West Sussex Garden Rescue

With her can-do attitude,

love of simple gardens, and decades of experience,

Charlie Dimmock is one of Britain's best-loved gardeners.

Looking good, boys!

But the new kids on the gardening block are the Rich brothers.

We want to be the brothers

that change people's perceptions of gardens.

Winners of multiple medals at the Chelsea Flower Show...

-Wow!

-Oh, good turn.

-Amazing, isn't it?

..the boys have become known for their dramatic outdoor spaces.

Now, these two different generations of gardening are going head-to-head.

I know they've got a gold medal, but I can come up with a few ideas.

They're meeting frustrated garden owners across the country...

Not a lot going on, is there?

-Not a lot!

-I don't know what to do with it.

..and will each pitch them a design based on their needs...

-You look confused.

-I am. Go for it.

..and budget.

Doesn't look like it could be our garden.

The winner...

-Yay!

-Charlie!

-Yeah, awesome.

..brings their design to life.

-Hold on, hold on!

-Sweet as a nut.

And the loser has to help them build it.

Keep working, keep working, boy!

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Easy.

This is what happens...

Just get on with it! Some time today would be good!

..when different styles collide...

I think your brother's throwing the toys out of his pram.

Right, are we doing this?

..to turn garden dreams into reality.

Wow, oh!

Oh, my goodness!

-Wow.

-Look at that.

-Oh, my God. Wow.

-Wow.

It's time for Charlie and the Rich brothers to find out which garden

they're going to compete over today.

This is David and Simon,

and they live in a mid-terraced cottage in Sussex.

The garden's very much David's baby,

but he just doesn't know what to do with it.

-There's lots of lovely plants.

-Mm.

-Yeah.

Technical manager David has always enjoyed growing vegetables,

but has recently discovered a passion for all plants and,

while benefits officer Simon is happy to indulge David's new hobby,

he's not quite as enthusiastic himself.

No, just not the end bits, just there.

I gained an interest in flowers when we got our own garden,

and realised I had a lot to learn.

So, I had to do a lot of research.

And then I'd buy you a new plant each weekend just to keep you happy.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I've filled my garden with flowers. It looks really pretty.

-It does.

-But, at the moment, the way I've got it designed is a bit '70s.

A border of flowers, a strip of lawn, a path,

straight line to greenhouse. Which is fine for me, really.

-Yeah. I wouldn't go down there.

-No, why would you?

THEY LAUGH

The garden looks quite narrow.

I think that's what they might be having trouble with,

it's very long, very thin, and they maybe don't know how to break it up.

Exactly. It's adding to what's there,

and it's giving it a bit of structure more than anything.

I'm just frustrated at the moment with the garden

because I'm not sure now where to take it.

-It's the next step, I guess.

-Yeah, yeah.

To make us truly happy with it.

To ensure David gets the garden of his dreams,

the couple are prepared to make a big investment,

and have given the designers a budget of £5,000.

With Charlie and the Rich brothers each hoping to win the contract,

they head to West Sussex to see the garden for themselves.

Oh, wow!

-Look at this.

-Wow.

-Isn't it beautiful?

-Yes.

They don't need a Garden Rescue, do they?

I know. I'll have this one, I'll take it home now!

Look at the plants. Hellebores, fritillaries,

they're not the easiest thing in the world to grow.

-And everything's got labels on.

-I know, I know.

It looks beautiful but it does need a little bit of a rejig.

-Yeah.

-When you have long, narrow gardens like this,

it does draw your eye right down to the bottom.

It's quite nice to section them off a little bit, isn't it?

Yeah, at the moment, you can see everything, why go to the bottom?

Pretty cool greenhouse, isn't it? I mean, that is my favourite.

A lot going for this garden. It might be small...

-The opportunities are endless.

-Endless.

Ooh! Getting excited already.

It's unusual for the designers to have such a solid foundation

to start from, and they're eager to find out more.

So, David and Harry head inside for a poke around.

Oh, it's really cosy in here, isn't it?

It's gorgeous. Got a really lovely feeling.

I think, being outside, it felt quite open, didn't it?

So, try and recreate this cosiness in the garden, it'll be really cool.

And I think having wooden floors, as well, adds to that cosiness.

It's a lovely warming colour, nice texture.

Yeah, definitely. They've got it outside, they clearly like it.

Maybe using a bit more of it would be really cool.

Charlie meets David and Simon to see what ideas they have for the garden.

David and Simon.

-Hello.

-What a sweet garden!

-I know. We love it,

and we have spent, well, I've spent a lot of time, actually,

-looking after it, and tending to my plants.

-Yeah.

-Are you into the garden as well?

-I'm going to be honest, it's a no!

THEY LAUGH

I love sitting out here, in the summer, especially, with a drink.

But, when you sit there, as beautiful as it looks,

you're drawn to the greenhouse, and there's nothing to make you think,

-ooh, what's down there?

-Right.

So, what would you like to draw you down the garden?

I was thinking, maybe, a windy path, or a secret seating area.

So that you've got two entertainment areas?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-That gets the sun there in the mornings.

So we'd like to keep a seating area out there, yes.

Look at all the lights, as well.

Around the mirror, you've got one on the shelf, lamp beside the sofa.

It could be a little hint.

They also love their flowers. We've got some cut flowers here.

Tulips. They've clearly got a really big passion with plants.

So, let's not forget them.

So, are there any plants, colour-wise, you like?

I personally love things that are quite cottage garden, so,

I love foxgloves, I love penstemons.

So, it would be nice to fill the garden with flowers,

and I don't mind spending time looking after them.

Oh, that's fantastic!

And the lawn, that's in really good condition.

-Yes.

-Do you want a lawn? Because it is quite a small garden.

I'm not that fussy, actually, about having a lawn.

-But I think...

-I would like, even a tiny part would be nice.

-OK.

-We'll see.

We'll see! Oh, I don't want to cause a domestic here.

So, maybe lawn, maybe not.

Are there any bits of the garden that you really don't like?

The main thing is the fences.

As you can see, they're all scruffy, they're uneven.

Anything we could do with the borders would be fantastic.

While the fences are in need of some attention,

the greenhouse is a key amenity for David,

and the couple would prefer to keep it.

With a green-fingered client, and a healthy £5,000 budget,

Charlie and the Rich brothers can really go to town.

So, they head to their drawing boards

where each of them will come up with a design that will make

the most of David and Simon's narrow garden.

The couple will then have to choose a winning design,

and the loser will help the winner build the garden.

Their £5,000 will be used to cover the cost of the materials

while the labour will be supplied by Charlie,

the Rich brothers and their team of landscapers.

It's time for the designers to pitch their ideas.

Oh, my God.

I'm hoping that my garden design takes you on a journey

all the way to the bottom of the garden,

using every tiny bit of space that there is.

So, gone is the deck area up there, but I have kept a seating area,

and I've gone with some really lovely bespoke sandstone,

a circle of it, and it's edged with a very small, simple pool,

with some moving water in it.

And then a cedar deck that's just slightly higher up.

So, this will be quite a big entertaining area.

And then heavily planted, to make an enclosed space,

so you don't see the whole garden all at once

-when you come out of the back door.

-Yep.

-Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

Charlie has gone straight in with the wow factor of a water feature.

The Rich brothers are going to have to work hard from the get-go

to beat that.

So, here is our design.

Oh.

We wanted to give you a garden that had a lot of structure to it,

that was broken down into rooms,

and had some really elegant layers of planting.

-It looks amazing.

-Yeah.

-It looks amazing.

You've obviously got your deck there which you love and you use.

-Yeah.

-But it looks a bit worn. So, what we'd like to do is replace it,

and pull up the whole width of the garden,

-so you're really utilising that space.

-Yeah, yeah, brilliant.

And you've got a lovely pocket of planting,

so that this whole garden is not all revealed at once.

-Brilliant.

-SIMON:

-Yeah.

So, it's a simple no-frills approach from Harry and David

for the seating area at the top.

But how will the designers entice the couple down

to the bottom of the garden?

So, I've got this curving path that runs off of the paving,

around the middle part of the garden.

Keeping quite a bit of the lawn.

Ah, someone will be happy.

For me, a lawn is a really nice foil for showing off plants.

But, as you traverse down,

you'll find that you'll find secret little pockets.

So, this is one single little seat that's enclosed in planting.

-Amazing.

-SIMON:

-Wow.

As you pass through, you go into his open lawn.

And we've got these slabs, that creates this lovely passage.

-Wow.

-And that then leads down on to this main path here.

At the moment, planting beds on the outside.

So, what we wanted to make sure is we drag this planting bed

into the garden, so you've really got a journey through it,

and experience the trees.

-I see you've got a lovely cherry at the moment.

-Yeah.

-Gorgeous.

So, we wanted to bring in a few more of those.

-Wow.

-And within this large planting bed, obviously,

we'd love to keep as many plants as possible because we know

-you're very passionate about them.

-Yeah.

But we'd like to introduce plants that we know would give longevity

throughout the year.

Are you planning to do anything with the boundary fences?

-At the moment, they're a bit tatty.

-We're thinking of painting them,

maybe, a dark grey fence will really highlight the green foliage

-of the trees and shrubs.

-Wow.

The Rich brothers seem to be ticking a lot of

boxes by using cherry trees to break up the view,

sorting out the mismatched fence, and reusing David's beloved plants.

Can Charlie rise to the challenge?

Now, you've got some lovely plants here,

but what I feel that is missing is a bit of structure with shrubs.

-Yep.

-And I want to give you some of that structure,

and then have all your lovely, glamorous,

herbaceous plants mixed in.

And then, because you've got so much fence space,

which is a great vertical space to use,

lots of different climbers that might require a bit of work to them.

So, different clematis, maybe honeysuckles,

just to cover all of the fence space.

-SIMON:

-Wow.

-Amazing.

Charlie is really appealing to David's love of plants.

But both designs seem to be going down well with the couple.

Will the all-important plan for the bottom of the garden

be the deal-breaker?

As you travel through this space, you come to this back seating area,

and you're surrounded by shrubs and trees and plants,

and it gives a completely different atmosphere to the front area.

The key about this garden is that, if you first turn up here,

-you don't know that back area is there.

-Yeah.

It's about intrigue, about finding this little seating space.

Quite secret, quite romantic, quite soft.

Yeah. That's the sort of thing we want.

-And we'd like to introduce a bit of lighting in here as well.

-Oh!

With all the trees and shrubs, it'll subtly highlight the trunks,

a little bit of the canopy.

And when you're sitting down there in the evening,

it's going to be a really special place.

-Sounds amazing.

-SIMON:

-Yeah.

So, the path sweeps on round through this moon gate which is timber,

with climbers hanging over.

-Wow.

-Amazing.

Then, once we go through that,

we go into a much more natural feel to the garden.

So, this is a secret little garden

that's enclosed with a little gateway.

It's going to be very "Dingly Dell",

woodlandy, secret garden down at the bottom.

-That sounds fabulous.

-Yes. That really does.

Both designers have really pulled out the stops,

and David and Simon are delighted with both designs.

But they can only choose one, so, which will it be?

This is going to be a very difficult decision because...

Yeah. I love them both.

Charlie, I don't know about you, but we actually got

a really positive response from them.

I kind of think that could be quite a good thing.

OK, yeah, they were quite vocal with me as well, I have to say.

-So, Charlie's design.

-It's so different.

I've never seen anything like that in a garden.

I can't believe she's incorporated a pond.

-I mean, that would be absolutely stunning.

-Yeah.

-Do you have a pond?

-No.

-No.

-Ooh!

-Have you got a pond?

-I've got a pond.

For me, water in the garden just adds that final dimension.

Yeah. I love the way they've got the two seating areas.

And they also said that they're going to have lighting.

Ooh, how about lighting?

-No.

-Ooh.

-We have lighting. That could be the clincher, I reckon.

For us, lighting adds that final dimension!

CHARLIE LAUGHS

I don't know how we're going to decide this.

I don't know. I really don't.

Will David and Simon choose Charlie's tiered entertainment space

with in-built pond, curved path, secret seating area and moon gate?

Or will they go for the Rich brothers' understated design

that integrates David's existing plants with sleek new paving,

cherry trees, outdoor lighting

and decked seating area at the bottom of the garden?

It's time to decide.

-Hello!

-Hi.

-It's been the most difficult decision ever.

-It really has.

We've loved both designs for different reasons.

The design we chose is...

-..the Rich brothers' design.

-Woo.

Well done. Cool.

So, what made you choose this one?

What we loved about this one is this secret seating area at the back

with the decking there to match in with this bit,

and also to have the lighting in there as well, illuminated.

And there wasn't too much lawn!

LAUGHTER

So you lost out!

It's always the way.

So, the Rich brothers have emerged triumphant.

But Charlie isn't off the hook.

She'll still have to help them build a garden

that Simon and David can be proud of.

It's a new day in West Sussex.

The Rich brothers have sent the landscaping team in early.

And, under the watchful eye of project manager Bonnie,

they waste no time in clearing the garden.

Oh. Get your hand right underneath.

-Got it?

-Yep.

-OK.

House-owner David has already dug up and potted his most precious plants

and the neighbours have given permission

for the team to use their garden as extra work space.

But, because the house is in a terrace,

getting in and out of the garden is a little tricky.

So, this narrow side alley is the only access into the garden,

and we've got to get all of that material down here.

People coming backwards and forwards,

it's filling me with dread a little bit.

Before they can bring the new in, it's out with the old,

as Scott and Scott set about dismantling the worn deck.

Ed sprays the fences a contemporary grey colour.

Hand-painting fence panels like this would take all day.

This method will take a couple of hours.

So, we've pulled up the old deck,

and the existing framework is actually really good, so,

we're going to re-use it, and just add in some new timbers

to make our deck a bit bigger.

The plants have started to arrive,

with the team bringing them all down the narrow alley

and through into the neighbour's garden. So far, so good.

But, now, something a little larger is being unloaded.

Right, ready?

Cercis can grow up to 12 metres tall,

and this large specimen will need to be brought in carefully.

This is getting snapped here, this is getting snapped here.

I think, take this pole out.

Right. And just swivel it like this.

Yeah. You got it.

Thankfully, a little common sense from Bonnie

gets it round the corner.

-Beauty.

-Well done, team.

With the base frame complete, the new decking can start to go down.

Harry and David have chosen balau, a hardwood native of Asia.

At around £40 per square metre, it's not a cheap option,

but it's extremely durable, and will add a touch of quality to the space.

At the bottom of the garden,

the ground is being cleared and levelled,

ready for Andy to construct the base of the second decked area.

Work is moving on apace as Harry, David and Charlie arrive.

Well, Charlie, you're going to be located in the greenhouse.

Fantastic! And the sun's out, what more could I want?

So, because our design's got rid of his raised bed area,

we need you to be really creative in the greenhouse,

create space so he can grow his veg.

-OK. And what are you two doing, then?

-What are we doing?

Watching Charlie in the greenhouse!

Well, I'll get started, then.

I'll leave you thinking.

I don't know, we've got decking, path, plants.

-Lighting.

-Lighting.

-She's got it easy, hasn't she, really?

As Charlie makes herself at home in the greenhouse,

the garden transformation is well underway.

Ed is more than halfway through the fence painting.

The two Scotts have nearly finished the upper deck.

And Andy is now laying the boards on the bottom seating area.

Now, this is the second decked area in the garden.

That's what David and Simon really loved.

It's going to be really intimate and private.

The way we're constructing this, the same as the top deck.

We've got this plastic membrane here which suppresses the weeds.

And then we've got the joists and the noggins,

they make up the framework which the decking goes on to.

So, the red balau wood, same as at the top, has got two sides.

So, from a designer point of view, we love this, it's nice and minimal.

It looks a little less off-the-shelf than if you choose this side.

But is there any functional qualities to it?

Well, I tend to think that the flat side makes it easy to maintain,

don't get so many bits of dirt off shoes stuck in the grooves.

Just a little mop over it maybe once, twice a year,

a little bit of light detergent, and you're good to go.

Visual and functional, that's a pretty good way.

Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

And then, where we're putting this on to the framework,

we're using a screw as a spacer, so, that gives us about a 5mm gap,

and using that all the way along means you get a nice parallel gap,

that's really important.

We've pre-drilled the holes, because that stops it from splitting.

And then we're going to screw it in, and that holds it nice and firm.

-Charlie!

-Yeah?

-How are you getting on?

-I'm having a great time.

I've got the best job ever!

-How's this decking look?

-It's looking really smart, actually.

That's good, that's all Andy's handiwork.

The boys have got rid of Simon and David's vegetable patch, so,

I'm going to give them something back,

and this is really straightforward and simple.

The first thing, sprouting seeds.

And you're going to be eating the actual shoots,

a bit like a bean sprout.

So, we're going to be sprouting alfalfa seeds.

And, on a simple basis, you just need a jam jar,

the seeds that are pre-soaked overnight.

Then you can put a little layer at the bottom of the jam jar.

Then, pop some water in.

And you're going to do this twice a day.

Swirl it round.

And strain it out...

..so that they're nice and wet.

Leave a little residue in there.

And then you just cover that over so no dust gets in there.

Put it somewhere in the kitchen, not in full sunlight

and, within six to eight days,

you're going to have alfalfa sprouts.

Put them in sandwiches, salads, stir-fries, really lovely flavour,

very nutty, way better than mustard and cress.

At the top of the garden, the larger deck is complete.

And the base layer for the pathway,

which will link the two seating areas, is going down.

The lawn has been taken up to make way for the path.

New turf will be laid later.

We're just getting the gravelling for the path

and, as you can see, it creates this zigzag shape

and that allowed us to create more of a journey through the space

and also optimises on using plants

to create a more private area at the back

as it creates a kind of screen.

Harry and David plan to surround the path with mature shrubs,

completely obscuring the view down the long, narrow garden.

Long, narrow gardens are common in the UK

but, with a little clever design,

their thin shape can be used to great effect.

Liz and William Wells' garden in Berkshire is a similar size

to David and Simon's,

and shows how much can be achieved in a narrow plot.

Dividing the space into different areas

prevents your gaze from being drawn

straight to the end of the garden.

Here, bold purple-painted arbours and decking

guide you around the garden and link each section.

Make the most of the different areas created.

Use partially hidden nooks as peaceful sitting spaces.

Fences and boundary walls

can be particularly dominant in narrow gardens,

but you can use reflective surfaces to make the space feel wider,

or paint boundaries a light colour.

Blur borders with tall shrubs and trees, but do be careful

not to let them grow so big that they block out the light.

And the far end of a narrow garden can be used to create

a secluded seating area...

..which is exactly what David and Simon wanted

at the bottom of their garden.

The final decking board is being screwed into place.

But Charlie just can't help getting involved.

TAPPING

-Yep?

-You don't need to stop just because you've finished that.

I think I can do what I want out here. You're in there!

Er, you come in here and I'll have a word with you!

Ha! I think the heat's gone to your head, Charlie!

-Give you a haircut.

-Ooh! All right, I'm off!

David's hair may be safe for now but all the plants have arrived,

and Harry has something else in mind for the chop.

Ooh, look at those plants! They look epic.

Do you know, I was actually thinking that, you know,

the garden's quite small anyway, and these plants are looking incredible.

-Mm-hm?

-So maybe just get rid of the lawn.

-Oh, I like that.

-I might go and have a little chat and see if

-I can persuade them to let us just plant it up.

-I like that.

Maybe twist the arms of David a little bit.

I reckon he's susceptible to that idea, isn't he?

He's the one, isn't he? Right.

If Harry gets his way,

the central lawn area will be replaced with a large planting bed,

creating more space to re-use homeowner David's existing plants

as well as introducing more new ones.

Dave? Simon?

-Grab you for a second?

-Yeah.

But can Simon be convinced?

We have managed to get hold of some beautiful plants.

Me and Dave have had a little bit of a discussion.

We think maybe by getting rid of the lawn we can create one large bed.

That sounds fabulous to me.

-I do know that you love your lawn.

-I do, but...

-And you don't mind?

And I have to mow the lawn, so just remember that you've never mowed it.

That's true.

-Sounds lovely.

-Sounds fabulous. I'm delighted with this.

I thought you might be.

Perfect, right, well, stop peeking at the garden, get back in!

Get back in the shade.

Result!

The sun is shining and the temperature is rising,

which is lovely for those out in the fresh air...

but not so hot for Charlie in the greenhouse.

Oh, it's getting warm and steamy in here,

but I have put some temporary shading up.

Not beautiful, but it's working well.

If you've got a greenhouse at home,

it's definitely worth putting shading on it for the summertime.

Now, I'm going to be sowing some seed.

It's a really good way of producing lots of plants

if you're on a tight budget, and great for vegetables.

There's lots of different ways to sow seeds.

I'm just using a little half seed tray here.

Fill it with compost. And I'm going to sow some lettuce in here.

So the best thing to do is tip it into your hand,

and then crease your hand, because you get a natural crease there,

and then just tap, and you can just drop the seeds out

and space them out,

because you don't want to sow them too close together.

What you need to do next is cover them.

Now, you need to use compost that you just put over like that.

And a fine layer.

But I prefer to use this stuff, vermiculite

which is often used as insulation in roofs.

But it's great for seeds because it's very light,

covers well,

insulates the seeds so the seed germination is much more reliable,

and it also holds on to a lot of moisture.

And, if you don't want to splash out on plastic things,

then the centres of toilet rolls are really good

and you don't need to remove them when you come to plant them,

just make sure they are nice and wet before you put them in the ground.

Well, I wonder what the boys are doing?

Well, since you ask, Harry and David have come up with an idea

to make use of the decking off-cuts.

Wasn't on the design, but I think it'd be nice to be able to just

-screen off the ugly bins, wouldn't it?

-Yeah.

We're very lucky that we have got a few off-cuts from the decking,

and it's the perfect material to create a simple screen

so it links in really nicely with the decking already in the garden.

And it's just a simple way of getting rid of the bins.

-Out of sight, out of mind.

-Yeah, nice like that.

And you might think I am out of sight and out of mind...

-LAUGHTER

-You were!

Putting me in the hottest bit of the garden, argh!

-So, yeah, what are you up to here?

-Creating a bit of bin storage.

-OK.

-Screening them off. What do you think you're doing?

-Very handy for me, these.

-Looks like were not doing the screen any more.

-Did you just see what happened there?

-There's some other bits,

but this is a perfect size for me.

Luckily, there's plenty of leftover wood to go around.

So, the brothers crack straight on with their screen.

So, we've finished the softwood framework

and then we've just faced it with the hardwood so that

when we put in these boards on the face, really nice and flush.

-And, hopefully, they'll be happy with it.

-Hopefully they fit.

-Yeah.

Perfect.

Over in the neighbour's garden,

Charlie's also getting creative with those off-cuts.

Right, that's that pre-drilled.

So, I'm making a really simple herb container,

just using the off-cuts of the timber.

This one's going to go on top there.

I've got a block of wood in each corner to screw it to.

Make sure you leave a gap because, if you bring that right up here,

it doesn't look so nice, so the soil will actually cover that.

And then it's a case of screwing it together.

I need to put a bottom on it,

but what I was going to do is then put another smaller square

on the top, but not have a bottom on that.

So, the soil will go down,

and it will root right the way down through.

Thumbs up, good job!

The top and bottom sections of the garden

are coming together nicely.

But the bit in the middle still has a long way to go.

Scott is laying the stepping stones which lead down from the upper deck.

The light grey colour will contrast with the warmth of the balau wood

and give it a different feel to this section of the garden.

Having finished the bins screen, the Rich brothers are laying

the other end of the path which will lead to the bottom deck.

We're using these sawn stone slabs to create the pathway,

and that's because it gives it a really lovely minimal look.

It fits in with the more modern style of design.

And also the slabs have been laid in two different ways.

At the beginning, we've got more stepping stones,

so it creates a more natural walkway.

Whereas, when you move through to this space,

the slabs have been butted up nice and tightly

so it's more of a direct route through to the decking.

Yeah, and I think, if you have the leaf foliage going over,

that will define that nice and clearly. Yeah.

As you can see over there, when you have the shadow from the trees,

-you can really pick it up. It's nice and clear, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Super.

-Next one.

-Let's have a look, let's check it.

-Oh, yeah!

Charlie has sought out some shade to give much-needed protection

to her next addition to the new vegetable collection.

If you're really, really restricted for space,

how about growing veg in a container?

Everyone thinks it's got to be in a veggie patch. That's not true.

I'm using a plastic container because vegetables really do like

lots and lots of moisture and don't like to dry out.

And, with any containers you're doing,

add some moisture-retention crystals.

I like to pre-swill it first because, sometimes,

if you just sprinkle it in dry, and then water it,

it grows, and all your compost falls out of the pot.

I have got four different veg.

I've got lettuce, we've got peas, we've got beetroot and carrots.

Now, a lot of people think that carrots

can't be grown in containers, but they can,

especially those little round ones.

OK, so, carrots.

Then we've got peas. Now, I'm not going to grow these

as a pea that produces a pod.

Literally, we're going to use them as a salad vegetable.

So, you just pinch out the leaves

and they taste really lovely in a salad.

And they'll keep growing and growing, creating new shoots,

which is called cut-and-come-again.

And it's exactly the same for the beetroot.

You can pick the leaves, or you can let them fatten up

so you've got the actual root ball at the bottom.

There's plenty of other veg and fruit

that will grow well in containers, such as strawberries, tomatoes,

peppers and even potatoes if the pot is big enough.

Just remember to water well,

make sure there's a hole in the bottom of the pot for drainage,

and bear in mind most veg like to be positioned in full sunlight.

And speaking of light...

Lighting was a really important factor

for Dave and Simon, the owners.

What we're going to do is locate these lights throughout the garden,

picking up specific trees and shrubs,

but also illuminating the seating areas.

They run off the mains in the house, but then they use a transformer

that reduces the voltage from 240 to 12,

meaning that you don't need an electrician to install them.

Lighting is a great way to make the most of your garden.

Not only does it allow you to use the space in the evening,

but cleverly-placed lights will also highlight feature plants

and other focal points, with stunning effect.

And, if you don't want to install electric lighting,

there's a wide range of solar-powered lights and oil lamps.

And don't forget the humble candle

which can bring a space to life as the sun sets.

David and Simon's garden is now ready for the trees and shrubs

that will be illuminated, starting with that large cercis.

-This is stuck.

-I'll hold that bit.

You go and be a He-Man.

Come on, then, man. Three, two, one.

There you go.

Poor thing, probably sweated off half a stone,

in this heat and in the clingfilm!

Ta-da!

The cercis has vivid pink flowers

that will tie in with the blossom of the existing cherry tree,

and its heart-shaped leaves will add a dappled canopy

perfect for softly screening off the view of the greenhouse.

There we are, the shape's coming back now, isn't it?

One in, several more to go, including another cherry tree.

He is going to go down the bottom,

and then this guy is going to come in over there, I think.

The brothers have chosen mature plants to give instant effect.

Ooh, it does make it very secret down here.

It's great, I can't see any of you!

LAUGHTER

Harry and David are rather particular when it comes

to placing their plants.

Those two next to each other look nice, spin them round.

And, being brothers, they don't always agree.

The only thing is... Do we have him there? He looked pretty cool.

Do you know what I think? I think bring him.

He can go behind there, he can go here.

-Who's he?

-So, this was... Put him...

-I don't think they look nice.

I've created a nice little bit of depth.

Do you want to swap them around, then?

So, what are you trying to achieve?

Charlie and Andy have very sensibly left them to it,

and are working on yet another added extra

that wasn't on the original design.

At the moment, David hasn't got a water butt.

And, rather than use one of those plastic ones,

which are made of recycled plastic, which is great,

I'm going for a galvanised tank

and Andy has just put the guttering in for me.

So, I have to say, this bit of pipe...

-Yeah?

-I know it matches the fence...

-Just about to measure it.

-But look what I found.

-Oh, OK, right!

That will be much more attractive, won't it?

-So, we're just going to let the water...

-Run down the chain.

-OK.

And then there's no reason why I don't put a climbing plant there

and then it can climb up it.

Some sweet peas or something like that,

-because they won't mind when it rains.

-Great.

-Mind your fingers.

-Ooh!

There she blows, little beauty.

And I'm just going to see if my chain lets the water run properly.

Well, that seems to work all right.

-What am I doing here?

-Just going to go that way.

-Lift her out?

With the position of the trees and shrubs finally agreed upon,

it's time to get them in the ground.

And Scott has drawn the short straw, starting with the biggest.

Need about an hour-and-a-half!

Let us know when you hit oil!

Scott's not the only one digging.

It's spades in all round to get those large planting beds filled up.

This is the Viburnum burkwoodii.

And what I love about it most is its beautiful open structure.

There's also these large clusters of white flowers on the end

which give this amazing scent.

Buying mature shrubs means you're more likely to encounter

one particular problem.

All right, look at this privet here.

So, it's clearly been in the pot quite a long time.

Because, as you can see, the roots are pot-bound.

That means they're going around and they're tight.

So, what you want to do before you plant it is

you want to tease them off. Just like that.

It may look a little harsh, but you're doing it a lot of good.

And all this means is, once you put it in the hole, these will grow in,

root into all the soft soil, so it will make it grow nice and fast.

So, privet is most commonly used for hedging

and that's because it can be clipped and shaped quite easily.

But, left to grow naturally and shaggy, it's a gorgeous shrub.

And it has loads of interest.

So, it is semi-evergreen, so, in a sheltered condition,

it will hold most of its leaves.

That makes it great for wildlife and especially nesting birds.

It produces berries and flowers, so it's a must-have in your garden.

Scott has dug the hole for the cercis.

One, two, three.

-Yep.

-Nice.

And, with all the shrubs and trees in,

Harry has moved on to placing the perennials.

Meticulously, of course.

This is Thalictrum Black Stockings

and, at the moment, it's got really tight clusters,

and when the flowers come out, it's going to give this haze

of pink and purple that draws your eye straight down the garden.

Meanwhile, near the back door,

Charlie is planting up her herb container.

I'm actually going to plant a mint in it,

but I'm going to leave the mint in its pot because,

if you put mint in a planter like this,

it will just take over the whole thing.

So, the mint's going to go there,

and then I've got a rosemary, and the lovely thing about rosemary is

you can train it, so we can clip it back

so it will make a nice fan shape across this wall.

And then I've got a lavender.

Now, you might think, oh, lavender's not a herb,

but the great thing about lavender is

it actually stops flies from coming into the kitchen. Scent's lovely.

And then we've got some parsley, here and here.

And then I'm just going to work the vegetables in around here.

So, we're now starting to place the plants in between the paving.

We've got four different species, and they are all low-growing,

so we've got a brunnera, and we've got the epimedium.

So, they tolerate more shade.

They produce gorgeous little flowers like that there.

And then, as we go in towards the sunnier boundary,

what we've got is we've got alyssum,

a nice little yellow flower, nice and vibrant.

And dwarf alchemilla.

These guys are all going to spread out, they'll cover all the edges

and they'll just give a little woodland carpet

wrapping around the paving.

It's the final push.

The plants that homeowner David

has saved are re-homed alongside the new additions.

And, as the deck is cleaned and the lights are turned on,

the garden is complete.

Before David and Simon called Charlie and the Rich brothers,

they felt their long, narrow garden was stuck in the '70s.

But now, after its £5,000 overhaul, it's been brought right up-to-date.

The couple now have two seating areas,

the extended patio at the top of the garden

and a new secluded seating area at the bottom.

The balau decking boards add a real touch of luxury and cost £1,675.

The sleek, contemporary pathways link the two, and came in at £475.

The last-minute addition of the water trough was £130

and will be a useful addition to the garden.

Many of David's existing plants were saved and re-used,

but the Rich brothers still managed to pack in over £1,600 worth

of new trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants,

including the £210 cercis and two large viburnums at £60 each.

The planting is beautifully presented by

the revitalised grey fence which cost £500 to paint.

Five spike lights transform the space after dark, and cost £200.

David and Simon wanted to bring their garden into the 21st-century.

It's time to see if the Rich brothers have delivered the garden

they were hoping for.

Right, well, we've had a really, really good day.

The team have worked really hard, and we're very pleased.

So, we'd like you to open your eyes in

three, two, one.

Oh, my God! Ha!

Oh, it's amazing!

It's absolutely amazing!

I can't believe this is our garden!

The fences, the plants, the path!

-And the lights!

-Yeah!

-It is absolutely stunning. Oh, my God!

David's like a kid at a toy store.

He doesn't know where to go first!

And I am so glad that's not a lawn.

-LAUGHTER

-Good decision?

Definitely. I mean, I'm sold on that. Amazing.

Awesome. Well, would you guys like to move forward

-and experience the garden?

-Yes, we would!

OK, and what do you think of the planting?

I absolutely love the planting.

I love the colour scheme.

-SIMON:

-All the purples, especially, and the pink on that.

It is just absolutely gorgeous.

I'm blown away. I love it.

It's better than I could ever, ever have imagined.

So great to do a garden for someone that's passionate about plants

and doesn't mind putting the work in.

David is going to spend hours out here.

And our special decking area's on the bottom, which is really secret!

-ALL:

-Yes!

-SIMON:

-Exactly what we wanted.

-It does feel quite private. You can't even see the house.

-Yeah.

And you definitely can't see the bins.

-The bins have gone completely!

-LAUGHTER

-HARRY:

-Charlie's got a little herb garden at the back as well, so...

And outside the kitchen door for the herbs is perfect.

Comes out, it starts straightaway.

And Charlie's been really busy in the greenhouse as well.

She's been potting up lots of edibles.

I think we're going to leave you guys

-to kind of find out what's in there.

-I can't wait!

-Wow.

-DAVID:

-So, we've got some of your hellebores throughout the garden.

-Some of your astrantias.

-Fantastic.

-They've got some new friends now, haven't they?

-Yeah, definitely.

-So, thumbs up, definitely worth the money?

-Massive thumbs up.

-Worth every penny.

-Nice. Awesome.

-Amazing.

But now the dust has settled,

how did David and Simon really feel about their new garden?

I can't believe this is our garden.

-It's... Look at it!

-I know, every part of it is stunning, every part.

I just don't think I'm going to go in the house ever again.

-Why would you when you could sit out here?

-No.

We're sat here. Could be sat down there.

-Just the whole thing. Perfect.

-To us.