Watford 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...

That's 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 are 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...

Wow!

-..and budget.

-That sounds amazing.

Doesn't look like it could be our garden.

The winner...

..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, boys.

Whoa, whoa, easy.

This is what happens...

Just get on with it. Sometime today would be good.

..when different styles collide...

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

Are we doing this?

..to turn garden dreams into reality.

Open your eyes.

Oh, it's lovely.

Wow.

-Look at that.

-Wow.

It's not our garden!

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

today's garden challenge.

We've just heard from Archie, from Hertfordshire.

He really loves his garden but his wife Manjula dreams

of this designer space.

Archie and Manjula have lived at their Watford home

with its modest plot for 15 years.

It's a very different life to the one they used to have in their old home in Zambia.

I grew up in Africa, and I met Manjula

on one of my trips to the UK.

Once we got married I moved there with him.

And we lived there for about eight years.

But the lifestyle there in Africa was really good.

During the morning you'd wake up and you'd see the wild peacocks,

you can hear them, the sun's coming over the trees

and it's really lovely.

And their garden in Africa was rather different, too.

We had an enormous garden with a swimming pool and a very large veranda where we could entertain.

We had a lot of fruit trees and avocado pears and mango trees

-and...

-I think we spent more time in the garden than we did in the house.

Archie worked for a company that sold mining equipment and the garden

was so large they had to have a full-time gardener.

Their 12 metre by 15 metre garden in Watford isn't quite the same.

I don't spend that much time in the garden.

It's not that I don't have the time,

it's just that it doesn't inspire me.

So now, 30 years after they lived there,

they think it's time for a garden that takes them back to those halcyon days.

They want to have a garden that reminds them of Africa.

It definitely doesn't look African at the moment, does it?

No! It looks a bit mixed up, though.

You've got fuchsia, you've got magnolias,

gladiolis, mixed in with your strawberries.

But there's another reason why a new garden is

so important to the couple.

There's a special birthday on the way.

I'm approaching my big birthday next year.

She doesn't want to say what it is.

Shall we make it the big 30?!

I wanted to spend money on her and I think it's a present that she'll

-sort of see and enjoy for years to come.

-Yeah.

And Manjula has already started her birthday wish list.

What I'd really like to see in my garden is an area for entertaining,

and secondly, a really amazing water feature that makes a statement

which I can sit and admire.

Like, I want to sit and admire it for hours on end.

So, budget wise?

We're looking at £6,000.

-That's not bad.

-That's good, yes.

We should be able to get some of the things that she wants for that,

-shouldn't we?

-I think so, definitely.

-We can provide her that wow factor for her birthday.

-Yeah.

£6,000 is a serious amount of cash.

But this garden not only needs to be on par with their old garden in

Africa, it's also going to be a present for Manjula.

The pressure is on and our designers are going to need to find out more.

So, Charlie and the Rich brothers waste no time in heading to the

couple's home in Watford to take a closer look.

They both want to get their hands on that six grand,

so are looking for clues that might give them an advantage.

It's quite a big space, isn't it?

The patio looks very 1970s, doesn't it?

I suppose you're too young to know.

No, I can definitely see that wall as well.

It's quite prominent, isn't it?

It's quite a sun trap down there in the evening so maybe another little

-seating area.

-Yeah, that'd be nice.

-Some nice plants against the wall, maybe.

Yeah, I think so. A few overlooking houses, mainly over there.

But there is a tree also that can screen that.

But maybe that's something to think about. A bit of privacy.

For £6,000,

the Patels are going to expect more than just a few plants and trees

so the boys head inside to look for inspiration.

So this is Manjula and Archie's prayer room.

Nice space, isn't it?

Quite intimate. I think when we're looking at the garden,

having a space as relaxing as this,

somewhere where they feel quite private is going to be very important.

Maybe nicely surrounded by some trees, quite immersed in the garden.

Meanwhile, Charlie wants to know why the current garden doesn't work for Manjula.

There's lots of lovely plants in here.

That is what I keep on saying to Manjula.

Way too many, I think.

Way too many? Oh, I think more.

But there are some really unusual ones.

-Are you the gardener?

-Oh, no.

-No, no, no.

-This is all my hard work.

So do you tell him off at all about all the plants?

Because I have to say they're quite eclectically mixed up, aren't they?

-I'm trying to be nice.

-Being nice is the right word.

Yes, definitely.

They're a little bit too mixed up.

I'm a minimalist. Less is more, is my opinion.

-Inside, the boys have spotted some clues relating to the couple's former life.

-Wow.

I don't know about you, but definitely the colours hit me first in this room.

You've got the sofas, that kind of earthy brown.

You've got the vase, then this painting, beautiful.

It really does evoke this African feel, doesn't it?

It would be nice for the hard landscaping out there maybe trying to pick some of those colours.

So, what sort of plants would you like?

I know you don't want many.

Actually, one or two in the garden which I really like.

I like roses. I like lilies.

-The one over there.

-The camellia?

So, is it a nice bright colour, is it?

Yes, we've yellow, we've got pink, red.

Sounds like they're more sort of going towards the hot colours.

Yes. They are, really hot, yeah.

Wow. There's an awful lot of elements to consider here.

Hot colours, earthy tones, water features, contemplative spaces,

patios and the added pressure of a birthday present thrown in

to really up the stakes.

Even with a £6,000 budget, this is a formidable challenge.

Our rival designers are going to have to get creative.

Each of them will have to come up with a design that matches Archie

and Manjula's style and their budget.

Their £6,000 will be used to cover the cost of the materials for their

new garden, while the labour will be supplied by Charlie,

the Rich brothers, and their team of landscapers.

The couple will then have to choose a winner and whoever loses will have

to help the winner build the garden.

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

The boys have seen how the couple's house contains hints of their past

life in Africa. So, will their new design reflect this?

All right, so, this is our design.

-OK.

-Wow.

Whilst Charlie has learned that Manjula likes hot,

vibrant colours but also likes minimalism in her garden.

Can she weave both these ideas into her new design?

Oh, wow.

What I've done is to keep it very simple but elegant.

I've gone with circles.

-Right.

-So this is a natural stone patio

and then we've got a pergola over the top

of the seating area, just very simple,

with climbing plants going up it.

OK.

Charlie's design is simple and unfussy, just how Manjula likes it.

But the boys are trying something very different.

We really wanted to reflect a natural Zambian landscape.

OK.

But do it in a more of a modern, quite functional way.

The main features are these slabbed areas and these replicate that kind

of cracked earth, so it's quite fragmented,

quite architectural and quite modern.

So these lead you through the garden and then this is where you cross,

this deck bridge over a natural water feature.

-All right. OK.

-So something that is quite calming, quite soft,

something that you maybe find in a natural landscape.

So a few rocks around it.

Harry and David have gone for it,

evoking the African landscape and adding the water feature

Manjula was looking for.

How will Charlie respond?

I have got a water feature.

It is, again, very simple.

So the water drops from one level to the next to the next,

and into a bowl.

So you'll be able to pop your hand under the water

-and feel it run through your fingers.

-All right, OK.

So Charlie's given Manjula a water feature she can play with

as well as stare at.

Meanwhile, the boys have remembered another feature from the house.

We want to split the garden into these two areas and split up by this

wall. This area here is very calming, very private,

surrounded by shrubs and right next to the water feature.

So you're kind of immersed in this little space.

-OK.

-This back area is a lot more open.

A family space where you can sit and eat outside.

The boys haven't forgotten that the old garden in Africa was a place to

entertain, but Charlie is not going to be outdone.

The patio is your big entertainment area.

And then this is a deck area,

so you can sit enjoying the evening sun out there.

And then through the deck area I have put a tree to give you a bit of

screening so you don't see the houses over there.

Then I've got circles of organ pipe poles around the garden which will

draw the theme all together of using arcs and circles,

while still keeping it very simple.

These are two completely different designs and the couple are giving

nothing away, so it might just be the planting that decides it.

We really wanted to have this vibrant warmth, reds, oranges,

somewhere that's really going to uplift this garden.

So you've got crocosmia, you've got persicaria.

-Red-hot pokers, we thought would be nice.

-Yeah, red-hot pokers.

And then, amongst this,

we've got trees and shrubs so maybe a fruit tree so you can go out and

-pick your fruit.

-Right.

When it comes to the planting, I've gone for really hot colours.

Things like imperial fritillarias,

abutilon, which has these lovely red lanterns

that hang down and then yellow petals that come out.

And because this wall at the back here is so warm,

I thought it be great to grow a feijoa on it.

Hot colours, vibrant plants and fruit trees.

Both these designs deliver the planting Manjula loves.

Thank you very much, guys.

-Cheers.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

So now, it's up to the couple to decide.

Archie wants to give Manjula the birthday present she has been

longing for since they left Africa 30 years ago.

So it's vital that they make the right choice.

I love this pergola.

It sort of gives that African feel.

And then she's got these really nice colours which I like.

I have to say I think I won them over with the plant selection.

I've got feijoa, I've got really nice, hot colours.

That's good fighting talk there but we've also got some fiery hot planting, haven't we?

This is really nice, isn't it, this water feature?

I like the little bridge going across.

We've also got a bridge so they get to walk over their water feature.

So is it just still water, then?

It's a natural pool.

OK, mine is much more sensory than that, much more interactive.

-You can touch it?

-Yes, yes.

You can't touch our water.

Summer in Africa.

Are you going to make this decision, or am I?

Because I don't want to.

Archie and Manjula can only pick one,

so which one delivers the most for their £6,000?

Will they be won over by the Rich brothers earthy African tones and

bridge over a large water feature?

Or will they be tempted by Charlie's simple, elegant circles,

interactive water feature, and her hot, fiery plant selection?

It's decision time.

Hello, hello.

-OK.

-This has been really, really tough.

I wish I could have both gardens.

But finally we've come to a decision and this is it.

Oh!

And boys, it was the water feature that clinched it because I think

it's really statement making.

Water feature, fantastic!

Well, OK.

So the Rich brothers' design has come up trumps.

And not only that,

they beat the queen of the water features at her own game.

But this is a really complex design, with two different seating areas,

and a multitude of textures and surfaces

plus that huge statement water feature.

They'll definitely be needing Charlie's help to pull this off.

It is day one of the build in Watford,

and while the boys are off sourcing some vibrant African-inspired plants,

Paul and his trusty team of landscapers

make a start on the garden.

Snip that away.

And that.

The Rich brothers are planning a massive transformation for this garden,

which means nearly everything must go.

And with a job this size, they won't be doing it all by hand.

But with the space cleared,

Scott and project manager Paul have found a manhole cover

that looks problematic.

The manhole cover's quite high, isn't it?

And I think that falls in the patio area.

Seeing that they have a problem,

Paul decides he'd better call the boys.

-'Hello.'

-Hi, Harry, it's Paul here.

'Hey, Paul.'

Hi, we've got a large manhole which is going to be sticking out

of your paving, so have you any ideas?

'Can we do a recessed cover over that?'

Off memory,

there's not going to be enough money in the budget for a recess manhole,

guys, because unfortunately,

we're kind of like knocking on the door of 6K.

'All right, well, we're both on the way over now

'so we'll see you shortly and then we can have an idea.

OK, guys. See you in a bit.

-'Perfect, cheers.'

-Cheers, bye-bye.

While they wait for the governors to arrive,

the team crack on with prep work and Mark makes a start on the wall.

In the boys' design,

it would divide the al fresco dining area from the rest of the garden.

With the landscapers powering on,

it's not long before the A team arrives.

And it looks like the boys have been busy.

As you can see, we're definitely not short of materials, are we?

It's a builders' yard, builders' yard.

-My goodness.

-This is a massive project, really.

I mean, we've got a water feature, we've got slabbing,

we've got a bridge, we've got a sitting area, big trees.

-What haven't we got?

-A cup of tea.

I could do that. I'm good at making tea.

-Definitely start with that.

-Start with that, yeah.

Then it's just down to hard landscaping and planting, really.

Just? I love the "just".

-Optimistic.

-I'll just go and put the kettle on.

First things first, though.

David needs to deal with the annoying manhole cover

that reared its head earlier.

The main issue with this is that it's actually situated where we

wanted one of our slab patios.

What we would love to have done

would be to have a recessed manhole and that would be a little gap,

and then we put a slab inside it and so it becomes seamless

with the patio, but we haven't got the budget for that, unfortunately.

So what we're doing is we're just adjusting the patio line

around it. That means the planting bed can come in and we'll put a few

plants around it that'll grow over and disguise it completely.

Not only was the boys' water feature preferred over Charlie's,

but just to rub her nose in it,

they've asked her to build it, as well.

So, the boys are using a butyl liner.

As you can see, the ground is very stony.

So we're putting a good layer of soft sand in first,

then we're going to put some underfelt down to protect the liner

and then the liner on top of that.

Quality pond liners are expensive, and by first lining the pond

with sand it will protect it against punctures.

The Rich brothers wanted to give Archie and Manjula a garden with

a difference and one that would evoke the happy memories

of their time in Zambia.

So, they've designed a distinctive angular patio

intersected with irregular deep cuts.

But to achieve this unique effect,

they first need to lay the slabs,

then cut out the shape.

We've gone for the idea of having this dried soil,

this cracked earth look.

So it's quite fragmented, quite architectural,

and all the patio slabs lead off each other.

What we're going to do is bring it back,

maybe about 200ml from here and create a parallel line.

That's for the next area of slabbing.

And then this is going to be a lovely little run of gravel and maybe a bit of interplanting.

Just to break it up, create that step over.

It just should make the space a little bit more interesting.

Using your garden to evoke special memories is a great idea.

And one person that has taken it to the extreme

is 58-year-old software developer Tim Wilmot.

25 years ago,

Tim decided to create a tropical jungle at his home in Bristol,

reminiscent of gardens he had visited as a boy

more than 20 years earlier.

As a kid I had a holiday on the Isles of Scilly,

the island of Tresco.

And there's some wonderful exotic gardens down there.

That must have stuck in my memory.

And then as an adult now,

I'm able to grow this wonderful exotic paradise

maybe reminiscing back to my childhood.

I've always been interested in these sorts of plants, palm trees,

unusual plants. And we had them in pots in our previous garden

but coming here and having a slightly larger garden,

it gave me the opportunity to let them escape and roam wild,

and really grow to their proper size.

While Tim may have invested a lot of time in the garden,

he doesn't think you need to pour all your money into it as well.

Don't be put off by thinking that

these sorts of plants can be expensive.

A lot of them can be bought quite small,

particularly things like grasses, bananas, ferns, fatsias.

They can be relatively inexpensive.

Buy them young and they can have a better chance of surviving as well,

if you buy them young. Often if you do buy them too large,

then it would be more difficult for them

to establish themselves in our season.

And the end result is a feeling of transportation which makes Tim feel

like he's stepped out of his door into tropical paradise.

It does make me feel as if I'm somewhere different.

You feel like it's raising the temperature by a few degrees.

But we're still in the UK.

The effect is lovely.

Back in Watford, the boys are hoping that their exotic garden

will transport Archie and Manjula back to their time in Zambia.

But first, they have to build it.

Laying paving stones is thirsty work,

so the boys are relieved that the tea lady has finally arrived.

Kettle's boiled. There's sugar in there to keep you sweet, sir.

-Cheers.

-Not for you.

-Bit of salt in mine, is there?

Well, something, something.

Looks like you've got a bit of dye from your hair come off, Charlie.

Do you use colour on yours?

Yeah.

That's why it's going grey. Going grey, I am.

It's only since working with you boys.

So, the pond is almost ready for a liner.

I'm waiting on you, Guvnor.

-I'll be over now. After my coffee.

-Cool.

Angles are everything in the brothers' design,

and so with paving progressing nicely,

David decides it's time for the blocked wall

to get the same treatment.

Within the design, this all helps to divide the garden.

It creates a really lovely space, where the sun is.

They can have that al fresco dining.

It's where most of the activity will be.

So it's lovely separating that from the rest of the garden.

Now, what we're doing with this wall, it's not going to be the same

as regular walls. It's going to have a peak and that angular shape

will link in really nicely with the patios in the garden.

We've built this using lightweight blocks which makes it really easy

to cut, which is the next thing I've got to do.

Better than on your face.

The grinder makes short work of the blocked wall but with lightweight

breeze blocks like these,

you don't actually need power tools to cut them down to size.

If you don't have access to an angle grinder then a hand saw

is perfect for this job.

Because we're using the lightweight blocks it means the wood saw goes

straight through them, and it's actually going to give you

a finer finish.

Beautiful.

Really nice. Now all it needs is a bit of render.

With the sand in, Harry and Charlie can start lining the pond.

Good work, Charlie.

-The digger made light work of this, didn't it?

-It did.

Got the liner here so that's going to stop the roots from coming

through. So, shall we get it...

Find an end, any end will do.

When building a pond,

it's important to get it right from the beginning

as leaks and holes can be expensive to fix down the line.

And so a good-quality underlay is key.

Cheaper options such as old carpets,

blankets and newspapers will rot over time.

Not only smelling bad but also they leave the liner vulnerable

to piercing.

And with a pond liner in, the water can begin to flow.

The team are flying and Archie and Manjula want to keep everyone's

strength up so that they reach the finish line.

Look at these. Lovely.

A similar shape to the wall, aren't they?

-Yeah.

-That's exactly why I made them.

It's actually lucky you came because I've got to run

-a few things by you.

-OK.

And one of them is for this main dining area here.

Obviously, the key thing in here is that you have that outdoor lifestyle,

that's your dining area. So you need somewhere to eat off, like a table.

So we thought a bit of furniture would be great.

So what we've done is we've given you this lovely chunk

of cedar here as the table top.

And then we've got a couple of chunks of oak to sit that on.

I think that's a great idea. It goes with the theme as well, you know,

-the African theme.

-And Archie,

I know you love growing your own fruit and veg as well.

We're going to bring in some raised planters for you.

-Great.

-So it's going to make it really easy to dig up the soil,

really easy to maintain and also we'll fit them in with the design,

so quite angular, slightly modern looking.

That would please Manjula as otherwise they'll go all over the place.

-Give you some boundaries.

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Right, I'm going to ask you guys to leave.

-OK.

-But the plate can definitely stay.

-And then you can come back for a big surprise.

-All right, thank you.

-All right, enjoy.

-Will do.

See you guys. Bye.

With the weight of the water now holding down the pond liner,

Harry can smooth out a few of the old creases.

So the ponds fling up nicely, and what I'm doing at the moment,

because there's a nice body of water in there, is pulling the liner,

getting rid of as many folds as possible.

We're using a butyl rubber and this is great quality pond liner.

It gets up to about 15 years guarantee.

With a small garden like this,

making the most of the available resources is key.

And the warm, sunny wall at the end of the garden is the ideal spot for

growing a fig tree.

However, to stop the fig from

encroaching on the al fresco dining area,

the boys are going to train it against the wall,

and they have given Charlie the job of attaching the wires.

The boys have let me loose with a drill.

And their knitting.

When you're using wire,

don't just pull one bit because you end up with a mess like this.

Driving me bonkers, it is.

Driving me bonkers.

I'll be some time doing this.

It's ever so exciting.

The centrepiece of the brothers' design is the tranquil pond

with a picturesque bridge that links the two sides of the garden.

When it came to choosing the garden they wanted,

this was the feature that really swayed Archie and Manjula's final

decision, so the boys need to make sure it meets their expectations.

So we're just screwing the decking boards onto the frame now

and what we're going to do, just to get that bespoke feeling,

like the rest of the garden, we're going to pull a line and we're going

to cut a taper into the deck boards so that it's thinner at one end

and thicker at the other.

And that should just fit in with the whole shape of the garden.

We're using Balau wood to create the bridge.

That's a sustainable hardwood,

which means it's going to have really good longevity, looks great,

nice and sturdy, and the colour matches the slabs really nicely.

I think it's nice, if you're designing a feature

within the garden,

then using a quality material like this really makes it stand out.

With Archie and Manjula giving them the green light

for the additional planter, it's all go for the boys.

We're using marine ply for the raised planters,

and like the cedar table top,

this has natural oils and tannins in it that will make it last a lot

longer outside and also makes it quite waterproof.

This is definitely more expensive than normal ply,

so you're looking about £60-£70 per sheet.

So drawing the lines out, that utilises most of the board,

so we only have a tiny bit of wastage.

Raised planters can be made from a wide range of materials including

brick, stone and timber, even old barrels and bathtubs can be used.

But building this one from scratch out of durable plywood

means that the boys can give the planter a unique angular shape

that will tie in with the rest of their design.

Charlie? Going to have to have another hand, I think.

Oh. Give us your strong arm.

I haven't got any strong arms.

I'm going to cut through and then you just hold that up.

So I'm going to be going left round here so you have to hold here.

-Just put your hands...

-Nice.

Right, ready.

Nice. Look at that!

So, what's this for, then? Tell me, tell me.

-Raised planter.

-Oh, OK.

Angular raised planter to match in with the patio.

-On a wobble?

-Got a little bit of a high bit, a low bit.

A bit of high, a bit of low.

I think it's quite nice making your own planter, isn't it?

-Very satisfying.

-Personal touch for someone if they do it themselves.

And you can use any odd bits of wood you've got.

-Yeah.

-If it's an odd shape, you can use odd bits of wood.

One of Archie and Manjula's fondest memories of their garden in Africa

was the wonderful fruit trees it had.

And although Watford isn't quite warm enough for growing mangoes,

a luscious fig tree isn't a bad compromise.

And with the wires finally attached,

the fig is ready to begin its training.

So I haven't got it right against the wall,

and I've also put some wires in.

With figs, if you fan them out, you get a lot more fruit on them.

So we're going to sort of train this down and tie it onto that wire.

This one is going to go up and then we'll train it onto the next wire.

Fastening the plants tight without damaging the stem is a real issue

when training plants.

But Charlie knows a little trick that can overcome this conundrum.

So try and get the wires as tight as you possibly can.

I mean, that's about as tight as I can get it.

And talking of tights, just here, a pair of old tights.

And you think, what am I doing with those?

They make absolutely great ties for plants.

So you just want to cut that about a centimetre thick.

And then the great thing about them is they're very, very strong

but they are also very soft.

So you can use them to tie

round a stem of a plant, so there's a bit of give,

but likewise it holds it in position.

With the hard landscaping nearly complete,

it's time to start getting the feature trees into position.

-Which way are you going first?

-To you first.

Waddle, waddle.

-One big one now.

-Waddle.

And I'd get out the hole, if I were you.

Ready?

The boys have chosen a sumac tree, the staghorn.

It's actually native to North America,

but will add plenty of colour to the garden across the seasons.

So, why the sumacs?

Do you know, not only for its amazing autumn colour

and the kind of way that the red links in with the whole garden,

but, you know, it's got lovely details like the kind of furriness

of the stem. The staghorn.

Like the antlers, isn't it?

Fluffy. Really tactile.

-I think it's beautiful.

-And it kind of evokes the African feel as well,

this kind of large canopy.

For that savanna look.

-Savanna, exactly.

-Here in Watford.

Another key plant that the boys have chosen is this cercis, Forest Pansy.

Beautiful, heart-shaped, purple leaves during the summer,

come the autumn they go golden and red and then in the spring you get

these clusters of magenta,

pink flowers that literally just come out of the wood.

Fabulous. One of my favourite plants.

The colour palette of a garden can set the tone.

Blues, purples and greens are very calming

and are typically referred to as cool colours.

While reds, pinks, yellows and oranges are hot colours

that add vibrancy and can make a garden feel warmer and more exotic.

And this is a tactic that has been employed with fabulous effect at the

Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens in Oxfordshire,

well-known for their hot borders filled with vibrant planting.

Hot red, yellow and orange flowers like daisies,

salvias and dahlias are interplanted with the bright,

variegated leaves of coleus and polka dot plants,

providing a riot of colour.

Combined with lush foliage and dramatic-shaped plants like bananas,

phormiums and castor bean, to create a hot, fiery, exotic look.

And it is this idea of hot borders and warm colours

that the Rich brothers are bringing

to Manjula and Archie's garden in Watford,

adding warmth and vibrancy to the planting with flowers

such as crocosmia and persicaria.

Then, by painting the wall and raised planter with a warm red,

they are able to continue this theme through the landscaping.

And tying it all together is the rusty red earth gravel

which runs throughout this exotic garden.

The transformation is nearly complete

and the boys can't wait to get the bridge in

and see what it looks like.

Who put that wall there, then?

I know.

Let's pass this over to...

Ready?

-Back that way, mate.

-Don't rest it on the wall, there, boss.

-Ready?

-Bring her in.

-All right.

-Yes, got it.

Right, lower it down.

A bit more. Your end up.

Yeah, keep going. A bit more.

How is that at your end?

-Yeah.

-It looks nice, it almost looks bespoke, that bridge, you know.

Harry might have taken charge of constructing the pond,

but when it comes to the aquatic plants,

he's more than happy to let Charlie take the lead.

So popping in a couple of water lilies for the boys.

We've got this one here which is a chromatella,

lovely lemon, pale yellow flowers.

And sparkly, spotty foliage.

Sort of marbled effect, which I quite like.

And then also just a plain, very pale pink one.

So we're using just garden soil.

You don't have to have aquatic soil.

As long as there's not lots of chemicals in it,

or you've not put lime or anything like that, garden soil is fine.

Deciding to build a robust all-weather dining table at the end

of the garden was a masterstroke by the Rich brothers,

creating an al fresco dining space perfect for any occasion.

It's a big old chunk, isn't it?

The large slab of cedar is a hardy, rot-resistant timber that,

when left untreated,

will weather over time and acquire an attractive silver-grey sheen

to perfectly complement the sun-baked look of the garden.

Beautiful bit of cedar, isn't it?

Gorgeous.

Although this garden is a present for Manjula,

the boys knew they couldn't forget about Archie

and his love of pottering round.

So, by adding a raised planter,

it provides the perfect space to add a few little extras to the garden.

Just planting a few herbs here for Archie and Manjula.

And what's so good about a raised bed like this is that you can put your own soil in.

This garden has been really difficult digging,

it's been full of stone, rubble, not easy at all.

So this just makes it really, really simple.

Raised beds are definitely seen as something that is quite traditional in a garden.

This one shows how it's gone against that and it's quite angular.

I think that's what me and Harry tried to stress in this garden,

making everything bespoke, it's definitely not traditional,

it's angular, it's quite modern, and I think it really works.

With the planter complete, there's just the finishing touches to go.

In a previous life,

Archie and Manjula's garden was little more than an uninspired lawn

with borders. A far cry from the lush African garden that they had

to say goodbye to when they left their home in Zambia.

Now it's had a £6,000 makeover

and the Rich brothers have pulled out all the stops

to bring some of that African colour to Watford and give them the garden

they have been yearning for.

The brothers spent £1,700 on the smooth natural sandstone pavers

which were used to build the large patio areas...

..broken by angular strips of gravel to evoke the sun-cracked earth of Africa.

40 cubic metres of rusty earth-red gravel were used to intersect

the paving and surface the outdoor seating areas.

Costing just £440.

While the stunning cedar slab and the oak blocks that the brothers

built the bespoke al fresco dining table from cost £280.

Hot colours were essential for this garden and the vibrant plants

cost a total of £1,500.

With the three majestic sumacs that give the garden that all-important

height and structure costing an indulgent £220 each.

And finally, the tranquil pond that forms the centrepiece of the garden,

complete with a beautiful hardwood bridge, cost just over £1,000.

For more than 30 years, Archie and Manjula have been longing

for a garden like they had in Africa.

And with a significant milestone approaching for Manjula,

Archie wanted to give her a present she would enjoy for years to come.

OK, we're going to spin you round a little bit.

-OK.

-It's time to find out if the boys were up to the task.

Ready, and open your eyes to your garden.

Wow.

What do you think?

-Amazing.

-I'm never lost for words.

-But I am speechless.

-This is incredible.

Wow. This is really my garden?

Yeah.

Manjula's happy.

Does it have that African feeling?

The colours are amazing.

With the strong sun.

The slabs.

And it matches the wall there.

Yeah, everything has that little bit of unity, doesn't it?

- It all links. - Every corner you look.

And then as it grows all the plants will get bigger and it'll fill out the beds.

Exactly. Look at the bridge. Oh, wow.

Definitely.

-Is it going to take my weight?

-Yeah.

I can't believe it.

What do you think of the trees?

-Oh, yeah.

-Beautiful.

The colour!

The trees do look fabulous.

They really break the garden up.

Oh, look at that. That's just for me. Look at that.

I just love it. Now she won't let me loose anywhere else.

-Definitely not.

-I knew Archie would be happy.

He likes his plants, he does.

So, the dining area.

Al fresco, yes.

It's beautiful. It's not what I expected in shape, but it's amazing.

It's absolutely...

Chunky, solid, you know.

This is the best birthday present ever.

Thank you.

-Thank you, boys.

-The boys did do well.

It was hard graft.

There was a lot to do and it was all bespoke.

Really pleased.

Pleased is an understatement of the year.

I am ecstatic.

So now that the Garden Rescue team has packed up and gone,

do Archie and Manjula still think the garden

is everything that the Rich brothers promised?

I don't think the sketch did justice to the actual garden itself.

The water feature is brilliant.

The bridge going over it, you know.

It's beautifully done.

£6,000 is a serious amount to spend,

even to create your dream garden.

So, was the money well spent?

It was money very well spent, yes.

-Definitely.

-It sort of gives us an extension to the house, you know.

With outdoor dining and entertainment area.

It's something very different.

I mean, you can walk around anywhere near and you won't find a garden like this.