Posts Tagged ‘create’

DRAINAGE IN GARDENS

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Appropriate drainage in a garden is of utmost importance; otherwise you will end up with muddy areas in your garden, rotting plants or even worse, damaged house and wall foundations.

Soil types, such as clay soil, will certainly cause drainage problems in your garden, as it tends to retain water.  A shallow water table on your property will also create drainage problems.  You can check for poor drainage on your property by looking out for wet patches or puddles of water on the ground.  

The first technique you can use to improve the drainage in your garden, entails removing the first 15cm of topsoil and replacing it with more soluble soil.

Another technique which can be used – and which is not as intensive – is to create different levels in your garden area.  You can either arrange a slightly sloped ground level in your garden, or you can shape your garden areas in such a way, as to create channels to carry the excess water away.

A third technique involves installing a French drain.  This entails creating a type of underground sieve, by digging a trench and filling it with loose debris, like excess building materials or pebbles.  This sieve should be covered by a strong steel grid and a layer of top soil of about 15cm thick.  The ideal place to create this sieve would be at the lowest part of the garden, where most of the water gathers.

You can also utilize a poorly drained area by having your landscaper design and create a large pond. 

Should you wish to have your very own Kingfisher garden, you can contact our office on (012) 460 7990 or send us an e-mail to edrich@badecbros.com and we will send one of our highly experienced and innovative landscaping designers out to create a unique garden design, tailored to your specific needs.  You will also be provided with a free, no-obligation quotation.

Our team of dedicated professionals has been designing and implementing exceptional and beautiful gardens in a professional manner for the past 12 years.  We can also provide the home owner with any exterior decorative feature.  We pride ourselves in providing our clients with excellent, efficient and comprehensive service.  We offer all the products and services associated with creating a peaceful, and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living space which will complement the style of your home and in which you can relax.

Linda Poultney ©

TERRACED GARDENS

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

A sloping garden area has the potential of causing a lot of logistical garden lay-out headaches for a home owner. Fortunately our professional team of landscaping experts is at hand to offer years of experience and superb assistance.

                                                                                                                                

 

 

 

 

 

Should you find yourself with a sloping garden area, you can contact our office on (012) 460 7990 or send us an e-mail to edrich@badecbros.com and we will send one of our highly experienced and innovative landscaping designers out to create a unique garden design, tailored to your specific needs. You will also be provided with a free, no-obligation quotation.

Whelpton (165)

Our team of dedicated professionals has been designing and implementing exceptional and beautiful gardens in a professional manner for the past 12 years. We can also provide the home owner with any exterior decorative feature. We pride ourselves in providing our clients with excellent, efficient and comprehensive service. We offer all the products and services associated with creating a peaceful, and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living space which will complement the style of your home and in which you can relax.

 

Whelpton (157)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linda Poultney ©

AFRO-CONTEMPORARY GALLERY

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

 

 

The trend-setting experts at Kingfisher Landscaping were approached to provide a breath of fresh air to this existing garden, which was originally installed by our professional team.  The clients’ brief to the resourceful landscaping designer was to add a couple of new features and spice it up a bit.  They also wanted to create more privacy in certain areas of their garden. 

 

Kingfisher Landscaping incorporated clean, straight lines into the hard and soft scaping elements, and added stylish art and décor pieces to the overall garden design.  We started this project by cleaning up the areas that needed to be revamped and then proceeded to construct raised, angular planting areas.  Each of these beds differs in height, which creates interesting levels.  Combined with the various textures – interesting plant palette, pebbles, screed blocks and sleepers – our innovative designer created an aesthetically pleasing exterior work of art.

 

We cast concrete screed blocks on site, which act as stepping stones and lead the garden ambler through this fascinating outdoor gallery.  Black pebbles were strewn around the steppers, to fill the area and add contrasting texture. 

 

This fascinating garden was specifically designed to incorporate and exhibit the clients’ impressive anthology of African art.  We also added a few artistic items – dogon ladders, a dogon bench, and authentic mill stones – to complement the client’s collection.  Our in-house décor company, Badec Bros Deco, manufactured wooden feature poles, as well as, solid mild steel screens and gorgeous trellis screens, which were finished in a rust effect.  The magnificent sculptures were brought to their full glory, by placing them on mild steel Cubedec pedestals – courtesy of Badec Bros Deco – which were also finished in a rust effect, to match the organic theme of the garden.

 

                                                                                                                                                           Where the boundary walls were not sufficient in providing privacy to certain parts of the garden, we brought in customized, mild steel screens.  These screens were placed in an overlapping manner, which creates privacy and adds to the artistic theme of the garden.  The same effect was achieved by grouping together wooden feature poles in another part of the garden, which was too exposed to the clients’ liking.

 

We used a limited amount of plant species in our palette, but chose these plants for their interesting textures.  Bromeliads (aechmea fasciata), desert spoons (dasylirion wheeleri), aloes “hedgehog”, bitter aloes (aloe ferox), carex green sedges, mother-in-law’s-tongues (sansevierias laurentii), candelabrum (euphorbia ingens) were all planted strategically around the garden.  The home owners also posses a lovely collection of cycads, which were moved and re-planted in order to best exhibit their beauty.

The aloes “hedgehog” were planted in neat rows in one rectangular raised bed, which was covered with rough sand to augment the use of texture.  The spiky desert spoons and plump candelabrum were planted against the boundary walls to soften the area.  Another angular planter was planted with lush mondo grass (ophiopogon japonicus), whilst yet another elevated planter was decorated with authentic mill stones and planted with dainty daisy lawn (phyla nodiflora).

The end-result is a beautifully renovated garden, which perfectly displays the individual art pieces and complements the attractive home, which it so effortlessly envelops.

 Whether it is landscaping, installations of Koi ponds, water features, wooden decking, garden illumination, swimming pools, irrigation or the inclusion of mosaics and garden décor in the garden – Kingfisher Landscaping will always define your exterior lifestyle in a stylish fashion.  For more information, visit the company’s detailed website.

The landscaping experts at Kingfisher Landscaping design and implement exceptional and beautiful gardens in a professional manner and can provide the home owner with any exterior decorative feature.  We pride ourselves in providing our clients with excellent, efficient and comprehensive service.  We offer all the products and services associated with creating a peaceful, and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living space which will complement the style of your home and in which you can relax.

Linda Poultney ®

 

 

 

MODERN TROPICAL

Friday, December 11th, 2009

 

 

 

 

At the entrance to this magnificent garden, we built a sloping water feature, lined with chunky arrabella rock, which cascades into the Koi pond on the lowest level.  Next to the water feature, we constructed wooden decking steps from Seligna wood, which leads the visitor over the Koi pond and around the corner toward the main entertainment area of this modern home.  Lush, tropical bamboo palms, cycas revolutas, Dicksonia antarctica ferns and varigated grass were planted to frame the hard, neat lines of the deck and Koi pond, and to enhance the tropical theme of the garden.   

To enliven the dreary wall next to the garage in the drive-way, we designed and installed a vibrant mosaic, spread over three horizontal panels measuring 2 meters by 1,5 meters each.

We bordered the lawn with double cobble-edging and filled it with arrabella rock to define both the beds in the corners closest to the patio, as well as, the lawn area.  Seligna decking was installed to enlarge the entertainment area and the colour of the decking perfectly complements the wooden door and window frames of this elegant home.  By positioning bamboo palms in the corner beds, we provided height and alleviated the linear theme by planting dark green murraya exotica and yellow-leafed sheena’s gold shrubs.  We also installed garden lighting among the shrubs in the beds, and in the actual decking to illuminate this gorgeous garden at night. 

The entire swimming pool was edged in with Seligna decking, to create a tidy, compact appearance.  We also built an elongated Seligna flower box, which has a secondary purpose as a comfortable bench.  We filled it with verdant bamboo to soften the periphery of this part of the garden.  At the furthest end of this area, we once again bordered the lawn with linear double cobble-edging, filled with chunky arrabella rock  and planted bamboo palms for height and luxuriant murraya exotica and sheena’s gold shrubs to augment the over-all tropical effect. 

In this exquisite shaded back garden, we created an inviting seating area by constructing a Seligna pergola over the Seligna decking.  Rough-edged stepping stones, interlinked with lumpy arrabella rock extends this peaceful zone.  To augment the serene atmosphere we constructed a sandstone-clad water feature and placed a wooden bench close to the lush plant beds against the boundary wall.  Right against the wall we planted Viburnum shrubs, which will eventually grow to the same height as the boundary wall.  One will then be able to trim it into a profuse hedge.  Next we planted golden goddess arum lilies and varigated grasses.  In the 1m² planters, we planted brumeliads, which bring in a splash of colour with their red leaves.  Closer to the pergola, we planted a few more dicksonia antarctica ferns.

We wrapped the entire house with walkways.  At each door leading to the garden, we constructed a Seligna deck landing.  Walkways, laid out with double cobble-edging and filled with rough-edged sandstone stepping stones and interlinked with chunky arrabella rock leads the garden stroller from one deck landing to the next, right around the house. 

In this section of the garden, we built a sandstone-clad water feature with the stainless steel water spout mounted in the red-tiled feature wall.  The red tiles bring in a sparkle of colour to this green, tropical garden. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Against the wall, we planted philledendron xanadu’s and proceeded with the planting of nandina pygmaea’s, varigated grass and mondo grass in straight modern lines, from the higher plants in the back to the lower plants in the front.  A solitary sandstone bench in the plant bed invites one to sit down and relax in the cool shade.  At night, the garden lights will illuminate this area beautifully.

We also installed the entire irrigation system for this garden, which will save the owners a lot of time in watering their garden.

Whether it is landscaping, installations of Koi ponds, water features, wooden decking, garden illumination, swimming pools, irrigation or the inclusion of mosaics in the garden – Kingfisher Landscaping will always define your exterior lifestyle in a stylish fashion.

The landscaping experts at Kingfisher Landscaping design and implement exceptional and beautiful gardens in a professional manner and can provide the home owner with any exterior decorative feature.  We pride ourselves in providing our clients with excellent, efficient and comprehensive service.  We offer all the products and services associated with creating a peaceful, and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living space which will complement the style of your home and in which you can relax.

CONTEMPORARY CREATIONS

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

The superlative landscaping experts from Kingfisher Landscaping created this phenomenal garden, reflecting a contemporary minimalist style. At the front door of this beautiful home, the landscapers constructed a unique water feature by placing three steel tubes into a square concrete basin. This feature was strategically built in a circle of lush, green jaburans, which create an interesting contrast against the clean look the rest of the garden displays. Three Mosaic circles placed against the wall perfectly complement the silver colour of the steel tubes, and playfully reflect the natural light. In the front garden, the experts from Badec Bros Mosaic created the phenomenal mosaic mural. The circular mirrors in this work of art reflect the circular shapes of the three mosaic features that are placed against the front door, as well as the steel tubes of the water feature. Two beautiful, well-established aloe bainesii were planted as feature plants to flank the mosaic mural. The circle of jaburans was hemmed in by a double cobble line, filled with arrabella rock, creating an interesting effect.

The Kingfisher team went on to construct a seligna wooden deck around the swimming pool, and laid down a matching footpath consisting of seligna stepping blocks leading towards the Koi pond. Four feature walls were built at the bottom of the deck and painted in a bright red to act as a distinctive water feature. Luxuriant bamboo was planted behind these walls to create a soft and contrasting backdrop. Cobbles and gabion baskets filled with arrabella rock were used to create neat borders and provide the garden with interesting lines. The experts planted plump grey rock roses next to the path leading towards the Koi pond to add some appealing texture to this exquisite garden.

The walkway, layered with seligna stepping blocks and over-shadowed by bright red steel hoops, leads one from the pool area to the Koi pond and the rest of the garden. In the background, the team constructed two more feature walls and tiled them with red mosaics. This feature mirrors the bright red walls of the water feature at the swimming pool.

In the foreground, the Kingfisher landscaping experts created a large, circular dry bed that perfectly complements the abstract theme this garden holds. Tiling the boundary wall with mirror mosaic tiles, this look fashions a strong contrast to the plump, prickly succulents such as the euphorbias, golden barrels and aloes planted in the dry bed. In the background, a triangular Koi pond was built and tiled with mirror mosaic tiles, falling in sync with the overall theme of the garden, and above the pond the team constructed an interestingly shaped wooden deck as a relaxing seating area.

Whether it is landscaping, installations of Koi ponds, water features, wooden decking, garden illumination, swimming pools, irrigation or the inclusion of mosaics in the garden – Kingfisher Landscaping will always define your exterior lifestyle in a stylish fashion.

The landscaping experts at Kingfisher Landscaping design and implement exceptional and beautiful gardens in a professional manner and can provide the home owner with any exterior decorative feature. We pride ourselves in providing our clients with excellent, efficient and comprehensive service. We offer all the products and services associated with creating a peaceful, and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living space which will complement the style of your home and in which you can relax.

 

 

 

 

 

 

USING PLANTS AS A SECURITY MEASURE

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

The use of hedges in your garden has numerous advantages.  They can be used to create privacy in your garden; as dividers to create different areas in your garden; to muffle noise and act as a windbreak; to create mazes; to attract birds and butterflies to your garden; to hide ugly walls; to improve your security around your home and garden; and to act as a green background for other plants in your garden.  Hedge plants are relatively cheap and low-maintenance.

The maintenance required once you have planted your hedge plants, involves pruning when the plants are still small.  This will encourage the plant to grow dense.  You also need to pinch the tips, while the plants are still actively growing to promote the growth of side shoots.

If you want to plant a hedge for security – along your border walls – you can use a paper flower bougainvillea (bougainvillea glabra), num-num (carissa bispinosa) or natal plum (carissa macrocarpa).

Other plants that can be used as security measures include aloes, cacti, agaves, and any other plant that has thorns.

The landscaping experts at Kingfisher Landscaping design and implement exceptional and beautiful gardens in a professional manner and can provide the home owner with any exterior decorative feature.  We pride ourselves in providing our clients with excellent, efficient and comprehensive service.  We offer all the products and services associated with creating a peaceful, and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living space which will complement the style of your home and in which you can relax.

Ultimately the design and type of plants selected depend on the architectural style of the home and the home owners’ preferences.

GABION PLANT CAGES

Monday, September 21st, 2009

 

Gabion plant cages are yet another range of exciting products, created by our sister company, Badec Bros Deco.

Our creative in-house décor company designs and manufactures trendy gabion plant cages from 30mm x 3mm angle iron, which is welded together to ensure a strong frame.  Then we weld strong, steel mesh onto the frame to create the shape of the plant cage. 

Once the hollow plant cage structure has been manufactured, we install it on site and plant it with a topiary plant, such as a brush cherry (syzigium paniculatum) or a creeper, such as a star jasmine.

We can powder coat your gabion plant cages, or we can finish them in a mild steel finish or a rusted finish.

Our powder coating is SABS approved.

The landscaping experts at Kingfisher Landscaping design and implement exceptional and beautiful gardens in a professional manner and provide the home owner with any exterior decorative feature.  We pride ourselves in providing our clients with excellent, efficient and comprehensive service.  We offer all the products and services associated with creating a peaceful, and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living space which will complement the style of your home and in which you can relax.

Should you wish to have your very own signature Badec Bros Deco gabion plant cages, gabion dustbins, Cubedec water feature, sculptured living wall, sculptured flagpoles, unique pot and drip tray, customized sculpture, Cubedec bench, trendy steel décor with your company logo emblazoned on it, mild steel inspirational slogan, steel laser-cut signage, mild steel mould, Cubedec Pot, hanging sculpture, gabion pot, gabion wall or gabion terrace, wooden or steel feature poles, bar code trellis, pergola, arch, sculpture, dustbin or trellis, please feel free to contact our energetic and knowledgeable sales representative, Mareleen van Zijl, on her cell phone at 078 800 5112, the office number at 012 460 7990, or via e-mail at mareleen@badecbros.com

She will gladly arrange an appointment with you to listen to your ideas and to stun you with our own creative ideas! You dream it, we manufacture it!

We can design and create a 3D render for you and send it through to you with your detailed quotation.  Upon acceptance of the design and quotation and the required 50% deposit, we can deliver your unique Badec Bros Deco product(s) within 10 to 15 working days.  We offer a 1 year guarantee on all our products.

USES OF CUBEDEC POTS – DIVIDERS

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

Cubedec pots, manufactured by the creative experts at our sister company, Badec Bros Deco, have many uses.  Besides being decorative and creating a strong focal point in your home, office or garden, Cubedec pots can also be used to divide areas in your garden or living areas.  A row of Cubedec B pots, for instance, can be placed in a neat row along your lawn along a busy street, to discourage people from parking on your lawn.  Higher Cubedec pots can be used to create “rooms” in your garden; effectively creating various functional areas, for instance dividing an entrance area from your main garden. 

Our range of customized Cubedec Pots can be manufactured in any size, and can be finished in three types of finishes: colourful powder coating, mild steel finish or rusted finish.  These pots can even be manufactured with adjustable legs as an optional extra.  Cubedec drip trays are also available as elective add-ons and can also be enhanced with mosaic tiles or wood.

The landscaping experts at Kingfisher Landscaping design and implement exceptional and beautiful gardens in a professional manner and provide the home owner with any exterior decorative feature.  We pride ourselves in providing our clients with excellent, efficient and comprehensive service.  We offer all the products and services associated with creating a peaceful, and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living space which will complement the style of your home and in which you can relax.

The imaginative experts at Badec Bros Deco manufacture a wide selection of Cubedec décor products, such as Cubedec gabion bollards, gabion water features, gabion planters, gabion feature walls, gabion terraces, gabion dustbins, sculptured living walls, sculptured flagpoles, unique pots and drip trays, customized sculptures, Cubedec benches, trendy steel décor with your company logo emblazoned on it, mild steel inspirational slogans, steel laser-cut signage, mild steel moulds, Cubedec pots, hanging sculptures, wooden or steel feature poles, bar code trellises, Cubedec water features, pergolas, arches, sculptures, dustbins or trellises, and much more.

Should you wish to have your very own signature Badec Bros Deco product, please feel free to contact our energetic and knowledgeable sales representative, Mareleen van Zijl, on her cell phone at 078 800 5112, the office number at 012 460 7990, or via e-mail at mareleen@badecbros.com

She will gladly arrange an appointment with you to listen to your ideas and to stun you with our own creative ideas! You dream it, we manufacture it!

Badec Bros Deco will create a 3 dimensional render and calculate a quotation FREE OF CHARGE for you! We can deliver your unique Badec Bros Deco product(s) within 10 to 15 working days, upon acceptance of the design and quotation and the required 50% deposit.  These services come standard and will not cost you a cent extra!

We offer a 1 year guarantee on all our products. 

 

DESIGNER TRELLISES

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

The imaginative experts at our sister company, Badec Bros Deco manufactured stylish designer trellises from mild steel for a client and powder coated them. Our powder coating is SABS approved. 

These beautiful trellises were custom made to the client’s requirements.

Badec Bros Deco can manufacture any type of designer trellis and can customize it to any size and shape and with a wide range of finishes, such as powder coating in any colour, mild steel finish or a rust effect or even wooden and mosaic cladding.

The landscaping experts at Kingfisher Landscaping design and implement exceptional and beautiful gardens in a professional manner and provide the home owner with any exterior decorative feature.  We pride ourselves in providing our clients with excellent, efficient and comprehensive service.  We offer all the products and services associated with creating a peaceful, and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living space which will complement the style of your home and in which you can relax.

Should you wish to have your very own signature Badec Bros Deco Cubedec designer trellis, gabion water feature, sculptured living wall, sculptured flagpoles, unique pot and drip tray, customized sculpture, Cubedec bench, trendy steel décor with your company logo emblazoned on it, mild steel inspirational slogan, steel laser-cut signage, mild steel mould, Cubedec Pot, hanging sculpture, gabion pot, gabion wall or gabion terrace, wooden or steel feature poles, bar code trellis, Cubedec water feature, pergola, arch, sculpture, dustbin or trellis, please feel free to contact our energetic and knowledgeable sales representative, Mareleen van Zijl, on her cell phone at 078 800 5112, the office number at 012 460 7990, or via e-mail at mareleen@badecbros.com

She will gladly arrange an appointment with you to listen to your ideas and to stun you with our own creative ideas! You dream it, we manufacture it!

We can design and create a 3D render for you and send it through to you with your detailed quotation.  Upon acceptance of the design and quotation and the required 50% deposit, we can deliver your unique Badec Bros Deco product(s) within 10 to 15 working days.  We offer a 1 year guarantee on all our products.

 

 

LANDSCAPING TIPS

Monday, July 27th, 2009

Identify a focal point in your planting to draw the viewer’s attention.

Don’t mix too many elements – stick to a single theme.

Don’t use elements too similar in colour, shape, size or form. Introduce variation to add interest, but avoid conflict within the combinations you choose.

Repeat shapes and forms for continuity.

Use plants in groups of a single variety, rather than mixing them up, to create a simple, dramatic effect.

Use plants suited to the conditions where they will be planted. If water is not abundant, try to find drought-resistant varieties.

Add water – in the form of water features, fountains or Koi ponds – to soften the effect of hard lines.

Ultimately, the garden design of any garden should harmonize with the architectural style of the home and with the tastes of the home owner.

The landscaping experts at Kingfisher Landscaping design and implement exceptional and beautiful gardens in a professional manner.  We pride ourselves in providing our clients with excellent, efficient and comprehensive service.  We offer all the products and services associated with creating a peaceful, and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living space which will complement the style of your home and in which you can relax.