

17 View From The Top It is our own responsibility to educate and support the aspirations of individuals, says Phil Jones

Planting design is an art form that creates spaces of distinction, drama and delight Andrew Wilson

18 Planting – What Price?

Andrew Wilson’s opinion on the difference between planting and planting design

28 Work Related Stress (part two)

19 What is a Meadow?

19

Anne Wareham resolves what is meant by the term ‘meadow’

31 Standardising Water Use in Landscaping

Deliver Concept to

23 Prevention is Better Than Cure Angus Lindsay looks at why maintenance on machines is so important

How to spot stressed individuals in your team

y

Jacob Tompkins of Waterwise UK takes a look at the dreaded hosepipe ban

October 2013

TECHNICAL

D, DESIGN, BUIL IN AND MAINTA

32 The Origins of Hardwood Decking BUSINESS TIPS

OT BARE RO TREES WHY YOU Y BU LD SHOU

24 The Impact of ‘Labour Only’ Contracting

Sam Hassall provides costings to follow on from a talk by Mark Gregory last month

26 LISS/CSCS Grandfather Rights Last minute advice from Jodie Read before the deadline at the end of the month 4

October 2013

Contents.indd 4

LISS/CSCS

R LET’S HEA IT FROM DERAN JAMES ALEX SINCLAIR

CREATIONS OUTDOOR

URY MID CENT N R E MOD 1950s An exuberantw garden inspired sho

TIME IS OUT RUNNING

Karl Harrison on why all hardwoods are not the same

33 Sustainable Landscaping The final part of Janine Pattison’s series, looking at designing sustainable planting schemes

41 Let’s Hear it From We interviewed James Alexander-Sinclair, designer, writer, television presenter, and speaker www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/09/2013 16:32

Contents

54 Bare Roots Nick Coslett from Palmstead Nurseries offers advice for the approaching bare root season

56 Latest Products The latest products in garden lighting and paving.

58 FutureScape

CONTRIBUTORS Phil Jones MD of ISS Facility Services Landscaping Andrew Wilson Garden designer and lecturer

Tips for planning your day at this year’s FutureScape event

63 Equipment

-75

The latest equipment news, advice on chainsaw maintenance and latest chainsaw kit available, two pages of general latest kit, Trading With Makita UK, and equipment unveiled at the John Deere Product Launch event in Berlin in August

PEOPLE

76 Three Peaks Extreme Challenge The team have completed the challenge, raising over £16,000 already!

78 The Little Interview A short interview with a selection of Pro Landscaper’s readers

The Three Peaks Extreme Challenge

Anne Wareham Garden writer Angus Lindsay Head of Fleet at The Landscape Group Sam Hassall Specialist landscape cost consultant Jodie Read MD of Penarth Management Ltd Margaret McNeil Owner of Onsite Training UK Jacob Tompkins Managing Director of Waterwise UK Karl Harrison Director of Exterior Solutions Ltd

PORTFOLIOS Janine Pattison Garden designer

41 Mid Century Modern A Gold medal and Best in Show winning garden at Hampton Court by Outdoor Creations, Adele Ford, and Susan Willmott

ARE YOU GOING?

44 Gabions & Glass

OCTOBER 2 OnSite Training UK Masterclass Green Roofs in the Townscape www.onsitetraininguk.co.uk

A modern, clean line garden designed by Outside Rooms

48 Garden Makeover Anthea Harrison designed a naturalistic garden for a previously overgrown space

52 Plantsman’s Plot Plants recommended for October by some of the country’s top nurseries www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Contents.indd 5

12-20 Gardening World Cup Nagasaki, Japan www.gardeningworldcup.jp

48

23 APL Networking Seminar Provender Nurseries www.the-hta.org.uk

October 2013

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News

NEWS SHED Gavin Jones and Norris & Gardiner Team Up Gavin Jones and Norris & Gardiner Ltd have recently formalised a “trading alliance” to include exploring ways of advantageously working together over the next 12 months and potentially beyond.

Throughout their time serving on the BALI Board of Directors, Gavin Jones Chairman Martyn Mogford and Norris & Gardiner MD Richard Gardiner developed an excellent working relationship and mutual respect.

Richard Gardiner says “it’s really exciting to be working with an IIP Gold accredited company and IIP Champion, I have a lot of respect for the IIP framework having been recognised ourselves for over 10

David Blackwood Murray designs sky garden at Bishopsgate Landscape architect David Blackwood Murray’s designs have transformed the podium deck of a London office building into a lush ‘sky garden’ at 99 Bishopsgate, which was completed by Willerby Landscapes. The brief was to transform the existing deck to create a green roof which celebrates a traditional English London garden.

Limited access to the roof areas for construction, and restrictions on the structural loading capacity of the

existing concrete slab were particular challenges. The garden includes sculptures by Eilis O’Connell and a dramatic after-dark lighting scheme along with a giant evergreen bamboo garden which was inspired by the bamboo garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.

Quadron Services helps Wycombe District Council go peat-free

years and this is a clear indicator of how well our cultures are aligned”.

Martyn Mogford comments that “we are confident that this highly innovative initiative will be good for both businesses. Since July, we have beneficially collaborated on a number of contracts and have recently submitted a joint tender for a significant term contract”. www.gavinjones.co.uk www.norrisandgardiner.co.uk

Quadron is assisting Wycombe District Council to achieve its sustainability aims by supplying bedding grown in peat-free media.

The company commenced its five year Green Space Services contract with Wycombe District Council in January and has committed to providing its services in line with the Council’s particular requirements for the supply of bedding in peat-free growing media.

Growing plants in peat-free media presents a number of challenges; feeding and watering regimes must be changed and many peat alternatives are alkaline, making

them unsuitable for ericaceous plants, so the horticultural teams produced arrangements that created a great visual display, while providing value for money.

Paul Frost, Quadron’s Assistant Contract Manager, said, “The peat-free bedding arrived in good condition however, due to the hot weather some of the plants, such as the begonias, have struggled to become established but overall the displays are healthy and providing an excellent show of colour.” www.quadronenvironment.com

Garden Planters & Urns Giant Boxes, Troughs & Cylinders available

www.roundwood.com Tel: 01435 867 072 OAK & DECKING PRODUCTS | OAK FRAMED BUILDINGS | HOME & GARDEN FEATURES

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News

The Landscape Group win Silver Award at Southport Flower Show The Landscape Group’s Sefton team created a garden that showcased the work carried out by grounds maintenance teams, focusing on the progress of Horticultural Apprentices and the changes to parks and open spaces management in recent years.

The garden was built by apprentices with support and guidance from supervisors, and sponsorship from Boningale Nurseries,Turfland and Massam Supplies Ltd. Luke Hunter, Horticultural Apprentice comments: “We were excited to be involved in the project.

It gave us all a good opportunity to put our skills into practice and to

spend time meeting the public and talking about our experiences as apprentices.”

The garden ‘Changing Times’ reflected the changes to parks management in Sefton’s parks and open spaces. The right side of the garden showed the traditional approach of manicured lawns and sculpted bedding displays; and the left showed the modern ‘naturalistic’ approach to developing open spaces with more wildflowers and less focus on sculpting. www.thelandscapegroup.co.uk

Horticultural scholarship season now open The David Colegrave Foundation (DCF) opens its annual scholarship season this month with 10 scholarships up for grabs.

Horticultural students have two months to apply for a chance to boost their career by way of funding and work experience provided by the Foundation and the opportunity for company sponsorship. The list of scholarships includes £1000 for up to five students taking horticulture courses across the UK, and £1,500 and work experience for a student who is keen to pursue a research career in the horticultural industry with Floranova Ornamental Horticulture Research. Deadlines: 8 November 2013 for Student Scholarships, 31 January 2014 for Sponsored Scholarships. Go to www.davidcolegravefoundation.org.uk and click on scholarships.

Landscaper wins at Nectar Business Small Business Awards 2013 James Lanwarne, of Lanwarne Landscapes, has been named Nectar Business Tradesperson of the Year 2013, by a panel of judges including star of BBC1’s The Apprentice, Karren Brady.

St Albans based Lanwarne Landscapes offers four main services: landscape and garden design, construction, horticulture and consultancy. James Lanwarne

has a real commitment to exceeding customer expectations, which has led to over 80 per cent of the company’s business coming from recommendations or returning clients.

James won a prize of £2,000 cash and 50,000 Nectar points. He also received face-to-face business advice from Karren Brady. www.lanwarnelandscapes.co.uk

NURSERY NEWS Preparations for autumn at Agrumi We have started to prepare for winter here at Agrumi with the addition of a brand new polytunnel. Currently it is empty, but as the nights draw in it will be full of those plants that do not appreciate the cold weather, and probably some of our outside staff when the winter rain comes!

New lines have been added over the summer increasing the size of our nursery. Our feeding and spraying programme is working really well, helping our plants to look their best. Regular visitors to our nursery in the New Forest have been impressed by the infrastructure upgrades we have made.

Recently we have received some interesting custom topiary commissions. A piece inspired by Rodin’s The Thinker was recently delivered to appear on stage at the Nevill Holt Opera. We also recently produced a huge topiarised king cobra, the world’s longest venomous snake, for Paulton’s Family Theme Park in the New Forest. Due to its size it had to be built in situ!

www.agrumi.co.uk

Hardwood Decking

Ipe • Balau • Oak • Garapa • Larch Components • Fastenings

www.roundwood.com Tel: 01435 867 072 OAK & DECKING PRODUCTS | OAK FRAMED BUILDINGS | HOME & GARDEN FEATURES

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News

NEWS IN BRIEF Contract secures future broadcast of RHS shows The BBC and RHS have signed a new contract with rights to broadcast RHS Shows at Chelsea, Hampton, Tatton and Malvern on the BBC until 2017.

Chief executive leaves Landscape Institute

Alastair McCapra, Chief executive of the Landscape Institute is leaving at the end of October.

John O’Conner named Highly Commended Award Winner John O’Conner Grounds Maintenance Ltd has been named Central Eastern Region Highly Commended Apprenticeship Newcomer Employer of the Year 2013 at an awards ceremony organised by the National Apprenticeship Service.

Established in 1969, John O’Conner launched its Apprenticeship Scheme in May 2011 to coincide with winning new contracts and the success of previous schemes supporting the young and disadvantaged, which

Good month for...

All the winners of the BALI Awards 2013

prompted a directive to establish an on-going Apprentice Scheme. Matt O’Conner, Managing Director commented “John O’Conner believes the ‘grow your own’ approach really benefits the business. Our apprenticeship scheme is producing some really talented individuals and I look forward to seeing them progress within the business.” www.johnoconner.co.uk

Competition launches for Seven Lochs Wetland Park

Green Flag Awards for Landscape Group

The Landscape Group has won 36 Green Flag Awards across sites maintained by the Group.

Changes at RHS

The RHS is making changes to its structure effective in January 2014, the most significant being that Gardens, Shows and Retail will be combined into one vibrant, customerfocused division.

Glasgow Institute of Architects (GIA) in association with Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership and Central Scotland Green Network has launched a competition asking design professionals and students to

produce concept design proposals to connect two key sites within the Seven Lochs Wetland Park, a major new destination for outdoor recreation expected to attract more than one million visitors per year. Submissions should provide a concept design strategy which connects the areas of wetland and woodland habitat as well as the communities which are divided by the M73 corridor and must include a specific design vision for bridging the M73.

See the full brief at www.gia.org.uk

Dementia sufferers at four Bexley care homes, who will benefit from a funding boost, used to improve garden areas Richard Burt, Sales Manager of Provender Nurseries, promoted to Sales Director

Bad month for...

SA National Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi) board chair Tami Sokutu who was “released from his position”, for being drunk at Chelsea Flower Show Staff at Oxford Garden Design, who had to abseil to strim a large sloping area of Oxford Castle Mound that had been neglected for four years

Oak Framed Buildings

Garages • Gazebos • Dining Areas Outbuildings • Smoking Shelters

www.roundwood.com Tel: 01435 867 072 OAK & DECKING PRODUCTS | OAK FRAMED BUILDINGS | HOME & GARDEN FEATURES

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Strength and Versatility for your Fleet

at Demo Take a Scape Futureember in Nov Model Shown: Toro Mid Size Hydro Mower 30069 with Flail 02720

In a business like yours, productivity is key.

This is where Toro can help.

Not only is our landscape contractor equipment engineered to be extraordinarily tough, it’s also flexible and versatile, so you always have the right tool for the job.

Check out the Toro Mid Size Mower: Tackles rough and overgrown areas with ease Rugged, reliable power unit with interchangeable attachments Choice of high output flail or 32” / 36” / 48” rear discharge decks Take a look at revenue-generating Toro.

For more info see www.toro.com/midsizerange or call 01279 723444 to locate your nearest dealer

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News Extra

You gotta win-ter survive!

Many readers will have been following The Landscape Hub’s Win-Ter Work Campaign. The four step programme focuses on finding winter work before the winter comes, with advice and resources on how to find work, how and where to advertise, and what work there is to do.

We’ve taken a look at the four steps and summarised them below.

For more detailed advice and for more information join The Landscape Hub for free and read the four steps in full.

It may only be October, but this is the time to be finding and securing winter work to get you and your business through the season.

Although this is the winter work campaign, much of the advice can be taken as a marketing tool to use all year round when looking to find work. The Win-Ter Work Campaign looks at sourcing work for between December and March inclusive.

STEP TWO

STEP ONE Writing down your assets

Time to fill

Write down all assets that are available to you, these must include: ● Vehicle – type, drive, snow chains, snow tyres, fuel supply. ● Tools and equipment – especially those useful in emergency work.

Include anything that could be useful both for on site, and to get to the site. ● Paperwork – insurances, qualifications etc.Take photocopies and put them together in a file to hand out. ● Space/work area available – size and conditions, do you have a large dry area to work in for example?

How much time do you think you can reasonably/easily fill without additional winter work?

For example do you need to find one, two, three or more days of work each week? Work out over the December to March period exactly how many days of work you need. Once you know this you can begin to find work that will provide enough income, but not too much.

Over trading causes as many problems as having too little work.

10

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Winter Work.indd 10

PHOTOS BY KARA THOMAS

Possible customers: ● Existing/past customers – ones you currently work for, and those for whom you have worked for over the past three years.

These customers need to be aware of your company, and have a clear idea of your skills and services.

● Potential customers – there are many many possibilities for new sources of work.These include: insurance companies, parish councils, trading estates, sports clubs (or anywhere with large car parks and wealthy visitors), police stations (for emergency works), private hospitals and nursing homes, office complexes, private ‘squares’ in cities and large towns. ● Look for anywhere which must maintain a high standard because of the quantity, or quality of its clientele, but due to cutbacks it is relying on summer staff. You can offer emergency only winter staff. This is when it is very important to know what you can do and what you can offer potential clients. ● Importantly if you can get a small job in one of these areas for the winter, but do a good professional job, you may find other work is offered to you.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/09/2013 13:51

News Extra Potential ideas for winter work: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Stump grinding Pond cleaning Water features – services Cleaning garden furniture Greenhouses and conservatories – restore/repair/clean/sterilise National Trust / English Heritage/ Forestry Commission Insurance companies Fireplace construction Private estates Pressure washing and stone cleaning IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT YOU CHECK YOUR INSURANCE COVER ON THESE WORKS, AS THEY MAY BE PERIPHERAL TO YOUR NORMAL OPERATIONS.

STEP THREE How to approach potential clients and sources of work Approach potential clients in such a way that they think that you are doing them a service/favour; it is important to always make sure you are approaching the right person.

How do you currently advertise? ● How are you known, and what are you known for? ● What is your USP? Do you have more than one? ● What is your marketplace?

It is perfectly acceptable to have more than one public persona – try not to pigeonhole yourself into just one slot. Consider what information is necessary, and what might scare off potential clients.

Consider the services you’re offering, if it’s just restoration or work that isn’t landscaping specific – maybe including

your membership of the associations isn’t necessary, indeed it might even be off-putting.There is such a thing as appearing to be overqualified for a job.

Clients can find out all this information after they’ve hired you to do the job. ● Think about what potential clients will be looking for and link your USP to it. For example many have had their budgets cut so they’re primarily looking for affordability. Use this to your advantage in your advert. ● Make sure your advert stands out; a white colour with a dark border might help. ● For different adverts, with different USPs, take different angles. ●Don’t list the things that people expect you to do anyway (fencing, turfing, planting etc.)

For small companies it is relatively easy to change your image according to the situation, this is harder for larger firms, but still possible if you use and style advertising correctly and effectively.Think about the words you

use and their associations, for example putting ‘estate work’ on your advert might pay dividends in attracting National Trust or English Heritage work.You’re not being dishonest about what you can do, you’re opening up a discussion you might not have had otherwise.

Suggestions regarding existing customers: ● Make a list of all customers from the last three years that you would like to work for again. ● Prepare postcard sized cards with the below information: • Current contact number.

• An explanation that as you have been so busy over past winters, you have decided to offer your services to current and past clients only as an emergency contact point.

• Ask customers to keep the card near to their phone and explain you will do your utmost to help if you are needed.

STEP FOUR One of the very best sources of local work is from monthly parish magazines.These are read by a certain percentage (10-20 per cent according to locale) of people who have an interest in their property and surroundings.

Many larger firms would never contemplate advertising in local parish sources. Why not? If you live and/or work in an area (by definition, everyone does), why not support local matters by advertising with the parish? It is one way of giving something back to your community, and is seen as such by the locals.

Landscape

HUB

Read the full articles with advice on securing winter work by becoming a member of The Landscape Hub for free at www.landscapehub.co.uk. Members can comment, give their own input, and add to the discussion.

October 2013

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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1 Mast MSG Desig

2 Illus MSG

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Visit one of our inspirational showrooms located across Greater London.

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News News Extra Extra

BALI announces 2013 award winners 46 BALI members out of over 130 entries received have won awards in this year’s prestigious BALI National Landscape Awards in association with Horticulture Week and headline sponsor Rigby Taylor. However, not until the awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London on Friday 6 December will they know who has won a Principal Award, Special Award or the coveted Grand Award, and tickets for the ceremony are going fast. Visit www.baliawards.co.uk.

The following BALI members are BALI 2013 National Landscape Award Winners: Domestic Garden Construction – Construction cost under £30K

Soft Landscaping Construction – Construction cost under £300K

Community and Schools Development

• Northumbrian Landscaping • The Garden Company • The Land Design Partnership

• Greenmantle T/A The Master Gardeners • In-Ex Landscapes • Land Engineering (Scotland)

• Bartholomew Landscaping • Baylis Landscape Contractors • Horticultural Services by Sodexo • In-Ex Landscapes • Wycliffe Landscapes

Domestic Garden Construction – Construction cost between £30K – £60K

• Axholme Landscapes • Graduate Gardeners • Landscaping Solutions • The Outdoor Room Domestic Garden Construction – Construction cost between £60K – £100K

• Bartholomew Landscaping (above right) • Hambrook Landscapes • The Outdoor Room Domestic Garden Construction – Construction cost between £100K – £250K

Soft Landscaping Construction – Construction cost between £300K – £1.5 million

• Blakedown Landscapes (SE) • Frosts Landscape Construction Soft Landscaping Construction – Construction cost over £1.5 million

• In-Ex Landscapes • The Landscape Group Hard Landscaping Construction – Construction cost under £300K

• Blakedown Landscapes (Operations) • Blakedown Landscapes (SE) • In-Ex Landscapes • Total Protection (GB)

• Bartholomew Landscaping Domestic Garden Construction – Construction cost over £250K

• Blakedown Landscapes (SE) (below) • Gavin Jones • PC Landscapes

Hard Landscaping Construction – Construction cost between £300K – £1.5 million

• Frosts Landscape Construction • Ground Control • In-Ex Landscapes • The Landscape Group

Interior Landscape – Maintenance

• Urban Planters Green Roof Installations and Roof Gardens

• Frosts Landscape Construction International Award

Restoration and Regeneration Scheme

• Blakedown Landscapes (Operations) • Gavin Jones • In-Ex Landscapes • Land Engineering (Scotland) • P. Casey (Land Reclamation) • The Landscape Group

• Beijing Tsinghua Tongheng Planning & Design Institute • International Greenview Landscape Design Design Excellence Award – Overall scheme under £50K

• Christine Whatley. Sylvan Studio • Jonathan Uglow. Nicholsons Grounds Maintenance – Domestic • Patricia Fox. Aralia Garden Design or Commercial – Total contract under £50k

• Greenmantle • Frosts Landscape Construction • The Landscape Group • Quadron Services Grounds Maintenance - Domestic or Commercial – Total contract over £50k

• Integritas Landscapes • MITIE Landscapes • Quadron Services • The Landscape Group

Design Excellence Award – Overall scheme over £50K

• Adam White. Davies White • Christine Facer Hoffman.

Facerhoffman Landscape Design • Helen Elks-Smith. Elks-Smith Garden Design Affiliate Exceptional Service

• Green-tech • Landscapeplus • Natural Paving Products (UK) • OnSite Training UK • Penarth Management

Sports Ground Installation

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

BALI award winners.indd 13

Hard Landscaping Construction – Construction cost over £1.5 million

• Souters Sports

• In-Ex Landscapes • Land Engineering (Scotland) • The Landscape Group

• Frosts Landscape Construction • Indoor Garden Design • MITIE Landscapes

Interior Landscape – Installation

Employer of the Year

• ISS Facility Services Landscaping • John O’Conner (Grounds Maintenance) • Quadron Services • The Landscape Group October 2013

13

17/09/2013 10:53

Association Association News

NEWS

What makes a great garden designer? What inspires them and how did they find their voice as designers? These and many more questions will be debated at the SGD Autumn Conference on Saturday 16 November.

Under the title The Source, the conference will bring together some of the UK’s most talented garden and landscape designers including Jinny Blom, Andy Sturgeon FSGD, Brita von Schoenaich, Debbie Roberts MSGD and Ian Smith MSGD.The panel will explain why they chose to become designers and what continues to inspire them in their working life, sharing the guiding principles that form their design philosophies and approach to the business of being a garden designer.

The speakers: Jinny Blom: Jinny designs and creates gardens founded on the belief that

SGD bulletin SGD Autumn Conference: The Source Garden by Acres Wild

it is a gradual, thoughtful process.

She is interested in the relationship between health, well-being and landscapes, and her work combines beautiful craftsmanship with intelligent planting. www.jinnyblom.com Debbie Roberts, MSGD and Ian Smith, MSGD: Trained as landscape architects, Debbie and Ian chose to concentrate on the more intimate discipline of garden design, with its emphasis on close collaboration with individual clients. Integrating the house into the garden and the garden into the surrounding landscape by the use of appropriate plants and materials, lies at the heart of their design philosophy. www.acreswild.co.uk

Andy Sturgeon, FSGD: Combining traditional materials and contemporary styling, Andy Sturgeon’s garden designs are widely admired for their timeless architectural qualities, innovative planting and sculptural characteristics. He is a multiaward winning designer whose commissions include rooftop gardens, public spaces and country estates throughout the UK, Asia, Russia, Europe and the Middle East. www.andysturgeon.com Brita von Schoenaich: Brita studied landscape design in Germany after training as a gardener. In 1984 she completed studies at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, then took a degree in landscape

Garden by Andy Sturgeon

architecture in the UK. Her approach to design is intuitive, responding to architecture as well as surroundings. Her work promoting pioneering planting concepts has been widely published. www.schoenaich.co.uk With the day chaired by author, broadcaster and designer James Alexander-Sinclair, it promises to be an event to remember.

SGD conferences are an excellent networking opportunity and the chance to meet sponsors and exhibitors and find out about specialist products and services. Early booking is strongly recommended. www.sgd.org.uk

APL update Seal the Deal at the autumn APL Networking Seminar Landscapers are invited to top up their sales and marketing skills at the next APL Networking Seminar at Provender Nurseries, Kent on Wednesday 23 October 2013. The event will focus on successful sales and marketing tools for

14

October 2013

Association News.indd 14

The Association of

Professional Landscapers

landscapers with tips and guidance on marketing techniques, landscape awards, social media and mobile technology all up for grabs.

Those looking to enhance their business promotion and increase

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

17/09/2013 11:08

Association News

BALI briefing Members come together at SALTEX Members were out in force for this year’s BALI National AGM at SALTEX, with over 50 people attending. By way of a brief overview of the meeting, members heard that 2013 has seen membership fees being targeted at delivering direct member benefits, including the recruiting of a Technical Officer and two membership support staff, and on building market presence for long term gain through participation in trade exhibitions and publicfacing shows and events. BALI members have renewed their membership promptly this year and the ‘churn’ rate has reduced dramatically. Applications are rising as clients increasingly stipulate BALI membership in their tender PQQs. The benefits from BALI’s membership of the European Landscape Contractors Association (ELCA) and the All Party

sales will be treated to a programme of inspirational case studies and tangible success stories from APL members, providing landscapers and designers with a variety of tools, techniques and expert advice to take away and apply to their businesses.

Speakers include: Bulent Osman, Managing Director, The App Garden will

Parliamentary Gardening and Horticulture Group (APPGHG) are not always immediately apparent to members. Board Director Neil Huck, BALI’s ELCA representative and an ELCA director, spoke of the organisation’s tireless lobbying in Brussels to limit the impact of EU directives.

If left unchallenged, these would result in the UK landscape industry having to meet unworkable and potentially hugely damaging imposed regulations across a

number of operational spheres e.g. use of pesticides.

Equally, as a member of the APPGHG, BALI is able to lobby the UK government directly on issues such as industry skills shortages, as happened this summer when Wayne Grills and other industry leaders met with Environment Secretary the Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP. We congratulate Jodie Read of Penarth Management and Nigel Coultas of Hedges Direct who were elected to the BALI Board.

Both Jodie and Nigel are Affiliate members and active regionally (Jodie is Chair of BALI’s Wales Region and Nigel was, until recently,

2

demonstrate how his products help businesses utilise mobile marketing as a tool to promote sales, increase customer engagement and grow brand awareness within the industry.

Justin Paxman, Paxman Landscapes will share his success story detailing how the company overhauled their social media strategy by utilising

1 Wayne Grills addresses BALI members at the AGM

2

2 BALI members at the AGM

sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to transform their sales figures.

and the marketing methods used to take advantage of increased publicity.

APL member Richard Wanless, Twigs and Neville Stein, Managing Director Ovation Business Consultants Limited and APL Inspector, will discuss the sales and marketing techniques available to landscapers and provide inspiration to take away and ensure they seal the deal!

The evening event will run from 4pm-7.45pm and will include buffet and refreshments along with plenty of time for landscapers to get together, network and discuss the issues and topics raised.

Places at this event cost just £15 + VAT for members and £30 + VAT for non-member. Visit www.landscaper.org.uk to book your places today and make sure you seal the deal!

Steve Moody, Frogheath Landscapes will discuss the benefits of entering and winning awards

October 2013

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Association News.indd 15

Chair of a very buoyant Yorkshire and North East Region).

The AGM was followed by lunch and an open meeting of BALI-NCF – a partnership between BALI and the National Contractors Forum, which comprises some of the largest grounds maintenance and landscape contractors working in the public and commercial sector.

1 Chairman Bob Ivison was joined by Grant Stark, Policy Advisor for the Chemical Regulation Directorate of the HSE, and Tina Benfield, Senior Technical Advisor to the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM), who gave presentations on the regulations for the safe use of pesticides, and the Landfill Directive (biodegradable waste) respectively. The next BALINCF meeting will take place at FutureScape in November. Email ncf@bali.org.uk or call Bob Ivison on 07908 806 754.

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1 Mast MSG Desig

2 Illus MSG 15

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17/09/2013 13/08/2013 11:17 09:21

Opinion

View from the Top Is it fair to rely on colleges to provide the exact training our businesses require, or do we need to take it upon ourselves to educate and better support the aspirations of individuals? Asks Phil Jones

Recent reports in the horticultural press talk about the drastic reduction in take-up for courses at horticultural colleges, especially concerning mature students, which was attributed to Government cuts in the funding for those aged over 24 years. The effect of the Government cuts has apparently been to force colleges to increase course fees, in some cases by 50 per cent or even 75 per cent. There are loans available but it appears mature students are reluctant to take on such a liability.

As a business leader, I am constantly frustrated by the cries from a number of organisations that this or that funding scheme is unfair or the fact that there is little take up for a course because the Government has changed the rules. This prompted me into thinking that it is easy to focus on the trials and tribulations of colleges and other learning institutions and miss the real reason for training people, whatever stage they are at in their life or career. I believe the fundamental aim of education is to capture the imagination and motivation of the individual and provide the correct environment and technical skills to support their aspirations.

My belief is that we as an industry and indeed the wider education sector look at this from the wrong angle. The start point for me is the overriding feeling that, while we continue to measure our education success by the number of seats we fill in our colleges and/or the break-even point of those colleges in their finances, we fail the very people who could fill those seats.

I remember saying in my presentation to the Green Skills seminar two years ago that training should be linked to the development of an individual and not to the survival of the colleges.

That a college should survive should be subject to the same criteria and measurement as any www.prolandscapermagazine.com

View from the top.indd 17

business. If any business fails to offer the right product or service in the right package to suit its client base, it would expect to fail.

If a young (or not so young) person has a burning desire to launch themselves into a career within horticulture, the least we can all do is provide the right vehicle to assist.

I believe the fundamental aim of education is to capture the imagination and motivation of the individual and provide the correct environment and technical skills to support their aspirations My solution has been to identify that, after many years of failing to get the right people via the horticultural education system, we cannot rely on getting what we want from colleges.

The products of these establishments just aren’t the right package for entry into our business i.e. tailored to meet our specific business needs.

This is not so much a failing of the educational establishments, more an impossible task.

Two years ago ISS launched its own in-house bespoke grounds maintenance practical skills programme for its employees. That was followed this year by the Technical Skills programme which developed those people with the initial skills, aptitude and potential and provided even more structure for future development. I eventually came to the conclusion that this isn’t something that can be provided for the industry, and that it was incumbent on us all to provide necessary

guidance and training. Such a tailored approach cannot be delivered by formal education.

Not all businesses can afford to invest in education and skills training to the extent that others can. It is, however, the responsibility of us all to ensure we train people, not just for our own business purposes, but also for the future good of the industry.Yes, I do mean what I say, that we should be able to see the bigger picture, to put aside our individual requirements and restrictions if the need dictates, and to engage employees and industry entrants to the extent that they are excited by and can believe in a long term career.

ABOUT PHIL JONES Phil Jones is Managing Director of ISS Facility Services Landscaping and is based at the company’s head office in Woking, Surrey. He gained an HND in landscape construction and moved into grounds maintenance early on in his career, further gaining an MBA. He has been with the company since 1987 and as well as running the landscaping business he also sits on the UK operational management board of ISS Facility Services. www.isslandscaping.co.uk Follow Phil Jones @philjonesISS Follow ISS Landscaping @ISSLandscaping

October 2013

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17/09/2013 11:09

Business OpinionTips

Planting – what price?

Andrew Wilson explores the difference between planting and planting design

acknowledged. It is entirely appropriate to select No matter how hard I try I just can’t seem to get plant species to satisfy these needs but planting the positive message of planting design across to design at its best is an art form that creates spaces those who are not planting designers. We recently of distinction, drama and delight. Movement, light had a client asking us to knock up a quick planting play, textural and colour composition make it a design for free for a prestigious scheme of his (he’s special form of sculptural manipulation and one an architect). Other clients expect this service at that changes and develops over time and through either a knock down price or somehow for no the seasons. Few disciplines share these particular cost at all. qualities and few are as taxing or time consuming.

Add to this the general surprise when My students are maintenance costs for introduced to planting planting come in at Planting design at its best design as the loss leader more than a few quid of garden design – not in a week – and this from is an art form that creates any negative way but to well heeled and well spaces of distinction, prepare them for the educated clients who drama and delight difficulty in earning money should know better – from this endeavour. If we and it seems clear that were to charge our clients the real cost of plants and planting design count for little. planting design, reflecting the time input alone, It would be easy to fill our design schemes most would laugh in our faces.The combination of with such delights as Prunus lauroceracus, Berberis practical horticultural knowledge with an almost thunbergii or Photinia ‘Red Robin’ but gardens are infinite array of options makes this a complex dramatically different from public realm planting. decision making process, whether the result is I don’t have anything against any of these species but their repetition ad nauseam across the country diverse or minimalistic in terms of the final selection. Our rates for planting design time are means death by connotation for any garden often therefore adjusted downwards for our planting scheme.

Planting is not simply a fill material that occupies clients’ benefit in order to make the process workable for all. Although a business necessity, this space, although its functional use as a decorative in itself is a questionable process – how many weed suppressant or screening material must be

Hazel coppice under planted with Gallium, Deschampsia, Dryopteris and Digitalis (Wilson McWilliam Studio)

other professions do this?

So why are we undervalued as planting designers and why is planting seen as a cheap and easy option? Well perhaps because plants remain one of the cheapest of the landscape materials we have at our disposal.The fact that they grow into a much more sizeable, meaningful and rewarding investment is possibly something we should share more with our clients. In the process we must extol the virtues of those who maintain planting well as skilled and knowledgeable experts rather than cheap labour.The presence in the marketplace of hobby planting designers who do not have to earn a living wage is also a major consideration.

We must convince fellow professionals – architects, interior designers, quantity surveyors – of the inherent value in planting design and the work we do in specifying the best choices.Their role is not simply one of recommendation but also one of understanding that can help to influence our clients more positively. In a world in which sustainable practices are now seen as essential and where bio-diversity and habitat protection are key considerations we as a profession should be able to make our case more effectively than ever. What makes our planting so special and how do we sell that to our clients? Answers on a postcard please.

ABOUT ANDREW WILSON

Salvia ‘Caradonna’ profiled against a soft mist of Stipa and Eryngium (Wilson McWilliam Studio)

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October 2013

Andrew Wilson.indd 18

Andrew Wilson is a landscape and garden designer as well as Director of Wilson McWilliam Studio. He is also a Director of the London College of Garden Design, an author and an RHS judge of Show Gardens. www.wmstudio.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/09/2013 16:17

spiTOpinion ssenisuB

What is a meadow?

You will have heard more than enough lately about meadows, but then, so have I and much of what I have heard has annoyed me. Unlike other gardeners – who we know are cheerful, jolly souls who sing as they go about tweeking and weeding before frolicking energetically amongst thousands of happy bees and butterflies in their...er...meadows – I tend to get annoyed about things.

So what could possibly be annoying about such bucolic visions of happiness? The term ‘meadow’ perhaps? I have nothing against new uses of old words; that’s the way language goes; but the uses of the word ‘meadow’ have now become a source of total confusion and perhaps may even bring damage in their train. Let’s consider the Collins English Dictionary definition: 1. An area of grassland, often used for hay or for grazing of animals, 2. A low lying piece of grassland, often boggy and near a river.

So – a field. When people ask me what was here at Veddw when we arrived I have had a bad tendency to say ‘it was just two fields’. I do know better now and I think I might hesitate a little more if I were ever faced with the possibility of making a garden from two fields again.They were actually old grassland, and I believe had been unploughed since the Napoleonic era had briefly made every acre essential for crops. It had recently been maintained by grazing.

Still, believing that every garden needs some open space and change of pace, we have kept www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Anne Wareham.indd 19

some of this old pasture, and after some time of cutting the grass and removing it every year to reduce the fertility which grazing had increased, we have what you might accurately call meadows. Sometimes referred to, somewhat misleadingly, as ‘wildflower’ meadows – they do have a large proportion of wildflowers but also a great many fine and beautiful grasses.

The uses of the word ‘meadow’ have now become a source of total confusion and perhaps may even bring damage in their train It’s not at all like a mass of colourful annuals.

Or even a mix of colourful perennials. Which is increasingly what the general public is beginning to believe a meadow is. The weeds of arable fields, without any crop at all, have quite captured the popular imagination and areas of varying sizes are being cleared, at considerable effort, in order to sow the seeds. I tried this some years ago and discovered that growing weeds is harder than you’d think. Imitating the action of a plough makes you realise why the plough was invented, and the way the birds feast on the seed tells you why they used to send small boys out as bird scarers. I also understand that even successful ‘annual meadows’ may deteriorate after two or three years for reasons that are poorly understood.

But quite apart from all that, it is highly regrettable to destroy old meadows or pastures

unnecessarily.They are a valuable, species rich part of our ecology and history and we have lost an estimated 97 per cent since the last war.

They merit and need careful and informed maintenance where they still exist. I know of meadows being destroyed to make a ‘flower meadow’ with sowings of annual seeds, or where someone nearly destroyed their ancient meadow to create a ‘Transylvanian meadow’.

People strip off the existing vegetation in order to lower fertility quickly and tree planting is also seen as wonderfully worthy – while being potentially destructive.

We can’t police this or the language and most of these meadows have no official protection or recognition. But we can realise their value, communicate that where possible, and be clearer ourselves about what we mean by a ‘meadow’.

ABOUT ANNE WAREHAM Anne Wareham’s book, The Bad Tempered Gardener is the story of the creation with her husband, Charles Hawes, of their garden in the Welsh borders, the Veddw. Anne also writes for the Telegraph, garden magazines and her own blog on the Veddw website, www.veddw.com. She is editor of www.thinkingardens.co.uk.

October 2013

Photographs ©Anne Wareham

Anne Wareham resolves what is meant by the term ‘meadow’, and why real meadows are so valuable

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17/09/2013 11:13

...

D E S S I M E B O T T O N

@FutureScapeUK Thanks for a well thought out and enjoyable event with good stands and interesting seminars!

Visitor feedback

@FutureScapeUK Amazing day. Will book again for sure. If you didn’t make it you missed out.

Exhibitor feedback

Big thanks to all the #ProLandscaper team for a great day at @FutureScapeUK. Fantastic atmosphere, smiles all round.

Really easy to get to, good range of exhibits, quality exhibitors, interesting and innovative.

Visitor feedback

Exhibitor feedback

@ProLandscaperJW @FutureScapeUK Thanks to all team, speakers and attendees for making the event a really great success, sign me up for 2013

Had a great time at #FutureScape yesterday. #ProLandscaper did a fantastic job in organising the event.

Visitor feedback

Visitor feedback

ONE DAY. ONE INDUSTRY. ONE EVENT. WWW.FUTURESCAPEEVENT.COM JulyFuturescape spread full page.indd 70

20/09/2013 13:58

ConďŹ rmed Exhibitors and Sponsors 2013

Proudly supported by the industry’s leading associations The Association of

Professional Landscapers

Tuesday 19 November 2013

at Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury on Thames TW16 5AQ For more information please contact Jamie Wilkinson on 01903 234 077

JulyFuturescape spread full page.indd 71

18/09/2013 16:24

Amenity

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Visit www.vitaxamenity.co.uk for full details.

18/09/2013 09:32

Opinion

Prevention is better than cure Machines need basic maintenance to perform well, watch for the signs that there’s something wrong and act on them before it’s too late, says Angus Lindsay

At last we’ve had what I’d call “a proper summer” albeit with a cold spring, so at least there was a gradual start to the grass cutting season – let’s hope for the same in 2014. This season has however not been without its problems, some of which, frustratingly, stem from a failure to carry out basic preventative maintenance. This results in expensive and avoidable machine failures – ironic when you consider that what we do is maintenance based.

The general definition of preventative maintenance is as follows: The care and servicing by personnel for the purpose of maintaining equipment and facilities in satisfactory operating condition by providing for systematic inspection, detection, and correction of incipient failures either before they occur or before they develop into major defects. Put in layman’s terms: making sure machines have the necessary fluids, lubricants, airflow, protection and are in a fit state to operate before being put to work – much like the person operating them.

Manufacturers are moving towards reduced maintenance systems and smart technology (such as maintenance free bearings and engine management systems) that tell us when servicing is due and protect expensive components by shutting systems down when there is a problem.

But this means that we seem to have forgotten the basics! Machines still need to be inspected prior to being put to work, radiators need to be cleaned, oil levels need to be checked, bearings need to be greased, air filters need to be blown out, all to avoid catastrophic and costly mechanical failures.

Machines are not that different to humans when it comes to their basic needs. All need fuel, fresh air, protection, warming up, flexibility in joints and muscles in order to remain active.

Simple basic body maintenance – if we don’t look after ourselves we become ill. So what makes us think that we can jump on a machine on a Monday morning, start it up on full throttle, fill it with diesel and expect it to cut grass for eight hours, five days a week (with perhaps a www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Angus Lindsay.indd 23

15 minute introduction to a grease gun air line and if it’s lucky a pressure washer) and for it not to complain? We expect these machines to work like this without breaking down – I think not. If we treated our bodies this way we’d all look like Keith Richards (sorry Keith), come to think of it, he’s still going strong which somewhat defeats my argument, but at what cost?

There could be something wrong

Machines are not that different to humans when it comes to their basic needs Whilst technology is moving in the right direction by making things easier and more efficient, there is still a basic need to look after machinery and to not assume that things will continue to operate unaided. There is no such thing as a maintenance free machine; from a trowel to a tractor, everything needs a certain amount of looking after. The warnings are always there but are usually noted too late when the damage has been done. That rumbling bearing, reduction in power, or strange burning smell can lead to failures that could be avoided if investigated early. Spending a bit more time at the start of the day checking those ‘insignificant leaks’ can help you to avoid a more catastrophic failure. The same is true of ourselves, the warnings are there and normally we tend to act on anything out of the ordinary. The machine unfortunately needs a bit of help, it only makes a noise (usually an expensive one) when it’s too late.

Second obvious warning

Third even more obvious warning

The inevitable and costly outcome!

ABOUT ANGUS LINDSAY As an agriculturist, Angus spent several years working on arable farms in Scotland before joining VSO in Egypt, implementing a mechanisation programme, managing field operations for a commercial cotton plantation in Nigeria and as a contract instructor for Massey Ferguson in Yemen. During this time he

also spent a year at Silsoe, gaining an MSc in Agricultural Engineering and Mechanisation Management. Returning to the UK he joined Glendale as machinery manager in l994 – going on to become Company Engineer – before joining The Landscape Group in 2009 as Group Head of Assets and Fleet.

Contact: alindsay@thelandscapegroup.co.uk

October 2013

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17/09/2013 13:09

Business Tips

The impact of

‘labour only’ contracting Following a seminar given by Mark Gregory last month, Sam Hassall takes a closer look at what was presented

Mark discussed the trend for design professionals to employ professional landscapers as labour agencies. This is where the designer supplies much of the material or specialist sub-contract items to the project. Landscapers have to accept this status-quo if they choose to work with design professionals who employ this methodology.

1

PRICING VARIATIONS

In brief the system works like this: The landscaper prices the work with the express knowledge that much of the material supply will be supplied by the designer. This gives the designer the opportunity to increase his or her revenue but often at the expense of the landscaper’s profit.

How a landscaper makes his living: When a landscape contractor prices a project, he prices it using the four basic resource groups which make up the components of his job. These are materials, labour, plant, and sub-contractor; on to these resource types he then adds his overhead and profit, which he requires to manage the project, sustain his business, feed his family, and of course cover risk.

Let’s look at a typical and traditional domestic job. This is an actual mixed hard and soft project in the midlands.

The contractor tendered and won this work based on a design by a good designer. The contractor priced the job and found that this job would COST him the following to do.

Table 1

The job will take 235 man days whether the materials are supplied by the designer or by the contractor Cost

Job mark-up %

Profit £

Materials

42,000.00

25

10,500.00

52,500.00

Labour

36,000.00

25

9,000.00

45,000.00

Sell

Plant

4,500.00

25

1,125.00

5,625.00

Sub-Cont.

17,500.00

15

4,375.00

21,875.00

TOTAL

100,000.00

25,000.00

125,000.00

This is the profit breakdown worked out by dividing the total profit by the amount of man days

Cost per man day (36,000/235)

153.19

TOTAL profit per man day (25,000/235)

106.38

Cost + profit per man day Labour + profit = 36,000 + 25,000

259.57 61,000.00

The works would cost the contractor £100,000.00 based on the figures in Table 1.

Onto this the contractor would add his mark-up and the profit he would hope to make from the work with all the risk involved. At the end of the day the contractor hoped to make a total of £ 25,000.00 on the job if all went to plan.

Additionally the contractor’s LiberRATE estimating system returned a total of 235 man days on this job. Therefore profit (25,000.00) / man days (235) = £106.38 profit per man day, which is reasonable and even good if nothing untoward happens during the works.

Remember part of your profit must cover RISK. Note: The sub-contractor items are marked up at a slightly lower rate as these are specialists supplying lighting, irrigation and fencing. Most contractors would mark these up at a slightly lower rate.

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October 2013

Sam Hassall October.indd 24

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

17/09/2013 13:11

Business Tips

2

Table 2

Designer supplied resources

Revised contract with materials supplied by the designer

It is now a common scenario that the designer will supply much of the resourcing. Let’s assume that in this job the designer supplies the stone, the plants, the lighting and irrigation, and the specialist timber work and he makes the margins on these resources that the contractor would normally make.

The likely scenario now looks like this: The contractor still has the exact same amount of labour to fix the materials supplied by the designer but instead of making £106.38 profit per man day he now only has £69.71 per man day. Total difference in profit is £8,242.68, which the contractor has to make up.

So how do you compensate?

Any contractor who wants to survive must increase his labour rate on jobs like this to make up the difference. The calculation is shown in the tables on the right:-

He is losing £8,625.00 which he needs to sustain his business. So how does he make this up? The contractor is making £35 less per man per day, or if it’s a three man team £105 less per day on his project. The contractor must recover his cost of labour, and his anticipated profit on all resource types. One suggestion is to increase his labour rate for jobs where he is not supplying the materials or sub-contract items that he would normally be supplying. The calculation would be as follows:Original labour cost with profit

45,000.00

Loss of profit added back in

16,000.00

Revised labour cost

61,000.00

Original cost + profit rate restored per day

Materials

20,000.00

25.00

5,000.00

25,000.00

Labour

36,000.00

25.00

9,000.00

45,000.00

Plant

4,500.00

25.00

1,125.00

5,625.00

Sub-Cont.

5,000.00

15.00

1,250.00

6,250.00

TOTAL

65,500.00

16,375.00

81,875.00

Cost per man day (36,000/235)

153.19

Profit per man day (16,375/235)

69.68

Cost + profit per man day

222.87

Remember part of your profit must cover RISK The analyses performed within this article are only examples – readers are therefore responsible for the accuracy of their final calculations

259.57

The final job totals, as should be tendered or priced by a contractor who is supplying his labour only, should look as follows:Contract as per original contractor value (incl. profits)

£125,000.00

Contract as labour only cost

£81,875.00

Materials and profit supplied by the designer

£4,3125

Loss of profit added back in by the contractor

£15,998.95

Final job total paid by the client

£140,998.95

So now the status of the job is restored and everyone is happy.

Everyone but the client maybe?

ABOUT sam hassall Sam Hassall is the UK’s only dedicated specialist landscape cost consultant. As the managing director of LandPro Ltd he provides cost and implementation information to landscape design professionals and landscape contractors. Sam also compiles the Spon’s External Works and Landscape Price Book and he developed the market leading LiberRATE Estimating system which is available as a 90-day trial.Call: 01252 795030 or visit www.landpro.co.uk

October 2013

Sam Hassall October.indd 25

25

17/09/2013 13:13

Business Tips

LISS/CSCS grandfather rights set to end this month The final countdown has begun for companies who want to obtain their LISS/CSCS cards before the grandfather rights end.

Since May 2011, anyone working on the highways has needed to obtain a LISS/CSCS card in order to comply with the requirements of National Highways Agency Sector Scheme 18 For the Environment and Landscape including Ecology (NHSS18).

As well as those companies obtaining LISS/CSCS cards for their staff in order to comply with NHSS18, a large number of companies have recognised the benefits of being able to demonstrate that staff have received training relevant to the industry sector.

Until 31 October 2013 it is still possible to obtain LISS/CSCS via the industry accreditation (or “grandfather rights”) route, provided that staff have undertaken and passed the Register of Landbased Operatives (ROLO) course and have successfully completed a CSCS touchscreen test appropriate to their grade. Managers

have been able to sign off staff as being competent in those areas. After that date however, it will be necessary to provide alternative evidence of competence by undertaking a relevant NVQ or diploma, which is likely to increase the cost of obtaining a LISS/CSCS card per learner by an estimated £1,500 to £2,500.

Demand is high, with many companies seemingly leaving it until the last possible moment to obtain their cards There is still time to undertake the ROLO course. For details of BALI approved training providers see www.bali.org.uk/ images/pages/quality_assurance_rolo_ faq/1367327628ROLO_Training_ Providers_May_2013.pdf, but demand is high, with many companies seemingly leaving it until the last possible moment to obtain their cards.

CSCS touchscreen tests can be undertaken at Test Centres around the UK. See www.citb.co.uk/Cards-testing/ Health-Safety-environment-test/bookingtest/ for details of how to book the tests.

Don’t forget...

Deadline: 31 October 2013 To obtain LISS/CSCS via the industry accreditation – “grandfather rights” – route

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Staff must: ● Have undertaken and passed the ROLO course ● Have completed a CSCS touch screen test

ABOUT JODIE READ Jodie Read is the Managing Director of Penarth Management Limited; a company which specialises in helping to make business become better, greener and safer through the provision compliance consultancy and training for quality, environmental, health and safety management. She and her colleagues assist companies to implement and maintain management systems, such as ISO9001 (Quality), ISO14001 (Environmental) or OHSAS18001 (Health and Safety). The company is an affiliate member of the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) and Jodie is one of only a few approved ROLO health and safety trainers in the country. Jodie is BALI’s regional chair for Wales and has been newly elected to the national Board of Directors. If readers have any queries regarding ROLO or LISS/CSCS they are welcome to contact Jodie via e-mail: jodie@penarth.co.uk or by telephone on 029 2070 3328.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

17/09/2013 13:15

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20/09/2013 14:15

Business Tips

Work related stress Part 2 “The adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them”

Last month Margaret McNeil from OnSite Training looked at how you can recognise when you are suffering from stress and how to deal with it.

This month she turns to your team and their stress In last month’s article I listed possible signs of stress. It’s worth looking at that again to remind yourself of the behaviour that could indicate that a member of your team is unwell. I also urged you not to think of yourself as ‘weak’ if you feel stressed. Now I am urging you to treat your team in the same way.

As a supervisor, you need to be aware of the behaviour, actions, interactions and comments of all your staff. This means listening, asking questions, and observing are all part of your role. By spending a few minutes on a regular basis with each of the team, you might be able to spot a problem early and nip it in the bud.You should know a bit about what is happening in their lives outside work – this can help you build a picture of any ‘problems’ they might be dealing with at home which might be having an impact on them in the workplace.

As a supervisor, you need to be aware of the behaviour, actions, interactions and comments of all your staff The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) agrees: ● Line managers play a critical role in specifying task and job requirements and allocating individual job roles for those in their immediate team.This is a key part of job design, so your actions and behaviour could have a very important impact on the quality of working life of your team. ● You play a pivotal role in communicating – for example, about change – fostering both ‘upward’ and ‘downward’ communication flows.

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● You are critical in ensuring interventions specified in action planning are promptly and properly implemented. ● Line manager self-awareness and knowledge about the make-up of team members is critical to the success of team interaction and performance – you can play to people’s strengths and preferences. ● You will often be the first port of call for employees with problems.

You can also encourage your team members to give you feedback on new work practices, changes to the working environment etc. So what are the additional key indicators that you and your organisation are not contributing to the stress felt by your team?

HSE has identified six factors that can lead to work related stress if they are not managed properly:

● Demands: Are employees able to cope with the demands of their jobs? ● Control: Are employees able to have a say about the way they do their work? ● Support: Do employees receive adequate information and support from their colleagues and superiors? ● Relationships: Do employees indicate that they are not subjected to unacceptable behaviours, e.g. bullying at work? ● Role: Do employees understand their role and responsibilities? ● Change: Employees are engaged when undergoing an organisational change.

It is important to understand each of the six factors and how they are related to each other, as this can influence the amount of stress an individual experiences: ● A person can reduce the impact of high demands if they have high control over their work. ● The impact of high demands and low control can be reduced by having high levels of support, either from colleagues or from you as a manager. ● Relationships can be one of the biggest sources of stress, especially where there are problems like bullying and harassment. ● Problems with employee roles are probably the easier problems to solve. ● Change does not have to be at an organisational level to have an impact on individuals or teams, for example, changes in team members, line managers or the type of work or technology used by the team can be just as stressful.

Think about it. Are you sure about the ‘six factors’ in your organisation?

ABOUT MARGARET MCNEIL Margaret McNeil is from OnSite Training UK. Whilst lecturing at a horticultural college, she spotted an opportunity to offer flexible learning to horticulturalists and started OnSite Training UK with Roger Clarke.

Since then over 1,000 landscapers have qualified through them. Their Lamport Gardening Academy launched on 2 February 2013. www.onsitetraininguk.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/09/2013 13:36

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Business Tips

Standardising water use in landscaping Summer seems to be over and there has not been a repeat of last year’s hosepipe bans. So now is a good time to talk about them without causing too much angst.

Jacob Tompkins of Waterwise UK reports

Firstly, the term ‘hosepipe ban’ isn’t really correct, it’s the one that the media use and we all understand but it’s actually a ‘temporary use ban’. For the purposes of this article I will call them hosepipe bans.

So let’s look at what these bans are, who imposes them, what their legal basis is, what are the consequences of breaking them, why they occur, how often they occur, how it will impact on your business, and what you can do.

Hosepipe bans are quite rare, normally no more often than once every five years and only in part of the country, and some areas never have them as some local water companies have policies to never implement them. Water companies all have detailed drought plans to activate in response to short term water stress, these plans have triggers which lead to certain actions.The triggers are normally physical indicators such as a reservoir dropping to a certain level but could be the outputs of more complex algorithms linking demand and supply in certain water supply zones.These triggers lead to actions such as increased media activity or switching supplies. As a drought gets more severe, water companies may need to apply for increased abstraction from rivers or underground supplies, this increased abstraction is normally linked to environmental damage and needs regulatory approval, and before applying, companies need to show that they have taken action to reduce demand. In most cases these include www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Waterwise.indd 31

temporary use bans such as hosepipe bans.

These drought actions and the framework for temporary use bans are laid out in legislation, and water companies have a regulatory role and, unusually for private companies, have legal powers to enforce the bans.

The bans normally cover what is described as discretionary use, which in effect is outdoor

The industry is in a strange position as it generally uses the client’s domestic supply which means that it is caught under the domestic discretionary use bans domestic use.There are lots of different levels of ban and also a wide range of exemptions or exceptions. During the last drought, the seven water companies tried to coordinate more in order to avoid previous confusions, standardising their exemptions and applying and lifting bans at the same time. Since then there has been more work by the water industry to try and standardise the process further, with a single set of rules.There are still problems with regulations that are now arcane, in the 1950s it was fairly clear that you were banning the use of a hose or ‘flexible conduit’, but that flexible conduit definition now covers technology such as trickle irrigation which now needs a separate exception and there is other technology which means a flexible conduit can often be one of the most efficient ways to water.

So what does this mean for the landscape industry? The industry is in a strange position as it generally uses the client’s domestic supply, which means that it is caught under the domestic discretionary use bans. Any enforcement of bans

would be likely to fall on the client, if you are using a hose during a ban in a ban area then it would be your client who could be prosecuted (but in reality no one has ever been prosecuted – just sent several warnings until they comply); this wouldn’t result in a happy client.The best way to protect your business and your clients from bans and restrictions is to design gardens and landscapes that require as little mains water as possible and then to talk to the water company as early as possible during a dry spell to explain what you are doing and how you are water efficient and then see if you can get an exemption from any potential ban or get access to non-potable water supplies. And finally there is a new qualification being developed by the water industry and the horticultural industry which will lead to a water efficiency certificate and whilst this won’t exempt you from a ban it will put you at the front of the queue to be considered for exemption.

ABOUT WATERWISE Waterwise is a UK NGO focused on decreasing water consumption in the UK and building the evidence base for large-scale water efficiency. Waterwise is an independent, not-for-profit organisation working closely with the water industry, governments and regulators, manufacturers and retailers. Waterwise is acknowledged by governments and regulators as the leading UK authority on water efficiency. www.waterwise.org.uk Jacob Tompkins is the Managing Director of Waterwise, the independent water efficiency organisation: jtompkins@waterwise.org.uk

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18/09/2013 13:57

Technical

The origins of hardwood decking Not all hardwood decks are the same, the density, colour, grain, length and cost will all differ tremendously. In short if your timber is full of knots with a sweeping and swirling grain the cost will be at the bottom of the pricing spectrum, although there are exceptions of course. The most expensive at hundreds per square metre is hand selected, quarter cut yacht grade teak.

Does it matter?

Of course. When selecting your timber, the timber species quality differs from country to country especially due to how it is handled, dried (with kiln or air), transported, certified and of course the price. If in doubt you can freely contact TRADA (Timber Research and Development Association) or TTF (Timber Trade Federation). I would recommend certified timber as far as practicable.

How much does hardwood cost and why?

One must consider the distance the timber has to travel from the plantation to the sawmill.There the raw materials are cut into simple planks for either storage or transportation.These simple boards of hardwood are assembled into 3m3 packs of mixed length, then packed into a container, transported to the coast, loaded onto a ship, sailed halfway around the world and then moved into a European timber importers store via container lorry.Take a breath as the timber is then kept for up to two years before shipping to another mill for profiling into decking boards before being packaged.The pack of beautiful timber is then, finally, transported to a trade outlet where the contractor, designer or landscaper says “but I want it all in the same length”.

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The majority of clients that request a hardwood deck assume that they are all the same – after all, they are all called hardwood aren’t they?

Karl Harrison explains why this is not the case

South East Asia

South America

• Ipe • Cumaru • Kurupay • Massaranduba

Africa

• Elondo

Any hardwood will do, won’t it?

In short, no.The problem with armchair specifiers is that they trawl the internet for the cheapest hardwood they can find and as it has been showcased in beautiful projects in far reaching parts of the world they assume that it is good for the UK environment.

The standard of 21mm hardwood and a set size of screws for fixing is generally assumed to be fine, but if this is used for some types of hardwood, for example Massaranduba or Yellow Balau (Bankirai), the deck will certainly buckle, twist and snap your screw heads within weeks of installation. Certain timbers need very little fixing, like teak (as long as it is Tectona Grandis, any other botanical species is not real teak); however, do understand that most timbers for decking sold in the UK are not really suitable unless you reduce the joist centres to at least 300 centres and use oversized quality stainless steel screws.

Does certification matter?

For cheap timber where the end user isn’t too bothered and as long as the timber conforms to

• Merbau • Teak Indonesia

• Teak

the EUTR (European Union Timber Regulations) then no. But if the client would prefer to have ethically and sustainable sourced timber then the answer is an absolute yes.

So what should I buy?

FSC or PEFC timber that conforms to EUTR. Try 28mm timber, the labour will be the same to install it, the stability and durability will be greatly enhanced and will certainly make for a structure fit for purpose and one your client will be happy with.

Tip of the month Use 28mm Ipe if you have the budget or rustic teak 21mm costs the same.

ABOUT KARL HARRISON Karl Harrison runs Exterior Solutions Ltd based in Buckinghamshire, with his wife Lana. The company offers expert decking advice and is the sole UK distributor for high-end timber decking manufactured by Exterpark. www.exteriordecking.co.uk www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/09/2013 14:07

Technical

Designing sustainable planting schemes Consider the conditions needed for each plant to thrive, and its maintenance needs before planting to increase sustainability, says Janine Pattison

Most landscapes and gardens contain a mixture of trees, shrubs, perennials, ground covers, climbers and bulbs and they are a vital element, which in combination with the lawn and hard landscape areas create the overall design. Much of the initial cost of a landscape is taken up by the hard landscaping but it is the lawns and planting which will consume the vast majority of the ongoing costs.Therefore in order to be sustainable the planting needs to be designed carefully.

The objectives of sustainable planting design are to create attractive, interesting areas which are able to be maintained with the minimum of labour and minimal inputs of water, fertilisers and chemicals for pest control.

A good understanding of the plants’ needs will make a huge difference. Grouping plants together which have similar watering and fertiliser needs will minimise the likelihood of wasting resources due to unnecessary inputs and the wasteful need to plant replacements. Grouping plants based on their pruning requirements will also save maintenance time and cost.

Placing the right plant in the right place during the design phase is critical to the longterm success of the scheme. A plant that is well-suited for a particular location with regard to soil conditions, light levels, natural rainfall, natural habitat and size will require significantly less maintenance than others less suited. If the designer doesn’t have a good understanding of these simple requirements the plants will be badly matched to the site and plants will struggle and/ or perish.

I’m sure we have all seen ericaceous (acidloving) plants like rhododendrons and camellias www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Janine Pattison.indd 33

that have been planted in alkaline soils – the lack of vigour and yellowing leaves are a strong indicator that the plant is in the wrong place.

Correct plant choice will mean that plants will have been selected for the space available – avoiding constant and extreme pruning which would be required if the space was inadequate.

Certain plants are slow-growing and will be better

It is the lawns and planting which will consume the vast majority of the ongoing costs choices for narrow beds or confined spaces.

Reducing unwanted growth will also help reduce the amount of waste generated.

Planting densities can be a difficult issue with the client requiring a ‘full’ effect immediately on planting rather than waiting for the plants to grow.

We try and overcome this problem by using short-term perennials or even annuals as ‘gap fillers’ so that the client is happy and the shrubs have the correct spacings for long term success.

The perennials can be lifted and relocated within the garden if required as their space becomes squeezed. Some short lived shrubs like lavender

can also be used between long-term shrubs, as they can be discarded after three to four years of growth as the gap closes. Another advantage of fairly close planting is to reduce the chance of weeds becoming established by denying them light. Remember that air circulation is vital to avoid disease, so not too close!

Proper selection of plants well suited to their environment will result in better performing planting which requires fewer inputs. However, even the best designed scheme will require some maintenance and some inputs.The challenge then is to use sustainable resources to meet their needs. Recycled or harvested rainwater instead of tap water, composted waste rather than chemical fertiliser, and an integrated pest control system not based on toxic chemicals.

The planting designer needs to understand the unique attributes of each planting area within a garden and factor them into their design before focusing on flower colour, habit and size.

I hope this series of articles has given food for thought and I welcome your feedback.

ABOUT JANINE PATTISON

Janine Pattison MSGD is a multi award-winning garden designer and horticulturalist who trained with English Heritage at Eltham Palace in London and at Kingston Maurward College in Dorchester.

A registered member of the Society of Garden Designers, the British Association of Landscape Industries and the Garden Media Guild, Janine is also a highly qualified RHS horticulturalist. www.janinepattison.com

October 2013

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18/09/2013 14:01

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18/09/2013 11:30

Let’s Hear it From...

LET’S HEAR IT FROM...

James Alexander-Sinclair James Alexander-Sinclair is an established garden and landscape designer, writer, television presenter and speaker. We met him to find out about how he combines gardening with media work Why did you become a gardener?

It was a long time ago – and it happened purely because I was unemployable in any other capacity! I know I shouldn’t say that but after wanting to do various other things which didn’t work out, I was living with my sister who was completely bored of me lying on her sofa smoking cigarettes. She asked me to ‘just go

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Let's hear it from.indd 35

and do something useful’, and suggested a bit of digging in the garden, so I had a go and found it a lot of fun. I persuaded some other people to let me have a go at their gardens and in between taught myself how to lay bricks and paving stones, put up fencing and lay turf. I did the 10 week Inchbald course right at the beginning, although sadly my attendance record was truly appalling. I then spent around six months learning from someone else and thereby became a landscaper by default. Further down the line when I got to an age where I ached too much doing the landscaping we moved out of London where I somehow evolved into a designer.

What did you think you would be after you left school?

I was going to be an actor – but also I have been a waiter, worked in a jeans shop, sold double glazing and encyclopaedias and all sorts of things. I tumbled into gardening by accident and thank goodness I did! At the same time I still get to do a bit of performing with the media work which is great.

What is the split between gardening and media work?

Most of it is gardening. There aren’t enough events to sustain doing it full time so mostly I do design work.

October 2013

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17/09/2013 14:39

Let’s Hear it From...

1

2

So what made you think you could turn your hand to designing after starting out as a landscaper?

I’ll tell you a very interesting fact – if someone asks you a question – they don’t know what the answer is so you can say what you like and, provided you say it with sufficient authority, they will believe you! I thought I would give it a shot and picked up a lot as I went along. I’ve been lucky and it has worked.

We need to keep talking about how great the industry is – we need to convince young people that this is one hell of a good career country, I don’t do a lot in cities anymore apart from the odd one in London.

Did you make mistakes?

Yes, everybody does but the secret is to make sure nobody notices that you’ve made a mistake.

A designer’s job is to stop the client making mistakes. Obviously you learn by taking small steps and then getting bigger and bigger and try never to say no. With one very important proviso, and this is a really important lesson to learn: you should never, ever work for somebody you don’t like.

Garden making is a partnership between designer and client. If you don’t like each other then it will always end in tears. And you won’t get paid!

What types of garden do you design?

Now I do almost exclusively big gardens in the

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Let's hear it from.indd 36

Is that because of the commute?

One of the main reasons I moved out of London is that I wanted to garden outside a box. Most city gardens are enclosed within four walls and I wanted to garden with views of the countryside and the world so I could bring in distant churches and bigger trees – all that sort of stuff – and to basically do it on a bigger scale. I guess I fancied myself as a bit of a Capability Brown.

How do you choose landscapers to work with?

I have my favourite ones but it’s quite tricky because I work all over the place so can’t always use those people to do a job miles away.

When you say all over the place – is that all over the UK?

Yes all over the UK – I do have a couple of projects in Moscow at the moment, which are interesting. I’m chair of judging at the Moscow Flower Show which started last year and the second one took place in June so I picked up a couple of clients from there. If I am working in a different area, the clients may have a preferred landscaper or I can also talk to the clients’ builder or architect; or even just by talking to people who I know or have heard of: sometimes I put out a call on Twitter. It’s the same with supplies, by working with a local landscaper you can often pick up details of the best suppliers in the area for the products you are looking for. It’s always better to shop local.

In terms of inspiration for your designs – where does that come from?

Inspiration always comes from three things – the building, its surroundings and the most important thing is to learn how the clients will use the garden. There is no point in designing something that includes intricate herbaceous planting for a family with four children and a dog – because

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

17/09/2013 14:40

Let’s Hear it From...

4

6

1 James’ own garden at Blackpitts.

2 Long view in the Cotswolds.

3 Hole in the Ground garden, Westonbirt Festival 2004.

4 Dahlia Arabian Night and Lythrum salicaria Zigeunerblut at Westonbirt.

5 A herb garden in Warwickshire.

3

it won’t last. Likewise a modern, cutting edge design would be useless for people who live in a thatched cottage. So it really varies. The secret with all garden design is that ‘simple always works – complicated is complicated’.

We once heard you speak about designing a garden full of plants beginning with ‘Z’ – do you really do that?

Often when you are doing a planting plan you go through nursery catalogues and start at the beginning and you have finished by the time you get to ‘k’ – so it’s actually quite fun to do it backwards. The other thing that is quite interesting is to go through the list and decide to only use plants you haven’t used before – it just stretches your mind. It’s quite easy sometimes to become lazy but what people are paying you for is to get a garden that is unique to them. It’s quite important to get away from using the same plants in every design – it’s a good idea to leave out three or four that you have already used and bring in four that you’ve never used before, so that you have a constant conveyor belt of different things.

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Let's hear it from.indd 37

5

Where does your plant knowledge come from – did you teach yourself?

Basically that is the only way to learn about plants – I personally feel there’s very little point in learning about plants from a book because every picture you see looks completely different to the real thing. You may make a fool of yourself every so often where you make wrong planting choices (I was once quite determined to try and force Meconopsis to grow in limey soil) – you learn quite quickly. I remember shopping at a nursery years and years ago and asking for a ‘cotton Easter’ so I felt very stupid when the nurseryman pronounced it properly – especially because I was

6 Green walls and lead cladding in Buckinghamshire.

asking for a trade discount and I couldn’t even pronounce the name!

Would people know by looking at a garden that it was created by you?

No I don’t think they would unless they knew me well – there are certain plants that I love and use a lot but I do try and change and adapt because otherwise I’d get bored.

And show gardens – you’ve done Chelsea in the past?

I did Chelsea in 1999 and Westonbirt in 2004 and haven’t done a show garden since. Show

Inspiration always comes from three things – the building, its surroundings and the most important thing is to learn how the clients will use the garden

October 2013

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17/09/2013 14:42

Let’s Hear it From...

gardens are different now, there is a formula and they have evolved a certain way – I never really followed the formula, I just bumbled along – it was fun. In the garden I did, I planted an herbaceous meadow with lots of grasses and plants together, fountains that jumped and hedges that you could walk along the top of – the judges hated it but I got a Bronze medal. I liked it and had a lot of fun doing it but I’m not sure nowadays whether the actual doing it is as much fun – the sponsors want their Gold medal which makes it more pressurised. However, I love shows and show gardens and I really enjoy being an RHS judge. It’s great to see what people can do and I love all the gossip and anticipation of who’s going to get the medals. I guessed the Chelsea 2013 Best in Show garden within 10 minutes of seeing it this year – so I’m very proud of that one!

There are three options when choosing a landscaper: one is good, one is fast, and one is cheap.

You can only ever have two of those elements together

If you were going to have your garden designed by someone other than you – who would you choose?

Cleve West’s quite cheap! I think it would be Cleve and Joe together (if I didn’t say them they’d only hit me!); Cleve would do the planting – Joe would make the coffee!

And who would build it?

You mean which landscaper do I fancy giving a plug to? They’re all good – David Dodd’s good, Crocus are great and I use Nicholsons who are local to me and really good. I think I’ll say Ronnie at Nicholsons because he can then give me a discount!

Do you manage the project and the landscaper?

I suggest which to use to clients. There are three options when choosing a landscaper: one is good, one is fast, and one is cheap. You can only ever have two of those elements: – you can have cheap and fast – and it won’t be any good; you can have good and cheap – but it won’t be fast because it’ll be one bloke working alone; or you can have fast and good but that’s not going to be cheap.

This is how I explain to clients how to choose the landscaper to do the job.

What does the future hold for James Alexander-Sinclair?

Who knows? I started the world’s first iPad/ iPhone and Android App for gardens last year 38

October 2013

Let's hear it from.indd 38

What do you think of the Horticulture Matters report?

It’s incredibly important. The whole idea of the fact that gardening is not given enough credibility means people don’t think it’s worth doing because it’s underpaid and underappreciated and ‘it’s just gardening and anyone can do it’. The story that always makes me cross is that I had a conversation with a head gardener who had been in his job for 30 years who bumped into an old friend whose life was very similar other than their jobs – the friend was some kind of insurance assessor. This guy said to the gardener ‘you know the only difference between us is that I could do your job anytime but you couldn’t do mine’. That is the perfect illustration of how undervalued gardening is.

We have an industry that offers enormous variety. As a horticulturist you can turn your hand to so many different areas: growing, landscaping, designing, maintenance, tree surgery, greenkeeping, writing, teaching, photography, retail and science.

For a start we need to keep talking about how great the industry is – we need to convince young people that this is one hell of a good career otherwise we become an ageing backwater and that is bad not only for us but for the whole of society. The other important thing is that we need to start paying people properly. All the bodies involved in horticulture need to work together on this issue.

What do you do to relax?

Ziggy-zag rill in London

which is called IntoGardens, which I hope will get bigger and better and an expanding website where you can shop and also watch the YouTube channel. Being busy keeps me out of trouble – so I have this, designing, the RHS and media work so hopefully I’ll just carry on carrying on…

Tell us a bit more about the App.

The iPad App is an interactive garden magazine with top quality writing and photography enlivened with audio and video. The iPhone/Android app is more practical, giving you the ability to label phone photographs and we also have what we call Magic Parcels. These are little packages of information (written and video) on particular subjects: for example Ann-Marie Powell planting containers or Ian Le Gros showing how to prune roses. There is also a website, shop and YouTube channel.

This is where I come over as a really sad person!

The thing is, I garden. I like to watch films and play tennis but most of the time I’m in my garden.

I rather like weeding!

Lastly James, what’s with the hat?

I started wearing it in 1986 to stop my head getting wet in the rain when I was laying paving but it just became an affectation by default. People like to put a label on you and that just happens to be mine. Contrary to rumour, I am not trying to cover up a bald patch.

CONTACT James Alexander-Sinclair Blackpitts House, Towcester, Northamptonshire NN12 8TD Tel: 01327 857 682 Email: james@blackpitts.co.uk Web: www.blackpitts.co.uk App: www.into-gardens.com

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18/09/2013 14:32

Experience the majesty of mature trees

Our trees start from £125 “As a landscape designer I find it invaluable to have Majestic Trees on my team. We have worked together on many projects over the years from the replanting of acres of historical woodland to the selection and planting of a single feature tree, and on every job the end result has surpassed my expectations.”Ali Russell (nee Ward)

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boughton.co.uk Tel: 01536 510515 email: enquiries@boughton.co.uk

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14/03/2013 11:42 15:55 17/09/2013 17/09/2013 11:47

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MID CENTURY MODERN

ABOUT OUTDOOR CREATIONS Outdoor Creations offers an unparalleled garden design and landscaping service managing creative projects across Kent, Surrey, Sussex and London, and also offers a full service from initial conception to the fulfilment of high quality gardens.

www.outdoor-creations.co.uk Adele’s passion for the arts and the outdoors naturally led her to garden design. Since graduating in 2011 Adele has designed for Outdoor Creations, she has also successfully set up her own garden design business.

www.adeleford.co.uk

Susan has over 20 years' experience as a professional designer with a background in exhibition design and changed direction to garden design in 2005. Whilst studying at the University of Greenwich Susan has set up her own garden design business and also works freelance.

www.susanwillmott.com

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This stunning garden built by Outdoor Creations, and designed by Adele Ford and Susan Willmott, won Gold and Best in Show at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2013 in the APL’s Low Cost, High Impact category October 2013

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More images at: www.prolandscapermagazine.com

T

he Low Cost, High Impact category, introduced for the first time last year, allows APL member to demonstrate their skills, whilst providing visitors with ideas for achievable, believable and affordable gardens with a wow factor, based on a fixed budget for hard landscaping, plant material, and labour.

We created Mid Century Modern on a

budget of £15,000, having been inspired by a graphic image from a 1950s advertising poster.

The colour palette, hand-drawn typography, and one-dimensional graphics of the poster were an irresistible source of inspiration for us. Our garden design sought to capture the exuberance of the 1950s in a modern garden with lots of impact.The design featured shapes, patterns and colours from advertising at the time. It had a large central feature with hanging furniture and bold, large leaves and structural plants to complement the bold, bright design of the garden.There was an eating area with a reflective pool to the front of the garden, and a secluded seating area for two accessed through the central feature wall.

From a build perspective our aim was to pre fabricate as much of the hard landscaping as possible prior to the start of the build to minimise the time and

labour required onsite to complete the hard landscaping, this included the main feature wall and the reflective pool.This allowed six days to undertake the planting aspect of the project.

The trickiest part of the build was probably in the planning stages, ensuring that adequate provision was made in the framework construction to allow for quick assembly.The structure also needed to be strong enough to withstand the heaviest of judges whilst trying out the hanging bubble chair which was hung from the frame. With this in mind it also had to be fairly dimensionally ridged to avoid flexing when the seat was in use, as this could have cracked the render finish. Achieving a sharp render finish to the edges of the circular centre of the main wall was also a challenge; this in the end was achieved freehand.

PERSPECTIVE VIEWS

Project timeline Cost: £15,000

• Design brief development, application submission.

• Design development and submission to include: masterplan, elevations and details of excavations, construction drawings, details of features, sculpture and water, preliminary planting plan, key specimens and schedule.

• Project cost estimating.

January 2013

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• RHS/APL winning design announcement.

• Media information submission, nursery selection.

March 2013

• Implementation planning meetings, materials detailing and sourcing, additional supplementary drawings.

April 2013

• Hampton Court site visit, additional supplementary construction drawings.

May 2013

• Client brief submission final version, selecting planting, steel frame construction, leaflet artwork creation, furniture and accessories sourcing, garden signage artwork, feature wall pre fabrication.

• Start build (24 June).

June 2013

• Start planting (2 July).

• Finish build (7 July).

• Show open, press day, medal awarded, preview evening (8 July).

July 2013

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3

1 Rumex obtusifolius and Ajuga reptans foliage.

2 Achillea 'Walther Funcke'.

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3 Perspective view, showing the shaded seating area.

4 Cotinus coggygria foliage and Gaillardia.

5 White Saarinen Tulip table and chairs.

6 Geums and KniphoďŹ a raise the temperature.

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5

REFERENCES Contractor Outdoor Creations The Packhouse, Broadwater Farm, Broadwater Road, West Malling, Kent ME19 6HT Tel: 01732 844 700 Email: graeme@outdoor-creations.co.uk Web: www.outdoor-creations.co.uk Designer Adele Ford Garden Design Tel: 07967 255 190 Email: fordadele@yahoo.co.uk Web: www.adeleford.co.uk Designer Susan Willmott Garden Design 17 High Street, Aylesford Business Centre, Aylesford, Kent ME20 7AX Tel: 01622 718 340 Web: www.susanwillmott.com

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Bubble chairs Bubble Chairs Direct Linburn House, Station Road, Auchtermuchty, Fife KY14 7DP Tel: 08432 89 29 89 Web: www.bubblechairsdirect.co.uk Furniture Vertigo Interiors Units 13 to 15, Kernan Drive, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 5JF Tel: 0845 568 1000 Web: www.vertigo-interiors.co.uk Plants Great Dixter Nurseries Northiam, Rye, East Sussex TN31 6PH Tel: 01797 254 044 Email: nursery@greatdixter.co.uk Web: www.greatdixter.co.uk/nursery Wheelgate Nursery Kent Email: Jeanette@lerwill.com

Provender Nurseries The Landscape Centre, Leydenhatch Lane, Swanley, Kent BR8 7PS Tel: 01322 662 315 Email: richard.burt@provendernurseries. co.uk Web: www.provendernurseries.co.uk Plantbase Sleepers Stile Road, Cousley Wood, Wadhurst, East Sussex TN5 6QX Tel: 01892 78 55 99 / 07967 601 064 Email: graham@plantbase.freeserve. co.uk Web: www.plantbase.co.uk

Materials Jewson PLC Merchant House, Binley Business Park, Coventry CV3 2TT Tel: 024 7643 8400 Web: www.jewson.co.uk

Rock Unique Ltd. c/o Select Garden and Pet Centre, Main Road (A25) - cnr. Dryhill Lane, Sundridge, Sevenoaks, Kent Tel: 01959 565 608 Email: stone@rock-unique.com Web: www.rock-unique.com Rope Source Unit 18, Morris Green Business Park, Prescott Street, Bolton BL3 3PE Tel: 01204 897 642 Web: www.rope-source.co.uk

Steelwork T & S Engineering Services Ltd Unit 8, Slaney Place, Headcorn Rd, Staplehurst, Kent TN12 0DT Tel: 01580 895 267 Web: www.tandsengineering.co.uk Equipment Used JCB Micro Excavator

October 2013

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GABIONS & GLASS

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Outside Rooms A modern, clean line design with flat usable spaces was required for this sloping garden. A swim spa, laburnum tunnel, water and light were the main wishes of the client.

T

he brief was to transform the sloping garden into a modern and usable space to complement their new home which was located in the village of Cuddington, Cheshire.

The main area of the garden sloped down to two boundaries with another quite significant steep slope to one side of the house.The brief was to create flat usable spaces which were to incorporate a good sized lawn and two large paved seating areas for a dining table and chairs, outdoor rattan sofas and a soft tub. A water feature and a pergola walk were also requested.

A keen sportsman, the client also required a garden building to house a swim spa. An area of the garden was unusable because of overhanging mature trees and was dominated by three mature Leylandii trees which the clients wanted removing. A solution was requested for this area too.

The clients were keen to harvest rainwater from the house so that it could be used to water the garden.The house was only a year old and contemporary internally, the exterior appearance was traditional in style being brick built under a red tiled roof with stone cills and lintels and black steel Juliet balconies.The garden was to be modern in design yet still had to reflect these features.

Although the clients employed a gardener, the planting had to be low maintenance and easy to look after and to include flowering shrubs and ornamental grasses, wisteria and evergreens for year round interest.Vibrant colours for flowers and the colour pink was forbidden.

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Project details Size of project: 21m x 32m Timeline of development: one year Cost: approximately £125,000

Lighting was important too. The garden needed to be lit at night for both a night view and for safety reasons for passage to and from the swim spa.

The boundary fencing was new and of a good quality however the clients required this to be softened or screened as they did not want it to be a dominant feature.

CONSTRUCTION My preferred team of landscapers is Creative Gardens and Driveways.The Managing Director David Hadley has the ability to interpret my designs and demands, and works to a very high standard of detail and quality. He has built many of my gardens. He is a Marshalls, Bradstone, Natural Paving, COREgravel and Ecogrid approved installer and takes responsibility for ordering materials. In 2012 his company won the Marshalls National Award for the Best Use of Marshalls Ethically Sourced Fairstone.

8 During the construction works, he undertook the installation of new drainage and pipework for the rainwater harvesting system.

He also installed the steel pergola, arches and the water feature.The garden building, swim spa, composite decking and lighting was installed by The Original Decking Company.

DESIGN SOLUTIONS After some consideration and debate of the design concepts, the best position for the swim spa building was chosen. A Lawful Development Certificate from the local authority was then

applied for and granted.This took two months, during which time the garden design and construction details were finalised, Leylandii and other trees were removed and pruned, and tenders were sent out to the construction and landscaping companies. It was approaching Christmas by the time all aspects of the build were agreed upon, so a January start date was scheduled.

1 Water feature sits naturally beneath pergola.

2 Looking towards pergola from second garden level.

3 Gabion wall and glass balustrade detail.

1

4 Clipped box 'steps'.

5 View of swim spa on lower level from pergola.

6 Sleeper path through contemporary 'woodland'.

ABOUT OUTSIDE ROOMS

Outside Rooms is a Cheshire based garden design practice owned by Sue Davis providing inspirational design projects in Cheshire and bordering counties. Established since 2001 the majority of commissions undertaken are for private domestic gardens from tiny courtyards to acres and acres. With a huge passion for good design and planting, an intuitive understanding of the relationship between the home and garden, Sue creates bespoke outdoor spaces which are perfectly balanced with innovative ideas, functionality and are beautiful to behold. Attention to detail is applied to every garden designed regardless of the size or budget.

www.outside-rooms.co.uk

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The design incorporates a non-slip composite decked area around the cabin with a large lounging area to the front. A wide flight of sandstone steps provides access down to the cabin from the rest of the garden.

The design created three distinct levels. As the garden slopes away quite steeply down to the garden building housing the swimming spa, and to be able to create areas of flat garden for a lawn and patios, a substantial retaining wall was required.The clients embraced the idea of a stone filled gabion

Key plants ● Acanthus mollis ● Alchemilla mollis ● Anemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert' ● Artemisia ludoviciana 'Silver Queen' ● Astrantia major 'White Giant' ● Astrantia major 'Claret' ● Buxus sempervirens (40cm balls) ● Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foetster' ● Echinacea 'White Swan' ● Echinacea 'Tiki Torch' ● Geranium 'Rosemoor' ● Hakonechloa macra 'Alboaurea' ● Hebe 'Autumn Glory' ● Heuchera ‘Obsidian' ● Hydrangea petiolaris ● Kniphofia 'Tawny King' ● Laburnum x watereri 'Vossii' ● Leycesteria formosa ● Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light' ● Phlomis fruticosa ● Polystichum setiferum ● Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm' ● Tiarella cordifolia ● Verbena bonariensis ● Vinca major ● Wisteria floribunda 'Multijuga'

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retaining wall with a steel and toughened glass balustrade.This is required for safety because of the drop and continues up the side of the steps on one side.The fabricated black steel balustrade and gabion stone infill complemented the black steel Juliet balconies and stone features on the house.

The first level immediately next to the house is a large entertaining patio.To access the second level a structure of sandstone and box hedging steps was constructed.

At the lower third garden level, to the side of the swim spa building is a shadier area and was the clients' 'problem area'.This is now a contemporary styled 'woodland garden'.The floor is laid with a treated sleepers pathway positioned so that planting pockets are created.The planting is en masse and includes semi-shade tolerant varieties of ferns, perennial blue geraniums, white echinacea, white astrantia, and vinca and tiarella ground cover. A contemporary 'woodland' area now sits beneath the existing tree canopy and can also be viewed from the upper garden level. A construction of gabion cage 'steps' at the far end creates an exit up to the front of the house.The

underground rainwater harvesting tank is located in this area.

A sandstone path leads around the garden providing access from the top patio area to the pool and back. A round-topped black steel pergola spans the whole length of the path leading back to the patio providing height along this boundary and a structure for growing a wisteria and creating a laburnum tunnel.The rounded top of the pergola reflects the shape of the existing recesses in one of the boundary walls. Midway along this path a stone water feature sphere is positioned recessed into the planting border.

Viewed through two black steel arches set at a right angle to the pergola, the water feature provides a focal point viewed from the sun room.

Both the pergola and water feature are lit at night.

The pergola structure, together with the deep planting border running along the length of the long, fenced boundary softens the appearance of the fence and the eye is drawn away from it to the planting and water feature. Beech hedging has been planted along the fence line providing

A contemporary 'woodland' now sits beneath the existing tree canopy

DESIGN PLAN

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a green screen in summer and a brown screen in winter. As the garden is south west facing, enjoying plenty of sunshine, vibrant colours could be introduced in the perennial plants.The planting is reasonably low maintenance with flowering and evergreen shrubs interspersed with clipped box balls, ornamental grasses and colourful perennials. A wisteria grows over the pergola together with laburnum trees.These will grow to form a laburnum tunnel as requested by the clients.

The plants were selected from Grasslands Nursery in Cheshire. When sourcing on all projects I prefer to see and personally choose the plants.This nursery stocks a wide variety of good quality plants.

In summary this design is modern and clean-lined, linking areas via sandstone paths.Two large seating areas were created and the simple round-topped black steel pergola and arches pick up the black ironwork already on and around the property providing a traditional feel within the modern design. Once matured the garden will be a classic yet modern outside space.

SOURCING MATERIALS The main landscaping company sourced all the materials from the specification provided.There was already a large Bradstone natural sandstone patio area laid which had been poorly done.This was taken up and relaid and the additional stone required for the garden was matched to this.

1

1 Before the landscaping started.

2 Leylandii trees removed – steep slope revealed.

3 Excavations for gabion retaining walls.

4 Steps construction with planting pockets for box.

references Designer/architect Sue Davis of Outside Rooms Tel: 01477 534 936 07794 143 642 Email: outsideroomsgoostrey@gmail.com Web: www.outside-rooms.co.uk Main contractor Creative Gardens and Driveways Tel: 0161 439 4858 Email: info@creativegardensanddriveways.co.uk Web: www.creativegardensanddriveways.co.uk Swim spa, garden building and decking contractor The Original Decking Company Ltd. Tel: 01270 277 022 Email: enquiries@originaldecking.co.uk Web: www.originaldecking.co.uk Bradstone paving & building materials Travis Perkins Trading Co Ltd Tel: 0161 480 66 55 Web: www.travisperkins.co.uk Water feature Foras Tel: 01366 381 069 Email: claire.brutnall@foras.co.uk Web: www.foras.co.uk Pergola and arches Agriframes Tel: 0845 260 4450 Email: info@agriframes.co.uk Web: www.agriframes.co.uk Composite decking Millboard Decking Tel: 02476 43 99 34 Email: info@millboarddecking.co.uk Web: www.millboarddecking.com

Garden building The Original Decking Company Ltd. Tel: 01270 277 022 Email: enquiries@originaldecking.co.uk Web: www.originaldecking.co.uk Swim spa Outdoor Heaven Ltd. Tel: 01565 750 850 Web: www.outdoorheaven.co.uk Steel balustrade Black Cat Fabrications Tel: 0161 480 4318

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Plant hire J K Ashbrook Ltd. Tel: 01269 270 817 Web: www.jkashbrook.co.uk Gabion cages and stone infill Offerton Sand & Gravel Ltd. Tel: 0161 456 4636 Email: info@StockportStone.co.uk Web: www.offertonsandandgravel.co.uk Treated sleepers Marthall Tree Products Tel: 01565 650 526 Email: sales@marthall.net Web: www.marthall.net

3

Plants: box and beech hedging Ladybrook Nursery Tel: 0161 440 8060 Email: sales@ladybrooknursery.com Web: www.ladybrooknursery.com Plants: All other plants Grasslands Nursery Tel: 01565 723 831 Web: www.grasslands.co.uk 4

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Anthea Harrison Garden Design A naturalistic scheme was requested by the client for the overgrown garden of a contemporary private property.

11.20W

GARDEN MAKEOVER

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Project details Size of project: 300m² Timeline of development: Four weeks Cost: £23,000

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Measurements should not be scaled from this drawing. All measurements to be checked on site. Drawing to be read in conjunction with Scope of Works dated 19th July 2012.

CLIENT

WALL 1.8HT

Karren and Mark Probyn

JOB TITLE

Pleached hornbeams 180cm clear stem, 180cm heads

Key plants

DRAWING TITLE SCALE

1:100

DATE

July 2012

Shady area ● Digitalis mertonensis ● Iris foetidissima ● Anemone x h. ‘Honorine Jobert’ ● Dechampsia cespitosa ‘Goldtau’ ● Bergenia ‘Eroica’

Sunny area ● Polemonium caeruleum ● Stipa tenuissima 25 Longcroft Stansted Mountfitchet ● Lavandula x intermedia Essex, CM24‘Hidcote’ 8JD 01279 647305 ● Anthemis punctata subsp. cupaniana ● Hemerocallis ‘Burning Daylight’ Copyright 2012

Bulbs ● Camassis leichtlinii ‘Caerulea’ ● Leucojum aestivum ‘Gravetye Giant’ ● Tulipa ‘Attila’ ● Tulipa ’Candy Prince’ 11.85W

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Exg Lavandula 'Hidcote'

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3-Stipa tenuissima

3 no Exg Lavandula 'Hidcote'

5-Agapanthus 'Purple Cloud' 1-Stipa gigantea

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3-Agapanthus 'Purple Cloud'

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3-Polemonium caeruleum

3-Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae

3-Geranium wlassovianum

3-Stipa tenuissima 1-Anthemis punctata subsp. cupaniana

Exg Euonymus 5-Hemerocallis 'Burning Daylight'

5-Polemonium caeruleum 3 no Exg Lavandula 'Hidcote'

6-Amsonia t. var. salicifolia

5-Helleborus x hybridus

Exg Brachyglottis moved

exg Ribes - needs trimming 1-Dryopteris affinis

3-Tellima grandiflora

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5-Hemerocallis 'Burning Daylight' 5-Hemerocallis 'Burning Daylight'

LIA

5-Tellima grandiflora

5-Pulmonaria longifolia

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25-Digitalis x mertonensis 6-Buxus sempevirens

2-Polemonium caeruleum

5-Luzula sylvatica

Planting 3-Amsonia t. var. salicifolia

2-Polygonatum x hybridum

3-Geranium m. 'Spessart'

5-Iris foetidissima

3-Tellima grandiflora

3 no Exg Lavandula 'Hidcote' Exg Crocosmia

5-Ajuga r. 'Catlins Giant'

Box Hedging

8-Bergenia Eroica

1-Galium odoratum exg Rhododendron

6-Iris foetidissima

boulder

4-Amsonia t. var. salicifolia

7-Polemonium caeruleum

3-Skimmia x confusa 'Kew Green' 5-Tellima grandiflora

5-Hemerocallis 'Burning Daylight'

Exg Pittosporum 'Arundel Green'

3-Galium odoratum

7-Buxus sempevirens 5-Geranium m. 'Spessart'

5-Ajuga r. 'Catlins Giant'

5-Ajuga r. 'Catlins Giant' 3-Polygonatum x hybridum

5-Luzula sylvatica

12-Buxus sempevirens

1-Galium odoratum 6-Bergenia Eroica

6-Anemone x h.'Honorine Jobert' 3-Cornus alba 'Elegantissima'

3-Helleborus x hybridus

5-Iris foetidissima 5-Dechampsia cespitosa 'Goldtau' 9-Buxus sempevirens

3-Geranium p.var. phaeum 'Samobor'

3-Amsonia t. var. salicifolia

7-Helleborus foetidus

11-Digitalis x mertonensis

5-Actaea s. Brunette 6-Amsonia t. var. salicifolia

3-Dryopteris affinis

Exg Peony

1-Galium odoratum 7-Anemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert'

3-Geranium m. 'Spessart'

3-Polygonatum x hybridum

5-Actaea s. Brunette

7-Carex testacea

1-Dryopteris affinis

5-Actaea s. Brunette

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8-Anemone x h.'Honorine Jobert'

5-Helleborus x hybridus

5-Helleborus x hybridus

6-Polygonatum x hybridum

6-Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae 3-Dryopteris affinis

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Exg Buxus sempevirens

3-Polygonatum x hybridum

3-Actaea s. Brunette

Exg Mahonia to stay

3-Geranium m. 'Spessart' 3-Dryopteris affinis

1-Galium odoratum 8-Amsonia t. var. salicifolia

6-Carex testacea

5-Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae Exg Evergreen shrub to stay Exg Variegated Weigela

7-Anemone x h.'Honorine Jobert'

Exg Forsythia

exg Ribes moved

5-Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae

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UM

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ST

3-Viburnum davidii

7-Buxus sempevirens

6-Pulmonaria longifolia

5-Polygonatum x hybridum 3-Actaea s. Brunette

6-Helleborus x hybridus

Exg PIttosporum 'Arundel Green'

6-Pulmonaria longifolia

1-Galium odoratum

UM

5-Bergenia Eroica

3-Lonicera nitida

7-Amsonia t. var. salicifolia

Exg Spiraea

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7-Bergenia Eroica

4-Luzula sylvatica

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5-Carex testacea

5-Polemonium caeruleum 3-Geranium wlassovianum

5-Geranium wlassovianum1-Anthemis punctata subsp. cupaniana 10.90 x

THE SOLUTION The mature shrubs along the front boundary were removed and the ivy stripped revealing the old flint wall. Pleached hornbeams were planted along this wall to give the house its privacy but leave the flint wall visible. A new oak sleeper retaining wall echoing the timber in the house allowed a more level area for planting. The central feature of the planting being a boulder with

3-Bergenia Eroica

Exg Camellia

3 no Exg Lavandula 'Hidcote'

3-Polemonium caeruleum

PA V

Paving extended

Exg Camellia

10.35 x

1-Anthemis punctata subsp. cupaniana

Bins

2-Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae

GRAVEL

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DRAINAGE CHANNEL

Exg Prunus lusitanica

CL 10.31 IC

10.43D 10.38W

10.40W

11.41W

TELECOM

11.44W

METERSTAP

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PLANTING DESIGN PLAN

NO

CLOSE BOARDED 1.8HT

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he house was very contemporary and the client wanted a very naturalistic scheme to contrast with the house albeit in a modern style. The garden was effectively screened from the road (which was some 3m higher than the house) by mature shrubs, but these were overgrown and lacking in any shape as several had fused together and formed a mass taking up three metres of the garden. These shrubs also hid the old flint wall which had the potential to be a feature in itself once the ivy was stripped off. An old low retaining wall was unsuitable both in style and function and was removed. There were several mature shrubs/trees that we were keen to retain and highlight as part of the makeover.

Front Garden Hard Landscaping Plan

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boulder

Exg Pyracantha to stay WALL 1.8HT

Pleached hornbeams 180cm clear stem, 150cm wide heads

October 2013

CLIENT JOB TITLE

Front and Back Garden

Planting Plan Front Garde

SCALE

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DATE

August 2012

49 Copyright 2012

Portfolio 3.indd 49

Karren and Mark Probyn

DRAWING TITLE

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25 Longcroft Stansted Mountfitchet Essex, CM24 8JD 01279 647305

Portfolio

More images at: www.prolandscapermagazine.com

The client wanted a very naturalistic scheme to contrast with the house albeit in a modern style lines of slate (to tie in with the black of the flint) leading out to create movement.The planting is very naturalistic in style with drifts intermingled to give interest throughout the year.The driveway was the only existing element the client was happy with so only small amendments to this were made to include a seating area by the clients’ home office to catch the evening sun. Lighting adds the final touch to highlight the garden features and give a welcoming look to the house in the evening.

MATERIALS We were keen to stick to the palette already present with the house and drive and so silver CEDEC (from CED) was used to tie in with the existing Marshalls Argent setts and Marshalls Argent paving was used for the patio. The boulder was chosen from a selection at CED.

2

ANTHEA HARRISON GARDEN DESIGN

1

2

1-2 Before and after views of the upper area.

Anthea Harrison Garden Design is an established business tackling projects for mainly private clients ranging in size from 30m² up to 20 acres with difficult sloping sites a speciality! As registered members of the Society of Garden Designers, they provide a high quality, professional and friendly service. Although every design is unique to the client and their skills encompass a variety of styles, they are enthused about contemporary rectilinear layouts with contrasting old traditional materials for detailing.

www.antheaharrison.co.uk

REFERENCES Main Contractor Pinnington Landscapes 6 The Carpenters, St Michaels Mead Bishops Stortford CM23 4BP Tel: 01279 863 012 / 07884 186 499 Email: graeme@pinningtonlandscapes. co.uk Web: www.pinningtonlandscapes.co.uk Designer/Architect Anthea Harrison Garden Design 25 Longcroft, Stansted, CM24 8JD Tel: 01279 647 305 Email: anthea@antheaharrison.co.uk Web: www.antheaharrison.co.uk

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Stone: silver CEDEC and boulder CED Ltd 728 London Road,West Thurrock, Grays, Essex RM20 3LU Tel: 01708 867 237 Email: sales@ced.ltd.uk Web: www.ced.ltd.uk Marshalls Argent paving Travis Perkins Unit 10, Dunmow Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 5RG Tel: 01279 505666 Web: www.travisperkins.co.uk

Pleached hornbeams Fordhams Nursery Market Street, Fordham, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 5LQ Tel: 01638 720 455 Email: enquiries@fordhamnursery.co.uk Web: www.fordhamnursery.co.uk

Lighting Lighting for Gardens 7 Dunhams Court, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire SG6 1WB Tel: 01462 486 777 Email: sales@lightingforgardens.com Web: www.lightingforgardens.com

Perennials Greenline Plants Forshaw Heath Road, Earlswood, Solihull, B94 5JU Tel: 01763 273 932 Email: sales@greenlineplants.co.uk Web: www.greenlineplants.co.uk

Oak sleepers Howe Fencing and Sectional Buildings Horse Cross, Standon road Standon, Hertfordshire SG11 2PU Tel: 01920 822 055 Email: sales@howefencing.co.uk Web: www.howefencing.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/09/2013 15:51

10:49

t.

Page 1

RH Pro Landscaper ' Straight':Layout 1

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10:49

We’ll give it to you straight.

Page 1

TENDERCARE

Mature & Formal Hardy Plants

Unrivalled range of mature plants To provide instant effect in your planting schemes.

Plants in the 'Nurseryman's Art' exquisitely formed and pruned trees.

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Trees - 'Through the garden gate' ideal for the smaller garden.

Japanese maples and bamboos admired the World over.

Shrubs for the connoisseur larger than sold by your garden centre 10L to 1000L pots.

Fruit trees - perfect for the Potager! Mature trees, espalier, fan-trained and 'step-overs'.

Hedges-for privacy and structure prepared units to form'instant', clipped runs.

Plants of the Mediterranean - and 'Planthunter' exotics - olives, palms and spikey plants for the arid and tropical look.

Wall-trained shrubs and climbers grown and trained for immediate impact.

After that you can bend it any way you want.

Readyhedge instant hedging is supplied ready-spaced in one-metre troughs or Readybags, and can be bent to conform to any design template, no matter how complex.

For more information, call today on 01386 750585 email simon@readyhedgeltd.com or visit www.readyhedgeltd.com You’ll find we’re ready when you are.

'Instant borders' - seasonal herbaceous plants, ferns and grasses - foliage and flowering plants, deciduous and evergreen, to add form, texture and colour for any location.

Exotic specimen plants for interior landscaping -Flowering & evergreen specimen tropical and arid plants. Citrus trees to 2.5m Aloes, agaves to 160L grown in our 125m2 greenhouse. Extensive range of containers, sundries & expert advice.

We source and hand-select plants worldwide from over 150 specialist and unique growers Nationwide Delivery Planting Services Southlands Road, Denham, Middlesex UB9 4HD 01895 835544 sales@tendercare.co.uk www.tendercare.co.uk Open Monday - Saturday 8am - 5pm

ADVERTS TEMPLATES.indd 199

20/09/2013 13:50

Plantsman’s Plot

Plantsman’s PLOT A round-up of trees and plants available at some of the country’s best nurseries To appear in Plantsman’s Plot, please send your plant of the month, details and image to editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk Carpinus japonica (Japanese Hornbeam): this stunning small tree makes excellent panels with its prominently corrugated leaves and conspicuous fruiting catkins that look very similar to the flowers of hops.

While it does not hold its leaves like Carpinus betulus it makes up for it with this late summer display. It forms a dense panel at an early age and will make a great screen at the back of a garden above existing hedging or fences. Available from Readyhedge with a 150cm clear stem and a 150cm x 150cm panel. www.readyhedgeltd.com

As the overnight temperatures cool the tints of autumn start to emerge.

I have heard stories of construction managers claiming that trees had died – not recognising the seasonal changes of deciduous trees. It seem some people expect everything to be evergreen (there is a big knowledge gap out there folks). One of our great evergreens is the Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris), a native tree so good for biodiversity too, with blue/ green needles and orange/peachy bark when mature – lovely in the evening sunlight. Good to plant in October, they will develop roots in their new locations before the winter cold sets in. www.palmstead.co.uk 52

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As a hybrid of Acer rubrum and Acer saccharinum, Acer x freemanii ‘Autumn Blaze’ delivers the spectacular fireworks of an Acer rubrum in a sturdier package. Its autumn colours are the vivid scarlet you would expect from A. rubrum, but with the addition of fiery orange undertones. Like A. saccharinum, ‘Autumn Blaze’ is fast-growing, reliable and performs well on UK soils. However, it matures to a more moderate size, with ascending branches and a dense, broad-oval crown, making it more practical for use in domestic and urban planting. www.majestictrees.co.uk

Catalpa bignonioides is a stunning medium sized deciduous tree with a glorious spreading habit. This tree is late into leaf, but patience is rewarded by enormously broad, pale green leaves up to 30cm wide. Elegant panicles of white bell-shaped flowers splashed with orange and purple appear in late summer. The flowers are followed by distinctive long, thin, bean-shaped fruits which hang on through autumn. If you’re looking to add an extra splash of colour then Catalpa bignonioides Aurea has brilliant yellow leaves. Both are available from Deepdale Trees, as either a standard tree or multistem. www.deepdale-trees.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/09/2013 15:25

Plantsman’s Plot

One of the newer dessert apples with a wonderful pink speckled ‘Rosette’ pattern that penetrates deep into the flesh. The flavour is decidedly ‘raspberry’ with a crisp juicy texture. It has a dark red skin and is perfectly round in shape. The tree is ideally suited to a small garden as it is compact and also benefits from frost resistance. Eats well from September through October and beyond…a perfect dessert eating apple for the autumn months ahead. www.nicholsons.gb.com

©JEdigital

Arguably one of our prettiest native trees, Malus sylvestris is a small crab apple which provides profuse white, tinged pink in bud, flowers in the spring and a good yellow autumn colour.

Yellow / green and occasionally red flushed fruits are a favourite for birds in the autumn. Most suited to heavy and clay soils, this small tree is rarely seen above twenty feet in height and is the parent of numerous crab and eating apple varieties. Ideal for native mixed planting or shelterbelts that provide great low cover for wildlife. It’s been a great growing year for our Malus, check out our photographs and videos on our websites. www.barcham.co.uk or www.buythetreeyousee.com

Sedums have much to offer, with attractive succulent foliage in spring and early summer, topped by long-lasting, latesummer flowers that are attractive in bud, full bloom and after the flowers fade – with seedheads extending the display well into winter. The flowers are also an end-of-season magnet for butterflies and bees, providing a vital food source before the onset of winter. The sumptuous ‘Jose Aubergine’ is a particular favourite, producing mounds of plump purple foliage, topped by domed heads of tiny, starry, dusky-pink flowers from August until November. It’s more compact than most (60x50cm), so less prone to flopping, and looks great teamed up with other late-summer flowers and ornamental grasses in a sunny border. www.hortusloci.co.uk www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Plantsmans Plot.indd 53

Autumn, and many clients think of harvesting fruit. With “grow your own” still remaining very popular, both private clients and public bodies are planting orchards or fruit gardens. Thornhayes Nursery in Devon offers an extensive list of varieties of common and unusual fruits in a range of sizes from maidens up to full standards for traditional orchards. From apples to mirabelles, medlars to quince, cider apples to chokeberries. www.thornhayes-nursery.co.uk

Grasses add a contrast to all planting areas; an ideal selection is Stipa tenuissima ‘Pony Tails’. A soft compact grass with an upright habit, the thin upright bright green leaves growing up to 30cm. Summer brings the addition of multiple soft feathery flowering panicles that extend above the foliage. Opening greenish white, turning yellow brown with a pinkish tint to the top of the flower stem. A group planting creates a fantastic effect especially when the flowering stems are gently rocked by a breeze. Little maintenance apart from cutting back in winter but they do require well drained soil. www.colesnurseries.co.uk

Rare and reliable – sounds good already! Fig ‘Precoce de Dalmatie’ is an early, heavy cropping fig perfect for the UK climate and highly popular in France and across Europe. The leaves are unusually large and heavily lobed making it a valuable plant for ornamental purposes. The green skinned fruit hide the juicy red flesh within and in September-October the plant literally drips with fruit ready for the taking. Give a little squeeze to check for ripeness, if soft to the touch they are ready for picking. Happy in free draining poor soil and against a sunny wall, it can also be easily fan trained to aid fruit ripening. www.provendernurseries.co.uk

October 2013 53

18/09/2013 15:26

Growing Trees

Bare root season Nick Coslett from Palmstead Nurseries looks at the factors which affect both the length of the bare root season and the success of the trees, and why you might consider buying bare root specimens in the coming months Each year the exact timing of the bare root season changes with the weather; the warm and dry autumns we have experienced in the last few years have delayed the dormant season, and the later arrival of frosts slow up the time of leaf fall. Furthermore when we have an early spring the season is foreshortened, or, in the case of this year, a cold spring will extend the season by two weeks. Many years ago the predictable 1 season was between the beginning of November until the end of March, but this is now much less certain. Although in the south east we seem to be safe to take the bare-root season as being from mid-November to mid-March, in the north it can be much longer.

Before trees can be safely lifted from the field and become transplantable they must stop growing, and stop needing water.

Deciduous trees need to pull back their energies so that the leaves can be discharged from their duties. Growers also need soil to be moist to allow roots to be lifted without damage; dry soils can make lifting more difficult (more friction) which therefore causes root damage. There is a much wider range of trees grown in the field by nurseries – both species range and sizes available – than grown in containers.

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So, why bare root?

In their dormant period trees can be lifted and transported without soil on the roots, this is lighter, smaller and subsequently cheaper. Field grown trees which are sold bare roots are cheaper to produce, making them cheaper to buy. The bare roots are delicate, and need to be protected from drying out which will damage the fine roots from which new root hairs will develop, once they are planted out. Lifting and pruning roots can be a stimulus for new root growth once replanted.

Trees with stems larger than 14cm girth tend to be rootballed as this keeps all the fine and fibrous roots together undamaged, which leads to a higher success rate for these larger specimens. Rootballs also protect the roots if trees are likely to be stored on-site and above ground for long periods. Although it’s best to transplant them as fresh from the field as possible, sensitivity to transplanting does vary between species. Those which are known to be sensitive are beech (Fagus), birch (Betula), oak (Quercus), magnolia, sweet chestnut (Castanea), sweet gum (Liquidambar) and tulip (Liriodendron). These may need rootballing from smaller sizes, but if it in doubt then speak to your nurseryman.

There is some risk of establishment with bare root trees but if handled well from field to site these risks are low (on average less than 5 per cent) and are offset by the cheaper costs. There

Photographs courtesy of Palmstead Nurseries

are an enormous range of trees we can grow in the UK and a number are natives, including oak, beech, birch, field maple, hornbeam, hawthorn, lime, crab apple, poplar, willow, rowan and whitebeam. Plus a fantastic range of trees which originate from further afield, just look into any good arboretum.

Due to the threat of disease, nurseries importing some trees now need to report to Defra when importing oaks and planes, biosecurity is now becoming much high profile.

There are movement bans on ash – so they can’t be planted – and an import ban on sweet chestnut.

Ash is now unplantable due to Chalara disease, and whilst research is starting to look at viable clones to replant, results will only be seen in the long term. The elm, now 40 years since being ravaged by disease, has a viable chance of returning to our landscape through certain clones – specifically American (Princetown Elm). It may take 40 years for Ash too. www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/09/2013 14:52

Wyevale Ticket Advert Jan 2013:Layout 1

10/1/13

13:48

Page 2 Brown V6 91mm x height 240mm._Layout 1 20/08/2013 15:49 Page 1 Prac

Your ticket to a greener landscape

Elveden Instant Hedge

TM

The only true Instant Hedge

Wyevale Nurseries Ltd, Kings Acre, Hereford HR4 7AY Tel: 01432 845200 Email: sales@wyevale-nurseries.co.uk www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk 1.8m high Hornbeam at the nursery

We have 40,000 metres of certified UK provenance stock, across 15 species, available all year round that is now offered to the trade at a discounted rate.

Practicality Brown are the sole suppliers of the Elveden Instant Hedge TM

NA T U R E S P A L E T T E Our aim is to make your vision a reality with effective yet practical plant solutions.

PRACTICALITY BROWN LTD Iver Stud, Swan Road, Iver, Bucks. SL0 9LA. Whatever your involvement in the horticultural industry, be it, Garden Designer, Landscape Architect. Domestic or Commercial Landscaper, Greenline Plants can offer all the plants you will need.

To see our plant portfolio visit www.greenlineplants.co.uk

Tel: 01753 652022 E-mail: hedge@pracbrown.co.uk Web: www.pracbrown.co.uk

Forshaw Heath Road | Earlswood | Solihull | B94 5JU T: 01564 703947

GREENLINE PLANTS_PRO LANDSCAPER_quarter page_OCTOBER ISSUE 2013.indd 1 10/09/2013 12:10

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18/09/2013 10:03

Latest Products

lighting Everyone knows the benefits of LED lighting but if you’ve tried to understand the complexities of matching LED lights with the right driver then you may have been put off forever. Help is at hand. Landscapeplus has simplified LED lighting into a few simple steps that, for the first time, allow you to mix and match fittings from different suppliers and to have them dimmable or operated via remote control. If you want to make the switch from halogen to LED then speak to Landscapeplus. www.landscapeplus.com

The Crescent Lighting fibre optic lighting range includes a number of products specifically designed for the outdoor environment including the Paver range.

These small luminaires are great for way marking, step lighting and providing low level wall lights. They are robustly constructed from 316L stainless steel and have an ingress protection to IP68. www.crescent.co.uk

The new Norlys Arendal bollard (Art.1565) with tempered glass top is available in black, graphite or galvanised steel finish. It has an E27 (max.

60W) lamp source and is available in three sizes: 85cm, 49cm and 26cm.

The products are designed to withstand tough climatic conditions and come with a 15 year anticorrosion warranty. www.elsteadlighting.com

The new Kew Wall Mounted light is a miniature directional spotlight which adds the perfect finishing touch to a garden lighting scheme.

It can be used to downlight planting or features, or even as an uplight. It uses a 1W 8° narrow beam LED and is cool to touch and energy efficient. It is IP65 rated and comes in bronze so it disappears in the planting, making it a discreet lighting solution. www.johncullenlighting.co.uk

Orb is a new rechargeable IP68 garden light providing a choice of smooth colour-changing, white light or a choice of six light colours (red, green, blue, orange, indigo, and violet) for up to nine hours per charge. A waterproof plug is used to seal the charging port when not connected. Orb is one of four rechargeable garden lights in round, square and egg shapes. www.lightingforgardens.com

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The Ground Spike Twin Spot adjustable light from Anthony de Grey Garden Lighting is versatile with twin spots that can be adjusted separately to highlight different areas of interest. It is available in three finishes – copper, anodised aluminium (shown) and black. The light is low-voltage, making it a very safe garden light which can be used with either LEDs or conventional halogen lamps. www.lightinggarden.co.uk

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

17/09/2013 16:48

PROVENDER

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Tel: 01322 662315/662130 Web: www.provendernurseries.co.uk

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18/09/2013 10:30

IN A SPIN TRUCKPAVE™ Heavy duty recycled plastic porous paver HGV yards, HGV access roads, fire access routes

BODPAVE™85 Porous pavers for grass and gravel surfaces Coach parks, fire access lanes, car parks and driveways

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Visit us at

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Fiberweb Geosynthetics Ltd

Tel: +44 (0) 1621 874200 www.grass-reinforcement.com ™ indicates a trade mark of Fiberweb plc or a Fiberweb Group company, many of which are registered in a number of countries around the world.

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A

BUSINESS

18/09/2013 10:36

Paving

Latest products

The new ceramic outdoor paving range from Global Stone has all the qualities favoured in contemporary style gardens such as a flat surface, consistent sizing and little or no colour variation. It can also be mopped clean in the same way as a kitchen floor. This exterior grade ceramic paving is slightly textured to make it a safe proposition, and it comes in two colours – anthracite or wheat. www.pavingsuperstore.co.uk London Stone supplies exterior stone cladding in slate and sandstone.

Stone cladding can be used to create bold feature walls and looks equally at home in traditional and contemporary garden schemes. It comes supplied in 600 x 150 interlocking panels, making the product both quick and easy to install. www.londonstone.com

Ebony Cloud Paving is available from CED Ltd and has a truly unique appearance. With beautiful tones of grey-greens and blacks along with some vivid light coloured, almost white detail provides a stunning cloud effect.

This attractive paving is a quartz-rich schist, the surface has been sawn and textured and is ideally suited to stylish and contemporary designs. At 30mm thick, it is a durable and long lasting paving product. www.ced.ltd.uk

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October 2013

Paving Latest Products.indd 58

Stoneworld Tumbled Mint Sandstone Paving is perfect for creating stunning garden designs. The softly tumbled edges and surfaces give a gently timeworn appearance, perfect for a discreetly elegant garden design. It is also available in several colours. This product is ethically and reliably sourced to ensure continuity of supply at a consistent quality and colour, ensuring customer satisfaction every time. www.stoneworld.co.uk

New for 2013, Bradstone’s StoneMaster long aspect paving offers landscapers an ultra-modern patio solution. With the introduction of the new size paver, the contemporary StoneMaster range helps to create the illusion of more space and adds great aesthetic appeal to any garden.

StoneMaster is available in three buff and three grey shades to provide a superbly realistic natural sandstone or granite finish. www.bradstone.com

Natural Paving has expanded its current range to include a stylish collection of clay pavers.

The pavers provide a functional, attractive and natural way to carve visual outdoor spaces due to their unparalleled versatility as they can be laid flat or vertically and in a myriad of random or traditional patterns such as stretcher bond, basket weave or herringbone.

The collection comes in a variety of colours and finishes, including Aureum, Terrestre, Forum, and Sepia. www.naturalpaving.co.uk British Tumbled Stone Setts provide exceptional driveway, pathway and patio solutions, whilst saving time and money. The range is produced from a unique, high quality and aesthetically pleasing material, and can be laid on a screeded bed as a flexible paving system or pointed. The stone offers outstanding technical performance capabilities, including colour fastness, high density and long durability. www.burlingtonstone.com

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

17/09/2013 16:51

Burlington Pro Landscaper Ad.indd 1

09/09/2013 16:03

Fabulous Tegula Paving at Sainburys, Penrith

For more information visit www.tobermore.co.uk or call us on 0844 800 5736 Architect: Manning Elliott, Cumbria Main contractor: Bowmer & Kirkland Sub-contractor: Thomas Armstrong Product details: Tegula 80mm Heather

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17/09/2013 11:39

TUESDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2013

PLAN YOUR DAY

PLAN YOUR DAY AT FUTURESCAPE!

F

utureScape 2013 is rapidly approaching, and building on the amazing success of last year the second event will be bigger and better; we will have around 100 companies exhibiting, covering a wealth of products, from the latest machinery, top end decking, artificial grass, planters, latest enhancements in technology, lighting, irrigation and some of the leading UK nurseries and many more.

On top of this, the very popular seminar programme has been extended.The seminars will be delivered by some of the most knowledgeable industry figures and each of the seminars will allow questions from the audience. It is really worth checking out the website www.futurescapeevent. com to find out about the excellent speakers and choose the seminars you wish to attend.

One of the main highlights last year were the special events The Detail is in the Design; Let’s Hear it Live and View from the Top and again this year we have lined up five designers that are top of their game, the Let’s Hear it Live is with

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Adam Frost, Chelsea Gold winner, top designer and poacher turned game keeper. We are also delighted to announce a completely new event The Beauty is in twhe Build which has some of the leading names in landscaping, with numerous RHS Gold medals between them – really knowledgeable and infectious characters.

We really look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday 19 November at FutureScape event, Kempton Park, in the meantime please visit www.futurescapeevent.com for full details of the day.

@jimeljays

@lisaeljays

Jim and Lisa Wilkinson Directors, Eljays44 Ltd 01903 234077 www.futurescapeevent.com

CHECKLIST ● Clear a full day in the diary ● Check with colleagues if they

wish to attend with you ● Go to www.futurescapeevent.com and register ● Choose the seminars you wish to attend – it’s really important that you’re registered ● Choose the special events you wish to attend – again please pre-register ● Check out the exhibiting companies and decide which ones you want to see ● Work out how to get there – large car park free of charge and direct train from London Waterloo (Kempton Park station within the grounds) ● And of course remember to visit the Pro Landscaper café for a coffee or tea! www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/09/2013 09:21

Specialist Garden Architecture Decorative panels, garden features & furniture hand made to order in natural or painted timber

01255 688361 www.gardentrellis.co.uk

Effective supply of water evenly in both directions all the way around the rootball, drenching the soil laterally

Market leaders of tree anchoring systems for over 30 years Range of kits available to provide above and below ground anchoring

Minimal waste - no run off, evaporation or water escaping directly into the bottom of the tree pit

Suitable for rootballed & containerised trees up to 20m high Complete security and stability for the tree Fast and easy installation using simple tools

Quick to assemble, tailor to size and suitable for all rootball diameters

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DOWNLOAD LATEST AUTOCAD DRAWINGS ONLINE

Our latest innovation, the D-MAN, is a strong, compact and lightweight cell primarily designed to replace the traditional kerbstone or sleeper deadman.

Easy to use individually or in multiples Simple to lock / unlock cells together Distinctive letterbox style wire tendon anchor point Unique cup shape for water storage Build-up large planting areas with connected & stackable cells Protect roof planting areas from damage Nestable cells for compact transportation with other products Made from recycled plastic!

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18/09/2013 11:40

The Cushman 1600XD lives to conquer any job. There’s no task too big for the 22-hp diesel engine, 1,600lb payload and massive cargo bed.

And no matter where work needs to be done, you’ll get there thanks to user-selectable 4WD, a locking rear differential and 4-wheel independent suspension. So, whether you’re moving mountains or driving over them, the 1600XD is ready for action.

Let’s Work

Make Molehills Out Of Mountains

www.cushman.co.uk Distributed in the UK by Ransomes Jacobsen Ltd PL/1600XD/10/2013

PL 1600XDR ad 186x118mm.indd 1

16/08/2013 10:07

ONE MACHINE...

...OVER 25 ATTACHMENTS

Two Wheel Tractors For all your landscaping tasks from ground cultivation, grass cutting and snow clearing.

Ground Cultivation

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Cutting & Clearing

Choice of power units Reliable and hard wearing Nationwide dealer network Demonstrations easily arranged 2 year professional warranty

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17/09/2013 11:57

Equipment

EQUIPMENT NEWS

Welcome to the equipment pages of Pro Landscaper, where we will be looking at new products and developments in the market. If you have any stories, please email them to joe.wilkinson@eljays44.com or tweet me @ProLanKit

Makita offers free threeyear service plan for new deep-cut disc cutter The recently launched Makita EK6100 petrol powered, 12in disc-cutter is already firmly established with site operators and hire fleets due to its powerful 61cc, 2-stroke, 4.2hp engine and 110mm maximum depth of cut. This is the deepest of any 12in machine available on the market as well as offering the smallest overall size profile of any machine available.

Now a further advantage is being offered for a limited period only – free service cover for three years on all machines purchased between

September and December 2013.

These models have a single multi-function “touch and stop” control switch for choke, on/ stop, with a service position, and efficient engine cooling is achieved by a new design of engine cover. These new Makita disc cutters also feature the latest design in multi-rib drive belt systems with semi-automatic cam tensioning for

longer lasting cutting wheel performance. The Makita Cosmos range of diamond-cutting wheels provides enhanced performance and cutting productivity. www.makitauk.com

excellent platform for our dealer partners and us as a manufacturer to get in front of both existing and potential turf and groundcare professional customers across a variety of industries.

“Working in partnership with Browns and Lister Wilder ensured that visitors had the chance to see, touch and feel our machines,

helping them understand all the key features and benefits for their own applications. In addition, visitors had access to expert dealers, who were there to help operators make the right purchasing decisions.”

New machines for 2013 that were featured on the stand included Kubota’s recently launched RTV400Ci utility vehicle and the M6060 mid-range tractor. Kubota also displayed a number of its popular compact tractors and ride-on mowers at the show. For more information on Kubota and its extensive range for the construction, groundcare and agriculture sectors visit www.kubota.co.uk or call 01844 268 000.

Kubota at SALTEX 2013 Kubota teamed up with two of its dealer partners at SALTEX 2013 to showcase its market leading and high performance range of tractor and groundcare solutions.The company joined forces with George Browns and Lister Wilder giving visitors the opportunity to see Kubota’s extensive range of solutions for the groundcare sector, including some of its latest introductions and innovations for 2013.

Adrian Langmead, Kubota’s Business Development Manager for its Tractor and Groundcare Division, said: “SALTEX provided an www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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PSD appoint David Joel PSD, distributors for AS Motor, Eliet, Koppl, Heftee and Rotair are committed to working exclusively with the professional dealer, ensuring all users are offered professional advice, service and backup. With one of the largest ranges of groundscare products on the market, PSD are enhancing their service by appointing David Joel as their Business Development Manager for the South and East.

David has a wealth of experience in the horticultural machinery industry having spent the last seven years as general manager of a garden machinery distributor overseeing the day to day running of the business.

During his 28 years within the industry, he started in the workshop building machines from raw materials, then progressed to managing the warehouse and spare parts departments, including stock control and deliveries.

David has a unique insight into the demands of the modern machinery dealership, which we aim to use to offer our dealers unrivaled service and support. PSD Managing Director Chris Gibson said “having known David for many years, coupled with the experience he has gained within other dealerships, we are confident that we can improve the service we offer to our dealers.” www.psdgroundscare.co.uk October 2013

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Equipment

Chainsaws

Chainsaws are potentially dangerous machines, which can cause major injury if used by untrained persons.

Anyone who uses a chainsaw at work must receive adequate training, and be competent in using a chainsaw for that type of work.

Combined chain brake and front hand guard

Guide bar (a cover should be fitted when transporting)

Exhaust (directed away from the operator)

Chain with low-kickback characteristics

Chain catcher

Hand/eye/ ear defender symbols On/off switch Throttle trigger lockout

Anti vibration mounts

Rear chain breakage guard

Maintaining a chainsaw Proper maintenance is essential if a chainsaw is to be safe to use and will provide protection against ill health from excessive noise and vibration.

Maintain the saw in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations with all the safety devices in efficient working order and all guards in place. It will need to be regularly serviced by someone who is proficient in doing so.

Operators need to report any damage or excessive wear from daily checks on the following: ● On/off switch ● Chain brake ● Chain catcher ● Silencer ● Guide bar, drive sprocket and chain links ● Side plate, front and rear hand guards ● Anti-vibration mounts ● Starting cord for correct tension Using these tips for proper chainsaw maintenance will extend the life of your saw and make it much easier to use.You need to establish a chainsaw maintenance routine; this will help you to remember to keep your chainsaw in tip top condition, ensuring that it remains safe and easy to use.

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Every time you use the chainsaw Test the throttle trigger on your saw.You should not be able to pull the trigger until you press the trigger lockout. If you experience any binding, take the chainsaw to your dealer immediately. Consult your owner’s manual and clean your chain brake.

Confirm that the chain catcher looks good.

Examine your air filter for holes and replace it if you need to.Turn the bar every time before you use your chainsaw so that it wears evenly.You should also make sure that the lubrication hole in the bar is clean, the bar groove is clean and the sprocket tip is lubricated. Examine the oiler and confirm that the bar and chain are being lubricated.Your chain should be sharp and tense.

The drive sprocket, starter cord and starter should be checked for damage and you should clean the air slots in the starter housing. Make sure you don’t have any loose screws and make sure your stop switch works.

2

On a weekly basis File burrs off the sides of the bar and clean the muffler screen, cooling fins, carburettor box, air box and spark plug. Make sure that the spark plug gap is half a millimetre.The clutch drum bearing should be lubricated and the AV elements should

be clean and strong. Do a quick check on the recoil spring and starter and make sure that the fins on your flywheel are clean.

On a monthly basis Several elements on your chainsaw must be checked for wear on a monthly basis. While most of these elements were made to last for years, if you fail to notice that one is damaged it could cause you serious trouble.You should examine the chain brake’s brake band, the clutch drum, clutch centre, clutch spring, fuel filter, cables and connections on a monthly basis. Replace any element that looks damaged or worn immediately, before attempting to use your saw.

You also need to do some regular cleaning to extend the life of your chainsaw. The carburettor, fuel tank and oil tank must all be cleaned on a regular basis, both inside and out. If you do not keep these parts clean, they will build up gunk and eventually stop working. It is much easier to clean the parts on a regular basis than it is to try to repair or replace them if you have allowed them to become damaged.

For information on the correct legislation for using chainsaws, visit www.hse.gov.uk www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/09/2013 12:29

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18/09/2013 11:22

Latest Kit Equipment

CHAINSAWS LATEST KIT Makita continues to challenge for an increased share of the chainsaw market with the introduction of three new 35cc models to the range. It now includes professional models at 50cc, 73cc and up to 90cc with a 74cm bar length for

A new name in lawn and garden maintenance equipment from one of the UK’s largest distributors of garden machinery, Henton & Chattell was launched at IOG SALTEX 2013. The Cobra range

the heaviest forestry operations.

The range also includes top-handle machines for use by trained and certificated tree surgeons. The new Makita EA3500 chainsaws are powered by environmentally friendly, 35cc 2-stroke motors that deliver 2.3hp and high torque. They are very compact and lightweight which makes the complete machine, at just 4.9kg, a light and comfortably controllable saw for forestry operations.

WWW.MAKITAUK.COM

STIHL is renowned for its innovative power tools and advanced technologies that bring benefits to users and their environment too.

The STIHL M-Tronic engine management system is another classic example: its self-tuning technology ensures optimum engine performance day in, day out and makes M-Tronic power tools very easy and efficient to use. Launched on the hard-working MS 441 C-M chainsaw in 2010 and subsequently on the MS 241 C-M,

High performance, excellent ergonomics and high chain speed are what define the Husqvarna 536LiXP and T536LiXP professional battery powered chainsaws. Powered by sophisticated 36V Li-ion battery technology, the 536LiXp chainsaw and its top handle counterpart,

the T536LiXP, are low noise and have zero emission. Featuring powerful brushless motors, they are capable of delivering high chain speed (20m/s2) and petrol equivalent cutting performance.

Both machines are low vibration, and the T536LiXp also comes with three different size handle

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Chainsaw.indd 67

offers a wide range of products including two petrol powered chainsaws in two bar lengths – 40cm (38cc) and 45cm (46cc) which are ideal for both domestic and professional cutting

and maintenance tasks. Each model is powered by a 2-cycle, air-cooled engine and has cutting speeds of 8500-9000/min and are 4.4kg in weight making them a slightly lighter option. The range is available now from 300 of Henton & Chattell’s dealerships.

WWW.HCUK.CO

the M-Tronic system heralded yet another significant stride in two-stroke engine technology, and its benefits will soon be available

on even more STIHL chainsaws.

What makes the M-Tronic model truly special is that all its advantages come with not a gram of extra weight. This easy-to-use chainsaw remains at just 5.2kg – exactly the same as the standard model MS 261, and vibration is unchanged at a low 3.5m/s2.

WWW.STIHL.CO.UK

grips for optimised operator comfort and a second belt eyelet for quick connection to climbing harness.

WWW.HUSQVARNA.CO.UK

October 2013

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Parts

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18/09/2013 10:44

Latest Kit Equipment

LATEST KIT Ransomes Jacobsen has launched the Ransomes Spider Mini II, the latest addition to their range of radio controlled slope mowers, which also includes the proven Spider 1 and Spider 2. At only 1040mm x 900mm with a 56cm width of cut, the Spider Mini II can access smaller and more difficult areas on wooded slopes, riverbanks and other constricted areas. At only 130kg, its light weight ensures low fuel consumption and emissions, a turf friendly footprint and easy transportation. The industrial quality remote control unit allows the operator to control the drive, steering, engine start and, if required, emergency shutdown.

WWW.RANSOMESJACOBSEN.COM

The CS 100 from Queen’s Awardwinning manufacturer GreenMech, has been especially engineered to meet the tough demands of today’s landscaping professional. Using a remit that includes durability, performance and ease of maintenance, the 100cm professional wood chipper ticks all the boxes and comes at a price that gives value for money. The CS 100 has a choice of either a 16hp manual start or 18hp electric start petrol engine. The CS 100 TMP is available to fit the linkage of a 15hp to 30hp compact tractor.

WWW.GREENMECH.CO.UK

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

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The Toro LT3340 heavy-duty triple mower is designed for jobs where high-productivity grass-cutting is needed. It gives a great finish thanks to its numerous blade configurations and commercial-specification cutting units in both 200mm (8in) and 250mm (10in) diameters. The larger 250mm version, which is available with four, six or eight blades, comes

The new NX series, launched at this year’s IOG SALTEX, is made up of four models from 45 to 60hp and can be specified with either a 24x24 creep speed gear box, or Kioti’s new Advanced HST system which incorporates auto throttle and adjustable HST response controls.

Both the manual and HST models feature Kioti’s popular auto PTO system which links the PTO to the three point linkage, allowing the PTO to automatically engage

The new Little Wonder Hydro Brush Cutter navigates through weeds, heavy brush and overgrown vegetation with ease. The welded steel frame design and engine positioning provide excellent balance regardless of the terrain and, unlike competition, the hydrostatic transmission offers

into its own mowing longer or dense grass, and can easily cut down grass 125mm (5in) or longer to less than 25mm (1in) in one pass. Large diameter high-specification tyres, a robust rear-axle and superb levels of ground clearance mean the machine takes kerbs in its stride.

WWW.LELY.COM

when the linkage is lowered and shut off once raised. All models meet the latest emission standards. In addition to this the 55hp and 60hp models feature Kioti’s new ECO CRDI diesel engine which features common rail direct fuel injection, with diesel particle filter and exhaust gas recirculation, which allow the engine to not only meet the new Tier 4 emission standards (Euro 3B) but exceeded this by a further 10 per cent.

WWW.RECO.CO.UK

The CAMON TJ35 Combi Brushcutter is a combination machine that gives you the ultimate versatility; this powerful 35cc tool makes light work of strimming, hedge cutting and tree pruning. The hedgetrimmer has a rotating head to allow flexibility in cutting all shapes and sizes of hedge, whilst the brushcutter head is fitted with a bump feed as standard but can be easily converted to blades and other alternatives. The chainsaw has its own oil supply and allows you to cut hard to reach branches safely.

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infinitely-variable, clutchless speed selection so you can cut your own path at your own pace. The 10 and

12 gauge formed and welded steel engine base, cutting deck, main frame and control handle can hold up to the toughest conditions. The speed limiter dial allows a firm grip on the control handles right from the start and speed selection whilst on the go.

WWW.LITTLEWONDER.COM

October 2013

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17/09/2013 15:47

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Star Rubber Environmental Ltd The UK’s only manufacturer of TigerMulch Rubber Chippings.

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Equipment

LATEST KIT The Toro Professional 7000 Series, a range of three diesel powered machines, gives a cut width of up to 152cm. These are the pinnacle of the Z Master® line – agile, full size mowers incorporating the revolutionary TURBO FORCE® cutter deck, constructed from 4.5mm steel that makes the decks 31 per cent stronger than ordinary

Bobcat is now offering a new wider range of grading solutions based around the company’s compact loaders and grader attachments.

The new expanded range of grading equipment is designed for use by asphalt and concrete contractors for excavating and grading work for new roads, pavements, concrete flatwork, tennis courts, utilities and landscaping projects.

WWW.BOBCAT.EU

Simon Richard the UK agent for Reform says “the Muli T8S incorporates high comfort suspension for demand-oriented driving comfort, stability and safety.

The electronically controlled hydro-pneumatic suspension system keeps the wheel position at the desired level, compensating for any

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

Latest Kit Machinery.indd 71

4.5mm commercial steel decks.

The spindles are the toughest around – rigorously tested to ensure they can survive impacts which would destroy less robust spindles. The cast iron housing absorbs impact loads and distributes them across a broader area of the deck shell.

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Drivers who demand advanced off-road performance, all-day riding comfort and the ability to challenge extreme terrain, take note – John Deere has introduced the powerful XUV 825i Gator. The new XUV 825i is equipped with an 812cc, threecylinder, liquid cooled, dual overhead cam petrol engine producing 37kW (50hp) and a top speed of 70km/h (44mph), plus a 26.7 litre fuel tank. On-demand true 4WD system with an auto-locking front differential. A fully locking four-wheel drive system allows the

Gator to cope easily with all types of terrain. The fully independent, double wishbone suspension system provides 203mm (8in) of wheel travel and up to 267mm (11in) of ground clearance.

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subdivided into 16. For slow working mode, an optional finely stepped 24 gear creep speed gearbox is available. A wide range of attachments can be accommodated payload. Muli vehicles has a including a built-on self-loading trailer, synchronised 40kph splitting gearbox salt and snow spreader container, as standard equipment, offering eight tipper and more.

WWW.SIMON-RICHARD.CO.UK forward gears which can be

For over a decade, Kubota’s popular L-Series tractors have been at the forefront of the industry thanks to their reliability, performance and price point. The introduction of an improved L4100 will continue to add to this legacy. The original L4100 was discontinued in 2011, but increased demand for a unit of its size has led to the company bringing an updated model to the market to satisfy demand. The machine features Kubota’s reliable and powerful 41hp E-TVCS engine, which offers the power and torque to complete any job whilst keeping emissions low.

WWW.KUBOTA.COM

Verge mowing and hedge cutting is now a lot safer and quicker thanks to Multihog’s verge mower attachment. This side shifting and traversing mower with 4000mm arm and 1250mm head allows a variety of vegetation to be cut on either side of the carriageway. The unit is front mounted, bringing a host of benefits compared to conventional tractor combinations. Firstly the operator looks ahead at all times, eliminating the need to constantly look over their shoulder, which is not only much safer but avoids the risk of physical strain and stress.

WWW.MULTIHOG.CO.UK

October 2013

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Business Tips Equipment

Trading with...

Makita

Pro Landscaper interviewed Mark Earles of Makita about its outdoor power equipment, training and support given, and the future of Makita UK What is your role in the company?

really do know the market. Many of them have done business with us in small ways before, but now we are taking the MM4 4-stroke product range to them and there is a lot of enthusiasm as more and more contractors are looking for the emissions solution that our engine gives.

My title is National Sales Manager Outdoor Power Equipment (OPE). The What additional support role includes determining do you offer the landscape specifications of machines contractors?

Mark Earles, National Sales to match the expectations of Our training centre at Milton Manager Outdoor Power the British market. I liaise with the Keynes is the key to our Equipment, Makita UK Makita factories across the world, philosophy for both contractors and work with our established and expanding and dealers. We supply full technical data files on distribution as they are our core target all machines including all vibration calculations presently. My role includes sales targets and and emission details, as these also have to be OPE related elements of our marketing and included in major national tenders. Remember exhibitions. that it was Makita that invented the AVT (anti vibration technology) for big hammers drills and other construction tools to meet the What is the ethos of the company? industry demands for HAV (hand arm vibration) Without question the Makita philosophy protection. That’s why our OPE machines are is: we design and manufacture professional amongst the safest in the world. tools for professional operators. The brand is a market leader in the construction industry power tool market and has ambitions to Why do contractors choose your brand secure an increasing share of the UK’s grounds over competitors? maintenance, landscaping, and forestry market Makita machines do the job. Contractors with the same long-term innovative strategy need tools that do the job and last. If you have that we have used over the past decade in the secured a cost-competitive annual maintenance power tool business. contract you cannot afford for the operators to be standing idle with downtime machines, and equally you want them to be moving off What is your route to market? site with the job done quicker than you had We are actively talking to the main players in the OPE business, the specialised dealers who budgeted for.

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What health and safety precautions do you take to ensure the safety of the contractor using your products?

We know as much about HAV, vibrations and emissions as anyone in the market place. We are members of EPTA, the European association that determines regulations and safety matters, so we are at the heart of safety wherever we are marketing. As an example, we are sponsoring the new R2 arboretal database through Lantra, which we think is another step towards professional qualifications being recognised properly in that sector. We are launching our ‘Be Safe’ programme, which takes a Lantra-approved demonstration on machine safe use and familiarisation into land based colleges all over the country.These 90-minute free presentations are another part of our efforts to raise the standards through the colleges.

Do you think that the next 12 months will be better than the last?

I’m confident that our business will grow and I hope that means that the industry’s business grows across the board. Our prices are getting ever more competitive and the machines coming now will meet the higher standards demanded by professional landscapers, so I am confident we will achieve our goals in the future.

Makita UK Michigan Drive, Tongwell, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK15 8JD Tel: 01908 211 678 Email: leads@makitauk.com Web: www.makitauk.com

www.prolandscapermagazine.com

18/09/2013 14:42

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Trade

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Equipment

John Deere ‘Leaping Ahead’ Product Launch

The John Deere X950R, dubbed the ‘Rock Star of Berlin’, is the first rear discharge John Deere mower. The basic X950R will be available in four different configurations to suit different customer needs, with a choice of 122cm or 137cm (48in or 54in) decks, and either a low or high dump collector with the largest hopper in its class.

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Business Tips Equipment

At the end of August, Joe Wilkinson was invited

by John Deere to attend a product launch of 32 new machines on the turf side of their business, in Berlin, Germany. A group of 200+ journalists from 28 different countries were all keen to get a look at the new kit, and try the machines out in a ride and drive show.

The star of the show, the machine John Deere dubbed the ‘Rock Star of Berlin’, was the new X950R lawn tractor, based on the 700 series, but with greater capabilities in terms of collecting and disposing of cuttings. The basic X950R will be available in four different configurations to suit different needs, with a choice of 48 or 54 inch decks and low or high dump collector. After listening to feedback from customers, this machine has been equipped with a large rear discharge chute, and 550 litre (low dump) or 670 litre (high dump) hoppers, the largest in its class. A unique single multifunction hydraulic lever makes the collector and deck operation very convenient and also controls front mounted attachments.

The other main attractions were the new XUV 825i Gator and the new four passenger 855D S4. The new XUV 825i is equipped with an 812cc v-twin, liquid cooled, dual overhead cam petrol engine, capable of producing 50hp and a top speed of 70km/h and has a new, larger fuel tank, now measuring 26.7 litres. The automotive grade engine uses electronic fuel

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injection for easy starting, which together with the new CVT air intake results in a smoother automotive style performance. Power steering with an anti-kickback feature is standard on this new model, offering easy control of the vehicle with little effort, regardless of the driving conditions.

The new XUV 855D S4 combines off-road performance and comfort for applications where you need more man power and quicker transfer times to different working areas. The new fourseater Gator is powered by the already proven 21.9hp liquid cooled, three cylinder diesel engine

The star of the show, the machine dubbed the ‘Rock Star of Berlin’, the new X950R used in the two-seater version. This vehicle has a top speed of 51km/h and comes with power steering as standard. To allow for extra passengers or cargo space, the XUV 855D S4 provides a convertible, rear folding bench seat that folds down to give a flat surface for extra storage.

A spacious under seat storage compartment is also included.

Another of the new products was the announcement of a snow blower attachment, making current John Deere lawn tractors year-

round machines. Durable and easy to install, the 44 and 47 inch snow blowers further increase the versatility of a select series of machines for year-round use. The heavy duty, two-stage design allows these snow blowers to perform consistently in various operating conditions. Installation and removal are made simple with a quick-hitch mounting system and they contain a flexible and movable robust chute.

We were also able to get a first look at the new entry level walk behind mowers for professionals – the John Deere PRO 47V. This mower is robust and flexible, specifically designed for the needs of the smaller landscaping business, or as an additional machine for contractors. With a cutting width of 47cm, the pro 47V is highly manoeuvrable – even in difficult areas or around obstacles.

The folding handle and compact size of the mower also makes it easy to transport, even in smaller vehicles.

All of the machines mentioned, and the many others launched, should be available for purchase from your local John Deere dealer in time for the spring/summer 2014 season.

For more pictures, check out Pro Landscaper’s Facebook page.

October 2013 2012

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18/09/2013 11:18

Three Peaks Extreme Challenge Huge congratulations to the Three Peaks Extreme Team who successfully conquered the three highest peaks in the UK and cycled the 450 miles between them in September for Perennial. The team formed an amazing bond which saw them through some gruelling conditions, and they weren’t even disheartened when at the beginning the journey was blighted with public transport problems. The accommodation was basic, they bunked down in youth hostels – for some the beds were far too small and sleeping in close proximity threw up its own challenges! With mercifully few injuries and mechanical problems the team were lucky enough to get some amazing views from the peaks – although were disappointed by the lack of driver consideration when cycling between them. It’s still not too late to donate at

www.justgiving.com/3PeaksExtreme

JUST A FEW OF THE GENEROUS DONATIONS! Best of luck from all at British Sugar TOPSOIL Donation by Andy Spetch £500 + £125 Gift Aid Awesome challenge and a great cause. Good luck with everything and I hope everybody gets back in one piece.

Donation by Dave Sewell £50.00 + £12.50 Gift Aid I’m really sorry I couldn’t join you and wish you all well and the best of luck. Best wishes from Dan and all the team at Gardenlink PS Don’t forget to pack the Sudocream!

Donation by Dan Flynn £100.00 Good Luck and don't forget to take a nice picnic Donation by Andy Sturgeon £100.00 + £25.00 Gift Aid Isn't it all down hill from Scotland? Fantastic effort good luck with the challenge. We will follow the highs and low on facebook. God Bless Donation by Frosts Landscape Construction £100.00 + £25.00 Gift Aid

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People

THE

LITTLE INTERVIEW Gabriela Vagala

Landscape Architect, Scape Design Associates www.scapeda.co.uk In business terms, do you expect 2013 to be better than 2012?

Yes. The first half of the year has proved that already!

What is your most important piece of equipment?

My laptop.

A small insight into the world of other professionals from our wide and varied industry. If you’d like to appear in a future issue please email enquiries to editor@pro-landscaper.co.uk What are your unfulfilled career ambitions?

I would love to design a park one day.

What’s your favourite meal?

Japanese hot pot.

Your most inspirational garden?

My mum’s vegetable garden.

Your dream job?

Photographer for National Geographic.

What is the busiest time of year for you?

We are equally busy across the year, as the majority of our projects are abroad.

First album you ever bought?

12 Inches of Snow by Snow.

How important is social media as a means of communication with clients?

Having to get your message across the globe makes social media an essential tool to have!

If you could be any Superhero – who would it be?

A shapeshifter... probably because I’m vain!

Alan Wadsworth

Project Manager, Ground Control www.ground-control.co.uk In business terms, do you expect 2013 to be better than 2012?

I expect this year to be the same as the last; clients expect the best service for the cheapest price.

What is your most important piece of machinery/ equipment?

Our vehicles (a fleet of Land Rovers), without these getting our men and kit to the places we need to go would be impossible.

Name one thing unique about your business.

The people.

What is the busiest time of year for you?

August.

Do you monitor your competitors’ progress?

All of the time looking for new opportunities in the

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market and keep ahead of the rest – you have to keep looking, adapting, and going forward.

How important is social media as a means of communication with clients?

Very important, with the likes of Twitter, YouTube and Facebook you can gather information on anyone and any subject and you can class it as free advertising when used in the right way.

Describe yourself in three words.

Ambitious, hardworking, team player.

What’s your favourite meal?

Steak, with chips and onion rings.

First album you ever bought?

Bad by Michael Jackson.

If you could be any Superhero – who would it be?

Iron Man.

David Whyte

Horticultural Landscape Solutions (Training & Assessment) hortlandscape.solutions@gmail.com Do you expect 2013 to be better than 2012?

Being the second full year of my business, I hope that it will be better.

What is your most important piece of equipment?

My knapsack sprayer! I have lost count of how many pesticide training courses I have delivered and this is a bit of kit which is serving me well.

Name one thing unique about your business.

Flexibility.

What is the busiest time of year for you?

October through until March, but honestly I am busy all year round.

How is sustainability embedded within business?

As much as possible.

How important is social media as a means of communication with clients?

It is the way of the world. I have found LinkedIn useful in making contacts and generating work.

Do you monitor your competitors’ progress?

Very much so. You have to keep a step ahead of the competition; however I do work closely with other training providers.

How do you find new clients?

Either contacting them directly, or recommendations by satisfied clients.

Describe yourself in three words.

Patient, adaptable, approachable.

What are your unfulfilled career ambitions?

Doing more contract management and consultancy, in particular on the arboricultural side; and to do more in woodland conservation.

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17/09/2013 15:55

People

Dr Peter Reader Peter Reader Landscapes www.readerlandscapes.com In business terms, do you expect 2013 to be better than 2012?

In 2012 I was a student so this is my first year of trading. My diploma has set me up very well, and after winning a Silver-Gilt medal and the People’s Choice Award at Hampton Court, I am hoping these will give me a great launch.

What is your most important piece of equipment?

My trusty secateurs. Somehow whenever I go into a garden I end up needing them.

Tristen Knight

Tristen Knight Garden Design Co www.tristenknightdesign.co.uk Do you expect 2013 to be better than 2012?

This is my first year trading after working for a design practice for the previous five years.

What is your most important piece of equipment?

My Apple Mac Book Pro and Vectorworks CAD...

I can move and work anywhere effortlessly.

Name one thing unique about your business.

Having had experience with so many projects and clients at the highest level. I have helped design and

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Name one thing unique about your business.

I spent the first 25 years of my life as a GP, so I am skilled in listening and communicating with people.

Good communication and understanding is the key to designing a garden that delivers what the customer wants.

Best book you’ve ever read?

The Lord of the Rings.

How do you find new clients?

I think word of mouth is vital in this business, and you have to make yourself noticeable and a little different.

Your dream job?

Being David Attenborough. Getting paid to go to exotic locations around the world and see amazing landscapes and animals.

What are your unfulfilled career ambitions?

Having achieved a Silver-Gilt medal this year, I would love to get a Gold.

If you could be any Superhero – who would it be?

He’s not really a superhero as such, but Indiana Jones.

build a huge range of domestic and commercial projects including two RHS Chelsea Flower Show gardens and one RHS Tatton Park show garden.

many areas in the grounds where you can sit and reflect.

Describe yourself in three words Perfectionist, determined, patient.

How do you find new clients?

Having recently setup my garden design business, I’m exploring all sorts of avenues: social media, networking meetings, flyers, local advertising and relying on friends and family to spread the word!

Your most inspirational garden?

I love Holkham Hall in Norfolk. There are so

What’s your favourite meal?

A wonderful Mediterranean salad with a good glass of red and ice cream for pudding.

What’s your favourite meal?

Apple crumble and custard...for starter, main and pudding.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

I used to build historic racing cars and have raced a classic Mini for the last seven years.

First album you ever bought?

Jive Bunny: The Album by Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers.

October 2013

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Jobs Skilled Hard Landscaper Andersplus Location: Hertfordshire/North London

JOBS

Our client is an award winning garden, patio and driveway specialist based in Herts.

Due to a large increase in work he is seeking to add a skilled hard landscaper to his established team. Work is in Herts and North London and occasionally Essex. The role is offered on a permanent basis and the key skills and experience required are: block paving, brickwork and slabbing.

For full details on all jobs, please go to www.prolandscapermagazine.com and click on the ‘Jobs’ section.

Call 01903 234 077 or email hortijobs@eljays44.com with your vacancy.

For more details please go to www.prolandscapermagazine.com and click on the ‘Jobs’ section.

Hard Landscaper

Park & Horticultural Manager

Foxcroft Landscapes Location: Lancashire/North West

The Landscape Group Location: Hastings

Foxcroft Landscapes is an exciting award winning landscaping company. We are looking for an experienced hard landscaper with a wide range of skills.You will report directly to the partners of the business and will be expected to work independently with a small team.Your work must be of a very high standard and you must have a passion for the job.

For this new post, we are looking for an energetic manager to be part of The Landscape Group team at our Hastings, Rother and AmicusHorizon contract.This would be an ideal opportunity to take the first step into contract management and a career in the green services industry.This role will require a self-starter with a positive attitude and strong leadership skills to develop this team to excellent levels of grounds maintenance operational performance. A keen interest in horticulture and the green environment is an essential requirement and skills to demonstrate this, an advantage.

For more details please go to www.prolandscapermagazine.com and click on the ‘Jobs’ section.

For more details please go to www.prolandscapermagazine.com and click on the ‘Jobs’ section.

Landscape Foreman

Skilled Horticulturist (Watering Lane Nursery)

Andersplus Location: Kent

Experienced, ambitious Landscape Foreman sought for an award winning company who are based in Kent. Their work is in Kent, SE London as well as Sussex and Surrey. The role will be a hands-on one, overseeing the day to day running of domestic landscape projects (typically in the 30-40k bracket, but can be as high as 250k), ordering materials, ensuring that the project runs to schedule and to the standard expected.

The Eden Project Location: Cornwall The primary function of this post is to propagate, establish and maintain plants in the tropical section at the nursery though you would naturally support all other areas of the nursery.

Candidates should ideally have three years relevant practical experience and have attained an RHS Level 3 certificate or NVQ level 3 & 4 and PA1, PA6. An interest in tropical plants is desirable for this role, however, training can be provided for the right candidate with a sound horticultural background.

For more details please go to www.prolandscapermagazine.com and click on the ‘Jobs’ section.

For more details please go to www.prolandscapermagazine.com and click on the ‘Jobs’ section.

Trees Manager

SENIOR BIDDING PROFESSIONAL

This role is responsible for managing the day to day activities of the tree department, including assessing and pricing tree works, securing additional sales and maintaining a positive relationship with the clients. The ideal candidate will possess strong communication and organisation skills, be financially astute and a natural leader. A pro-active and positive, professional attitude is essential as well as an ability to work well under pressure.

This role is responsible for providing strategic sales direction with focus on bidding and winning commercial contracts. Candidates must have financial and risk planning experience as well as a full understanding of the market sectors and competitive pricing models.

For more details please go to www.prolandscapermagazine.com and click on the ‘Jobs’ section.

For more details please go to www.prolandscapermagazine.com and click on the ‘Jobs’ section.

The Landscape Group Location: Dorset

Horticruitment UK Ltd Location: South East with national travel

Enclosed Biome Skilled Landscaper

Soft landscaper/Grower

We are looking for an experienced horticulturist to join our team responsible for maintaining and developing the plant displays and exhibits in the Mediterranean Biome.

You will be expected to work to very high standards and have a good eye for detail. An all-round knowledge of Mediterranean horticultural skills will be necessary as well as the ability to develop a specialist understanding for specific areas of responsibility.

We are looking for a competent and motivated hands on soft landscaper/grower to work on our nursery and to plant out our landscape projects once our hard landscapers have finished. Must have at least three years skills in nursery work plus pruning, planting, turf laying and excellent plant knowledge. A driving licence is essential. This position is permanent to the right candidate. Creative Landscapes are a Gold medal winning landscape company that specialises in domestic garden design and build.

For more details please go to www.prolandscapermagazine.com and click on the ‘Jobs’ section.

For more details please go to www.prolandscapermagazine.com and click on the ‘Jobs’ section.

The Eden Project Location: Cornwall

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October 2013

Creative Landscapes Location: Worcestershire

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