0:00:02 > 0:00:05There are few sights more satisfying than a beautiful garden,
0:00:05 > 0:00:07but what do you do if your outdoor space isn't quite
0:00:07 > 0:00:11so picture perfect and you're short on time?
0:00:11 > 0:00:14- Well, meet the instant gardener. - Ta-dah!
0:00:14 > 0:00:17Danny Clarke is an expert at transforming gardens.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21Here's my plan. I'm going to rejuvenate this garden.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24Each time our gardening guru will show you how to create
0:00:24 > 0:00:27gorgeous garden makeovers.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30That's the art of garden design, delegation.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34Each transformation will be packed with brilliant ideas and tips...
0:00:34 > 0:00:36It makes it easier to cut through.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40..to help you get to get to grips with your own outdoor space...
0:00:40 > 0:00:42It feels unnatural but take your time.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44..with his magical ideas...
0:00:44 > 0:00:48These flowers will look like they are floating in amongst the grasses.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51..and advice on spending wisely on a budget.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54That's why Danny makes me bring a list.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57Oh, my word! This is amazing!
0:00:57 > 0:00:59And because he's the instant gardener,
0:00:59 > 0:01:02everything you see will happen in just one day.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06- Oh, my God! - That looks so much better.
0:01:13 > 0:01:14Today, we're in Barnsley -
0:01:14 > 0:01:17a town with a proud industrial heritage
0:01:17 > 0:01:20nestling in the rolling hills of South Yorkshire.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23It may have once been a metropolis of mining,
0:01:23 > 0:01:26but beyond the relics of industry runs a rich seam of community life
0:01:26 > 0:01:29and nature at its greenest.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35In Yorkshire, you are never far from a bit of gorgeous countryside
0:01:35 > 0:01:38and the couple we are meeting today want to make the most of what
0:01:38 > 0:01:40is quite literally on their back doorstep.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49- Hello.- Hi.- You must be Claire? - I am, yeah.- And Richard?
0:01:49 > 0:01:52- Yes, nice to meet you.- Nice to meet you.- Do you want to come in?
0:01:52 > 0:01:54Thank you very much.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58Devoted young couple Claire and Richard live in a new-build house
0:01:58 > 0:02:01along with their three much-loved cats.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04They married two years ago and have been trying for a family
0:02:04 > 0:02:07but are now exhausted after several heartbreaking
0:02:07 > 0:02:10rounds of unsuccessful IVF.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12Now they have decided to take a break
0:02:12 > 0:02:16to recover from the emotional cost and focus on appreciating
0:02:16 > 0:02:18the friends and family they have already got.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21As they both work long hours, at a mental health unit,
0:02:21 > 0:02:23their spare time is precious.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26They'd love a garden where they can relax together
0:02:26 > 0:02:28as well as entertaining their loved ones.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32Claire and Richard's existing garden sweeps up
0:02:32 > 0:02:35from the back of the house in a steep slope.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37Good for catching the sun,
0:02:37 > 0:02:41but making it both very hard to manage and difficult to make useful.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44Like many new homes, there is a noticeable lack of planting here.
0:02:44 > 0:02:49Only an unkempt, weed-ridden lawn and a lonely acer by the fence.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52There's a very small patio next to the house,
0:02:52 > 0:02:55but no real area for the couple to relax, unless of course
0:02:55 > 0:02:59it's in the pint-sized and dilapidated chalet in the corner.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03It may seem like an uphill task to Claire and Richard but for Danny
0:03:03 > 0:03:07the shape of this garden is a real design challenge.
0:03:07 > 0:03:12- That, to me, looks like a brilliant place to sledge.- Yes, it is.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15We have spent many a Christmas sledging down that hill.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18- Who is the Wendy house for? - Our cats.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20We work long hours so we wanted somewhere for them
0:03:20 > 0:03:23to go when we weren't here.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Somewhere nice and cosy, the food was in there, litter trays,
0:03:26 > 0:03:30you know, to look after them. It has become derelict now.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32The door fell off in the high winds we had
0:03:32 > 0:03:36and we haven't managed to put it back on because it's warped.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39It's cute. I thought it was for Richard when he has been in trouble.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43I've spent many a night in there as well, so it's not too bad.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45So how do you use the garden at the minute?
0:03:45 > 0:03:49At the minute, we sit out on nights, use our wood burner
0:03:49 > 0:03:50and that's pretty much it.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52How much of a problem is that, Danny?
0:03:52 > 0:03:55Well, we're going to work with it, bearing in mind
0:03:55 > 0:03:57that we're going to build a garden in a day.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59- Yeah.- What do you want out of it?
0:03:59 > 0:04:02Obviously we get a lot of sun so we like to suntan
0:04:02 > 0:04:04and this is our serenity.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07- So you want this as a space in which you can entertain?- Yes.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10Family and friends, but mainly for us.
0:04:10 > 0:04:15Somewhere to relax and just peace and serenity. Easily maintained.
0:04:15 > 0:04:16Oh, yeah, definitely.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18But also on cold nights maybe have wood burner out
0:04:18 > 0:04:21and cosy night in the garden.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24Rather than thinking is it going to snow yet
0:04:24 > 0:04:26so we can sledge down that hill?
0:04:26 > 0:04:29It's quite difficult, isn't it? Because that is quite a steep slope.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33- Good for rolling down.- Yeah, it's not good for lawn mowing.- No.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35Danny, we're going to get out of your hair
0:04:35 > 0:04:37because I know you've got plenty to be cracking on with.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41You know what's coming now, don't you, Helen? I've got the book.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44- Thank you very much.- OK? - This is our shopping list.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48Are these going to be difficult plans to maintain?
0:04:48 > 0:04:52- No, they should be nice and easy for you to maintain.- Thank you very much.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54We'll get out of your hair and let you crack on.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57- Have fun.- And you. See you soon. - See you in a bit.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59While I take the couple off for a spot of research,
0:04:59 > 0:05:04Danny has only ten hours to transform their precipitous plot.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06So what's the plan, Dan?
0:05:06 > 0:05:09One of the things I've noticed, as with a lot of new-build properties,
0:05:09 > 0:05:12is this excuse for a patio down here.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15I wouldn't even call it a patio. I'd just call it a path.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18So there is nowhere for them to sit. This is my plan.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21We're going to give Claire and Richard a new patio.
0:05:21 > 0:05:26What most of us tend to do is build our patios very close to our houses.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30That is absolutely fine but I'm going to build a circular patio
0:05:30 > 0:05:35in the garden which is going to cut into this bank.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38This is going to make full use of the bank and the sun
0:05:38 > 0:05:41which comes from just over there.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45Now, I'm going to rejuvenate this garden with contemporary plants
0:05:45 > 0:05:48in the style of prairie planting.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52Prairie plants will love the conditions in this garden
0:05:52 > 0:05:56because we've got full sun here and also it's free-draining.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58So they will thrive.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02I'm going to work with the tree that's in this garden
0:06:02 > 0:06:05and what I mean by work with the tree is that I'm going to add
0:06:05 > 0:06:09another two just to give the garden more height and more interest.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13So we've got the low planting of the grasses
0:06:13 > 0:06:17and that's going to be complemented with the height of the trees.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20Overall, we're going to do a contemporary design for
0:06:20 > 0:06:22a contemporary couple
0:06:22 > 0:06:25and I think that will suit them down to the ground.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27Danny's handyman, AJ,
0:06:27 > 0:06:30and horticultural expert Lou are here to help as always.
0:06:31 > 0:06:36But Danny and his team never say no to extra help and two of Claire and Richard's friends,
0:06:36 > 0:06:39Gavin and another Claire, have stepped up to the plate.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43- Hello, Claire. Hello, Gavin.- Hello.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46- So you are the helpers for the day, are you?- We are.
0:06:46 > 0:06:51How do you know these guys? How have you got roped into this?
0:06:51 > 0:06:52We know them through work.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54- You both know them through work?- Yeah.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58Have you ever helped out on projects like this before?
0:06:58 > 0:07:01- No, first time. - Are you used to manual labour?
0:07:01 > 0:07:04- No, but I'm willing to give it a good shot.- Not really.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08- Right, we are going to build a circular patio here.- Lovely.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11We're going to cut it into that bank.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14That's going to be infilled with slate
0:07:14 > 0:07:17and it's going to be edged with timber
0:07:17 > 0:07:20and we are going to have a flower bed running round there.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22- Do you think they'll like it? - Yeah.- Definitely.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25- Brilliant.- Good, that's a relief.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28I bet it's a relief to you as well, isn't it, AJ?
0:07:28 > 0:07:32Well, for the time being. Until you change it as usual.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35That's a designer's prerogative, isn't it?
0:07:37 > 0:07:39- He's a broken man. - I am, I am.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43Right, AJ, I think the first task for us to do is get some marker string
0:07:43 > 0:07:46and mark out where this patio is going to go.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Mowing the lawn before digging will help lose some weight
0:07:49 > 0:07:53from that circle of turf that they are going to have to dig out.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55AJ: When you go higher with it,
0:07:55 > 0:07:57remember to lift your wrist up a little bit.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01- You're getting good at this. - I am getting good.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03With the edge of the patio marked out,
0:08:03 > 0:08:06it's time to start the biggest job of the day,
0:08:06 > 0:08:09shifting over two tonnes of earth to create the patio area...
0:08:11 > 0:08:15..starting with stripping that freshly mown turf. Go, AJ.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18Once we have taken the turf off, we are then going to dig down
0:08:18 > 0:08:21and barrow the earth into the skip
0:08:21 > 0:08:24- which is at the front of the house. - With the skip already hired
0:08:24 > 0:08:27and extra hands to help barrow the waste,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29it sounds easy enough,
0:08:29 > 0:08:32but not everyone has got the knack of this gardening lark yet.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36- Show me how you dig. - I've been watching him.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39- Distinct lack of welly there. - Right, OK.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42I tell you what, I'll show you how to dig.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44So, Claire was doing this.
0:08:45 > 0:08:50- With respect to you, Claire... - Pathetic!
0:08:50 > 0:08:53Now digging, you've got to really go for it.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57Don't be frightened, just go for it and give it some oomph.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02Just take out a section.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04Don't go too far back here,
0:09:04 > 0:09:05just go here.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08Yes, just take out a little section.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11- Go round the turf like that. Yes?- Yes.
0:09:11 > 0:09:16- Chop Away.- Chop away and then go down.
0:09:17 > 0:09:18There we are.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20See? Piece of cake.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23Right, we'll see if it works.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30In, out, wiggle. Wiggle. Come on, you can do it.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32AJ: Push again and then push down deeper.
0:09:32 > 0:09:38- Once you're out the way. That's it, well done.- Nice bit of muck.
0:09:38 > 0:09:39First proper dig.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46Oh, I'm going ahead now.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48In a strange sort of way, is it easier now?
0:09:48 > 0:09:52- Now that you've got the technique. - I didn't realise there was so much to digging.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56Yeah, there is but once you've got the technique, it is a lot easier.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59- Can you see any sweat?- Not yet.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03With the sun making a rare instant garden appearance,
0:10:03 > 0:10:05the team are soon sweating away.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08Meanwhile, I've planned a more relaxing morning for Richard
0:10:08 > 0:10:12and Claire at a local garden, also built into a steep slope.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16Like Danny's design, it's made for tranquillity and socialising,
0:10:16 > 0:10:19with the help of some eastern influences.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23OK, now, have a look at this.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28- Crikey.- Water feature...
0:10:28 > 0:10:31- Mm.- ..grasses, that sort of prairie style planting.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35- What do you make of this? - I like the bushy type things!
0:10:35 > 0:10:38I don't know what they're called but I like them.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41- Is that a technical term? - Yeah.- Yeah, yeah, for me!
0:10:41 > 0:10:45Ponds, I... I've only ever had one pond before in my life.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47I didn't really maintain it very well.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49Quick, let's get Danny on the phone!
0:10:49 > 0:10:50- No, no. - THEY LAUGH
0:10:50 > 0:10:52You see, a lot of people find water quite relaxing.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55- Do you think there's a sort of calming effect?- Yes.- Yeah.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58It's a calming effect, we've seen a few features before, haven't we?
0:10:58 > 0:11:01- Yeah, we have.- Trickling water, not necessarily a pond,
0:11:01 > 0:11:03but trickling water, and that's been nice.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06Sort of borderline before you need to go to the toilet,
0:11:06 > 0:11:08that sort of relaxing, isn't it?
0:11:08 > 0:11:10- It's a nice feature. I like this. - Yeah.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12- It's lovely.- And lots of wispy grass, cats would like that.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14- Seems low-maintenance, I like that.- Yeah.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17All right, well, there's plenty more to see in this garden
0:11:17 > 0:11:19- so lead the way, Richard. - Will do.
0:11:23 > 0:11:24Do you like the feel of that, Claire?
0:11:24 > 0:11:28I like it, and I think cats like that sort of wispiness.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30- Oh, so it's more for the cats than you?- Yes!
0:11:30 > 0:11:32THEY LAUGH
0:11:32 > 0:11:35We've got a lot of different plants going on.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37- Colours!- Do you like that?
0:11:37 > 0:11:39- Yes, I do like a bit of colour. - Well, come this way,
0:11:39 > 0:11:42cos I think you're going to like what's around the corner.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46I want them to see this circular seating area in the hope that
0:11:46 > 0:11:49they'll want something similar of their own.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52- Would you like something like that? - Yes, I would.- Mm, yeah, definitely.
0:11:52 > 0:11:53It stands out, that's what I like.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56You've talked about using this as a space to entertain,
0:11:56 > 0:11:58bring your family and friends round...
0:11:58 > 0:12:01I'd be proud for 'em to see things like that in our garden.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03Have a look at this show-stopping plant.
0:12:03 > 0:12:07It looks very fancy, quite posh, it's a garden onion,
0:12:07 > 0:12:09but it's actually very easy to look after.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12I don't know a lot about flowers and plants
0:12:12 > 0:12:16- but it looks really posh, don't it? It looks nice.- Colourful.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19- Yeah, colourful.- Yeah. - And this is very low-maintenance.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21You put a bulb in, it grows like that, you don't have to do a lot.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24- It's something that we'd want. - Yeah, that's definitely for us.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Right, well, the next bit you're going to love.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32This garden has not one but several circular areas - an idea
0:12:32 > 0:12:36which could work brilliantly for social creatures Claire and Richard.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39- Right, have a seat, you two.- Oh!
0:12:40 > 0:12:43- Now...- Thank you.- ..this really does have the wow factor, doesn't it?
0:12:43 > 0:12:47It does. It looks low-maintenance and very nice.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51What do you think of this sort of entertaining space?
0:12:51 > 0:12:52I like it cos it involves...
0:12:52 > 0:12:56It'll be involving everybody in the family. It's not just one or two.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59- Yeah, it's ideal, yeah.- It's... Everybody's around, one place.
0:12:59 > 0:13:00Everybody together.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03You know, maybe a game or two, deck of cards, you know, it's...
0:13:03 > 0:13:06Would you use the garden as an extension of your house?
0:13:06 > 0:13:08I mean, your kitchen's normally your focal point where
0:13:08 > 0:13:11everybody gathers, but I think it's nice if it's your garden.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14Yeah, especially in the summer months where it's nice
0:13:14 > 0:13:16- sunshine in our garden anyway.- Yeah.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23Back in Claire and Richard's own garden, the circular groundworks are
0:13:23 > 0:13:27in full swing, and Danny's picked up a few more helpers along the way.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30Now, I've just found this over there. Now these are a gardener's friend.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33One of the things we do notice in gardens at certain
0:13:33 > 0:13:35times of year are these wormcasts.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38Wormcasts are these little curly heaps of soil
0:13:38 > 0:13:40excreted by some species of earthworm.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42But don't worry about it, what it means,
0:13:42 > 0:13:44if you've got these in your garden,
0:13:44 > 0:13:46it means that you've got a happy garden, you've got a garden
0:13:46 > 0:13:50that's healthy, so I'm going to put this back where I got it from.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53All right, try, then.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55Danny's human helpers are working hard too,
0:13:55 > 0:13:59motivated by their desire to give their friends a well-deserved treat.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04Claire and Richard, I mean, they've had a pretty tough time,
0:14:04 > 0:14:08- haven't they?- Yeah.- Yeah, it's been a struggle for 'em over the last year.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12It's been hard. You know, they've been trying for a baby, and...
0:14:12 > 0:14:19- Yeah.- ..they've had IVF, and, er, basically it failed twice.- Right.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22So it's been really, really tough for 'em
0:14:22 > 0:14:27because to go through IVF you've got to quite change your lifestyle.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29Sure. What do they have to do?
0:14:29 > 0:14:32Well, there's, obviously, there's no drinking,
0:14:32 > 0:14:37- you've got to be really sensible, make sure you're stress free.- Sure.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40Er, so, they've not really been doing too much over the last year,
0:14:40 > 0:14:45- and it's been a lot of focus on trying for a family.- Sure.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48That's been the main focus, so I think...relaxing
0:14:48 > 0:14:52and having a good time has just been put on the back burner.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54- Sure.- So, they're definitely in need of...
0:14:54 > 0:14:56- So they need to... - ..a treat.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00Yeah, so they need to be spreading their wings a bit again, don't they?
0:15:00 > 0:15:03- Yeah, yeah.- Cos they've kind of felt a bit restricted.- Yeah.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05I can see from speaking to the two of them that they
0:15:05 > 0:15:07- are very sociable people. - Oh, yeah, very.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11I bet they're the life and soul of the party, aren't they?
0:15:12 > 0:15:14Can't imagine a better couple.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17It's hot work in the blazing sun,
0:15:17 > 0:15:19but the ground works are progressing.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22With a large bite taken out of the hillside to create the new
0:15:22 > 0:15:27circular patio, the team need to shore up the remaining earth.
0:15:27 > 0:15:32The main job now, is to dig a trench to house the retaining wall.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35The retaining wall is being made from these timber posts
0:15:35 > 0:15:38which are going to be butted together, like this.
0:15:38 > 0:15:39These are going to retain the bank.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43It'll keep back the weight of all this soil, which is very important.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46Over time, it will erode, but they're going to stand
0:15:46 > 0:15:51proud above the level of the surface of the soil.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53That way, if anything rolls down the bank,
0:15:53 > 0:15:56it's not going to roll onto the seating area.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59As a rule of thumb, when you put posts in the ground,
0:15:59 > 0:16:02you should put them in at least a third deep.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05A third of the height of the post.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08That way, it'll make the wall nice and solid.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10Now, these are made from treated wood.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12It doesn't mean that they won't rot.
0:16:12 > 0:16:13They will rot eventually,
0:16:13 > 0:16:18but they will rot a lot slower than if they were untreated.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22A great advantage of using these posts, is that it makes it
0:16:22 > 0:16:26easier for us to get a curve, whereas bricks are a lot more difficult.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34Out front, AJ is cutting up the polls making different lengths
0:16:34 > 0:16:36so that the wall can be graduated.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40- Higher at the back and much lower at the front.- How's it going, AJ?
0:16:40 > 0:16:42- It's going well. - Are you confident we'll get it done?
0:16:42 > 0:16:44I am actually, at the moment, luckily,
0:16:44 > 0:16:48getting three of the acquired lengths, out of one.
0:16:48 > 0:16:53We've got a 70 length, a 60 length and a 50.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55Once they get tapped into the ground with the concrete round,
0:16:55 > 0:16:58- it's all good. Yeah, it's going well.- Good.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00- Great weather, so you can't complain.- Absolutely beautiful.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07But just as things seem to be going to plan, there's a problem.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10Danny has struck rock.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13I think we've got builder's rubble in the ground here.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16Often a way with new-build properties,
0:17:16 > 0:17:21so, gardeners like myself are left to pick up the pieces.
0:17:21 > 0:17:22This rubble could mean trouble.
0:17:22 > 0:17:27Digging rock rather than soil, will cost the team valuable time.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34While Danny wrestles with that problem,
0:17:34 > 0:17:37back in the beautifully finished garden, Claire, Richard
0:17:37 > 0:17:41and I are channelling our energy in a different direction.
0:17:41 > 0:17:46This garden is inspired by the ancient Chinese art of feng shui.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48And to find out more, I've arranged for us
0:17:48 > 0:17:51to meet its designer, Lee Bestall.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53- Lee, lovely to see you. - Hello.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56- This is Claire and Richard. - Hello, how are you?- Hiya.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59Talk us through this fabulous garden, because, I mean,
0:17:59 > 0:18:01we love it, don't we?
0:18:01 > 0:18:05So, the idea behind this garden was to create a tranquil space
0:18:05 > 0:18:08mainly to fuse this area around the house with
0:18:08 > 0:18:10the wilderness of the fields beyond.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12Talk us through the lay of the land.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14I mean, you're dealing with quite steep hills here
0:18:14 > 0:18:16and these guys have a steep hill in their garden.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19- How much of the challenge is that? - It was a challenge on this site.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22We had a two metre difference between the back of the garden
0:18:22 > 0:18:24and the centre, where needed to create level spaces
0:18:24 > 0:18:27and it was quite important, obviously, for a seating area,
0:18:27 > 0:18:30to be level, so we used the cut and fill method.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33We cut out sections of earth, and then we fill them in somewhere else,
0:18:33 > 0:18:36put retaining walls in and then created these level
0:18:36 > 0:18:39areas where we have different things going on in each space.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41I guess that's something you have to think about,
0:18:41 > 0:18:43if you're taking out big chunks of earth?
0:18:43 > 0:18:46- You need to retain it and hold it back for safety.- Yeah, yeah.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48Because I quite like the height difference.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51It makes it quite private and your garden is very private, isn't it?
0:18:51 > 0:18:53It's very private, but very steep.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56This is a garden designed around feng shui and the whole thing about
0:18:56 > 0:19:00feng shui, is not to have sharp corners and straight lines,
0:19:00 > 0:19:03so this whole garden, if you view it from up in house,
0:19:03 > 0:19:07it's a selection of interlocking circles with these kind of walls
0:19:07 > 0:19:09that wrap around to create cosy spaces.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15Feng shui is an ancient Chinese philosophy which provided
0:19:15 > 0:19:19a system of harmonising people with the environment around them.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22The use of circles and curved lines is supposed to
0:19:22 > 0:19:25slow down the energy flowing through a space.
0:19:25 > 0:19:26But how do you get it?
0:19:26 > 0:19:31Is that why you've gone for a series of circles? How key are they?
0:19:31 > 0:19:33The circles really came from the feng shui thing
0:19:33 > 0:19:34because we can't use straight lines.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38We want to create these intimate, spaces, spaces where friends
0:19:38 > 0:19:41and family can sit around an area, whether it's dining,
0:19:41 > 0:19:44sat around a fire pit or sat on sofas like this.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47It's very nice to interact with people when you can see them
0:19:47 > 0:19:50and I think today, when you're in a garden, it's
0:19:50 > 0:19:52an opportunity to just chat and relax.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56So, feng shui, in terms of creating a nice energy in the garden,
0:19:56 > 0:19:58is that something that's important to you guys?
0:19:58 > 0:20:02Richard's mum always said to clap in corners as part
0:20:02 > 0:20:06of feng shui and she gave us crystals, as well, to put up.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09Just to create a positive energy throughout us house and...
0:20:09 > 0:20:13That's all we've really touched on with feng shui.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15If it can go out into us garden, it would be lovely.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18Do you feel your garden is a space in which you could have
0:20:18 > 0:20:20positive energy and that might have an effect on your life?
0:20:20 > 0:20:22I think that is something we definitely need.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26Definitely to de-stress, as well, after a long shift.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29You guys want an area in which you can entertain.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31This is a perfect entertaining space.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34How have you created that atmosphere in here?
0:20:34 > 0:20:36So, we've zoned the space, basically.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39You've got the seating area here, we've got an area which might have a
0:20:39 > 0:20:42fire pit in it and we've got on area for dining.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46What have you had to plan, given the conditions that you're working with?
0:20:46 > 0:20:49So, we've planted lots of prairie style planting,
0:20:49 > 0:20:52lots of grasses, lots of low growing perennials
0:20:52 > 0:20:55because those herbaceous perennials, you can cut right down in winter
0:20:55 > 0:20:57and they come back it up in spring.
0:20:57 > 0:21:02We've used things like orange, red and yellow colours later on in the
0:21:02 > 0:21:06season and at the moment, it's all looking quite purple, blue and white.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09We can't use things like the bamboos
0:21:09 > 0:21:13and acers, which traditionally would be associated with feng shui gardens,
0:21:13 > 0:21:16just because they would get hammered with the wind and weather up here.
0:21:16 > 0:21:17And it's quite relaxed.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20It ties in well with what's just outside the garden,
0:21:20 > 0:21:23but it copes well in this kind of environment.
0:21:23 > 0:21:24Yes, it's all very hardy.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27The planting has been here for two years now, so it's seen two
0:21:27 > 0:21:32harsh winters out here, so they're all hardy northerners.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35We're reinforcing the stereotypes of the North, yes,
0:21:35 > 0:21:37these plants are hard and they can cope.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40- Lee, thank you so much for your time.- You're welcome.- Thanks a lot.
0:21:40 > 0:21:41Thank you.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44Whether feng shui is something you subscribe to or not, its design
0:21:44 > 0:21:49rules have certainly created a sense of harmony and wellbeing here.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52This garden is packed with great ideas, some of which you
0:21:52 > 0:21:55might feel inspired to try in your own outdoor space.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02Don't be afraid to carve flowing circular shapes into your garden.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05They'll help to break-up the monotony of the typical oblong shape
0:22:05 > 0:22:10back garden and will allow your eyes to move restfully around the space.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13A circular space also makes a great shape to entertain in,
0:22:13 > 0:22:17just as a circular dining table is good for group conversation.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24And if you have poor soil in your garden, this can be a plus.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28Our native wild flowers and long grasses thrive on poor
0:22:28 > 0:22:33soil, so this contemporary style may be perfect for your space.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Back on the Barnsley hillside, the team are digging a trench to hold
0:22:36 > 0:22:39the wall of poles that will surround Danny's sunken patio.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43But there's a further blow. The ground is full of rocks,
0:22:43 > 0:22:45more than just a bit of typical builder's rubble.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49The problem is we've got so far down into the ground,
0:22:49 > 0:22:53that there's just big boulders.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56Even eternal optimist Danny is feeling the pressure.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00You know I said at the beginning of the day, that this hill wasn't
0:23:00 > 0:23:01going to be a problem?
0:23:01 > 0:23:05It was a positive thing and I was going to make a positive out of it.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08Now that I'm digging into the bank, I'm not quite so sure.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12I've just been out the front there
0:23:12 > 0:23:15and the neighbour has just come up to me and he's said it took him
0:23:15 > 0:23:18and a friend of his over four and a half days
0:23:18 > 0:23:20to dig something like this out.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26The reason why all this rubble we're coming across, is, apparently,
0:23:26 > 0:23:30- this whole area used to be a school. - Oh, right.
0:23:30 > 0:23:35They flattened it and just churned up all this stuff here and
0:23:35 > 0:23:37then covered it with the soil.
0:23:37 > 0:23:42They had it down as a foundation and stuff like that.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45I'll tell you what, most of that is hidden in this bank, I reckon.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49There's no topsoil here at all. Maybe an inch and that's about it.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52Leaving his helpers to carry on quarrying, Danny needs to
0:23:52 > 0:23:57concentrate on making a suitable planting area for his new trees.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01When planting trees into a bank, make a little shelf for them.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04So, you've got your bank like this, try and make a shelf
0:24:04 > 0:24:06into the bank, OK?
0:24:06 > 0:24:09The reason with this - A, you want your tree to remain upright,
0:24:09 > 0:24:12you don't want it to be leaning over like this,
0:24:12 > 0:24:17and, also, by doing that, any water that is running down the bank
0:24:17 > 0:24:21will fall into the shelf and the water will go where it's most needed.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24And that's into the tree's roots.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26Now, this is called Sorbus 'Autumn Spire',
0:24:26 > 0:24:28which is absolutely gorgeous.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31It's also known as Mountain Ash and Rowan.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33The reason I've put this in the garden, is
0:24:33 > 0:24:36because it'll only grow to four metres,
0:24:36 > 0:24:38which is great for a small garden.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40Now, don't let the word, ash, put you off.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44It's not a member of the ash family. It won't suffer from Ash Dieback.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46It's a member of the rose family.
0:24:46 > 0:24:51This tree has got an absolutely beautiful light, fluffy white flower.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55Now, this flower is followed by a lovely orange yellow berry.
0:24:55 > 0:25:01And then in the autumn, these leaves turn a lovely orange colour.
0:25:01 > 0:25:06This is great value, because this will give you multiple seasons of
0:25:06 > 0:25:10interest and if you can only afford one tree, what a tree to go for.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14The makeover might be in full swing
0:25:14 > 0:25:16but I want to take some downtime with Claire and Richard,
0:25:16 > 0:25:21to find out just what their new garden will mean to them.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24Talk me through how you two met, because it's quite an unusual
0:25:24 > 0:25:27love story, in terms of where it happened, isn't it?
0:25:27 > 0:25:32- Well, we both met where we work, the mental health unit.- Yep.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36Basically, we did a lot of shifts together, didn't we?
0:25:36 > 0:25:44Became good friends and then later on, we started dating.
0:25:44 > 0:25:45- It just felt right, I think.- Yeah.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47And how long have you been together?
0:25:47 > 0:25:50Erm, we've been together about four years.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52Been married for just over two.
0:25:52 > 0:25:57Working in a mental health unit must be quite draining at times
0:25:57 > 0:25:59- but rewarding, as well. - It can be very rewarding.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02When you know you've done your job properly,
0:26:02 > 0:26:04- and you've done it right... - Every day is different, as well.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07There are really poorly people and it can be very dangerous sometimes.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10There are risky assaults and injury.
0:26:10 > 0:26:14High risk assaults but there's usually a reason behind it.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Are you always at work at the same time or do you miss each other?
0:26:17 > 0:26:21There are 12-hour days and 12-hour nights, so, there is no in between.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23Passing ships.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26As well as working long hours in their demanding mental health
0:26:26 > 0:26:29careers, Claire and Richard have also had to deal with
0:26:29 > 0:26:30life-changing loss.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34You've had a particularly difficult couple of years, because the
0:26:34 > 0:26:38plan was to start a family, but it's not quite happened yet, has it?
0:26:38 > 0:26:42We've been going through IVF for, just over 12 months.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46First attempt, it failed.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48And then we decided to try again,
0:26:48 > 0:26:50and then two days before Christmas,
0:26:50 > 0:26:53we found out the baby had no heartbeat,
0:26:53 > 0:26:55so we were obviously crushed.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58So we both decided that enough was enough
0:26:58 > 0:27:01- for that 12 months of our lives. - Yeah.
0:27:01 > 0:27:06We needed to fix us because it was a very stressful time,
0:27:06 > 0:27:10having to go through hospital appointments and medications,
0:27:10 > 0:27:12so we said we would leave it a year
0:27:12 > 0:27:15- and get back to me and Richard, didn't we?- Mm.
0:27:15 > 0:27:16- Yeah.- Get us back on track.
0:27:16 > 0:27:20- It took over, consumed our lives, didn't it?- Yeah.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23- So you're physically going through it, Claire...- Mm.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26..but emotionally, Richard, you're on that roller-coaster, too,
0:27:26 > 0:27:29and looking out for the person you love. How has it been for you?
0:27:29 > 0:27:32The difficult thing is that there are couples support networks
0:27:32 > 0:27:34out there for people going through IVF,
0:27:34 > 0:27:37but...there's not one just for males.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40You know, you want to be a support for a partner,
0:27:40 > 0:27:42but there's only so many times that you can say,
0:27:42 > 0:27:44"How are you feeling? Is everything all right?"
0:27:44 > 0:27:46before they're just words, you know,
0:27:46 > 0:27:50and it pushed me to a point where I maybe could have done with
0:27:50 > 0:27:53a bit more support, but Claire needed it more so than me.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55And you've credited your support network
0:27:55 > 0:27:58- with helping you get through a really difficult time.- Mm.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00Would it be nice to be able to have those people round,
0:28:00 > 0:28:02your family, your friends?
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Yes. It would mean a lot to be able to have,
0:28:05 > 0:28:08- to be able to give something back to them.- Yeah.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11If they were to come to us, we'd be able to cook for them
0:28:11 > 0:28:14and spend time with them in our garden. That's what it would be.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17It's just giving something back to the people that looked after us
0:28:17 > 0:28:19for...a year and a bit.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21Yeah, they just listened to us just whinge
0:28:21 > 0:28:23- when we couldn't shout at each other any more.- Yeah!
0:28:23 > 0:28:27We had another set of ears that we could use.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30- I don't want to upset you but...yeah!- Yeah.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33Claire, you nominated Richard to get this garden
0:28:33 > 0:28:35- because you wanted to say thank you for...- Yeah,
0:28:35 > 0:28:39that's the main reason, is I wanted to say thank you to you
0:28:39 > 0:28:41because you haven't had that support network.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43You've had me saying, "It's OK, I'm fine,"
0:28:43 > 0:28:47but you haven't really had a break from work.
0:28:47 > 0:28:48You've gone to work, come home
0:28:48 > 0:28:51and done the same job with me as you do at work.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53So you've looked after me a lot this last year,
0:28:53 > 0:28:57so I wanted you to have something nice to come home to and relax in.
0:29:01 > 0:29:05Back at the house on the hill, the solid rubble has taken its toll.
0:29:06 > 0:29:08With only four hours left,
0:29:08 > 0:29:13the retaining wall for the circular patio hasn't even been started.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16I mean, I know we're going to make this a bit higher,
0:29:16 > 0:29:18but it just saves a bit of time and effort.
0:29:18 > 0:29:21Danny's getting twitchy about the time
0:29:21 > 0:29:23and a drastic solution is needed.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27- AJ?- Yes, mate?
0:29:27 > 0:29:29There's a bit of an issue.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32To save a bit of time,
0:29:32 > 0:29:34I've come up with another solution.
0:29:34 > 0:29:36Instead of using log-edging at the front, I thought
0:29:36 > 0:29:40it might be an idea to have one strip of aluminium at the front,
0:29:40 > 0:29:45which will save us time in putting the logs in place, and also
0:29:45 > 0:29:49- time in, you know, putting the cement in place.- Yeah.- What do you think?
0:29:49 > 0:29:53- Well done. Do you know, you've actually had a good idea.- All right!
0:29:53 > 0:29:58- I'm loving it. I really am, genuinely, loving it.- See you soon.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01With only a small trench needed for the aluminium edging,
0:30:01 > 0:30:03Danny has slashed the digging time,
0:30:03 > 0:30:05and soon the posts can be fixed into place.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09Now AJ can start lining up the wooden posts
0:30:09 > 0:30:12for the rest of the retaining wall.
0:30:12 > 0:30:13- Pencil?- Thank you.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19Put it in my top pocket. Put it behind my ear. Put it behind my ear.
0:30:22 > 0:30:24Once they're all present and correct,
0:30:24 > 0:30:28he can permanently set them with concrete.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30Meanwhile, to fully realise Danny's design,
0:30:30 > 0:30:35we've come here to this local garden centre to find him the right plants.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37Well, this looks well-stocked.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39And busy. A lot of plants.
0:30:39 > 0:30:41- Do you spend much time in a garden centre?- Yeah.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43We tried looking to get inspiration,
0:30:43 > 0:30:48- but we didn't even know where to start.- This is intimidating.- Yeah.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51- There's a lot of flowers.- To take in, to be honest.
0:30:51 > 0:30:53Richard and Claire are not alone.
0:30:53 > 0:30:57Us Brits spend five billion quid a year on garden products
0:30:57 > 0:31:01and plants, but often have no idea what's right for our gardens.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04So Danny's number one rule is, when you're going shopping,
0:31:04 > 0:31:06always write a list.
0:31:06 > 0:31:11Danny wants three good-sized Festuca glauca.
0:31:11 > 0:31:15I think that's how you say it. And a big Stipa gigantea.
0:31:15 > 0:31:17Yeah, that sounds right. Gigantea.
0:31:17 > 0:31:21- Do they mean anything to you?- No. But we'll find them.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23We can find them in here!
0:31:23 > 0:31:26But before we get stuck into Danny's list, we're using what we've learned
0:31:26 > 0:31:30on our garden visit to find a couple of other personalised plants.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33Would you prefer something that's pretty for a few weeks,
0:31:33 > 0:31:35or will survive year after year?
0:31:35 > 0:31:38Well, just surviving, yeah. A Bear Grylls of flowers.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41- That's what I want.- I worry too much about buying something
0:31:41 > 0:31:43and then not being able to look after it.
0:31:43 > 0:31:44We can prune it every now and again,
0:31:44 > 0:31:47- but if the majority takes care of itself, it'll be a lot easier.- Yeah.
0:31:47 > 0:31:51OK, let's get out of the heated greenhouse then.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53These lilac trees are nice, aren't they?
0:31:53 > 0:31:55I do love these,
0:31:55 > 0:31:59but they are far too complicated for our garden.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01We have got a tree and we do like trees,
0:32:01 > 0:32:04- but we don't look after it very well.- No, not really.
0:32:04 > 0:32:06- The cats prefer it a lot more to us. - Yeah.- Now they can climb it.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09It's the garden climbing frame.
0:32:09 > 0:32:10Lots of purple in here.
0:32:10 > 0:32:15- It is, it's pretty.- Now have a look at these. Do you recognise these?
0:32:15 > 0:32:17Oh, these are beautiful. I really like these.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19- Allium.- Allium.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22- Would you like a couple of these for your garden?- Definitely, yeah.
0:32:22 > 0:32:23Because they are easy to look after,
0:32:23 > 0:32:26and they're pretty even before they've flowered, aren't they?
0:32:26 > 0:32:29And then in terms of what we need from our list,
0:32:29 > 0:32:32- I think we should get some help. - Yes.- Yeah, definitely.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36Back in Barnsley, the hard landscaping is nearly complete.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38But with less than three hours to go,
0:32:38 > 0:32:41the team must pull all the stops out now.
0:32:42 > 0:32:46Claire and Gavin have moved on to the battered but beloved cat house,
0:32:46 > 0:32:49and Danny is making a start on his prairie planting,
0:32:49 > 0:32:53A style which originated in the good old US of A.
0:32:53 > 0:32:54Prairie planting.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57Now when I think of prairie planting, I think
0:32:57 > 0:33:00of the wild open spaces of North America.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02Now this is a miniature version of that.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05We're going to have a variety of heights with the grasses
0:33:05 > 0:33:08in this border, and what I've chosen here is this Miscanthus sinensis,
0:33:08 > 0:33:12which will probably grow to about a metre in height.
0:33:12 > 0:33:16We've got the carex here, which is absolutely wonderful.
0:33:16 > 0:33:17Intermingled with all these grasses,
0:33:17 > 0:33:21this lovely orange geum, which when given time,
0:33:21 > 0:33:25these flowers will look like they're floating in amongst the grasses.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27Will look absolutely wonderful.
0:33:27 > 0:33:31And to finish it all off, we've got loads of yellow-flowered achileas,
0:33:31 > 0:33:33which are shimmering in this sun.
0:33:33 > 0:33:37What's lovely about that? The overall effect is of a meadow.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40When Richard and Claire, are out here in their garden,
0:33:40 > 0:33:43they can imagine that they're in an open meadow.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45How relaxing is that?
0:33:45 > 0:33:47Of all of Danny's prairie grasses,
0:33:47 > 0:33:51one of the most dramatic is the super-hardy Miscanthus sinensis,
0:33:51 > 0:33:53Easy for Danny to say.
0:33:53 > 0:33:56Miscanthus sinensis. What a lovely grass.
0:33:56 > 0:33:58It grows to 1.5 metres in height.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02And what is great about this, although it goes brown in the winter,
0:34:02 > 0:34:06I would leave it and the birds will enjoy the seed heads,
0:34:06 > 0:34:10and what I would do is cut it back early in the spring,
0:34:10 > 0:34:12just as the new shoots are beginning to appear
0:34:12 > 0:34:15and the new growth comes through,
0:34:15 > 0:34:18and then you'll have another lovely grass for the following spring.
0:34:18 > 0:34:22With only one hour remaining, the patio can be finished at last.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26It's slate o'clock. It's time to put the slate down.
0:34:32 > 0:34:36Of course, one of the things you could do here is put some membrane
0:34:36 > 0:34:40down, some weed suppressant, but I personally choose not to do it
0:34:40 > 0:34:44because I'm going to put the slate down at least three inches thick.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47That way, nothing's coming through it.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50I think this is probably one of the easiest patios you can make.
0:34:50 > 0:34:53It's something that anybody can do, so basically just get your shape.
0:34:53 > 0:34:57Once you've got your shape, dig out to a depth of at least three inches,
0:34:57 > 0:34:59and then put your gravel or slate in,
0:34:59 > 0:35:01and there you are - this is a patio.
0:35:01 > 0:35:02Oh, he makes it sound easy now!
0:35:02 > 0:35:06Have you forgotten about digging out all of that rock, Danny?
0:35:06 > 0:35:08Dry or wet, I love slate,
0:35:08 > 0:35:12but I much prefer it after it's rained and it's damp.
0:35:12 > 0:35:15It just gives it that little bit of an edge.
0:35:21 > 0:35:22It's the slate dance.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25Flatten it out. Here we go!
0:35:29 > 0:35:30How's that?
0:35:31 > 0:35:34- Looks nice, doesn't it?- Yeah. - You prefer it wet, you said?
0:35:34 > 0:35:37- I like it wet, yeah.- I like it when it's dry.- Oh, do you?
0:35:37 > 0:35:39Mm, I like the light colour.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42- It dries out quite quickly. - It does, yeah, actually.
0:35:42 > 0:35:44Still at the garden centre, I've tracked down the owner,
0:35:44 > 0:35:49Emma Horsfield, to help us with our mysterious plant list.
0:35:49 > 0:35:51- Emma, good to see you!- Hello!
0:35:51 > 0:35:55- This is Claire and Richard. - Hello, nice to meet you, Claire. Hello, Richard, hello.
0:35:55 > 0:35:58We are after your expertise because we're after some Festuca glauca.
0:35:58 > 0:36:01- Yes, absolutely.- And some Stipa gigantea.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04- Yes, we have both of those, yes. - So what are they?
0:36:04 > 0:36:07They're types of grasses, ideal for dry patches in your garden.
0:36:07 > 0:36:09They look perfect in prairie planting,
0:36:09 > 0:36:11so you'll see them in massive sweeping,
0:36:11 > 0:36:14you know, picturesque landscapes,
0:36:14 > 0:36:16but they can also be good in a small area of the garden as well.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19The Stipa gigantea grows up to about here.
0:36:19 > 0:36:21It's got a lovely plume of feather.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24Looks fantastic. And in the wind, it sort of sways like this.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27And the festuca is a dwarf grass. It's a sort of bluey-green.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30It grows about this high and has a very little delicate flower.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33Both are very, very tough. They'll grow in lovely sunny spots.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36They don't need much watering, very low-maintenance,
0:36:36 > 0:36:39- easy to look after.- Good.- Music to your ears?- That is, definitely.
0:36:39 > 0:36:43Prairie planting is all the rage. Very, very modern. Very own trend.
0:36:43 > 0:36:45- Yeah.- You see, you said you're not gardeners,
0:36:45 > 0:36:49- but you're going to have a very in-vogue garden if we get some of those.- Trendy.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52- Do these work quite well in sunny patches?- Perfect for those, yeah.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55Stipa gigantea comes from the sort of Med.
0:36:55 > 0:36:56You'll see it in Spain, in France,
0:36:56 > 0:36:59often on mountainside areas at the bottom, where it's really rocky,
0:36:59 > 0:37:03really dry, so you hardly have to water it. It's very low-maintenance.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06That's good. We haven't got an outside tap so that's even better.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08- Lead us to the Stipa gigantea. - Follow me.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12- Just over here.- For real.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15Here we are. This is the stipa.
0:37:15 > 0:37:19- Do you like it?- That is tall, isn't it?- Very tall.- Yeah.
0:37:19 > 0:37:21But, I mean, if you put it on the floor,
0:37:21 > 0:37:24- you can actually see how tall it is. Look.- And is that it fully grown?
0:37:24 > 0:37:28It will bush out a lot more from the bottom, all round here,
0:37:28 > 0:37:30and obviously get lots more plumes coming up.
0:37:30 > 0:37:31This is nearly coming into flower.
0:37:31 > 0:37:35- Can you see here, see these little pretty delicate flowers coming?- Yeah.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38Nearly there. And these will last right throughout the summer.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41- Oh, yeah.- It's often called Golden Oat as well,
0:37:41 > 0:37:42as it resembles oats.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44- Can you see?- Yeah.- Very delicate.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47And they'll last right throughout the season, flowering season,
0:37:47 > 0:37:50sometimes into early autumn, just depending on the weather.
0:37:50 > 0:37:52How would you feel about this kind of plant in your garden, then?
0:37:52 > 0:37:56- I like it. - Seems like it's tailor-made.- Yes.
0:37:56 > 0:37:58- It's the one for you, I think. - It's the one for us.- Exactly.
0:37:58 > 0:38:00Fits all our needs.
0:38:00 > 0:38:02So you don't have to do anything with this -
0:38:02 > 0:38:04once it's in the ground, it will take care of itself?
0:38:04 > 0:38:06Absolutely. You may want to divide it
0:38:06 > 0:38:09if you find it's off a bit at the bottom.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12Sometimes at the bottom, it can go very slightly yellow.
0:38:12 > 0:38:13You see here?
0:38:13 > 0:38:15This is when you would need to be dividing it to produce
0:38:15 > 0:38:17- more green lush.- Right.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20- We also have on our list Festuca glauca.- Absolutely.
0:38:20 > 0:38:22This is a blue grass here.
0:38:22 > 0:38:23An evergreen blue grass.
0:38:23 > 0:38:27This is in flower at the moment. Have a feel at the flower.
0:38:27 > 0:38:28Aren't they delicate and lovely?
0:38:28 > 0:38:30They feel nice, them.
0:38:30 > 0:38:32- You've had these in a greenhouse... - This has been in
0:38:32 > 0:38:34a cold greenhouse over winter
0:38:34 > 0:38:36- so it looks lush and green. - It's nice.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38But this has been outside over winter.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41Right. You can see the difference.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43It's just catching up with it being a bit cool.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45In summer, it will look like this.
0:38:45 > 0:38:50But once again, you can just leave this to look after itself?
0:38:50 > 0:38:51Absolutely. Of course you can.
0:38:51 > 0:38:55- It's very easy to look after. Low-maintenance.- That's what we want.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57You said your cats like a bit of long grass to...
0:38:57 > 0:39:00They like to hide and weave in and out of it so...
0:39:00 > 0:39:01I do!
0:39:01 > 0:39:03We're happy.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05Feel the grass like this. Can you feel it?
0:39:05 > 0:39:09It will bounce back up. Very resilient. Tough as old boots.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12- You could almost trample on this. - Brilliant!
0:39:12 > 0:39:14- Let's get three or four of those. - Okey dokey.
0:39:14 > 0:39:15And a couple of these.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18- I'll pick you some nice ones out. That's a good one.- Brilliant.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22- OK. Let's get them to the counter. - Thank you, Emma.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26Danny and the team may have been creating a prairie paradise,
0:39:26 > 0:39:29but it's long past high noon and I need to how they are getting on.
0:39:30 > 0:39:32Hello, Danny!
0:39:32 > 0:39:35- Hello, Helen. How are you? - Look at this!- Look at this!
0:39:35 > 0:39:37Some blue grass. Brilliant.
0:39:37 > 0:39:38- And an allium.- Superb.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40I love what you've done with this garden.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42I love the Wendy house.
0:39:42 > 0:39:44I love that they've got an entertaining space. It's grown-up
0:39:44 > 0:39:45but it feels fun.
0:39:45 > 0:39:49- Absolutely.- This is brilliant. They'll love sitting out here
0:39:49 > 0:39:51with the firepit, making the most of these plants.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54They're worried that these plants will be high-maintenance. Are they?
0:39:54 > 0:39:56No. These are fine.
0:39:56 > 0:39:58They like the look of these because they were hardy
0:39:58 > 0:40:00for their young visitors and relatives.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02We've got a few more so I'll go and get them.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05- OK. I'll put these in the ground. - I love this!
0:40:08 > 0:40:11It's now a final push to the finish to get the garden neat and tidy.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14- Can I put this here?- Yeah, just put it there. It'll be fine there.
0:40:19 > 0:40:20It looks brilliant.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30Finally, this hillside haven is complete.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33This morning, it was a plain patch of land,
0:40:33 > 0:40:36the same as new builds up and down the country,
0:40:36 > 0:40:37with the bare minimum of patio
0:40:37 > 0:40:39and hardly a plant in sight.
0:40:39 > 0:40:42But during the course of only one day,
0:40:42 > 0:40:44Danny has utterly transformed it.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52Doing anything with that steep slope was an overwhelming prospect
0:40:52 > 0:40:55to inexperienced gardeners Claire and Richard.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58With some imaginative design and the labour of love of their friends,
0:40:58 > 0:41:02it's now the focus of a garden made for relaxation.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08The circular patio is designed to provide
0:41:08 > 0:41:10a social centrepiece where the couple can entertain
0:41:10 > 0:41:13friends and family, without sliding down the hill.
0:41:14 > 0:41:18Using inexpensive treated timber like this saves money,
0:41:18 > 0:41:22which can then be better spent on eye-catching landscaping material
0:41:22 > 0:41:24like this blue slate.
0:41:27 > 0:41:31The sparse lawn has been dotted with a few well-chosen trees
0:41:31 > 0:41:35with several seasons of interest, maximising colour for the cash.
0:41:35 > 0:41:38Danny's prairie grasses swaying gently in the breeze
0:41:38 > 0:41:41have created a meadow in miniature.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46Last but not least, the crumbling cathouse has been transformed
0:41:46 > 0:41:48into a colourful palace.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52Try using specialist garden woodpaints to give a run-down shed
0:41:52 > 0:41:55or summer house a long-lasting injection of life.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01By working WITH rather than AGAINST the shape of the land,
0:42:01 > 0:42:04Danny has made a striking, contemporary showpiece
0:42:04 > 0:42:07from a production-line plot in just a few daylight hours.
0:42:07 > 0:42:11Will Claire and Richard be bowled over by their new-look garden?
0:42:14 > 0:42:15Ready?
0:42:16 > 0:42:18Richard, Claire...
0:42:19 > 0:42:23- ..this is your brand-new garden. - Oh, my God!
0:42:23 > 0:42:25THEY LAUGH
0:42:25 > 0:42:26You've painted it.
0:42:26 > 0:42:27You've painted it!
0:42:28 > 0:42:30The cats' Wendy house is still there.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33That looks so much better.
0:42:33 > 0:42:34SHE GASPS
0:42:35 > 0:42:37That is amazing. Thank you so much.
0:42:37 > 0:42:38Yeah.
0:42:38 > 0:42:41Claire, you nominated Rich for this because you wanted to say
0:42:41 > 0:42:43thank you for him being so supportive.
0:42:43 > 0:42:45Is it good enough for you?
0:42:45 > 0:42:47Definitely, yeah. Definitely.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49Definitely what I wanted.
0:42:49 > 0:42:53- And more.- Yeah, I feel proud that we can bring people round now.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56- It looks bigger. - It looks a lot bigger.- Definitely.
0:42:56 > 0:42:58Oh, that's huge!
0:42:58 > 0:43:01Carrying on what were talking about earlier
0:43:01 > 0:43:05about energy flow and feng shui, you've got curves,
0:43:05 > 0:43:07the circles, the entertaining space.
0:43:07 > 0:43:10That is amazing. I'm so proud!
0:43:11 > 0:43:13I'm gobsmacked. I can't...
0:43:13 > 0:43:15It looks so much better.
0:43:15 > 0:43:17How would you feel about entertaining friends and family
0:43:17 > 0:43:19in this space?
0:43:19 > 0:43:21Oh, it's happening! Yeah, it is.
0:43:21 > 0:43:22It is.
0:43:22 > 0:43:24- Definitely.- Proud. Very proud.
0:43:24 > 0:43:28- Proud to show our garden off. - Oh, yeah.
0:43:28 > 0:43:31We've got somewhere when it's cold to be able to have a wood burner.
0:43:31 > 0:43:33Oh, yeah.
0:43:33 > 0:43:36That's amazing. I can't believe you've managed to do that,
0:43:36 > 0:43:38in the time limit you've had.
0:43:38 > 0:43:42- I'm so happy!- I am, yeah. Definitely, yeah.
0:43:44 > 0:43:45Go and have a seat.
0:43:45 > 0:43:47Go and have an explore.
0:43:50 > 0:43:52You should be very pleased, Danny.
0:43:52 > 0:43:54They wanted somewhere they could spend a bit of time together,
0:43:54 > 0:43:56have something they can be proud of,
0:43:56 > 0:43:59recharge their batteries and I think this is a space
0:43:59 > 0:44:01they are going to have a lot of fun in.
0:44:01 > 0:44:03- Great job.- Thank you.
0:44:03 > 0:44:05About time something nice happened.
0:44:07 > 0:44:10- It's a new chapter.- With a good end.
0:44:10 > 0:44:12Claire and Richard wanted a garden
0:44:12 > 0:44:14that they could entertain in and proud of.
0:44:14 > 0:44:18Most importantly, they needed a space for themselves.
0:44:18 > 0:44:19Thank you!
0:44:19 > 0:44:21With this instant garden, Danny and his team
0:44:21 > 0:44:25have created a relaxed space where this young couple
0:44:25 > 0:44:26can enjoy their future together.
0:44:28 > 0:44:29Thank you!
0:44:29 > 0:44:32Join us next time for another instant garden.