Are you planning garden landscaping in Aylesbury?
Moving into a new home gives you plenty to think about, and the garden is often one of the first spaces you want to make your own.
For this couple in Aylesbury, the brief was straightforward: improve privacy, establish a lawn that would grow well, and create a patio for relaxing and enjoying a barbecue. They wanted a simple, welcoming garden with quality materials and careful workmanship.
At Steve and Rees Landscapes, we brought those priorities together with a natural stone terrace, freshly prepared lawn and planting chosen for the conditions around the garden.
Giving the new lawn a proper start
We began by stripping the existing lawn, removing the waste and excavating the soil to establish the new shape and levels.
We then brought in seven tonnes of growing medium suitable for the lawn. This preparation allowed us to bring the finished lawn into line with the terrace and create a neat transition between the two spaces.
The resulting layout keeps the centre of the garden open, with a generous lawn framed by planting. Straight edges give it a tidy appearance and make routine mowing easier.
A Mountain Mist natural stone patio
The clients chose Mountain Mist natural stone paving with a flame-textured finish. Its subtle grey tones sit comfortably alongside the lawn, planting and dark boundary fencing.
The rectangular paving creates a calm, ordered pattern, while the stone’s texture adds interest across the terrace. We finished the joints with Fugabella No. 6, giving each slab a clear outline without overwhelming the natural variation in the stone.
As Rees put it:
“I really love the texture of this paving; it’s the perfect pointing that brings it to life.”
The terrace provides space close to the house for outdoor seating, barbecuing and everyday use, with a clear view across the garden.
Careful preparation beneath the paving
The finished surface is only part of a patio installation. The ground beneath it needs just as much consideration.
We used a dynamic cone penetrometer to assess ground resistance and inform the substructure design. The construction included a non-woven geotextile separator, compacted MOT Type 1 aggregate and biaxial geogrid reinforcement.
We laid the paving on a full-contact mortar bed using a 4:1 sharp sand and cement mix, with falls formed to allow surface water to drain.
Although these elements disappear beneath the paving, they represent a substantial part of the work involved in creating the terrace.
Planting shaped around the clients’ preferences
Our initial planting ideas included deeper borders and areas extending into the garden. After discussing the options, the clients chose a simpler arrangement that preserved more open lawn.
We adapted the planting accordingly, keeping the borders around the perimeter and introducing Photinia × fraseri along the rear boundary. These plants provide the beginnings of a screen that can develop as the garden matures.
The two sides of the garden needed different approaches. The left receives considerably more shade, so we selected planting suited to those conditions. The sunnier right side offered opportunities for flowering plants and more seasonal colour.
Against the dark fencing, the foliage and flowers stand out clearly, softening the boundaries while keeping the overall layout uncluttered.
A garden ready to enjoy
The completed garden brings together everything the clients asked for: a new lawn, a natural stone terrace and planting that will gradually provide greater privacy.
Their feedback was particularly rewarding:
“The guys completed in the time they said they would. Superb job and garden looks great.
“I sent them away with a small gift each. Hopefully they appreciate how much we appreciated their professionalism and approach throughout the project.
“I would like to shake your hand once more for a job really well done.”
— Mr C H
That appreciation means a great deal to the team. Alongside the finished garden, we want our clients to remember clear communication, considerate working and a job completed as agreed.
