0:00:02 > 0:00:04With her can-do attitude, love of simple gardens
0:00:04 > 0:00:06and decades of experience,
0:00:06 > 0:00:10Charlie Dimmock is one of Britain's best loved gardeners.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12Looking good, boys!
0:00:12 > 0:00:15But the new kids on the gardening block are the Rich brothers.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19We want to be the brothers that change people's perceptions of gardens.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22Winners of multiple medals at the Chelsea Flower Show...
0:00:22 > 0:00:25- Wow.- Look at it turn. - It's amazing, isn't it?
0:00:25 > 0:00:29..the boys have become known for their dramatic outdoor spaces.
0:00:29 > 0:00:34Now these two different generations of gardening are going head-to-head.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38I know they've got a gold medal, but I can come up with a few ideas.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42They're meeting frustrated garden owners across the country...
0:00:42 > 0:00:44Not a lot going on, is there?
0:00:44 > 0:00:46- Not a lot!- I don't know what to do with it.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49..and will each pitch them a design based on their needs...
0:00:49 > 0:00:52- Wow!- ..and budget.
0:00:52 > 0:00:53Oh, that sounds amazing.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57- It doesn't look like it could be our garden.- The winner...- Yes!
0:00:57 > 0:01:00- Yeah!- ..brings their design to life.
0:01:00 > 0:01:01Hold on, hold on.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05- Sweet as a nut.- And the loser has to help them build it.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Keep working, keep working, boy.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09Whoa, whoa, whoa, easy!
0:01:09 > 0:01:11This is what happens...
0:01:11 > 0:01:14Just get on with it. Sometime today would be good.
0:01:14 > 0:01:15..when different styles collide...
0:01:15 > 0:01:18I think your brother's throwing the toys out of his pram.
0:01:18 > 0:01:23- Right, are we doing this?- ..to turn garden dreams into reality.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25- Open your eyes.- Oh!
0:01:25 > 0:01:27Oh, it's lovely!
0:01:27 > 0:01:28Wow!
0:01:28 > 0:01:31- Look at that!- Whoa!
0:01:31 > 0:01:33It's not our garden.
0:01:40 > 0:01:45It's time for Charlie and the Rich brothers to find out today's garden challenge.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50We've heard from Alan and Vanessa, and they're a wonderfully smiley
0:01:50 > 0:01:52- couple from Hampshire.- Oh, OK, my neck of the woods.
0:01:52 > 0:01:53Yeah, very close.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01Alan and Vanessa have lived in their home for nearly 30 years,
0:02:01 > 0:02:05and for the first time, they have the chance to build the garden they've always wanted.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09When we first got here, we had two young children,
0:02:09 > 0:02:14so we wanted a place for them to play, play football and things like that.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17But now it really needs something doing to it.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20It's the field it was 27 years ago, isn't it?
0:02:23 > 0:02:26Their two children may have grown up and fled the nest,
0:02:26 > 0:02:29but the couple's garden is firmly stuck in the past.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31A field pretty much sums it up.
0:02:31 > 0:02:36It's a ten by 30 metre plot and while Alan likes his lawn,
0:02:36 > 0:02:39there's so much grass here, he needs a ride-on mower to cope with it.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41There's not really anything there,
0:02:41 > 0:02:44- there's not even a patio near the back door.- No, there's nothing.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48Nothing going on at all, other than lots of grass and a hedge.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53Over the years, Alan and Vanessa have had moments of inspiration,
0:02:53 > 0:02:55but they've quickly run out of steam,
0:02:55 > 0:02:59so there's half finished projects all over the place.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02I've tried a few things, they've been a bit disastrous.
0:03:02 > 0:03:07I tried to create a wild flower garden,
0:03:07 > 0:03:10but not one flower did appear.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13I've tried to grow lavender, but I don't know what it is,
0:03:13 > 0:03:15I've not succeeded, I'm afraid.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21But now, the couple are determined to have the garden of their dreams
0:03:21 > 0:03:23and they're not afraid to pay for it.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27- So, what's the budget on this? - £6,000.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29- That's quite a lot, isn't it?- That's a lot, that's good.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33It's a really good chunk, but from the pictures, it looks like a huge garden, doesn't it?
0:03:33 > 0:03:36- Yeah.- So filling that costs a lot, doesn't it?
0:03:36 > 0:03:39And on top of that, the couple want a particular style of garden that
0:03:39 > 0:03:40doesn't come cheap.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45We're looking, really, for something with an Italian influence.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49We've been holidaying in Italy about 12 years now
0:03:49 > 0:03:52and we absolutely love the Italian gardens that we've been to,
0:03:52 > 0:03:54and then we come back here and, you know...
0:03:54 > 0:03:56THEY LAUGH
0:03:56 > 0:03:59- ..it's not quite the same. - Italian style.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02Oh, OK, it's nice to have a theme, though, it makes it...
0:04:02 > 0:04:06- It gives you some inspiration. - It does, yeah. Hopefully we've got Italian weather when we get
0:04:06 > 0:04:09- there, as well.- Don't hold your breath!- A little bit of limoncello.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11THEY LAUGH
0:04:11 > 0:04:12Well, they might seem jovial,
0:04:12 > 0:04:16but this will be a major challenge for our design teams.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19Creating an Italian garden in Fareham will not be easy.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25Known for their strong, geometric lines,
0:04:25 > 0:04:28ornate stonework and clipped topiary,
0:04:28 > 0:04:30they are notoriously hard to get right.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37So, Charlie and the Rich brothers waste no time in taking a closer look.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40They're heading to the couple's home in Fareham
0:04:40 > 0:04:42to see the garden for themselves.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45They're looking for clues that will give them an edge when it comes to
0:04:45 > 0:04:47their design.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49- It's big.- It is, definitely.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51Quite a nice shape, though, I quite like this.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53Yeah, it's sort of wide, but not deep.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55Some people don't like that, they don't know what to do with it.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59That means you can divide the garden up into areas.
0:04:59 > 0:05:00There's a nice boundary as well.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02- Nice and green.- Nice and private,
0:05:02 > 0:05:05so I think that's going to be one aspect we don't have to look at.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09I have to say, the garden doesn't really give much away about what
0:05:09 > 0:05:12- Alan and Vanessa might like. - No.- Not at all.
0:05:12 > 0:05:17- No personality in here.- Maybe we'll find that elsewhere.- Yeah.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19There's plenty of space to work with here,
0:05:19 > 0:05:23but the boys want to discover more about the couple's style and taste,
0:05:23 > 0:05:26and inside there are clues everywhere.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29- Look at this.- Wow.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32- Quite formal, isn't it?- It has a kind of Renaissance feeling about it.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35Nice word! You've got the mirrors and the side table there,
0:05:35 > 0:05:39- and then look at this, a little chunk of stone as well.- Yes.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42Meanwhile, Charlie's finding out just what kind of Italian garden the
0:05:42 > 0:05:44couple would like.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47With the garden, was there something that you felt that you wanted?
0:05:47 > 0:05:52Because Italian gardens are very formal, very sort of impressive.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55Some of them are, but some of them have got a sort of contemporary
0:05:55 > 0:05:57- twist on them now.- Oh, OK.
0:05:57 > 0:06:02Big plants and paths and things, and that's what I'm kind of looking for.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06It's almost got a touch of gold everywhere, so the details, I think,
0:06:06 > 0:06:07will be really key with this,
0:06:07 > 0:06:10and even the colour scheme has this lovely bit of unity.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12I think when we design the garden,
0:06:12 > 0:06:15I think to drag that formality and that structure will be perfect.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17Yeah, no half measures.
0:06:18 > 0:06:19This could be tricky.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23The couple's house is full of traditional Mediterranean touches,
0:06:23 > 0:06:26but they want a garden that's more contemporary,
0:06:26 > 0:06:30and Charlie's also discovered that Vanessa's a bit of a hoarder.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35These poles here, they look like they've got a purpose.
0:06:35 > 0:06:40It's actually a rustic rose pergola that was purchased for my daughter's
0:06:40 > 0:06:43wedding. They were going to ditch them and I said, "Oh, no,
0:06:43 > 0:06:46"that might be a little project, we'll take them home."
0:06:46 > 0:06:48- And when was that?- Eight years ago.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50Eight years ago! OK.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52What else have you got hidden away, then?
0:06:52 > 0:06:57I've got a pillar that I bought, that is stuck on a packing crate,
0:06:57 > 0:06:59in what I call my upcycling part of the garden.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03Oh, OK. So that could be an area for me and the boys to explore,
0:07:03 > 0:07:05because we might be able to use some of those things?
0:07:05 > 0:07:08Oh, yes, yes. I'm all for upcycling.
0:07:08 > 0:07:09OK.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13There's an awful lot for our designers to consider here.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17A classic Italian garden with a modern twist,
0:07:17 > 0:07:18that's ideal for socialising,
0:07:18 > 0:07:21with a bit of upcycling thrown in for good measure.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25This is going to test Charlie and the boys' creative skills to the limit.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35So, our rival designers get straight to work.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38Each of them will come up with a design that works within Vanessa and
0:07:38 > 0:07:40Alan's budget.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45Their £6,000 will be used to cover the cost of materials
0:07:45 > 0:07:47for their new garden.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50While the labour will be supplied by Charlie, the Rich brothers,
0:07:50 > 0:07:52and their team of landscapers.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56The couple will then have to choose a winner,
0:07:56 > 0:07:59and whoever loses will have to help the winner build the garden.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07It's time for the designers to pitch their ideas.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12The boys have seen the couple's love for traditional formal Italian
0:08:12 > 0:08:17design. Will they play it safe or try something more radical?
0:08:17 > 0:08:19- Right... - SHE GASPS
0:08:19 > 0:08:22While Charlie has seen how they love to recycle.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26Can she find a way to make this part of her new design?
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Oooh. Wow!
0:08:30 > 0:08:34I want you to think Italian villa,
0:08:34 > 0:08:38but I want you to have the romance of nature taking the garden back.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41Oh, it's amazing.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44We've got the formality of the clipped box,
0:08:44 > 0:08:49to give the structure to the garden, with the Italian cypress,
0:08:49 > 0:08:51and then we've got a pathway using limestone,
0:08:51 > 0:08:55so that will help reflect the light and make it feel much more Italian
0:08:55 > 0:08:58- and bright.- That's clever.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00And then we've got your pillar...
0:09:00 > 0:09:03- Oh!- ..which is... OK. - VANESSA LAUGHS
0:09:03 > 0:09:05With a rose growing up it.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07Oh, that's so pretty.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13Charlie has cleverly made Vanessa's old pillar a sculptural feature in a
0:09:13 > 0:09:17very traditional design and it's gone down well.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19So, how will the boys respond?
0:09:20 > 0:09:23What we wanted to do was give you that feeling that when you walked out of
0:09:23 > 0:09:26your house, that you stepped into your own little patch of Italy.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30We've done that by giving you a more formal Italian-style garden,
0:09:30 > 0:09:32but also a slightly more informal one as well.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35- That's lovely.- This area's got that very grand feeling,
0:09:35 > 0:09:36quite simple in its design.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39We've got a lovely kind of topiary hedge
0:09:39 > 0:09:42that just surrounds a really simple planting of lavender,
0:09:42 > 0:09:45and then we'd have an avenue here of olive trees as well.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47- Sorry. - Don't worry.
0:09:47 > 0:09:48I think it's...
0:09:51 > 0:09:54It's clear how much this new garden is going to mean to Alan and Vanessa,
0:09:54 > 0:09:57and so far, both designs are going down a storm.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Whilst Charlie has kept to a more traditional theme,
0:10:02 > 0:10:06the boys are using the width of the plot to create two different types
0:10:06 > 0:10:08of Italian garden.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12So, it's going to be the details that decide which design wins.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16This is where you've got your seating already. At the moment, it's not very private.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18You want more of an intimate, cosy feeling,
0:10:18 > 0:10:21so we'd provide that with some nice shrubs and a tree there,
0:10:21 > 0:10:22more of a focal tree.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24And we've got some old stone walls as well,
0:10:24 > 0:10:28so the idea of that is this old little kind of rural garden.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31So what are these stone walls? I know they're made of stone...
0:10:31 > 0:10:34That would be traditional dry-stone style,
0:10:34 > 0:10:37so it would have that real authenticity.
0:10:38 > 0:10:43But not to be outdone, Charlie has also included an outdoor seating area,
0:10:43 > 0:10:44with an extra twist.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50And then, down at the bottom of the garden is our patio area for all
0:10:50 > 0:10:52friends and family to relax,
0:10:52 > 0:10:56and we've got a ruin that's just slightly there...
0:10:56 > 0:11:00- Still there.- And we're going to have grapevines growing up over it and,
0:11:00 > 0:11:02again, lots of scented plants.
0:11:02 > 0:11:03Oh, my goodness!
0:11:06 > 0:11:08It's beautiful.
0:11:08 > 0:11:13But the boys have one more feature that they hope might just clinch it.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15You've got a lovely water feature,
0:11:15 > 0:11:19so it's going to feel really relaxing there, somewhere maybe you can perch on the side.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22It's very calming, just another element within the garden.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24Oh, my word,
0:11:24 > 0:11:27it's much more than I ever imagined.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29I will leave you to think.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34The designers have come up with two very different Italian gardens.
0:11:34 > 0:11:39- It's lovely.- Now it's all down to Alan and Vanessa to decide.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42Tell me what you thought about this one?
0:11:42 > 0:11:47Having waited 27 years to create a garden they can feel proud of,
0:11:47 > 0:11:50it's important they make the right choice now.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54I do love this water feature and the avenue of olive trees.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57- That's so Italian, isn't it? - Yeah.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59We both kind of feel ours went pretty well, actually.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01I think we got a little bit of emotion.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04Oh, Vanessa definitely had emotion in my pitch.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08- She was like... Not knowing.- What, couldn't look at it? That bad?!
0:12:08 > 0:12:09I think this is so pretty,
0:12:09 > 0:12:13where you come out and you've got this lovely pathway to this lovely area.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15It is a good spot to sit, actually, there.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19And I also love these little, these little cypress trees.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23I've given the romance, the love of Italy.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27- That's nice.- I kind of feel that we've given her the formal, the informal,
0:12:27 > 0:12:29but also that kind of lovely space for the lifestyle.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33- Bring it on.- I think the romance will win it.- Yeah?
0:12:33 > 0:12:37But Alan and Vanessa can only pick one, so who will it be?
0:12:38 > 0:12:41Will they be swayed by Charlie's enticing pathways,
0:12:41 > 0:12:45elegant cypress trees and the romantic Italian ruin?
0:12:48 > 0:12:50Or will it be the Rich brothers' formal area,
0:12:50 > 0:12:53with the avenue of olives and an informal entertaining space with a
0:12:53 > 0:12:55tranquil water feature?
0:12:58 > 0:12:59It's decision time.
0:12:59 > 0:13:00Hi, guys. Hello.
0:13:02 > 0:13:03It was such a hard decision.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07In fact, they're both beautiful, beautiful designs.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10Anyway, this is the garden that we've chosen.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14- Oh, wow.- Really cool.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16So, what made you pick this one?
0:13:16 > 0:13:22For me, when I first saw the avenue of olive trees and the lavender,
0:13:22 > 0:13:26I just thought that that was beautiful.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29So, the Rich brothers have emerged triumphant,
0:13:29 > 0:13:33and Charlie's ruin will have to wait for its moment in the sun.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37But this is not an easy design to bring to life.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39With two different garden styles in one
0:13:39 > 0:13:41and the bespoke stone wall to build,
0:13:41 > 0:13:45it's going to take the talents of all three gardeners to make it happen.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55It's the first day of the build.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58With the Rich brothers away planning the final touches to their Italian
0:13:58 > 0:14:03design, it's up to the crack landscaping team of Lee, Joe,
0:14:03 > 0:14:06Andy and the project manager, Paul, to get started.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11And the first job is the rustic dry stone wall that's at the heart
0:14:11 > 0:14:13of the boys' design.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17I've just started taking the turf off now.
0:14:17 > 0:14:22This is going to be the foundation for the wall that goes right across
0:14:22 > 0:14:26the garden. So once all the turf's off along here,
0:14:26 > 0:14:30we're going to dig out probably six inches, something like that,
0:14:30 > 0:14:34get some big stones at the base of the wall that will take the weight,
0:14:34 > 0:14:36and then we'll start building the wall upwards.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44The boys are looking to invoke a flavour of the Tuscan hills with
0:14:44 > 0:14:48this feature, but it's no simple bricks and mortar structure.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51A dry stone wall is actually two separate but interlocking walls,
0:14:51 > 0:14:54tied together by longer through stones,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57while the middle is filled with small rocks and pebbles.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02The only way to do it properly is by hand, but it's a painstaking job,
0:15:02 > 0:15:06so the boys have left chief landscaper Andy to make a start.
0:15:07 > 0:15:12I'm just going to pack all these little bits in, fill all the gaps in. There can be no movement.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17Then we just get a stone, try and cross that into there...
0:15:20 > 0:15:24..so that the next one will maybe cross into there. And then we'll
0:15:24 > 0:15:28keep battering in as we come up, so we'll keep the sides coming in,
0:15:28 > 0:15:31tapering in, and it'll hold it together better.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38They can be made from lots of different types of stone, like slate,
0:15:38 > 0:15:40sandstone or granite.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44Vanessa and Alan's is being made from pale limestone.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48It's eating up over £500 of the six grand budget,
0:15:48 > 0:15:51but it's worth it to create that sun-bleached Mediterranean look.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58As well as the wall, Alan and Vanessa loved the modern water feature in
0:15:58 > 0:16:02the boys' design. It looked quite small on the plan,
0:16:02 > 0:16:04but in real life it's a monster.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07- Like that, keep going, keep going. - Keep moving this way.
0:16:09 > 0:16:10Down, down.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13In between the wall and water feature,
0:16:13 > 0:16:16there is going to be a large seating area.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20And project manager Paul is keen to get it cut out.
0:16:21 > 0:16:22But he's got a problem.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29Months of dry, hot weather have baked the ground so hard that even
0:16:29 > 0:16:31the trusty turf cutter can't get through.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37As you can see, this is just not working.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41So, on a good day, it's got a blade that moves underneath it,
0:16:41 > 0:16:45it should move straight through the turf and we can just roll it straight up.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48But unfortunately, the ground's hard,
0:16:48 > 0:16:51there seems to be loads of stone in the ground, so I think it's time to get a digger.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55This is a potential setback.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58It could take hours for the digger to turn up,
0:16:58 > 0:17:01and they can cost over £100 to hire.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04So the team will have to adjust the budget to avoid overspending.
0:17:06 > 0:17:11Fortunately, the Rich brothers and Charlie have arrived to take control.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15It may be the boys' project, but they're not letting Charlie off the hook.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17Do you want to know what you're doing?
0:17:17 > 0:17:19- Yeah.- Informal planting.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22Yeah. Hold on, hold on, hold on, that's like most of the garden.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26Yeah, precisely. And then also this boundary here, the hedge,
0:17:26 > 0:17:28a little bit unloved at the moment, isn't it?
0:17:28 > 0:17:30- Trim it down.- OK.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32Harry, stone walling, how about that?
0:17:32 > 0:17:34- Nice, yeah, love it.- I knew you'd like that.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37And I'm going to be doing this bit, all the straight lines, the symmetry.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41There's an awful lot to do, actually, especially if it's precision stuff.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45So you won't be making me cappuccinos all day long, then?
0:17:45 > 0:17:47Maybe. It depends how fast you work.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49Oh, OK, let's get going, then.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55Any hopes she may have had of a gentle afternoon pootling amongst
0:17:55 > 0:17:57the Mediterranean plants are dashed,
0:17:57 > 0:18:01as Charlie is tasked with tackling the enormous mixed hedge.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07Meanwhile, the boys are keen to see how their new water feature will fit
0:18:07 > 0:18:09- with their design.- This is cool, isn't it?
0:18:09 > 0:18:10It's very cool.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15To connect the informal Italian garden on side of the plot with
0:18:15 > 0:18:19its more contemporary neighbour, the boys have chosen a steel cattle trough.
0:18:20 > 0:18:25But now it's in, they're worried it might be a bit too rustic.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28- What's this little nugget on the end?- Oh, yeah. I think it's maybe worth...
0:18:28 > 0:18:32- What do you think about that? - I think we definitely get rid of it.
0:18:32 > 0:18:34And as the queen of water features,
0:18:34 > 0:18:36Charlie can't resist sticking her oar in.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38Get rid of it? It looks pretty smart, boys.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40You don't want to get rid of this, do you?
0:18:40 > 0:18:44We're thinking of just going with the simplicity of that rectangle and
0:18:44 > 0:18:46cutting it off.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48See, I would plant that up.
0:18:48 > 0:18:52- OK, yeah...- Or, they could put a pump in at some point,
0:18:52 > 0:18:56and then have it overflowing and put watercress in there and that would
0:18:56 > 0:18:58then filter the water.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00Sounds like a good idea.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02So I think we're going to go with cutting it off.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04OK, then, I'll just get on with my hedge, then!
0:19:04 > 0:19:06I'll go and cut that off.
0:19:17 > 0:19:18- Right, ready?- Yeah.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23- Look at that.- A little bit of tidying up around that.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25That's made a massive difference, hasn't it?
0:19:29 > 0:19:30At last, the digger has arrived,
0:19:30 > 0:19:34so the team can finally start the massive task of digging out the seating area.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44Charlie is making progress with the hedges, too.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47And even unruly hedges are not without some benefits.
0:19:48 > 0:19:53This isn't really what I would call a formal hedge that's really pristine
0:19:53 > 0:19:56and neat, so it's quite informal.
0:19:56 > 0:19:57But great for wildlife,
0:19:57 > 0:20:00because we've got a real mixture of different plants in here.
0:20:00 > 0:20:04So there's a lot of ivy, and people think ivy is really bad,
0:20:04 > 0:20:07but it's actually great for wildlife,
0:20:07 > 0:20:10because it has all of these flowers on in the autumn and winter time
0:20:10 > 0:20:14that's really full of nectar, so it's fantastic
0:20:14 > 0:20:17for insects and wildlife.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21And they get berries on them afterwards, which, again, the birds love.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31And Harry's taking charge of transforming the shiny cattle trough.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34So that it blends with the dry stone wall next to the house,
0:20:34 > 0:20:37the boys have chosen to face it with the same limestone.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41This isn't a traditional dry stone wall.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45What we're doing here is facing it. When you can see, when you've got the stone in, you have this lovely,
0:20:45 > 0:20:47authentic, dry stone wall effect.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50And, you know, you've got the stability with the muck in the back,
0:20:50 > 0:20:52and you've got less stone,
0:20:52 > 0:20:55so all round, it's a great way of facing a tank like this.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02While Harry keeps chipping away at the stonework,
0:21:02 > 0:21:06David needs to make a start on measuring out the formal garden beds.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10You're looking very studious. I don't think I've ever seen you like that.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13Check me out. Man with a plan.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17And a scale ruler. Look. Blimey, that's seen better days.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19It's Paul's, so he's probably written the numbers on, hasn't he?
0:21:19 > 0:21:21THEY LAUGH
0:21:21 > 0:21:25Well, perfect you're over here, we've got some lines and symmetry...
0:21:25 > 0:21:28Straight lines, I'm not very good at straight lines, I promise you.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32- They cost more, don't they?- They're very difficult.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36The formal part of the Rich brothers' garden design is made up of four
0:21:36 > 0:21:38symmetrical planting beds.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42These will create avenues and vistas up and down the garden.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45So, that's going to be our point to go off.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49And for the symmetry to work, they need to be meticulously laid out.
0:21:49 > 0:21:54- So, roughly, if we say about here... - Yeah.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57- Right, if that's approximately there...- Yeah.- It'll be perfect.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59Don't worry.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02And Charlie seems to have forgotten who's supposed to be the boss.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04Get that cane in a bit further, you.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07That's about as much as I've got.
0:22:07 > 0:22:08HE LAUGHS
0:22:11 > 0:22:14You have the bit that's going to get into a knot.
0:22:15 > 0:22:16Whoa, whoa, whoa.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21Just get on with it! Sometime today would be good.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23Going as fast as I can.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26When you're marking out,
0:22:26 > 0:22:29especially when it's a formal garden with right angles,
0:22:29 > 0:22:33you've got to make sure that you're getting right angles,
0:22:33 > 0:22:36because you don't want the square to look like it's been squished.
0:22:36 > 0:22:40So, it's measure and measure and double-check,
0:22:40 > 0:22:42before you start cutting the flower beds out.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47With their four elegant, symmetrical beds,
0:22:47 > 0:22:50the boys are hoping to evoke the spirit of the great Italian formal
0:22:50 > 0:22:51gardens.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59The classic Italian garden style, like the one at Hever Castle,
0:22:59 > 0:23:04is characterised by wide avenues, neatly clipped evergreen plants
0:23:04 > 0:23:05and ornate statues.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12Completed in 1908,
0:23:12 > 0:23:15the garden was built to display William Waldorf Astor's collection
0:23:15 > 0:23:17of Italian sculptures.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23The long, sweeping lawns and topiary borders draw the eye.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26And the statues are used to create focal points.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33Water is also a must, whether it's a playful fountain to delight visitors,
0:23:33 > 0:23:35or a tranquil pool for contemplation.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43Italian gardens were places of romance intended for the pleasure of
0:23:43 > 0:23:46the view and the enjoyment of the sights, sounds
0:23:46 > 0:23:48and smells of the garden itself.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54Back in Fareham, the brothers have used these Italian design principles
0:23:54 > 0:23:57to divide the space and add depth to the garden.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03One of the main issues with this garden was that it was quite long, but quite thin, so what we've done
0:24:03 > 0:24:05here, and you can tell it's happening already,
0:24:05 > 0:24:08is that actually by creating these little points of interest,
0:24:08 > 0:24:12it's stopping our eye, slowing it down, and you're creating that journey through,
0:24:12 > 0:24:15so it actually gives the impression that it's a lot wider than it is.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23Beautiful.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26- Done.- Woohoo!- The masterpiece is finished.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31Hiring the digger was an unexpected cost
0:24:31 > 0:24:33and the team need to get their money's worth.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37So, with the garden beds finally laid out to David's satisfaction,
0:24:37 > 0:24:39the digger can do its worst.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45With so much to do,
0:24:45 > 0:24:48Harry has left Joe to complete the facing on the water feature.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53We're nearly there now. Just get round this corner.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56Get the top on. Job done.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01And the brothers set to work on finishing the dry stone wall by
0:25:01 > 0:25:02capping it with some large,
0:25:02 > 0:25:06informal limestone coping stones that perfectly complement their
0:25:06 > 0:25:09design ideas for the informal part of the garden.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13With these walls, we wanted to double them up as seating,
0:25:13 > 0:25:16because we know Vanessa and Alan will have guests round,
0:25:16 > 0:25:18and these are perfect ways of maximising seating space.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21But what we didn't want to do was cope it with quite a modern slab,
0:25:21 > 0:25:24because that wouldn't tie in with our Italian style, would it?
0:25:24 > 0:25:26Yeah, it's got a lovely, kind of, authentic feeling, hasn't it?
0:25:26 > 0:25:29I think what's so nice then, when you have these larger slabs,
0:25:29 > 0:25:32it has these lovely little pockets where we'll look to plant it up,
0:25:32 > 0:25:36put some soil in, so over time, it's going to naturalise and they'll
0:25:36 > 0:25:39have this lovely, old-looking stone wall set within this rural
0:25:39 > 0:25:40Mediterranean garden.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46Coping stones are a way of capping a stone wall to stop erosion from
0:25:46 > 0:25:50the wind and rain. But tiles, slate, metal, concrete,
0:25:50 > 0:25:52or even wood can also be used.
0:25:57 > 0:25:58Some could say that we are coping.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00HE LAUGHS
0:26:00 > 0:26:02Barely, barely.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04Right, let's go and do the wall.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13No formal Italian garden would be complete without a few ornate focal
0:26:13 > 0:26:18points and Charlie has reminded the brothers about Vanessa's Doric column.
0:26:19 > 0:26:23But it's looking a bit too modern for the rustic Italian theme of the garden.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25The boys thinks it looks a bit new,
0:26:25 > 0:26:27they want it looking like that.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31So they've given me some acrylic paint and a sponge.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34Paints are a good, quick fix,
0:26:34 > 0:26:37but if you have more time, Charlie knows a good trick for encouraging
0:26:37 > 0:26:39the natural ageing process.
0:26:41 > 0:26:46One of the best ways to make an ornament weather really quickly is
0:26:46 > 0:26:49put yoghurt on it. So, just paint yoghurt on it.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53You get bacteria growing on there, which encourages things like algae
0:26:53 > 0:26:56and lichen and mosses to grow naturally.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01So, it gives that really beautiful, weathered, soft effect.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12With the formal garden beds dug out,
0:27:12 > 0:27:15the brothers set to work on the planting.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19It pays to place the tallest plants in the bed first, and nothing evokes
0:27:19 > 0:27:22la dolce vita more than mature olive trees.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26Olives are a great tree for growing in the UK.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30They're quite hardy and they tolerate up to about -10 in the winter,
0:27:30 > 0:27:33so they're great for that, but they don't tolerate the wet.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37They don't like the wet. So, as long as you've got quite well-drained soil, then that's really good.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39Another great thing is you can grow it in pots,
0:27:39 > 0:27:42so it's great for balconies, because it tolerates a bit of wind as well.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50At £95 a pop, these olives aren't cheap,
0:27:50 > 0:27:53so the boys are careful to get it right.
0:27:53 > 0:27:54Yeah, 180.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58Nice. Yeah, that's perfect.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01With the formal half of the garden well under way, the Rich brothers
0:28:01 > 0:28:05have tasked Charlie with planting up the new water feature.
0:28:07 > 0:28:12The boys want the water feature to look very elegant and sleek and simple.
0:28:12 > 0:28:16So, with that in mind, we're just going for one waterlily.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18It will come up and spread on the surface,
0:28:18 > 0:28:21and you will get lots of flowers through the summer.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23I'm just adding gravel to the top.
0:28:26 > 0:28:28Right. Oh! Oh!
0:28:28 > 0:28:31It is well rooted, I might take some of that off,
0:28:31 > 0:28:34because that will really make it look like a mud pool!
0:28:34 > 0:28:36SHE LAUGHS
0:28:38 > 0:28:39All the best jobs.
0:28:42 > 0:28:47Righty-ho. Now, a lot of people think that you have to raise your waterlily up.
0:28:47 > 0:28:51This waterlily is quite happy at 18 inches to two foot deep.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53This is about 18 inches deep.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55So, it can go straight to the bottom of the pond
0:28:55 > 0:28:57and it'll come up to the surface...
0:28:57 > 0:28:59quite quickly.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02Ba-dam!
0:29:02 > 0:29:04Mud.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07I bet they spent all day trying to keep that as clean as possible,
0:29:07 > 0:29:09then Charlie comes along and ruins it!
0:29:12 > 0:29:16Fortunately, the boys are preoccupied with their Mediterranean borders.
0:29:18 > 0:29:21To create this formal Italian garden, we're using this low box hedging to
0:29:21 > 0:29:24create this lovely border to the flower beds.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28So they don't blow the budget, Harry's using young box plants,
0:29:28 > 0:29:30which are cheaper.
0:29:30 > 0:29:34But as they can grow 20 centimetres a year, the border won't take long to fill out.
0:29:36 > 0:29:38I'm planting these six per metre.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40So, as soon as they grow and are established to the point you want,
0:29:40 > 0:29:43cut them off and you've got this lovely, crisp hedge.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49- That's a really nice first row, mate.- Thank you.- Well done. How many left?
0:29:49 > 0:29:52- 288?- 288.
0:29:52 > 0:29:53- Crack on.- I will do.
0:29:55 > 0:29:59In formal Italian gardens, the lawns and hedges are always kept neatly
0:29:59 > 0:30:01clipped for maximum effect.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05And after all the work that's been done in the garden,
0:30:05 > 0:30:08Vanessa and Alan's lawn is in need of a little TLC
0:30:08 > 0:30:12in order to really complement its new look.
0:30:12 > 0:30:17Now, Alan likes his lawn, and it's looking a little bare in places,
0:30:17 > 0:30:20especially where we've had the digger.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23We're going to be putting grass seed down.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26So I'm just raking off the stones and getting it roughly level.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29Don't think you've got to get every last stone.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32It's just the big, lumpy ones.
0:30:34 > 0:30:36Right. More or less level.
0:30:36 > 0:30:38Definitely better than it was.
0:30:38 > 0:30:42So, we've just got a multipurpose grass seed.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45It's always good to measure it out.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47Don't just throw it from the box,
0:30:47 > 0:30:51because you'll probably lay too much down and it won't grow evenly.
0:30:51 > 0:30:55So, it's 30g a square metre, and then divide it in half.
0:30:59 > 0:31:01And, first of all, we'll sow one way,
0:31:01 > 0:31:03then we'll sow the other way.
0:31:03 > 0:31:07And, by rights, it should be nice and even with no patches.
0:31:10 > 0:31:12With any luck, in just a few months,
0:31:12 > 0:31:15Alan's beloved lawn will start to see the benefits.
0:31:15 > 0:31:18But once it's established, it pays to follow some simple rules
0:31:18 > 0:31:22to keep your lawn in tiptop condition.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28And no-one knows this better than Ade Ambler,
0:31:28 > 0:31:31winner of Britain's Best Lawn 2015.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34To keep my lawn to this quality,
0:31:34 > 0:31:37I would probably spend at least 14 hours a week
0:31:37 > 0:31:40maintaining and looking after. It is a commitment.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46Ade has been following the same golden rules for lawn care
0:31:46 > 0:31:48for over 20 years.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51To keep your lawn lovely, my top three tips are
0:31:51 > 0:31:52mow it regularly,
0:31:52 > 0:31:54keep the edges nice and clean and sharp,
0:31:54 > 0:31:56and a feed at least two or three times a year.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01And if you want to get really serious about your lawn care,
0:32:01 > 0:32:05Ade also recommends raking or scarifying it
0:32:05 > 0:32:07to remove moss or dead grass,
0:32:07 > 0:32:10which can smother the roots and prevent new growth.
0:32:10 > 0:32:12This is best done in spring and autumn.
0:32:16 > 0:32:18You can also aerate the soil.
0:32:18 > 0:32:20This can be done with a garden fork
0:32:20 > 0:32:22or more specialised tools.
0:32:24 > 0:32:26This tool here is an aerator,
0:32:26 > 0:32:30and it's perforating the topsoil by about two or three inches.
0:32:30 > 0:32:34And it's helping to allow food, water, and nutrients
0:32:34 > 0:32:35to get below the surface.
0:32:38 > 0:32:40No Lawn of the Year would be complete
0:32:40 > 0:32:41without these iconic stripes...
0:32:43 > 0:32:46..which are created simply by using a mower with a rear roller
0:32:46 > 0:32:48to bend the grass and reflect the light.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53Grass blades bent towards you look dark,
0:32:53 > 0:32:55while those bent the opposite way look lighter.
0:32:58 > 0:33:00There we have it, the iconic stripes.
0:33:00 > 0:33:04We've scarified, we've aerated, we've edged, and now we've cut.
0:33:18 > 0:33:22Back in Fareham, the formal half of Alan and Vanessa's Italian garden
0:33:22 > 0:33:24is receiving some much-needed colour.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27David is adding lavender,
0:33:27 > 0:33:30which will provide clouds of purple flowers next summer,
0:33:30 > 0:33:31as well as knockout scent.
0:33:32 > 0:33:35There are more than 39 species of lavender,
0:33:35 > 0:33:39many of which only thrive in the hot Mediterranean climate.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42But some are more than happy in an English flowerbed.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48This is English lavender. It's Hidcote. It's perfect for
0:33:48 > 0:33:50the UK cos it's really tolerant of all the conditions.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53What you'll find with lavender is that it tends to grow quite bushy
0:33:53 > 0:33:57and quite woody. So what you want to do is prune it back quite hard
0:33:57 > 0:34:01late summer, after it's flowered, but don't go into the wood,
0:34:01 > 0:34:03otherwise you won't get any new growth.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05Then that'll be perfect for this style of garden,
0:34:05 > 0:34:08cos it'll keep it really trim and really formal.
0:34:11 > 0:34:12With the formal garden complete,
0:34:12 > 0:34:15they make a start on the informal planting.
0:34:17 > 0:34:18In this part of the garden,
0:34:18 > 0:34:21the brothers have continued the Italian theme
0:34:21 > 0:34:24by using Mediterranean plants to enclose the outdoor seating area.
0:34:27 > 0:34:29We may not have the climate,
0:34:29 > 0:34:31but there are plenty of Mediterranean plants
0:34:31 > 0:34:33that will happily thrive in a garden in Kent.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40As you can see, the soil is really stony,
0:34:40 > 0:34:44which the Mediterranean-type plants will just love.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46It'll make all the aromas much stronger,
0:34:46 > 0:34:48because it's free draining,
0:34:48 > 0:34:51so if the plants have got nice, strong growth,
0:34:51 > 0:34:53with not lots of water,
0:34:53 > 0:34:55the aromas are much better.
0:34:58 > 0:35:00So, the boys have gone with some
0:35:00 > 0:35:03very traditional Mediterranean plants.
0:35:03 > 0:35:07Things like rosemary, we've got thyme, we've got bay.
0:35:07 > 0:35:11Feel the, sort of, Bolognese sauce being ready made by Vanessa now.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14But they've gone for some slightly more unusual ones
0:35:14 > 0:35:17that have a Mediterranean feel.
0:35:17 > 0:35:22So, we've got Pinus mugo, which makes a nice, low mound.
0:35:22 > 0:35:26We've got a hibiscus here, syriacus.
0:35:26 > 0:35:30It's got these big, open, pale pink flowers
0:35:30 > 0:35:33with a bright splash of red in the centre.
0:35:33 > 0:35:36A very upright plant, so it's going to add a bit of height.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39And then we've got Pittosporum,
0:35:39 > 0:35:43fantastic evergreen shrub or small tree.
0:35:43 > 0:35:47Great for cut foliage in your vases with your flowers.
0:35:47 > 0:35:51And then, to add a bit of, sort of, softening,
0:35:51 > 0:35:53you've got the catmint running through,
0:35:53 > 0:35:55which will give that blue haze
0:35:55 > 0:35:58as they wander out onto their seating area.
0:35:58 > 0:35:59It'll be very nice.
0:36:01 > 0:36:05They may be hardy, but these plants will still need some protection
0:36:05 > 0:36:06if it's particularly wet and cold.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11A layer of mulch will stop roots freezing or waterlogging
0:36:11 > 0:36:12in the colder months.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17To blend the new dry stone wall with the surrounding planting,
0:36:17 > 0:36:19David is adding some organic touches.
0:36:21 > 0:36:25Our main focus with this stone wall was giving it a sense of age
0:36:25 > 0:36:27and what we're doing now is we're adding sedum into the wall.
0:36:28 > 0:36:30These are perfect plants for it,
0:36:30 > 0:36:32cos they're used to having a really shallow root system.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35So it's absolutely fine just to tear them off and then push them into
0:36:35 > 0:36:36the cracks, as long as you've got
0:36:36 > 0:36:39a little bit of soil left for them to cling onto.
0:36:39 > 0:36:43And also, cos they're so hardy, what you can do is, these long,
0:36:43 > 0:36:46straggly ones, you can pinch them off, about there,
0:36:46 > 0:36:50then you can bed that into some soil, and then they'll grow again.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53And then over time, that should sprawl over the wall.
0:36:54 > 0:36:58With the planting nearly complete, it's time to bring on the gravel.
0:37:00 > 0:37:02To surface the large, outdoor entertaining space,
0:37:02 > 0:37:06the brothers are using a soft, ochre-coloured gravel to really transport
0:37:06 > 0:37:09this seating area to the hills of Tuscany.
0:37:12 > 0:37:13And once compacted,
0:37:13 > 0:37:17this self-binding gravel will knit together to form a sealed surface.
0:37:21 > 0:37:22With the gravel down,
0:37:22 > 0:37:26Charlie and the boys can start to add the finishing touches.
0:37:26 > 0:37:30And Vanessa and Alan's old sundial is to become the main focal point
0:37:30 > 0:37:31in the formal garden.
0:37:32 > 0:37:34Are you sure that's in the right spot?
0:37:34 > 0:37:36- That looks level, actually. - No, got to go over.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40Too much, back the other way.
0:37:41 > 0:37:45And finally, the boys bring out Vanessa's Doric column.
0:37:45 > 0:37:47It's not a quick process, this.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50- Slowing down. - It's quite heavy, isn't it?
0:37:50 > 0:37:53It's easy, Charlie, I don't know what you're moaning about.
0:37:53 > 0:37:55- A wonky wheel. - That's it, blame the tools.
0:38:01 > 0:38:03- What do you think, Charlie? - Yeah, looks all right.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05The more it weathers, the better it'll look,
0:38:05 > 0:38:07- but I think she'll love that.- Yeah.
0:38:17 > 0:38:21Before they called the Garden Rescue team, Alan and Vanessa's garden
0:38:21 > 0:38:24was a neglected, featureless, expansive lawn.
0:38:24 > 0:38:26Without charm or character,
0:38:26 > 0:38:28it wasn't the place they wanted to spend time
0:38:28 > 0:38:31and it certainly wasn't a place for entertaining friends and family.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41Now it's had a £6,000 makeover
0:38:41 > 0:38:44and the Rich brothers have spent every penny to bring a little bit
0:38:44 > 0:38:46of the romance of Italy to their garden
0:38:46 > 0:38:49and make it a place they can truly enjoy.
0:38:56 > 0:39:00The brothers spent £600 on the rustic dry stone wall,
0:39:00 > 0:39:03which not only divides the space into two garden rooms,
0:39:03 > 0:39:06but is a beautiful work of art in itself.
0:39:09 > 0:39:15Eight tonnes of self-binding gravel, costing just over £1,000.
0:39:15 > 0:39:19Its sandy texture conjures up that sun-baked Italian feel
0:39:19 > 0:39:22and is the perfect choice for this relaxed seating area.
0:39:26 > 0:39:30While the 300 box hedging plants that will grow to give
0:39:30 > 0:39:32the formal part of the garden its classic structure
0:39:32 > 0:39:35came in at £725.
0:39:38 > 0:39:43And the eight statement olive trees were an indulgence at £750,
0:39:43 > 0:39:45but they create avenues across the garden
0:39:45 > 0:39:48and add that all-important symmetry.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55Last but not least, the elegantly simple water feature,
0:39:55 > 0:39:59clad in natural stone to give the garden the bucolic charm of Tuscany,
0:39:59 > 0:40:03was constructed for just £620,
0:40:03 > 0:40:05including both the trough and the stone facing.
0:40:09 > 0:40:11Vanessa and Alan have waited 27 years
0:40:11 > 0:40:16to create an Italian-style garden for entertaining their large family
0:40:16 > 0:40:18and they were prepared to spend big to make it happen.
0:40:20 > 0:40:21Here they go.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25It's time to find out if the Rich brothers have delivered.
0:40:27 > 0:40:31I think Vanessa is going to be quite emotional.
0:40:32 > 0:40:34- Time has come.- Are you excited?
0:40:34 > 0:40:36I am so nervous, honestly.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39- Oh, my goodness.- OK, well, have a look at your new garden.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43- Oh, wow. - It's amazing.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46- Oh, my goodness. - Oh, it's beautiful.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48Look at... Look at that.
0:40:48 > 0:40:50- Avenue of olives.- Avenue of olives.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54Oh, big smile on Vanessa's face.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57I honestly don't know how you've managed this.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00- It's amazing. - It's absolutely wonderful.
0:41:00 > 0:41:02- Yeah. - There's so much to look at.
0:41:02 > 0:41:03- Oh, my goodness, look.- Take a seat.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06Oh, look, it's our table and chairs.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08Oh, my goodness.
0:41:08 > 0:41:10- OK, then... - Two coffees?
0:41:10 > 0:41:12Due cappuccini.
0:41:13 > 0:41:18I don't think Vanessa has clocked her pillar yet.
0:41:18 > 0:41:20Oh, my goodness, look, I've just seen...
0:41:20 > 0:41:23- Look behind you. - Oh, wow.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26It's my Doric column.
0:41:26 > 0:41:27Your little ruin in the corner.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30Oh, my goodness, me.
0:41:30 > 0:41:33Can I...? I've just got to have a look at this.
0:41:33 > 0:41:34Keep wandering round.
0:41:34 > 0:41:38ALAN: That's amazing. That water feature is absolutely amazing.
0:41:38 > 0:41:40I think we should probably take a little wander through
0:41:40 > 0:41:44- into the formal area. - Oh, yes, lead the way.
0:41:44 > 0:41:48I can safely say they like the garden.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51All of the box hedging can grow up to the height you want,
0:41:51 > 0:41:53- then you can clip them. - Look at the olive trees.
0:41:53 > 0:41:56- Aren't they so spectacular? - Yeah.
0:41:56 > 0:42:00And the different colours of green in there, that's genius.
0:42:00 > 0:42:02Absolutely love it.
0:42:07 > 0:42:11£6,000 was a serious investment to make in their garden,
0:42:11 > 0:42:14so do Vanessa and Alan think it was money well spent?
0:42:16 > 0:42:19It's fantastic. It's amazing.
0:42:19 > 0:42:20Words cannot describe
0:42:20 > 0:42:23- how I feel about this garden. - Absolutely incredible.
0:42:23 > 0:42:24It's just a little bit of Italy,
0:42:24 > 0:42:27- like we wanted, really, isn't it? - Yeah.
0:42:27 > 0:42:29- Really happy. - It looks so different, doesn't it?
0:42:29 > 0:42:33- Yeah.- I mean, gone from a boring English garden
0:42:33 > 0:42:36to this tranquil, Mediterranean, Italian feel.
0:42:36 > 0:42:38It has completely changed everything, hasn't it?
0:42:38 > 0:42:40The avenue of olives.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42The little seating area at the end there to sit and
0:42:42 > 0:42:45- have a glass of Prosecco. - I love the water feature.
0:42:45 > 0:42:47- He loves the water feature. - Fantastic.
0:42:47 > 0:42:51And I think the stone walling, come on, gorgeous, isn't it?
0:42:51 > 0:42:53Worth almost blowing the budget?
0:42:53 > 0:42:55Too right, too right.
0:42:55 > 0:42:57- You were just in.- Just in.
0:42:57 > 0:43:00It's nice to spend absolutely everything, isn't it? Yeah.
0:43:00 > 0:43:03- It's just... - Well worth it...
0:43:03 > 0:43:05- It's a small price to pay... - And more.
0:43:05 > 0:43:07..for a magnificent Italian garden, isn't it?
0:43:07 > 0:43:10- Yeah. - We're delighted.
0:43:18 > 0:43:19THEY CHEER