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.

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. 

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.

Yet another magnificent garden was created by the imaginative experts of Kingfisher Landscaping; employing copious quantities of indigenous plants and an advanced landscaping philosophy.  The garden envelops this spectacular home and flawlessly complements the fashionable architectural style. 

Kingfisher Landscaping utilized the spacing of the established trees to position the generous plant beds, which we planted with flowering indigenous plants, such as jaburan grass (ophiopogon jaburan vittatus), wild garlic (tulbaghia violacea), bulbines (bulbine frutescens), mountain aloe (aloe marlothii) and strelitzia (strelitzia reginae).  The beds were then bordered with cobble edging and arabella rock (sandstone dump rock).  Substantial lawn areas among the plant beds enhance the available space on this property and invite one to take a relaxing amble through the garden.

As you enter the property, a winding driveway escourts you to a salient water feature, with three spouts protruding from a steel gabion wall; allowing the water to flow into a raised, square trough below.  Papyrus (cyperus papyrus), wild garlic (tulbaghia violacea) and bulbines (bulbine frutescens) swathes the water feature in feathery profusion. 

Along one border line, Kingfisher Landscaping planted cape aloes (aloe ferox) in a bed of arabella rock, with a wall of mountain aloes (aloe marlothii) behind it.  Textured layers of varigated grasses (ophiopogon jaburan variegata), evergold carex grass (carex oshimensis), and cape thatching reed (chondropetalum tectorum) form a pleasing backdrop to this eye-catching area. 

Raised circular planters were constructed next to the swimming pool and planted with tree aloes (aloe bainesii), which act as striking feature plants.  A flourishing bed of jaburan grass (ophiopogon jaburan vittatus) was planted around the planters, to soften the austere quality of the hard landscaping in this zone. 

The end result is a picturesque landscape which serves as a tranquil refuge from the hustle and bustle of everyday city living. 

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.

The Working for Water programme – introduced through the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry – is a staunch fighter against alien invasive plants in South Africa.  It is estimated that around 10% of our country is covered with approximately 9000 species of alien invasive plants, which steal water, nutrients and sunlight from our native flora.

The Working for Water programme was initiated in 1995 and has since then cleared out more than a million hectares of alien invasive plants.  It works in conjunction with the Departments of Agriculture, Trade and Industry, and Environmental Affairs and Tourism, as well as, local governments and communities.  Around 20 000 people are trained and provided with jobs every year, due to the Working for Water programme.

This programme uses four methods of clearing and controlling areas which have been invaded by alien plants, namely mechanical (felling, burning and removing), chemical (environmentally safe herbicides), biological (species-specific diseases and insects), and integrated methods, which combines all of the above.

You can do your share of working for water in your own garden, by planting only indigenous gardens and by employing environmentally friendly measures in dealing with pests and diseases on your plants. 

A water wise garden consists of plants that do not require a lot of watering.  These plants are normally indigenous plants, which can survive on rainfall and do not need additional watering.  Succulents are also very water wise plants and look beautiful when planted in masses. 

Hard landscaping features, such as sculptures, trellises, wooden decking, cobble lines, stepping stones, cement screed blocks, feature walls, garden benches and other exterior décor will decorate your garden and requires no water.  Different textures will add dimension to the garden lay-out.

By reducing your lawn area, you will also save on water.  Mulching – layering bark chips, hay, pebbles or grass cuttings – will keep the soil around your plants moist for longer periods and therefore require less watering.

When you have a drip-irrigation system installed, you will also save water.  You can set your irrigation system to water the garden at certain times of the day, such as early morning, when the sun will not just evaporate all the water.

Even weeding regularly will make your garden water wise, as all these unnecessary plants also use a lot of water. 

By using organic fertilizers in your garden, you will be applying responsible measures to ensure that your plants are healthy and grow to their best potential.  You will also be contributing to the fight against soil and water table contamination. 

Organic fertilizers, for instance raise the nutrient content in your garden soil, which feeds your plants and assists the roots of your plants in getting optimal nutrition from the soil.  The three most important nutrients needed by your plants are phosphor, potassium and nitrogen.

Another advantage of using organic fertilizers is that it enhances your soil composition and improves water retention, which in turn does its part in combating drought.

By using organic pesticides in your garden, you will be applying responsible measures to ensure that garden animals, birds, insects, reptiles and amphibians will not suffer poisoning. You will also not harm your pets and you will be contributing to the prevention of soil and water table contamination. 

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.

The monkey thorn (acacia galpinii) has been appointed as one of the trees of the year for 2009, by the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs.

This fast growing tree – with its lush, light green foliage – can grow up to 36 meters in height and has a wide, spreading crown.  It is a deciduous tree, which means that it loses its leaves during winter.  During spring, this lovely tree carries light yellow flowers and maroon-coloured seed pods during late summer and autumn.  The monkey thorn is ideal for large gardens and can be planted in your lawn – or along the edges of your lawn – as it provides mottled shade, which will allow enough sunlight through to the grass blades.

This indigenous tree is quite hardy and can survive in hot and dry weather conditions, as well as, frost to some degree.  Saplings should be properly protected from frost, however.  It also attracts insects, such as bees and wasps, and will also provide shelter for birds in your garden.

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.

You should carefully consider the selection of plants for your garden, in order to ensure that you do not plant invasive alien plants. These are plants that are not indigenous to South Africa. They tend to grow faster than our indigenous plants and can easily take over. They also take up precious water, nutrients and light which is more needed by our native plants.

Many of us have invasive exotic plants in our gardens, such as lantana, pipe grass, cat’s claw creepers, privets (ligustrum robustum privet), water hyacinths and wattle, jacaranda, pine and seringa trees. Rather opt for indigenous plants in your garden.

Indigenous gardens are not only less expensive, water wise, hardy and proudly South African, but also very versatile. You have thousands of indigenous plants to choose from, which means you can design your garden in a variety of styles, ranging from tropical to bushveld. Another advantage to indigenous gardens is that you will attract birds, insects and animals to your garden; creating your very own ecosystem in your backyard. You will also be contributing to the preservation of our indigenous plants.

Typical indigenous plants that we use include tree aloes, cape aloes, marlothii aloes, honey suckle, clivias, agapanthus, arum lilies, bulbines, wild garlic, acacia trees, olive trees, white stinkwood trees, and indigenous grasses, such as three awn grasses, thatching grass, buffalo grass, broad-leaved turpentine grass, bristle grass, Natal red top grass, red grass and fountain grass.

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.

If you want practical exterior space for entertaining and relaxation, which is strategically enhanced by focal features and feature plants, a minimalist garden is the answer.  Minimalist design is based on immaculate and elegant lines and features, and requires low maintenance.  This type of garden features more hard landscaping and decorative features, than plants.

Minimalist plants that we typically use include bold, sleek feature plants, such as aloes, succulents and trees with an orderly appearance, such as leopard trees.  Groundcovers, such as mondo grass, diamondias and rock roses are also perfect for the minimalist garden.  Adding water to the overall garden design will augment the end result and convey a soothing ambience. 

Hard landscaping features to be utilized in a minimalist garden include water features, sculptures, trellises, wooden decking, cobble lines, stepping stones, cement screed blocks, feature walls, garden benches and other exterior décor.  Different textures will add dimension to the garden lay-out.

Our in-house décor company, Badec Bros Deco, can manufacture any type of trendy exterior décor that your heart desires.  Badec Bros Wooden Decking, our in-house wooden decking company, is a highly professional and qualified company, fit to install your wooden decking in a variety of wood types with a range of stylish finishes.

The key recipe is to marry the feature plants and hard landscaping features to create a neat, aesthetically pleasing unit. 

Ultimately, the garden design of a minimalist 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.

Indigenous gardens are not only less expensive, water wise, hardy and proudly South African, but also very versatile.  You have thousands of indigenous plants to choose from, which means you can design your garden in a variety of styles, ranging from tropical to bushveld.

Another advantage to indigenous gardens is that you will attract birds, insects and animals to your garden; creating your very own ecosystem in your backyard.  You will also be contributing to the preservation of our indigenous plants.

Typical indigenous plants that we use include tree aloes, cape aloes, marlothii aloes, honey suckle, clivias, agapanthus, arum lilies, bulbines, wild garlic, acacia trees, olive trees, white stinkwood trees, and indigenous grasses, such as three awn grasses, thatching grass, buffalo grass, broad-leaved turpentine grass, bristle grass, Natal red top grass, red grass and fountain grass.  

Ultimately, the garden design of an indigenous 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.

What sort of benefits or assistance do you expect to get from a landscaping service. Well, that’s going to depend on the company you contact. There are some companies who claim to offer landscape services and when push comes to a shove, all they are actually offering is to cut your grass, tidy up leaves and weed the garden. There are, of course, plenty of services that a good professional company can offer. One of those landscaping services is consultancy. Often, property owners do not know exactly how they want their garden to look like. Sometimes, they do not even know what plants to grow! To solve these problems, one can hire landscape consultants to advise on what to do. Normally, the consultants arrange a visit to the property to observe. After a few days, they can visit the owner and submit to him some recommendations that may include a new garden layout design.

Other landscaping services include removing unwanted weeds, shrubs, trees and other vegetation, site clearance, removal of old fences, pathways, buildings and concrete. Hardscaping includes rockery works, pond excavation and construction, patio and terrace construction, pathway and driveway layout and fence layout. This service also aids in the construction of garden buildings such as pagodas, sheds and pump stations. Garden landscaping service also includes plant care. The contractor regularly visits a property to take care of the plants. Maintenance of the plants usually involves trimming and pruning, weed and pest control and irrigation. To find out how Kingfisher can help you, give us a call.

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.

A hardscape refers to the paved areas like, paths, streets & sidewalks, large business complexes, housing developments, and other industrial areas where the upper-soil is no longer exposed. The term is especially used in heavily urbanized/suburbanized areas where there is little bare soil. Hardscaping or hard landscaping examples include brick patios and sidewalks. Retaining walls are often used to create boundaries between hard landscaping and earth landscaping features, or softscapes. From an urban planning perspective hard landscaping can include very large features, such as paved roads. Most artificial water features are technically hard landscaping because they require a barrier to retain the water, instead of letting it drain into the surrounding soil.

From an aesthetic point of view, hard landscaping allows workers to erect landscape features that would otherwise be impossible because of soil erosion, or that compensate for large amounts of human traffic that would cause wear on bare earth or grass. For example it is possible to employ sheer vertical features in a hardscape. The water table in and around large areas of hard landscaping is usually very depleted because not enough rainwater is being absorbed into the soil of that area in order to help recharge it. Such areas must then rely largely on “imported” freshwater from local or non-local lakes, reservoirs, dams, rivers, and streams. On the other hand, most homes in rural areas often use wells and springs as their primary source of freshwater because the local water table is being constantly recharged by the hydrologic cycle.

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.