Landscaping
Gardens made to be lived in — and to get better with time
A good garden should feel right for the property, the people who use it and the environment around it. It should work practically from day one, but it should also have the opportunity to develop and mature over the years.
At Life In The Garden Ltd, we create and transform gardens across Epping, North Weald, Ongar, Harlow, Coopersale Common, Thornwood and the surrounding areas of Essex.
Some clients come to us with detailed plans and a very clear idea of what they want. Others simply know that their garden is no longer working for them and need help deciding what to do with it. We are happy to work with either.
From individual improvements such as a new patio, fencing or planting area to complete garden transformations, our aim is always the same: to create an outdoor space that is attractive, practical and built with care.
Every garden gives us something different to work with
Before deciding what should go into a garden, it is important to understand what is already there.
The soil, drainage, levels, sunlight, surrounding trees, access and neighbouring buildings can all influence what will work well. Just as importantly, we need to understand how you want to use the space.
Perhaps you want somewhere for children to play, a comfortable place to sit and entertain, more privacy, easier maintenance or simply a garden with more plants and life in it.
You may want to encourage birds, bees, butterflies and other wildlife. Or you may have an awkward, overgrown or poorly laid-out garden and simply want to make much better use of the space.
There is no standard solution that suits every garden, and we don’t believe there should be.
From construction to planting
We can carry out individual elements of a project or bring several parts together as part of a larger garden transformation.
Our work includes:
- Patios using porcelain, natural stone and other paving materials
- Paths, steps and garden access
- Fencing and gates
- Brickwork and retaining walls
- Timber and composite decking
- Pergolas and timber structures
- Raised beds and sleeper construction
- Groundwork and changes of level
- Turfing and lawn installation
- Planting and planting schemes
- Garden renovation and clearance
- Complete garden transformations
Where several elements are involved, we consider how they work together rather than treating each one in isolation. Levels affect drainage; paving affects planting areas; trees influence light and moisture; and the materials used around a garden change how the whole space feels.
Getting those relationships right is often what makes the difference between a collection of individual features and a garden that feels complete.
Landscaping with horticulture in mind
Life In The Garden has its roots in both landscaping and horticulture.
That matters because a garden is not a finished object.
Plants grow. Trees mature. Shade changes. Materials weather. Soil develops. Wildlife arrives. The character of a garden can be very different five or ten years after it is built.
We therefore try to think beyond how a project will photograph on the day we finish it.
Where planting forms part of the project, we consider the conditions plants will actually be growing in and how much space they will eventually need. Where existing trees, shrubs or established areas of the garden are worth keeping, we are happy to work around them rather than automatically clearing everything away.
Sometimes the best garden is not the one with the most new things in it.
It is the one where the right things have been kept, the problems have been solved and the new work fits naturally around what was already good.
Gardens for people — and for nature
Increasingly, our clients want their gardens to do more than simply look tidy.
A garden can provide shade during hotter summers, absorb rainfall, support pollinating insects, provide nesting and feeding opportunities for birds and create habitat for wildlife while still being an enjoyable and attractive place for people.
A wildlife-friendly garden does not need to be wild everywhere. Formal paving, lawns, seating areas, productive gardens and naturalistic planting can all sit comfortably together when the space is planned properly.
Likewise, a low-maintenance garden does not have to mean replacing everything with paving or artificial materials. Often thoughtful planting, sensible material choices and good construction can reduce maintenance without removing the life and character from the garden.
Built carefully, from the ground up
Much of good landscaping eventually disappears from view.
The preparation underneath paving, the foundations beneath walls, the drainage behind retaining structures and the groundwork beneath a lawn are not usually the parts anyone photographs when a project is finished.
But they are the parts that determine how well the garden performs years later.
We pay attention to those details because we want the work we build to last.
We use appropriate construction methods, carefully selected materials and trusted suppliers, and we would rather recommend the right solution for a particular garden than simply the quickest one.
About Life In The Garden
Life In The Garden Ltd was established in 2011 and has grown through years of practical experience in gardening, horticulture and landscape construction.
We are still a hands-on landscaping business. We work directly in the gardens we build, deal personally with our clients and take pride in seeing a project develop from an idea into a living outdoor space.
For us, a successful project is not simply one that looks good when we leave.
It is a garden that continues to work for the people who own it.
Thinking about changing your garden?
You don’t need to have everything worked out before contacting us.
If you already know exactly what you want, we can discuss the practical details and how it could be built. If you are still considering different possibilities, we can look at the garden with you and talk through what might work.
Whether you are considering a patio, new planting, fencing, structural work or a complete redesign, we would be happy to hear about your garden and what you would like to achieve.
Get in touch with Life In The Garden Ltd to discuss your project.
