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There are few sights more satisfying than a beautiful garden | 0:00:02 | 0:00:04 | |
but what do you do if your outdoor space isn't quite | 0:00:04 | 0:00:07 | |
so picture perfect and you are short on time? | 0:00:07 | 0:00:11 | |
Well, meet the Instant Gardener. | 0:00:11 | 0:00:13 | |
Ta-da! | 0:00:13 | 0:00:14 | |
Danny Clarke is an expert at transforming gardens. | 0:00:14 | 0:00:17 | |
Here's my plan. I'm going to rejuvenate this garden. | 0:00:17 | 0:00:21 | |
Each time, our gardening guru will show you how to create | 0:00:21 | 0:00:24 | |
gorgeous garden makeovers. | 0:00:24 | 0:00:27 | |
That's the art of garden design - delegation. | 0:00:27 | 0:00:30 | |
Each transformation will be packed with brilliant ideas and tips... | 0:00:30 | 0:00:34 | |
It makes it easier to cut through. | 0:00:34 | 0:00:36 | |
..to help you get to grips with your own outdoor space. | 0:00:36 | 0:00:40 | |
It does feel unnatural, but take your time. | 0:00:40 | 0:00:42 | |
'With his magical ideas... | 0:00:42 | 0:00:44 | |
These flowers will look like they are floating in amongst the grasses. | 0:00:44 | 0:00:48 | |
'..and advice on spending wisely on a budget... | 0:00:48 | 0:00:51 | |
-That's why Danny makes me bring a list. -OK. | 0:00:51 | 0:00:54 | |
Oh, my word. | 0:00:54 | 0:00:56 | |
This is amazing. | 0:00:56 | 0:00:57 | |
'..and because he's the Instant Gardener, | 0:00:57 | 0:00:59 | |
everything you see will happen in just one day.' | 0:00:59 | 0:01:03 | |
-Oh, my gosh! -That looks so much better. | 0:01:03 | 0:01:06 | |
This time, we are in the Hampshire town of Basingstoke. | 0:01:13 | 0:01:15 | |
Originally a mediaeval market town, | 0:01:15 | 0:01:17 | |
the population of modern Basingstoke has rocketed to nearly 90,000. | 0:01:17 | 0:01:22 | |
With many high-rise apartment blocks and busy roads, | 0:01:22 | 0:01:25 | |
space for a garden in this busting town is a hard won | 0:01:25 | 0:01:28 | |
and cherished commodity. | 0:01:28 | 0:01:30 | |
In towns, space is at a premium | 0:01:33 | 0:01:35 | |
so gardens aren't always where you might expect to find them. | 0:01:35 | 0:01:38 | |
Today's outdoor space is a few storeys up | 0:01:38 | 0:01:41 | |
and it's left its owner, | 0:01:41 | 0:01:43 | |
who's taking her first steps on the property ladder, | 0:01:43 | 0:01:46 | |
more than a little bit daunted. | 0:01:46 | 0:01:47 | |
I don't want to stand on that. It's too good. | 0:01:57 | 0:01:59 | |
-Hello. -Hi. -I'm Helen. -Hi, nice to meet you. I'm Amy. | 0:02:01 | 0:02:04 | |
-Thanks for having us. -Come on in. | 0:02:04 | 0:02:06 | |
-I love your doormat. -Thank you. -It's cute. | 0:02:07 | 0:02:10 | |
Amy Jolliffe is a 27-year-old primary school teacher from Wales, | 0:02:12 | 0:02:16 | |
who has recently settled in Basingstoke. | 0:02:16 | 0:02:19 | |
After a long and demoralising battle to find her first teaching job, | 0:02:19 | 0:02:23 | |
Amy now works very long hours. | 0:02:23 | 0:02:25 | |
Like many other key workers, she's also struggled to get her | 0:02:25 | 0:02:28 | |
foot on the property ladder. | 0:02:28 | 0:02:31 | |
But, finally, Amy has been able to buy a part share in her first home, | 0:02:31 | 0:02:35 | |
a new-build flat in the suburbs. | 0:02:35 | 0:02:38 | |
To do that she's had to sacrifice the idea of a dream garden. | 0:02:38 | 0:02:42 | |
In fact, she's been lucky to get what she has | 0:02:42 | 0:02:45 | |
and to transform it will be a tall order. | 0:02:45 | 0:02:47 | |
Amy's so-called garden is, in fact, a roof terrace. | 0:02:52 | 0:02:56 | |
Measuring around 24 square metres, | 0:02:56 | 0:02:58 | |
it's only an eighth of the size of the average UK garden. | 0:02:58 | 0:03:02 | |
The terrace is paved with bog-standard concrete paving stones | 0:03:02 | 0:03:05 | |
which, according to Amy's lease, we can't alter in any permanent way. | 0:03:05 | 0:03:10 | |
It is bounded by glass partitions with brushed metal railings | 0:03:10 | 0:03:14 | |
and brick walls on to sides, which again, we can't modify permanently. | 0:03:14 | 0:03:18 | |
There's also a curious window-like opening. | 0:03:18 | 0:03:21 | |
It's got a great view, but creates a terrific draught. | 0:03:21 | 0:03:25 | |
Amy is desperate to turn her terrace into a cosy, | 0:03:25 | 0:03:28 | |
relaxing outdoor room, | 0:03:28 | 0:03:29 | |
but, so far, all she has managed to do | 0:03:29 | 0:03:31 | |
is install this rather ugly storage unit and plant a few pots. | 0:03:31 | 0:03:36 | |
It's a blank canvas and it has some restrictions, but there's loads | 0:03:36 | 0:03:40 | |
we can do to turn this terrace into the talk of the town. | 0:03:40 | 0:03:42 | |
-Hello. -How you? | 0:03:42 | 0:03:43 | |
-Very well, thank you. -Good. -What a great little space this is. | 0:03:43 | 0:03:46 | |
-It's a great space, especially on a day like today. -Definitely. | 0:03:46 | 0:03:50 | |
-How long have you lived here? -I've lived here for nearly four years. | 0:03:50 | 0:03:53 | |
So, is this a flat that you own outright? | 0:03:53 | 0:03:55 | |
I part buy, part rent. | 0:03:55 | 0:03:57 | |
I'm on the professional scheme that came out about four years ago | 0:03:57 | 0:04:02 | |
and I own just over 50% of the property | 0:04:02 | 0:04:05 | |
and I pay rent to a company who own the rest of it. | 0:04:05 | 0:04:09 | |
-So is the aim to own it outright, eventually? -It is. | 0:04:09 | 0:04:12 | |
Within the next three years, I'm hoping to own 100%. | 0:04:12 | 0:04:15 | |
What are the limitations of making over a roof garden | 0:04:15 | 0:04:18 | |
and one that you don't yet fully own outright? | 0:04:18 | 0:04:21 | |
I think it's the structural issues. | 0:04:21 | 0:04:23 | |
We can't drill into the outside walls. | 0:04:23 | 0:04:25 | |
You can't, sort of, get out on to the roof. | 0:04:25 | 0:04:28 | |
There are some health and safety issues there. | 0:04:28 | 0:04:30 | |
The stuff we put in here can't be too heavy, | 0:04:30 | 0:04:33 | |
otherwise the guy below will have a load of ceiling on his head. | 0:04:33 | 0:04:37 | |
Having walked through your house, it's immaculate and gorgeous | 0:04:37 | 0:04:40 | |
and very colourful and there's a lot of character in there. | 0:04:40 | 0:04:43 | |
-That's not reflected out here, though, without being rude. -No. | 0:04:43 | 0:04:46 | |
No, it's not. It's a very bland. It doesn't say "me", at all. | 0:04:46 | 0:04:51 | |
I've managed, in the last three and a half years, | 0:04:51 | 0:04:53 | |
to really make my home bright, | 0:04:53 | 0:04:55 | |
-colourful, represent me... -OK. -..completely. | 0:04:55 | 0:04:59 | |
This isn't. | 0:04:59 | 0:05:00 | |
So we need to put a bit of you into this space, don't we? | 0:05:00 | 0:05:03 | |
Yes. Now I want to be able to bring friends | 0:05:03 | 0:05:05 | |
and family out to this area and enjoy a barbecue | 0:05:05 | 0:05:09 | |
and have just a nice meeting place, | 0:05:09 | 0:05:11 | |
rather than being stuck in the living room. | 0:05:11 | 0:05:13 | |
Danny, this is a blank canvas, but it's a roof terrace, | 0:05:13 | 0:05:15 | |
so there are positives and negatives. | 0:05:15 | 0:05:17 | |
How are you feeling about transforming this space? | 0:05:17 | 0:05:19 | |
I've got a big confession to make. | 0:05:19 | 0:05:21 | |
I've never done a roof garden before. | 0:05:21 | 0:05:23 | |
-This is going to be a first for me. So, Amy, wish me luck. -Good luck. | 0:05:23 | 0:05:28 | |
-Are you green-fingered? Do you do much gardening? -Not really. | 0:05:28 | 0:05:31 | |
No, I've attempted and ended up killing everything. | 0:05:31 | 0:05:34 | |
-Yeah, I hadn't noticed, Amy. I hadn't noticed(!) -No, not at all. | 0:05:34 | 0:05:37 | |
-Everything just dies. It doesn't matter how hard I try. -OK. | 0:05:37 | 0:05:41 | |
I am quite a busy person. | 0:05:41 | 0:05:43 | |
I start early in the morning | 0:05:43 | 0:05:45 | |
-and I do sometimes finish at eight o'clock at night. -OK. | 0:05:45 | 0:05:48 | |
When I come home, I enjoy just sitting down and just relaxing. | 0:05:48 | 0:05:52 | |
And I do actually forget about watering the plants sometimes. | 0:05:52 | 0:05:57 | |
You're dedicated in the classroom. | 0:05:57 | 0:05:58 | |
How would your friends describe your dedication in the garden? | 0:05:58 | 0:06:03 | |
Yeah. | 0:06:03 | 0:06:04 | |
They think it's hysterical. | 0:06:04 | 0:06:07 | |
I planted something just behind you | 0:06:07 | 0:06:10 | |
and, for the last year, thought it was a lavender plant | 0:06:10 | 0:06:12 | |
-and then got told it was bluebells. -Ha-ha. | 0:06:12 | 0:06:15 | |
So, that's the extent of my gardening skills. | 0:06:15 | 0:06:19 | |
I thought I was doing something right. | 0:06:19 | 0:06:21 | |
Thought it was a perfect flower. | 0:06:21 | 0:06:23 | |
Yep. So I'm the laughing stock of my friends, I think, | 0:06:23 | 0:06:25 | |
when it comes to gardening. | 0:06:25 | 0:06:26 | |
Well, you'll be a laughing stock no more, | 0:06:26 | 0:06:28 | |
cos what we'll do, we'll put some plants in here. | 0:06:28 | 0:06:30 | |
There's no such thing as no maintenance, | 0:06:30 | 0:06:32 | |
but there is low maintenance. | 0:06:32 | 0:06:34 | |
-We'll get out of the way and let you crack on. Help is on its way. -OK. | 0:06:34 | 0:06:37 | |
-And I've just got something for you, Helen. The usual. -Oh, yeah. | 0:06:37 | 0:06:40 | |
So, a little shopping list. | 0:06:40 | 0:06:41 | |
So, if you can go enjoy yourself and I'll catch up with you later. | 0:06:41 | 0:06:46 | |
While I whisk Amy away for a bit of R&R - | 0:06:46 | 0:06:48 | |
that's retail and research - | 0:06:48 | 0:06:50 | |
Danny has only ten hours to transform her terrace. | 0:06:50 | 0:06:53 | |
Basically, the outline has got to remain as it is. | 0:06:56 | 0:06:59 | |
So we can do stuff within the walls, | 0:06:59 | 0:07:02 | |
but we can't fix anything to the walls, for example. | 0:07:02 | 0:07:05 | |
So anything we put in here has to be freestanding. | 0:07:05 | 0:07:08 | |
Now, a very good design tip here is to look on the inside | 0:07:08 | 0:07:12 | |
and see what you've got on the inside of your house | 0:07:12 | 0:07:15 | |
and try and project that to the outside. | 0:07:15 | 0:07:18 | |
I've been inside. I've had a look around | 0:07:18 | 0:07:19 | |
and one of the first things that I've noticed | 0:07:19 | 0:07:22 | |
is that Amy likes bright colours, | 0:07:22 | 0:07:24 | |
so I'm going to try and replicate that in this space. | 0:07:24 | 0:07:27 | |
We've got to be very careful with the flooring because of the restrictions. | 0:07:29 | 0:07:33 | |
We can't paint it. | 0:07:33 | 0:07:34 | |
We can clean it, which is good. | 0:07:34 | 0:07:35 | |
That will make a huge difference. | 0:07:35 | 0:07:37 | |
And once cleaned, | 0:07:37 | 0:07:39 | |
perhaps we'll put some, sort of, bright-coloured matting down. | 0:07:39 | 0:07:42 | |
For me, these small pots are a no-no. | 0:07:45 | 0:07:47 | |
So, we want to do something that's high-impact. | 0:07:47 | 0:07:49 | |
Maybe instead of lots of small pots, have maybe two or three large pots. | 0:07:49 | 0:07:54 | |
I wouldn't make it too messy, by having lots of different varieties. | 0:07:54 | 0:07:59 | |
Less is more, | 0:07:59 | 0:08:00 | |
so I'd be inclined just to put one variety of plant in each pot. | 0:08:00 | 0:08:06 | |
Topiary. | 0:08:06 | 0:08:07 | |
I mean, that comes to mind. Maybe an interesting shape. | 0:08:07 | 0:08:10 | |
Maybe a sphere or an oblong, something like that. | 0:08:10 | 0:08:14 | |
The window, although it's great for viewing, | 0:08:15 | 0:08:19 | |
it's a bit of a wind tunnel, | 0:08:19 | 0:08:20 | |
so what we want to do is find a way of diffusing the wind, | 0:08:20 | 0:08:23 | |
just slowing it down. | 0:08:23 | 0:08:25 | |
Furniture-wise, again, we can't fix anything to the walls, | 0:08:25 | 0:08:28 | |
so everything has to be freestanding. | 0:08:28 | 0:08:30 | |
We'll put a bench over there | 0:08:30 | 0:08:32 | |
and paint it, so that it matches the flooring | 0:08:32 | 0:08:36 | |
and, in turn, that will match what's going on inside Amy's flat. | 0:08:36 | 0:08:40 | |
And, perhaps, a bench over here | 0:08:40 | 0:08:41 | |
and, likewise, that will be painted. | 0:08:41 | 0:08:43 | |
Now the main advantage that we've got here, | 0:08:43 | 0:08:46 | |
because nothing is going to be fixed to this space, | 0:08:46 | 0:08:50 | |
so really this is an outside room, | 0:08:50 | 0:08:53 | |
which she can roll up and take with her. | 0:08:53 | 0:08:55 | |
There's no hard-core digging to be done. | 0:08:55 | 0:08:57 | |
All it is, is an installation. | 0:08:57 | 0:09:00 | |
And you know what? I know just the man. | 0:09:00 | 0:09:02 | |
Handyman AJ is on the case, as always. | 0:09:03 | 0:09:06 | |
And he's going to have his work cut out with all the furniture | 0:09:06 | 0:09:09 | |
Danny is planning. | 0:09:09 | 0:09:10 | |
Plus Amy's mum and dad, Jane and Colin, | 0:09:10 | 0:09:13 | |
have come all the way from Wales to help their daughter | 0:09:13 | 0:09:15 | |
transform her roof space. | 0:09:15 | 0:09:17 | |
-Hello. Hi. -Hello, Jane. -Hello, nice to meet you. -Nice to meet you. | 0:09:17 | 0:09:21 | |
-All right, so what I need you to do is to scrub this patio area. -Yeah. | 0:09:21 | 0:09:24 | |
-OK? -Yeah. -And the glass. If that's OK. -Fine. Yeah. No problem. | 0:09:26 | 0:09:29 | |
-And, AJ, I've got a job for you, mate. -I'm not scrubbing. | 0:09:29 | 0:09:32 | |
I know you're not scrubbing. I wouldn't dare ask you to scrub. | 0:09:32 | 0:09:35 | |
-That's all right, then. -But I need you to construct a couple of benches | 0:09:35 | 0:09:39 | |
-for me. -OK. -If that's OK. -Yeah. | 0:09:39 | 0:09:40 | |
-Now, I want a bench on this wall here. -OK. | 0:09:40 | 0:09:43 | |
About a metre and a half wide, but I'd like it to be quite deep, | 0:09:43 | 0:09:46 | |
so maybe half a metre deep. | 0:09:46 | 0:09:48 | |
Yeah. And it's going to have to be stand-alone, isn't it, | 0:09:48 | 0:09:51 | |
because we can't drill into these walls, can we? | 0:09:51 | 0:09:53 | |
Absolutely, because there's rules and regulations here | 0:09:53 | 0:09:55 | |
and we can't touch the walls so they can be stand-alone, | 0:09:55 | 0:09:57 | |
which will be great and that will be great for Amy | 0:09:57 | 0:10:00 | |
because then she's got something that's movable. | 0:10:00 | 0:10:02 | |
-Yeah, take it away. -Put it in another position round here. -Cool. | 0:10:02 | 0:10:06 | |
-I would suggest another bench here. -OK. -And we need some kind of buffer. | 0:10:06 | 0:10:09 | |
-OK. -Right. So we need to, if we can, to defuse the wind | 0:10:09 | 0:10:13 | |
that comes through that window. | 0:10:13 | 0:10:15 | |
-Like a bit of a screen or something there? -Something there. | 0:10:15 | 0:10:18 | |
-If you can come up with an idea, that would be fantastic. -OK. Cool. | 0:10:18 | 0:10:21 | |
I know you can, because, you know... | 0:10:21 | 0:10:24 | |
-I'm the man that can. -You're the man that can, absolutely. | 0:10:24 | 0:10:26 | |
OK, well, I'll crack on with that. We can't really do much work up here | 0:10:26 | 0:10:29 | |
because you're going to be cleaning this down. | 0:10:29 | 0:10:31 | |
And there's a lot of cutting of wood and things like that, | 0:10:31 | 0:10:34 | |
so I am going to pop downstairs. | 0:10:34 | 0:10:36 | |
-If you need me, holler through the window. -I will holler very loudly. | 0:10:36 | 0:10:40 | |
-Thank you. I'll see you in a bit. -See you later. | 0:10:40 | 0:10:42 | |
-Take care. See you later. -See you later, AJ. | 0:10:42 | 0:10:45 | |
-Tools are over here. -Yeah. | 0:10:45 | 0:10:47 | |
-If you take that. You can do the window. -No problem. | 0:10:47 | 0:10:50 | |
-And we'll do the scrubbing. -Yeah, that sounds good. | 0:10:50 | 0:10:53 | |
You must be very proud of your daughter, because she is very | 0:10:58 | 0:11:00 | |
young and managed to get on the property ladder. That's quite rare... | 0:11:00 | 0:11:03 | |
-Yes... -for youngsters these days. | 0:11:03 | 0:11:06 | |
It was one thing she always wanted, she wanted to get her own place. | 0:11:06 | 0:11:09 | |
From the time she left uni. | 0:11:09 | 0:11:11 | |
She... | 0:11:11 | 0:11:13 | |
In uni, in Plymouth. | 0:11:13 | 0:11:15 | |
-And she left Plymouth and come up this neck of the woods. -Right. | 0:11:15 | 0:11:18 | |
And how long has she lived here for now? | 0:11:18 | 0:11:20 | |
She's been here nearly four years now. | 0:11:20 | 0:11:22 | |
I get the impression that she is a very sociable person. | 0:11:22 | 0:11:26 | |
-And she likes to entertain. -She likes to have her friends around. | 0:11:26 | 0:11:30 | |
She hasn't got a massive... | 0:11:30 | 0:11:32 | |
lot of friends, but the friends she's got, she likes to | 0:11:32 | 0:11:35 | |
have them around in the summer, entertaining and... | 0:11:35 | 0:11:37 | |
-And treat them well. -And treat them well. | 0:11:37 | 0:11:39 | |
So, this is probably the last part | 0:11:39 | 0:11:42 | |
-she needs to do now. -Great. | 0:11:42 | 0:11:44 | |
And what a great space to entertain her friends here. | 0:11:44 | 0:11:47 | |
Yes, definitely. | 0:11:47 | 0:11:49 | |
Something she's wanted for a while. | 0:11:49 | 0:11:51 | |
Colin, you're probably wondering why we are working | 0:11:51 | 0:11:54 | |
-so hard scrubbing this. -Yeah. | 0:11:54 | 0:11:56 | |
You might be thinking, "Well, why aren't we using a jet wash?" | 0:11:56 | 0:11:59 | |
Yes, I did wonder that. | 0:11:59 | 0:12:01 | |
-Well, the reason being is that, you know, it is a roof terrace. -Yeah. | 0:12:01 | 0:12:04 | |
And there could be a water issue. | 0:12:04 | 0:12:06 | |
If we are flooding this with lots of water, there could be a leak | 0:12:06 | 0:12:10 | |
-somewhere, and we don't want it going down into the... -Flat below. | 0:12:10 | 0:12:13 | |
..flat below. | 0:12:13 | 0:12:14 | |
All right, I think it's time for me to leave you, | 0:12:17 | 0:12:19 | |
because I need to see what AJ is getting on with. | 0:12:19 | 0:12:22 | |
Down below, AJ has made a start on the first of his two benches, | 0:12:22 | 0:12:25 | |
-with a special extra feature. -Hello, AJ. | 0:12:25 | 0:12:28 | |
-Hiya, mate. -How's it going, mate? | 0:12:28 | 0:12:30 | |
-Yeah, good. -Good. -Good, thanks. | 0:12:30 | 0:12:32 | |
I decided to build a couple of, | 0:12:32 | 0:12:35 | |
sort of, planters either side, | 0:12:35 | 0:12:37 | |
that the bench will lean against. So I'm just finishing off this. | 0:12:37 | 0:12:40 | |
I've, sort of, offset the wood here. | 0:12:40 | 0:12:43 | |
I'm just using this as a marker, clamped it there. Measured up there. | 0:12:43 | 0:12:46 | |
I'm just screwing the last screw in on this one here. | 0:12:46 | 0:12:49 | |
So, I just thought, either side, bench across the middle and... | 0:12:49 | 0:12:53 | |
No, I love it. That is a bonus, because I wasn't expecting this, AJ. | 0:12:53 | 0:12:57 | |
And to do that means that we've got two more planting opportunities. | 0:12:57 | 0:13:01 | |
-That's fantastic. -It's what I do for you. I'm always thinking of you. | 0:13:01 | 0:13:05 | |
Thank you very much. | 0:13:05 | 0:13:06 | |
But there's more! AJ is full of surprises today. | 0:13:07 | 0:13:10 | |
You could just make it all... | 0:13:10 | 0:13:13 | |
equilateral like that, but I actually quite like the idea | 0:13:13 | 0:13:17 | |
-of twisting that over. -Yeah. | 0:13:17 | 0:13:19 | |
-And, as you see, the second level... -Yeah. | 0:13:19 | 0:13:23 | |
And then you have this, sort of, zigzag pattern here, | 0:13:23 | 0:13:26 | |
and then the top one, obviously, will stick out here, | 0:13:26 | 0:13:29 | |
here, here and here. | 0:13:29 | 0:13:32 | |
AJ, I love it. Is this going to be nice and light? | 0:13:32 | 0:13:35 | |
Once this is made and then I make another one on the other side, | 0:13:35 | 0:13:39 | |
and then, sort of, a few slats all screwed together, then, that's it. | 0:13:39 | 0:13:43 | |
As long as it's... When it's up there, you are not, | 0:13:43 | 0:13:47 | |
it won't be overbalanced. | 0:13:47 | 0:13:49 | |
-OK. -So it is all right. It should be. | 0:13:49 | 0:13:51 | |
DANNY LAUGHS | 0:13:51 | 0:13:53 | |
-Yeah. You can talk! -Oh. Maybe. | 0:13:53 | 0:13:56 | |
As well as the two benches, AJ has also been tasked with | 0:13:56 | 0:13:59 | |
building a windbreak for Amy's draughty aperture. | 0:13:59 | 0:14:02 | |
And he's been thinking ahead. | 0:14:02 | 0:14:04 | |
So how is the windbreak coming on, AJ? | 0:14:04 | 0:14:06 | |
We've got these here, which I'm going to cut to size at some point. | 0:14:06 | 0:14:09 | |
Sort of, like, five inches by one inch. | 0:14:09 | 0:14:12 | |
-Yeah. -And I thought we'd get some batons. -Yeah. -And then we can then | 0:14:12 | 0:14:17 | |
have one in front of the baton, one behind. So they are offset. | 0:14:17 | 0:14:21 | |
So we've got gaps coming at an angle, | 0:14:21 | 0:14:24 | |
-so the wind isn't just one big force. -Yes. | 0:14:24 | 0:14:27 | |
-It will still let light through, as well. -And that's a bonus. | 0:14:27 | 0:14:30 | |
It is a bonus, because we want it so bright up there and lovely. | 0:14:30 | 0:14:33 | |
Do you know, AJ, I knew you would come up with a good idea. | 0:14:33 | 0:14:36 | |
-No problem. -Put it there. -For you, brother. -Thank you, thank you. | 0:14:36 | 0:14:39 | |
-AJ, is there anything I can do to help you, mate? -Oh, yes, yes. | 0:14:39 | 0:14:42 | |
Um, leave me to it. | 0:14:42 | 0:14:43 | |
DANNY LAUGHS | 0:14:43 | 0:14:45 | |
While Danny and the team get on with it, I'm taking Amy | 0:14:46 | 0:14:49 | |
to visit a very swish outdoor space that I think will show her | 0:14:49 | 0:14:53 | |
both how flexible and multipurpose a small space can be, | 0:14:53 | 0:14:57 | |
and that gorgeous plans don't have to mean masses of work. | 0:14:57 | 0:15:01 | |
Amy, I've brought you here to see a garden that I hope will excite | 0:15:04 | 0:15:07 | |
-and inspire you. -Perfect. | 0:15:07 | 0:15:09 | |
Because you say you're looking for a bit of inspiration at the minute. | 0:15:09 | 0:15:12 | |
-I am, yes. -Hopefully, this will do the trick. -Excellent. | 0:15:12 | 0:15:15 | |
-So what do you think of this garden? -It is beautiful. That is beautiful. | 0:15:18 | 0:15:23 | |
The fire pit is really nice and that bench, actually, is really quirky. | 0:15:23 | 0:15:27 | |
And different, sort of, bits to the garden. | 0:15:27 | 0:15:30 | |
The barbecue area over here...lawn, | 0:15:30 | 0:15:33 | |
seating area, patio. | 0:15:33 | 0:15:36 | |
-Is this the kind of thing you like? -I would. | 0:15:36 | 0:15:39 | |
It just doesn't feel like you're where you are. | 0:15:39 | 0:15:42 | |
So I think, actually, this would be a really nice, sort of, look. | 0:15:42 | 0:15:45 | |
Oh, she's changed already, she's changed already! | 0:15:45 | 0:15:47 | |
It doesn't look daunting. It is really, really nice. | 0:15:47 | 0:15:51 | |
-Let's go and test out that seating area. -Definitely. | 0:15:51 | 0:15:54 | |
As someone with a small garden and a very poor track record | 0:15:54 | 0:15:57 | |
in keeping plants alive, I want Amy to see how well chosen | 0:15:57 | 0:16:00 | |
great-looking plants can also be easy to look after. | 0:16:00 | 0:16:04 | |
What are your first impressions, Amy, as a non-gardener, | 0:16:04 | 0:16:07 | |
self-confessed? Is this something you like, is it a bit intimidating? | 0:16:07 | 0:16:11 | |
I don't think it is intimidating. | 0:16:11 | 0:16:12 | |
I've never really thought about using just green plants. | 0:16:12 | 0:16:16 | |
I've always tried using flowers and then they've died really quickly. | 0:16:16 | 0:16:20 | |
This just seems to be such a nice... It has a nice feel to it. | 0:16:20 | 0:16:25 | |
Doesn't look like I will be able to kill too much. It looks | 0:16:25 | 0:16:28 | |
really strong and hard wearing, yet almost tropical, at the same time. | 0:16:28 | 0:16:31 | |
-It is Amy-proof. -It is Amy-proof. | 0:16:31 | 0:16:33 | |
Back at Amy's own outdoor space, the clean paving is positively | 0:16:36 | 0:16:39 | |
glowing and so are Danny's praises of his team. | 0:16:39 | 0:16:42 | |
This is amazing. I'm surprised you've made such a difference. | 0:16:42 | 0:16:45 | |
When I left you earlier, I didn't think you would get it this clean. | 0:16:45 | 0:16:49 | |
-It's great. -It has come up really well. A lot better than I thought. | 0:16:49 | 0:16:52 | |
Danny has got a bright colour scheme in mind for jazzing up this | 0:16:52 | 0:16:55 | |
dour-looking patio. | 0:16:55 | 0:16:57 | |
So bright, in fact, you might want to get your sunnies on for this. | 0:16:57 | 0:17:01 | |
-Now, just look at these babies. -They are really nice. | 0:17:01 | 0:17:04 | |
-Now, is this going to work or is this going to work? -It's going to work. | 0:17:04 | 0:17:08 | |
-It's going to work. -It is going to work. | 0:17:08 | 0:17:10 | |
The reason for these large pots is to add a bit of drama | 0:17:10 | 0:17:13 | |
to this outside space. Rather than have lots of small pots, | 0:17:13 | 0:17:16 | |
which aren't really going to make any impact on this space, | 0:17:16 | 0:17:20 | |
I thought large pots would be far better. | 0:17:20 | 0:17:23 | |
And we've put some nice, topiarised round balls in here. | 0:17:23 | 0:17:28 | |
And that brings a bit of cohesion to this space. | 0:17:28 | 0:17:31 | |
Now, one of the things I noticed is that there are no holes | 0:17:31 | 0:17:35 | |
in this pot, so it means they need to be drilled. | 0:17:35 | 0:17:38 | |
The reason we've put holes in the pots is to allow | 0:17:38 | 0:17:42 | |
the water to come through. | 0:17:42 | 0:17:44 | |
If we don't allow water to come through, there is a danger these | 0:17:44 | 0:17:47 | |
pots could fill up with rainwater and damage the roots of the plants. | 0:17:47 | 0:17:51 | |
-Three holes, bit of a triangle? -No, just one hole. | 0:17:51 | 0:17:54 | |
We just want one hole in the middle here, AJ, | 0:17:54 | 0:17:58 | |
on each pot. | 0:17:58 | 0:18:00 | |
That would be absolutely brilliant. | 0:18:00 | 0:18:02 | |
OK, so, you know, | 0:18:09 | 0:18:11 | |
with a pot this size, a 10ml hole, | 0:18:11 | 0:18:14 | |
just use a 10ml drill bit to drill a hole in the middle. | 0:18:14 | 0:18:18 | |
That's absolutely fine. | 0:18:18 | 0:18:19 | |
DANNY CHUCKLES | 0:18:19 | 0:18:21 | |
And it helps breathing, as well. | 0:18:21 | 0:18:23 | |
If I just put soil in here and I don't protect the hole, | 0:18:24 | 0:18:29 | |
this hole will get blocked. | 0:18:29 | 0:18:31 | |
So, what I'm going to do is put some crockery in there, some broken, | 0:18:31 | 0:18:35 | |
maybe broken pots, some stones, anything like that. | 0:18:35 | 0:18:38 | |
Put that around the hole | 0:18:38 | 0:18:40 | |
before I put the compost in. | 0:18:40 | 0:18:43 | |
That way, that'll keep the hole free from being blocked. | 0:18:43 | 0:18:47 | |
But, Danny, where are you going to get those broken pots? | 0:18:47 | 0:18:51 | |
-Oh! -I'm going to smash this pot. | 0:18:51 | 0:18:54 | |
And the way I'm going to do it is by putting it in this rubble sack here. | 0:18:54 | 0:18:58 | |
And that way, when I smash it, | 0:18:58 | 0:19:00 | |
we're not going to have splinters everywhere. | 0:19:00 | 0:19:03 | |
And I'm actually protecting myself | 0:19:03 | 0:19:05 | |
and anyone that is in the vicinity from getting anything in their eyes. | 0:19:05 | 0:19:08 | |
I think it's dead now. THEY LAUGH | 0:19:16 | 0:19:19 | |
And there we are, that is all I need. One of these, | 0:19:20 | 0:19:22 | |
just to cover the hole, to keep it unblocked. Simple as that. | 0:19:22 | 0:19:26 | |
A smashing tip there, Danny, | 0:19:26 | 0:19:28 | |
but time is ticking away and there's still no sign of any foliage. | 0:19:28 | 0:19:32 | |
We need to get some plants into those pots. | 0:19:32 | 0:19:36 | |
Oh, that feels good. | 0:19:36 | 0:19:37 | |
I've been dying to do this all day. | 0:19:37 | 0:19:40 | |
Nice to get a bit of compost between the old fingernails. | 0:19:40 | 0:19:43 | |
Right, plant number one is ready to go in and it is a belter. | 0:19:43 | 0:19:46 | |
Pittosporum 'Tom Thumb', an evergreen shrub. | 0:19:46 | 0:19:50 | |
Isn't that an absolute beauty? | 0:19:50 | 0:19:52 | |
And you will notice that... | 0:19:52 | 0:19:54 | |
it is green there, but that's the new growth. | 0:19:54 | 0:19:57 | |
But they will soon turn a darker colour. | 0:19:57 | 0:20:00 | |
An absolutely wonderful plant. | 0:20:00 | 0:20:02 | |
Now, I'm going to show you a little trick when putting... | 0:20:02 | 0:20:06 | |
putting plants in pots. | 0:20:06 | 0:20:07 | |
Take the plant out of the pot... | 0:20:07 | 0:20:09 | |
..and just place the pot... | 0:20:11 | 0:20:14 | |
..inside the larger one. | 0:20:14 | 0:20:15 | |
Now, I reckon I've got the level about right there. | 0:20:15 | 0:20:18 | |
What I'm going to do now is fill the perimeter | 0:20:18 | 0:20:21 | |
of this pot with compost. | 0:20:21 | 0:20:23 | |
Not the pot itself, but go around the outside. | 0:20:23 | 0:20:26 | |
So there we are. So now... | 0:20:30 | 0:20:33 | |
I can put my beautiful plant... | 0:20:33 | 0:20:35 | |
..in that space. | 0:20:36 | 0:20:38 | |
There we are. Ta-da! | 0:20:40 | 0:20:42 | |
One potted pittosporum. | 0:20:42 | 0:20:45 | |
How gorgeous is that? | 0:20:45 | 0:20:46 | |
The reason I'm using this shape, this round shape, | 0:20:46 | 0:20:49 | |
is to give a bit of formality to this garden, to this space. | 0:20:49 | 0:20:53 | |
I think it will look absolutely fantastic. | 0:20:53 | 0:20:55 | |
It is going to keep everything nice and neat and contemporary. | 0:20:55 | 0:20:58 | |
It will be very good for Amy, absolutely brilliant. | 0:20:58 | 0:21:01 | |
Because they do need very little looking after. | 0:21:01 | 0:21:04 | |
I would suggest maybe giving it a trim, as I'm doing now, | 0:21:04 | 0:21:07 | |
maybe two or three times a year. | 0:21:07 | 0:21:10 | |
And that's all it needs. | 0:21:10 | 0:21:12 | |
With some lime green pots and structural to topiary, this | 0:21:14 | 0:21:16 | |
bog-standard terrace is starting to feel like a chic retreat. | 0:21:16 | 0:21:20 | |
While Danny gets his hands dirty, back in the small suburban | 0:21:20 | 0:21:23 | |
paradise on the other side of Basingstoke, I've arranged to | 0:21:23 | 0:21:27 | |
meet its owner, Darrell, | 0:21:27 | 0:21:28 | |
to ask him how he made his garden easy care and part of his home. | 0:21:28 | 0:21:33 | |
Talk us through this place, | 0:21:34 | 0:21:36 | |
because this is almost an extension of your living room, isn't it? | 0:21:36 | 0:21:39 | |
It is. We were looking to have a grown-up space | 0:21:39 | 0:21:42 | |
where we could sit out and entertain, where actually | 0:21:42 | 0:21:45 | |
we could have friends around, | 0:21:45 | 0:21:47 | |
where we could have a barbecue area. | 0:21:47 | 0:21:49 | |
How high or low-maintenance is this garden, though? | 0:21:49 | 0:21:52 | |
This is a very, very low-maintenance garden, so, really, other than | 0:21:52 | 0:21:55 | |
the odd weed popping up, which you just pull out, that's it. | 0:21:55 | 0:21:58 | |
Probably in about, sort of two to three years' time, we'd probably | 0:21:58 | 0:22:01 | |
have to start shaping some of the bushes as they grow, | 0:22:01 | 0:22:05 | |
but apart from that, it is just to sit out and enjoy | 0:22:05 | 0:22:08 | |
the garden and, once or twice a week, sort of cut | 0:22:08 | 0:22:12 | |
the freshly laid lawn. | 0:22:12 | 0:22:13 | |
I noticed, though, you've got a plant on wheels. Why is that on a trolley? | 0:22:13 | 0:22:17 | |
It is actually a very heavy plant, it is actually a very big pot, | 0:22:17 | 0:22:21 | |
but it makes it very easy for us to move around the patio. | 0:22:21 | 0:22:24 | |
You can use it for natural shading. | 0:22:24 | 0:22:27 | |
If you actually want more space, you can | 0:22:27 | 0:22:29 | |
move it to a different part, different part of the garden. | 0:22:29 | 0:22:33 | |
And presumably, if this wasn't your further home, | 0:22:33 | 0:22:35 | |
you could take it with you when you go without a massive amount of hassle. | 0:22:35 | 0:22:38 | |
-That's an idea you could kind of pick up on, isn't it? -It is. | 0:22:38 | 0:22:41 | |
How did you come up with all these ideas, because there's a lot | 0:22:41 | 0:22:44 | |
going on, and you kind of said you would never think of this. | 0:22:44 | 0:22:47 | |
-No. -We actually started by creating a, um... | 0:22:47 | 0:22:51 | |
storyboard, where you literally, you know, | 0:22:51 | 0:22:53 | |
you take images from websites, | 0:22:53 | 0:22:55 | |
you cut out pictures from gardening... | 0:22:55 | 0:22:59 | |
magazines and things like that. You sort of put them all together. | 0:22:59 | 0:23:03 | |
And you end up with a complete sort of collage of different shapes | 0:23:03 | 0:23:07 | |
and colours and textures. | 0:23:07 | 0:23:08 | |
And it is amazing when you've got it all on a single | 0:23:08 | 0:23:11 | |
sheet of paper. | 0:23:11 | 0:23:13 | |
You suddenly see that, without even thinking about it, | 0:23:13 | 0:23:15 | |
you've actually picked things, about textures and colours, | 0:23:15 | 0:23:19 | |
um, designs and lighting and things like that. | 0:23:19 | 0:23:22 | |
-Have you ever done that for your garden? -Not at all. | 0:23:22 | 0:23:26 | |
I just seem to be at a loss to my garden. | 0:23:26 | 0:23:28 | |
Inside, I've got lots of inspiration, I do what you've said, | 0:23:28 | 0:23:31 | |
I do mood boards... | 0:23:31 | 0:23:32 | |
and have a look in all different types of shops to get inspiration, | 0:23:32 | 0:23:36 | |
but then outside it is just... | 0:23:36 | 0:23:39 | |
I am at a loss. And this is just... This is just brilliant. | 0:23:39 | 0:23:42 | |
Whether you're starting a garden from scratch like Amy, | 0:23:44 | 0:23:47 | |
or transforming an existing patch like Darrell, | 0:23:47 | 0:23:49 | |
this gorgeously green space employs a number of great ideas you | 0:23:49 | 0:23:53 | |
could try on your own garden overhaul. | 0:23:53 | 0:23:56 | |
Mood boards aren't just for interior decorating. | 0:23:56 | 0:23:59 | |
Keep copies of pictures that inspire you, and you, like Darrell, | 0:23:59 | 0:24:03 | |
will soon find patterns emerging of the garden looks you love. | 0:24:03 | 0:24:06 | |
If you're not one for constant care, choose more evergreen shrubs | 0:24:06 | 0:24:10 | |
and non-flowering plants. | 0:24:10 | 0:24:12 | |
They can be easier to look after but just as eye-catching. | 0:24:12 | 0:24:16 | |
Experiment with garden design by moving furniture, | 0:24:16 | 0:24:19 | |
pots and boxes around. | 0:24:19 | 0:24:20 | |
Wheeled containers are especially handy. | 0:24:20 | 0:24:23 | |
A small garden needn't become boring with a monthly mix-up. | 0:24:23 | 0:24:26 | |
Back in Basingstoke, it's past two o'clock, | 0:24:29 | 0:24:31 | |
and the roof garden doesn't yet have a stick of furniture. | 0:24:31 | 0:24:35 | |
A check on AJ's progress is in order, | 0:24:35 | 0:24:37 | |
and he's had an inspired idea. | 0:24:37 | 0:24:39 | |
Because it can't be permanently fixed in place, | 0:24:39 | 0:24:42 | |
he's combining the windbreak with a storage bench to anchor it. | 0:24:42 | 0:24:46 | |
-Hi, AJ, how's it going? -Bit of thought. This windbreaker... -Yes. | 0:24:46 | 0:24:50 | |
You know, it is going to have to have something heavy on the bottom of it... | 0:24:50 | 0:24:54 | |
-Yeah. -..to stop the wind blowing it one way or the other. | 0:24:54 | 0:24:58 | |
I've built this, this is going to be the second bench. | 0:24:58 | 0:25:00 | |
-If I put a top on there, and then a base in there... -Yes. | 0:25:00 | 0:25:04 | |
..then we can have storage. You know, it is not going to go anywhere. | 0:25:04 | 0:25:07 | |
AJ, I think that's a great idea, | 0:25:07 | 0:25:09 | |
because Amy has got some ugly storage room upstairs. | 0:25:09 | 0:25:13 | |
And this would be great as an alternative. | 0:25:13 | 0:25:16 | |
I can build it down here, and then she'll have to come down | 0:25:16 | 0:25:18 | |
here and sit on it, otherwise. | 0:25:18 | 0:25:20 | |
So we need to get it up there now and just finish off the construction. | 0:25:20 | 0:25:23 | |
-I'll go get the troops, and we'll get going. -Brilliant. | 0:25:23 | 0:25:26 | |
Thanks for that, AJ. Cheers. | 0:25:26 | 0:25:27 | |
I hope Jane and Colin are feeling strong today. | 0:25:29 | 0:25:31 | |
Shifting this furniture is going to be fun. | 0:25:31 | 0:25:33 | |
There we go. | 0:25:39 | 0:25:40 | |
Top work there, team. | 0:25:41 | 0:25:43 | |
Look how well the patio's come up, AJ. | 0:25:46 | 0:25:48 | |
-Oh, brilliant. -It's great, isn't it? -They've been busy. | 0:25:48 | 0:25:50 | |
They have been busy. Absolutely lovely. | 0:25:50 | 0:25:53 | |
-And clear all that way there, we'll push it up there. -Yeah. | 0:25:53 | 0:25:56 | |
-Put a couple of screws in there and then it is all... -That's brilliant. -..set. | 0:25:56 | 0:25:59 | |
And the thing is, I mean, it is very well made. It kind of looks permanent, doesn't it? | 0:25:59 | 0:26:04 | |
-There's a sense of permanence about it. -What's lovely is that Amy wanted something like this. | 0:26:04 | 0:26:08 | |
-Did she? -This was what she was talking about. -Oh, right. -Yeah. | 0:26:08 | 0:26:11 | |
Now, in keeping with Amy's bright interiors, | 0:26:13 | 0:26:15 | |
the garden furniture needs a bright and funky finish. | 0:26:15 | 0:26:18 | |
OK, thank you. | 0:26:22 | 0:26:24 | |
There's a bit of a squiggly line thing going on over here with | 0:26:24 | 0:26:27 | |
Colin's painting. Jane is absolutely fine, by the way. | 0:26:27 | 0:26:31 | |
She's obviously done this sort of thing before. | 0:26:31 | 0:26:33 | |
JANE LAUGHS | 0:26:33 | 0:26:35 | |
The paint has migrated over here. | 0:26:35 | 0:26:37 | |
Oh, Colin, you might have just ruined everything. | 0:26:37 | 0:26:40 | |
Fortunately, we've got some "de-squiggling" tape. | 0:26:40 | 0:26:43 | |
Just stick that on there. | 0:26:43 | 0:26:45 | |
Colin can now paint up to this line here, | 0:26:45 | 0:26:48 | |
produced by this tape... | 0:26:48 | 0:26:51 | |
until his heart's content. | 0:26:51 | 0:26:52 | |
While the team are going hammer and tongs, I want to find out | 0:26:55 | 0:26:58 | |
just how hard Amy grafted to get herself a garden at all. | 0:26:58 | 0:27:02 | |
Amy, talk me through your route into teaching, because it wasn't very straightforward, was it? | 0:27:04 | 0:27:08 | |
No, I did four years at university, but after that | 0:27:08 | 0:27:12 | |
I thought it would be really simple to go and get a job. | 0:27:12 | 0:27:14 | |
But, actually, it is really difficult. | 0:27:14 | 0:27:16 | |
And it took me, I think, over 100 applications, and my nan had to | 0:27:16 | 0:27:20 | |
help me with stamps and envelopes to... | 0:27:20 | 0:27:23 | |
to get my applications out there. | 0:27:23 | 0:27:24 | |
I didn't mind where I moved in the UK, | 0:27:24 | 0:27:27 | |
as long as I had a job at the end of the day. | 0:27:27 | 0:27:29 | |
I've done four years at university, there was no way | 0:27:29 | 0:27:31 | |
I was going back home to not work. I really, really had to try hard. | 0:27:31 | 0:27:35 | |
So you were willing to move anywhere in the country | 0:27:35 | 0:27:38 | |
-so that you could be a teacher... -Yes. -..and fulfil that dream? -Yes. | 0:27:38 | 0:27:40 | |
But when I found Hampshire, that's where it all fell into place. | 0:27:40 | 0:27:44 | |
I've managed to get my first job quite quickly after that. | 0:27:44 | 0:27:47 | |
-A lot of hard work, you've got yourself your job. -Yes. | 0:27:47 | 0:27:49 | |
What about the home situation? | 0:27:49 | 0:27:52 | |
At the beginning, it was very difficult. I moved from Wales to Hampshire. | 0:27:52 | 0:27:56 | |
And luckily, my auntie, who again is really supportive, let me | 0:27:56 | 0:28:00 | |
stay with her for a few months to get my foot on...feet on the ground | 0:28:00 | 0:28:04 | |
and to save up a bit of money. And then I sort of rented a place. | 0:28:04 | 0:28:08 | |
First of all, I rented a room in somebody's house, | 0:28:08 | 0:28:11 | |
then I rented my own place. | 0:28:11 | 0:28:13 | |
And I just thought, renting, I was just throwing away my money, | 0:28:13 | 0:28:17 | |
so I thought, "Right, I'm going to buy something." | 0:28:17 | 0:28:19 | |
And it just so happened that in Basingstoke they were doing a key worker scheme, | 0:28:19 | 0:28:22 | |
where if you were a teacher or a nurse, you are somebody | 0:28:22 | 0:28:25 | |
who had a key job, you could | 0:28:25 | 0:28:28 | |
get on the property ladder quite easily. | 0:28:28 | 0:28:30 | |
So you are in this part ownership scheme where you own part of it, | 0:28:30 | 0:28:34 | |
-you've taken on a bit of a mortgage, but you also pay a bit of rent. -Mm-hm. | 0:28:34 | 0:28:37 | |
-And how does that work, then? Will you own it eventually? -Yes. | 0:28:37 | 0:28:41 | |
You can own as much as you want to. | 0:28:41 | 0:28:43 | |
I started off with a certain percentage, | 0:28:43 | 0:28:46 | |
and some people will probably keep that for the rest of their lives. | 0:28:46 | 0:28:49 | |
Next year, I'm hoping to take on more. | 0:28:49 | 0:28:51 | |
And within three years, hopefully own the whole property outright. | 0:28:51 | 0:28:54 | |
How important is it for you to be a homeowner? | 0:28:54 | 0:28:56 | |
I just think it is really important. | 0:28:56 | 0:28:58 | |
It has made me able to put a stamp on my place. | 0:28:58 | 0:29:01 | |
I've got my personality in my apartment now. | 0:29:01 | 0:29:04 | |
And I'm not afraid to bring people back, you know, friends and family. | 0:29:04 | 0:29:07 | |
We get to relax in a nice place that I'm not embarrassed about. | 0:29:07 | 0:29:10 | |
Amy, the facts are, you've worked very hard, | 0:29:10 | 0:29:13 | |
you've been very dedicated, it has not been easy, you've got yourself | 0:29:13 | 0:29:16 | |
into a career path, you've got yourself onto the property ladder. | 0:29:16 | 0:29:19 | |
It is difficult, though, it is a lot of hard work, and you've just | 0:29:19 | 0:29:22 | |
got to keep going and have the determination to succeed. | 0:29:22 | 0:29:25 | |
I have lots of ideas for the future, and you've just got to go with it. | 0:29:25 | 0:29:29 | |
Hopefully, someone else you'll be shouting from the rooftops is how much you love your garden | 0:29:29 | 0:29:33 | |
-a little bit later on. -I hope so. | 0:29:33 | 0:29:34 | |
-Right, let's go get some bits on the shopping list. -OK. | 0:29:34 | 0:29:37 | |
Meanwhile, back at Danny's academy of roof gardening... | 0:29:38 | 0:29:41 | |
-Dan, can you help me with this screen, I need to off this up at the back? -Of course I can. | 0:29:41 | 0:29:44 | |
..AJ has bagged himself top marks with that | 0:29:44 | 0:29:47 | |
blinder of an idea, combining the second bench with the windbreak. | 0:29:47 | 0:29:51 | |
-I just thought we'd come and test this out. -Yeah. -Could do with a little test. -Yeah. | 0:29:55 | 0:29:59 | |
I'm tired. | 0:30:01 | 0:30:02 | |
DANNY AND AJ SNORE | 0:30:02 | 0:30:05 | |
-I don't know. -THEY LAUGH | 0:30:05 | 0:30:07 | |
-Right then, I tell you what... -Yes? | 0:30:07 | 0:30:09 | |
-Joking aside... -Joking aside. | 0:30:09 | 0:30:11 | |
..I'll show you a little bit of the surprise for this. | 0:30:11 | 0:30:14 | |
-Please. -We could actually do with Colin's help, as well. -Right, Colin. | 0:30:14 | 0:30:17 | |
-Because I want you to test... -Can you come over here, Colin? -Yep. | 0:30:17 | 0:30:21 | |
Can you pick it up with ease? | 0:30:21 | 0:30:22 | |
I tell you what, Colin, let me take this end. | 0:30:23 | 0:30:26 | |
-Do you know what... -I'll take this end. | 0:30:26 | 0:30:28 | |
..It is very hard to move, isn't it? It is hard to move. | 0:30:28 | 0:30:31 | |
Especially for a single girl and everything like that. | 0:30:31 | 0:30:34 | |
So, if you could just pick up this end up here slightly... | 0:30:34 | 0:30:38 | |
-and move it around, it would be a lot easier, wouldn't it? -Yeah. | 0:30:38 | 0:30:42 | |
-So my idea, piece de resistance... -Wheels. | 0:30:42 | 0:30:45 | |
-..wheels... -Da, da, da, da, da! -..are going to go on that end. | 0:30:45 | 0:30:48 | |
-IN HIGH-PITCHED VOICE -Pluto! Hello, Pluto. | 0:30:48 | 0:30:51 | |
HE WHISTLES | 0:30:51 | 0:30:52 | |
-IN HIGH-PITCHED VOICE -Pluto! Hello, Pluto! | 0:30:52 | 0:30:54 | |
I'll tighten that up in a minute with a spanner. | 0:30:58 | 0:31:00 | |
Oh. | 0:31:00 | 0:31:02 | |
-I'll get a spanner on that. -It is OK. | 0:31:02 | 0:31:05 | |
I have to put up with this all the time. If you stand over there and see now if it is straight. | 0:31:05 | 0:31:09 | |
Absolutely fantastic. | 0:31:09 | 0:31:11 | |
-Good work, AJ, that looks great. -AJ, it looks really good. | 0:31:12 | 0:31:16 | |
Time is marching on. With less than two hours left, | 0:31:16 | 0:31:18 | |
this garden is in desperate need of more greenery, | 0:31:18 | 0:31:21 | |
greenery that can cope with a novice gardener. | 0:31:21 | 0:31:24 | |
We've got some rosemary here. And they grow in any soil. | 0:31:25 | 0:31:28 | |
And they grow on the side of hills in the Mediterranean. | 0:31:28 | 0:31:31 | |
So, really, they will tolerate anything. And we've got some mint. | 0:31:31 | 0:31:35 | |
And we'll put the mint in one pot | 0:31:35 | 0:31:37 | |
and we'll put the rosemary in the other pot. | 0:31:37 | 0:31:39 | |
So, you know, this is really nigh on impossible to kill. | 0:31:39 | 0:31:43 | |
Novice gardeners do often put their herbs in together. | 0:31:43 | 0:31:46 | |
Not really knowing what the characteristics of them are. | 0:31:46 | 0:31:50 | |
I mean, most herbs are fine, but you've just got to be aware of, | 0:31:50 | 0:31:54 | |
you know, a herb like mint, because it is a thug | 0:31:54 | 0:31:58 | |
and it will spread. | 0:31:58 | 0:32:00 | |
So... And it will grow anywhere, it will come up in the cracks of your pavement, | 0:32:00 | 0:32:03 | |
if you're not careful. | 0:32:03 | 0:32:05 | |
So, you know, you keep your herbs, your mints, | 0:32:05 | 0:32:08 | |
make sure you keep it well contained. I mean, I can't stress that enough. | 0:32:08 | 0:32:12 | |
-Amy uses a lot of herbs in cooking. -Does she? -Yes. -Oh, brilliant. | 0:32:12 | 0:32:15 | |
So this, for her, is going to be, well, she's going to be blown away. | 0:32:15 | 0:32:18 | |
-Oh, is she? So she was thinking of doing this anyway. -She was. | 0:32:18 | 0:32:21 | |
We were only discussing it last night, | 0:32:21 | 0:32:23 | |
she was going to get some little pots and put her own herbs in. | 0:32:23 | 0:32:26 | |
-So, yes... -That's a stroke of luck, then. -Totally unexpected, totally. -Yeah. | 0:32:26 | 0:32:31 | |
-And it should fit as snug as a bug in a rug. -Yeah. | 0:32:31 | 0:32:35 | |
And it does. Hey, ho! | 0:32:35 | 0:32:37 | |
With Danny in charge of the foliage, Amy and I want to find other | 0:32:37 | 0:32:41 | |
low-maintenance means of decorating her terrace. | 0:32:41 | 0:32:44 | |
I've brought her to a vintage home and garden shop, | 0:32:44 | 0:32:47 | |
where upcycling is the order of the day. | 0:32:47 | 0:32:49 | |
-Lisa, there is so much to look at outside. -Always, always. | 0:32:51 | 0:32:55 | |
That's before we've even got in. This is Amy. | 0:32:55 | 0:32:57 | |
-Hi, nice to meet you. -Hi, nice to meet you. -Amy has a roof terrace. | 0:32:57 | 0:33:00 | |
We have a list, which is basically lanterns and candles. | 0:33:00 | 0:33:04 | |
-Fab. -Is there anything you can recommend for Amy that would look | 0:33:04 | 0:33:07 | |
-nice on a roof terrace? -We've got lights that you can have. Candles. | 0:33:07 | 0:33:12 | |
We've got some candles. Tea lights. | 0:33:12 | 0:33:15 | |
Little earthenware pots you can put candles in. | 0:33:15 | 0:33:18 | |
So, whatever your style is, we can incorporate. | 0:33:18 | 0:33:22 | |
Lisa, how much of what you do is about upcycling and recycling? | 0:33:22 | 0:33:25 | |
We do loads of upcycling. | 0:33:25 | 0:33:27 | |
We recycle crates, we recycle garden stuff, furniture, | 0:33:27 | 0:33:31 | |
so a massive proportion. | 0:33:31 | 0:33:33 | |
People want old now. Because it is quality. | 0:33:33 | 0:33:36 | |
But they want to upcycle it. | 0:33:36 | 0:33:38 | |
To make it modern. So... | 0:33:38 | 0:33:40 | |
I've always assumed this would be quite expensive to do, | 0:33:40 | 0:33:44 | |
sort of buying the furniture, then... Quite time-consuming to do it. | 0:33:44 | 0:33:47 | |
-It isn't, though. -OK. | 0:33:47 | 0:33:49 | |
You can go to your local, you know, recycling place, a dump, | 0:33:49 | 0:33:53 | |
charity shop, pick up furniture, | 0:33:53 | 0:33:55 | |
pick up old bits of garden stuff, paint them. | 0:33:55 | 0:33:58 | |
Distress them or not, so... And you can do it really cheaply. | 0:33:59 | 0:34:03 | |
A tin of paint costs under £20 and you can get so many pieces, | 0:34:03 | 0:34:08 | |
so don't worry that it's going to be expensive. | 0:34:08 | 0:34:11 | |
You wanted a space for entertaining. How important is lighting? | 0:34:11 | 0:34:15 | |
Lighting is really important | 0:34:15 | 0:34:16 | |
because there isn't any light, really, on my roof terrace, | 0:34:16 | 0:34:19 | |
so it would be quite nice for candles and lots of, sort of, | 0:34:19 | 0:34:24 | |
quite nice lighting. Not too harsh. | 0:34:24 | 0:34:27 | |
Candles would give you that ambient lighting, | 0:34:27 | 0:34:29 | |
so when you're there with friends, lighting is there | 0:34:29 | 0:34:32 | |
but it's not in your face, so glassware, painted glassware. | 0:34:32 | 0:34:37 | |
We do lovely lanterns you stick into pots. | 0:34:37 | 0:34:39 | |
So, you're on a roof, we can paint pots and stick the lanterns in. | 0:34:39 | 0:34:44 | |
Lead us to the lanterns. | 0:34:44 | 0:34:45 | |
I think, slowly, Amy is starting to be reassured | 0:34:47 | 0:34:49 | |
and believe that her outside space can be as exciting, | 0:34:49 | 0:34:54 | |
and interesting as her inside space. | 0:34:54 | 0:34:56 | |
Back at the garden, Amy's outside space is about to get a big lift | 0:34:57 | 0:35:01 | |
and another blast of colour with one of Danny's most novel ideas yet. | 0:35:01 | 0:35:05 | |
Here we go. | 0:35:05 | 0:35:07 | |
-Very intriguing. -It's wet room flooring. Made from vinyl. | 0:35:08 | 0:35:13 | |
-That is one hell of a colour. Just look at this. Wow! -Wow! -It's superb. | 0:35:13 | 0:35:19 | |
The reason why we've gone for the shower flooring, is it's nonslip, | 0:35:21 | 0:35:24 | |
so when you come out here, if it's been raining and stuff like that, | 0:35:24 | 0:35:27 | |
there's a bit of water left on it, you won't be slipping anywhere. | 0:35:27 | 0:35:30 | |
Nice and safe as well. | 0:35:30 | 0:35:31 | |
And the other great thing, is when she moves, | 0:35:31 | 0:35:33 | |
she can roll it up and take it with her. | 0:35:33 | 0:35:36 | |
That is awesome, yeah, oh, my gosh! | 0:35:36 | 0:35:38 | |
-It's like everything else here. It just packs up... -Pack it up. | 0:35:38 | 0:35:41 | |
-..and takes away. -Great. -Which is really good. | 0:35:41 | 0:35:44 | |
If we can just have someone standing on this. We'll lift this. | 0:35:44 | 0:35:49 | |
One to that corner and one, the other. | 0:35:49 | 0:35:51 | |
It's lovely, isn't it? | 0:35:53 | 0:35:55 | |
I would say it needs to come over a good six inches. | 0:35:55 | 0:35:58 | |
If you're going to have a middle with that... | 0:35:58 | 0:36:00 | |
If you've got the lamp there, centralise this with the lamp, | 0:36:00 | 0:36:03 | |
centralise that bench. | 0:36:03 | 0:36:05 | |
Can't we centralise it with the slabs? | 0:36:06 | 0:36:08 | |
So it's equal distance from that fourth slap as this one. | 0:36:10 | 0:36:13 | |
-See what I mean? -Whatever, whatever, Danny. | 0:36:13 | 0:36:16 | |
If you want to do it weirdly, then fine. | 0:36:16 | 0:36:20 | |
-We'll just roll it out first. -Roll it out, yeah. | 0:36:20 | 0:36:22 | |
There's a cup there. | 0:36:24 | 0:36:26 | |
-Made-to-measure. -Wow, there we go. | 0:36:30 | 0:36:33 | |
If you look far and far away, you can probably see the Eiffel Tower. | 0:36:33 | 0:36:36 | |
-Do you want to centralise it with that? -Now you're talking. | 0:36:36 | 0:36:41 | |
Still at the vintage garden shop, Amy and I are searching | 0:36:41 | 0:36:44 | |
for the light in an Aladdin's cave of upcycled wonders. | 0:36:44 | 0:36:47 | |
For somebody on a budget, let's make our own lanterns using glass jars. | 0:36:49 | 0:36:53 | |
So, we have these. | 0:36:53 | 0:36:56 | |
This is one that we've painted just to show people | 0:36:56 | 0:36:59 | |
and it's painted with chalk paint. It gives it a lovely texture. | 0:36:59 | 0:37:04 | |
You can distress it back, so you get the light reflecting through it | 0:37:04 | 0:37:08 | |
and it's really inexpensive. | 0:37:08 | 0:37:10 | |
You can put wire around them, hang them, as well, | 0:37:10 | 0:37:14 | |
so you've got them at different levels, different sizes and it just | 0:37:14 | 0:37:18 | |
gives you something unique, because nobody will have the same as you. | 0:37:18 | 0:37:22 | |
So, if you paint those, does the light still come through? | 0:37:22 | 0:37:24 | |
Yes, it does, and you can just put a tea light, | 0:37:24 | 0:37:27 | |
something like this into the bottom and that will give you | 0:37:27 | 0:37:31 | |
a beautiful light or you can put slightly larger pillar candles in. | 0:37:31 | 0:37:35 | |
-Right, so shall we get loads of these? -Yes. | 0:37:35 | 0:37:37 | |
You grab any more you want. | 0:37:37 | 0:37:39 | |
Let's get them to the counter. | 0:37:39 | 0:37:41 | |
Amy and I leave with armfuls of potential lanterns | 0:37:41 | 0:37:45 | |
which is just as well, | 0:37:45 | 0:37:46 | |
because dusk is now only an hour away and Danny and the team | 0:37:46 | 0:37:50 | |
are furiously fighting the clock, but will they finish in time? | 0:37:50 | 0:37:53 | |
PHONE RINGS | 0:37:53 | 0:37:56 | |
-Is that her back? Is Amy back? -Yes, Amy is back. | 0:37:56 | 0:38:00 | |
-Could you do me a favour? Could you stall her? -Yeah. | 0:38:01 | 0:38:04 | |
Take her shopping, take down the pub, taken to a club, do anything, | 0:38:04 | 0:38:08 | |
-just stall her. -I'll sort that out now. -Just do a U-turn. -OK. | 0:38:08 | 0:38:12 | |
Well stalled, Danny, but I'm still having a sneak preview | 0:38:12 | 0:38:15 | |
just as soon as you've finished planting up AJ's bench planters. | 0:38:15 | 0:38:19 | |
-Hello. Oh, my word! -Hello, Helen. | 0:38:21 | 0:38:26 | |
This is amazing. Can I sit here? | 0:38:26 | 0:38:29 | |
-Yeah, absolutely. -I love this space. I think this is great. | 0:38:29 | 0:38:33 | |
Oh, brilliant. | 0:38:33 | 0:38:34 | |
The one thing Amy said all day, is, | 0:38:34 | 0:38:36 | |
"Oh, I want to take the outside and the inside and merge them together, | 0:38:36 | 0:38:40 | |
"make it an extension." | 0:38:40 | 0:38:42 | |
-Oh, and the herbs. -Yeah. -Is she going to keep them alive? | 0:38:42 | 0:38:44 | |
-Are they Amy proof? -We hope so. | 0:38:44 | 0:38:48 | |
This rosemary grows in the Mediterranean | 0:38:48 | 0:38:50 | |
and it grows in any soil and it grows on the side of hills | 0:38:50 | 0:38:54 | |
and, you know, it gets battered by winds and is perfectly happy. | 0:38:54 | 0:38:58 | |
She's got to work quite hard to kill that. | 0:38:58 | 0:39:00 | |
She's got to work hard to kill that. | 0:39:00 | 0:39:02 | |
It does all right there, it should do a OK here. | 0:39:02 | 0:39:04 | |
I've brought a contribution. Amy picked them. | 0:39:04 | 0:39:07 | |
There are lots of different jars in here that will hopefully | 0:39:07 | 0:39:10 | |
work as lanterns, so would you like me to paint these? | 0:39:10 | 0:39:14 | |
-I've got another job for you, Helen. -Right. -That table over there. | 0:39:14 | 0:39:17 | |
-Can you paint a stripe on it for me? -I think I can manage that. | 0:39:17 | 0:39:21 | |
-Lead the way. -OK, over here. | 0:39:21 | 0:39:22 | |
Don't you trust me to paint outside the lines? | 0:39:22 | 0:39:25 | |
-So, this is Amy's existing table... -Yes. | 0:39:28 | 0:39:30 | |
-..that we're giving a new lease of life. -Absolutely. -OK. | 0:39:30 | 0:39:34 | |
-So this is another form of upcycling. -Which colour would you like? | 0:39:34 | 0:39:37 | |
Oh, I don't know. What do you reckon? What would you choose? | 0:39:37 | 0:39:40 | |
I think the blue is a bit more... Hello! | 0:39:40 | 0:39:43 | |
All right, we'll do the blue, then. | 0:39:43 | 0:39:45 | |
-And Amy is quite a... -"Hello" sort of girl. -Yes. -Brilliant. | 0:39:45 | 0:39:49 | |
-I'll catch up with you later. -Okey-doke. | 0:39:49 | 0:39:51 | |
This is a really cheap way to give an old table a new lease of life. | 0:39:51 | 0:39:57 | |
With a bit of luck, Amy will think this is a brand-new table. | 0:39:57 | 0:40:00 | |
-These are really cool, aren't they? -They're brilliant. | 0:40:00 | 0:40:03 | |
I think she's chosen very well. Oh, I like this. That's good. | 0:40:03 | 0:40:07 | |
-That kind of goes in with the theme that we've got going on. -That's nice. | 0:40:07 | 0:40:10 | |
That's great, absolutely brilliant. | 0:40:12 | 0:40:14 | |
-Would you like to paint some of these? -Yes. | 0:40:14 | 0:40:17 | |
I thought, perhaps, | 0:40:17 | 0:40:19 | |
you could paint these the other colour that we've got. | 0:40:19 | 0:40:22 | |
With daylight fading, Amy's pots still need to be positioned. | 0:40:22 | 0:40:26 | |
And when it's finally time to down tools, | 0:40:32 | 0:40:34 | |
the terrace has been completely transformed. | 0:40:34 | 0:40:37 | |
This morning, Amy's garden wasn't a garden at all, | 0:40:39 | 0:40:42 | |
just a bare paved box, a few sad containers and a rather ugly | 0:40:42 | 0:40:46 | |
storage box, all at the mercy of a punishing easterly wind. | 0:40:46 | 0:40:51 | |
In only one day, it's undergone a miraculous rebirth | 0:40:51 | 0:40:54 | |
at the hands of Danny and the team. | 0:40:54 | 0:40:56 | |
Amy was bound by the terms of her lease with no permanent | 0:40:58 | 0:41:01 | |
alterations allowed. | 0:41:01 | 0:41:02 | |
She was at a loss as to where to start. | 0:41:02 | 0:41:05 | |
Now, thanks to a movable design with some inventive planting | 0:41:05 | 0:41:08 | |
and furnishing, it's a chic and contemporary urban retreat | 0:41:08 | 0:41:12 | |
to be proud of. | 0:41:12 | 0:41:14 | |
Instead of lots of little mismatched containers, | 0:41:14 | 0:41:16 | |
the use of a few dramatic feature plants in citrus-bright pots | 0:41:16 | 0:41:21 | |
makes a striking impact. | 0:41:21 | 0:41:23 | |
Combining bespoke storage space with garden furniture is | 0:41:24 | 0:41:27 | |
the perfect solution for small spaces | 0:41:27 | 0:41:29 | |
and the addition of the screen gives a gorgeous but functional way | 0:41:29 | 0:41:33 | |
to defuse those draughts. | 0:41:33 | 0:41:35 | |
Herbs grown in containers are both handy and hardy for a city | 0:41:36 | 0:41:40 | |
terrace and they might just survive Amy's newfound gusto for gardening. | 0:41:40 | 0:41:45 | |
The dull and dirty slabs have been spruced up | 0:41:45 | 0:41:48 | |
and Danny's ingenious use of this eye-catching vinyl bathroom | 0:41:48 | 0:41:52 | |
flooring brings the whole space together. | 0:41:52 | 0:41:54 | |
By bringing indoor ideas outside, | 0:42:01 | 0:42:04 | |
Danny has not only created a colourful, stylish roof terrace | 0:42:04 | 0:42:07 | |
with an abundance of character, he's also given Amy a portable | 0:42:07 | 0:42:11 | |
garden that can move with her wherever her life takes her next. | 0:42:11 | 0:42:15 | |
It only remains to be seen if this design gets top marks from teacher. | 0:42:15 | 0:42:19 | |
-Oh, my God! -Come right in. | 0:42:20 | 0:42:23 | |
This is your new garden. What do you think? | 0:42:23 | 0:42:28 | |
It's just bright and just lovely. Really, really nice. | 0:42:28 | 0:42:33 | |
I didn't imagine it to be anything like this and it's just brilliant. | 0:42:34 | 0:42:38 | |
It's beautiful. | 0:42:38 | 0:42:40 | |
It matches the house and it's got every single | 0:42:40 | 0:42:43 | |
colour that's in my house from, like, the greens, | 0:42:43 | 0:42:47 | |
the blues, the pink. I love it. I can't stop smiling. | 0:42:47 | 0:42:51 | |
I just didn't imagine it to be this nice. Loving the pots. | 0:42:51 | 0:42:56 | |
I never would have been... Never would have thought about big pots. | 0:42:58 | 0:43:02 | |
I've always gone for lots of little pots, when, actually, just five | 0:43:02 | 0:43:05 | |
-bright pots really does make this so much nicer and brighter. -Like it? | 0:43:05 | 0:43:11 | |
-I love this. That's awesome. -Stops the wind. | 0:43:11 | 0:43:14 | |
-It's a seat, stops the wind. -Storage. | 0:43:14 | 0:43:18 | |
-Your dad might put a few of his drinks in there. -Thank you. | 0:43:19 | 0:43:24 | |
-Thank you so much. -My pleasure. | 0:43:27 | 0:43:29 | |
And look, you've got your herbs. | 0:43:29 | 0:43:32 | |
Yes! | 0:43:32 | 0:43:34 | |
We've been debating whether they're Amy-proof or not. | 0:43:35 | 0:43:38 | |
They are, they've got to be. | 0:43:38 | 0:43:40 | |
-They have to be. -Water, every week. -Every week? -Once a week. | 0:43:40 | 0:43:44 | |
She's changed. | 0:43:44 | 0:43:45 | |
She was already talking earlier today about what else she's | 0:43:45 | 0:43:48 | |
-going to grow in here. You've started a new gardener. -Oh, great. | 0:43:48 | 0:43:51 | |
-This will give you a great start, won't it? -It's just fantastic. | 0:43:51 | 0:43:54 | |
-Mum and Dad have worked hard. -Thank you, as well. | 0:43:54 | 0:43:57 | |
-I'm just glad you like it. -Thank you. | 0:43:59 | 0:44:02 | |
Danny, another job well done. | 0:44:02 | 0:44:05 | |
-Thank you. -Well done, Amy. Enjoy your new instant garden. -I will. | 0:44:05 | 0:44:09 | |
Thank you very much. | 0:44:09 | 0:44:10 | |
Amy wanted an easy-maintenance roof garden with character, | 0:44:10 | 0:44:13 | |
where she could wind down after a hard day's work. | 0:44:13 | 0:44:16 | |
With this design, Danny and the team have created | 0:44:16 | 0:44:19 | |
a roll-up-and-go removable wonder, | 0:44:19 | 0:44:21 | |
bursting with colour, where this young | 0:44:21 | 0:44:23 | |
teacher can really relish her free time. | 0:44:23 | 0:44:26 | |
Join us next time for another instant garden. | 0:44:26 | 0:44:29 |