Millboard decking garden makeover in Harefield

Harefield

A new Millboard deck, planted borders and integrated lighting transformed this Harefield garden into a space for the homeowners and their much-loved pets.

Steve Richardson and Rees De Liege combine practical landscaping experience with an eye for the details that make a garden work. At S&R Landscapes, they design and professionally landscape outdoor spaces around the people who use them.

This project called for that same careful consideration. Guinea pigs, rabbits and George the tortoise all lived in the garden, so the layout needed to accommodate their space alongside seating, planting and everyday access.

A Garden Planned Around Everyday Life

Replacing the deteriorating pine deck was the priority. The homeowners also wanted to address the tired artificial lawn, retain their favourite water feature and introduce planting along both sides of the garden.

Irrigation was included for the new planted areas, helping make watering more manageable. The brief brought together the practical needs of the household with the opportunity to create a brighter, more inviting garden.

Clearing the Space and Preparing the Ground

A removable fence panel provided access from the car park behind the garden, allowing an excavator to reach the working area. Three eight-yard skips of waste were cleared as the ground was prepared for the new layout.

The preparation made room for the planned changes in level. For Steve and Rees, organising access and setting out the landscaping carefully are essential parts of achieving a well-finished garden.

Millboard Decking with Integrated Lighting

After comparing samples and other decking options, the homeowners chose Millboard Enhanced Grain in Limed Oak. Its light colour and wood-grain texture gave the garden a fresh appearance.

A change in level divided the space, creating an area for George the tortoise apart from the other half of the garden. The step became part of the overall layout, connecting the different areas while helping define their uses.

A concealed LED strip beneath the step added a distinctive evening detail. Remote control brought the strip lighting, planter spotlights, water feature and its lights together, making the garden’s features straightforward to operate.

Planting That Softens the Practical Features

The animal hutches were moved to the rear left corner, where the shed had previously stood. The shed was relocated to the opposite corner, making better use of the available space.

The homeowners planted purple cranesbill geraniums and Athyrium ferns above the hutches, helping them blend into the surrounding greenery. New planted areas along the garden boundaries softened the edges and balanced the decking.

The result shows how thoughtful landscaping can bring practical features, planting and outdoor living together. These are the details Steve and Rees consider when helping you make the most of your garden.

Project Details

Location: Harefield.
Completed: 2021.
Decking: Millboard Enhanced Grain in Limed Oak.
Materials supplier: Country Supplies.
Features: Integrated lighting, planted borders, irrigation and a retained water feature.

Planning a garden makeover in Harefield? Steve Richardson and Rees De Liege can help you bring decking, planting and practical landscaping together in a garden that suits your household.

Talk to Steve and Rees about your garden.

Garden design: Karl Harrison.

Our approach

We believe a well-designed garden should be a pleasure to live in, thoughtfully built and made to last.

For us, good design starts with listening. We take time to understand how you want to use your garden, what matters to you and the character of your home.

We bring the same care to construction as we do to design. From the preparation beneath a patio to the finishing details around a border, each part contributes to the quality of the whole garden.

We favour materials suited to their purpose and planting that can thrive in its surroundings. We consider how your garden will mature and how much maintenance you want, creating a space you can enjoy for years to come.

Steve & Rees

Throughout the process he and his team have worked tirelessly to ensure we received the best design, consideration and implementation of our brief.

As a landscaper, he is a professional and did a brilliant job and completed when he said he would in a calm and measured way.

Steve and Rees worked hard in all weathers, to create a beautiful garden for us. I would highly recommend Karl and his team to create some magical for you, and to do it really well.

Rees came up with an imaginative design that has brought interest, variety and colour. The landscaping Steve, Rees and their team did was excellent and they were a pleasure to work with too.

Steve and his team were skilled and friendly, and the results were amazing. They were professional and always left things tidy. Would highly recommend.

Fast efficient service from a passionate professional who puts his competitors to shame. Excellent work at reasonable prices. You’d be mad not to use him.

What a professional garden landscape artist does is give you something that you would never do yourself. Highly recommended.

All the team were exceptionally professional, hardworking, polite and tidy. We are thrilled with the results and thoroughly recommend this business.

I could not have wished for better. I would recommend Rees, Steve and their team to you all. I could not fault them in any way and it was an absolute pleasure to work with them.

Very efficient team, hard workers and really nice people too! Great job with a really uniform finish on a complex-shaped deck. Neat workers, clearing up each evening, and finally leaving my garden and garage in perfect order.

From start to finish-excellent service and he has transformed my garden. I’m now in love with my garden and will be spending many happy hours out there.Before and After pictures - excellent transformation

Very professional, knowledgeable, and friendly. Great design and helpful discussions, making sure we got the best results. Would not hesitate to recommend.

Steve & Rees did an excellent job. From initial design considerations to preparation and installation. The team worked well and on time to transform our garden with Trex decking.

See how we can help you...

We adapt to the needs of every client, fluent in a combination of traditional techniques ensuring the hard landscaping works in harmony with the soft planting, garden art and style in your garden.