Dudley is hilly, and its older terraces and twentieth century estates often have gardens that slope or step up and down. In some places the ground is wooded and limestone. That makes gardens beautiful but also awkward to maintain, so we build low maintenance gardens that suit the land, with terraces, steps, paving, gravel and robust planting.
We start by looking at the levels, the soil and how you use the garden, then agree a plan that makes the space easier to enjoy and far less trouble to look after. Nothing is built until you are happy with it.
A lawn on a slope is awkward to mow and uncomfortable to sit on, so we often create flat areas by cutting into the bank and holding it with sleepers, blocks or walling. A patio on the first level, steps up to a second terrace and planted banks between them make a garden that is easy to move around, easy to furnish and quick to tidy.
Older terraced homes in Dudley may have smaller, narrower gardens, where a good surface and a few raised beds do most of the work. Where the ground is rocky or limestone, we choose planting that copes with thin, free-draining soil and avoids anything that needs heavy feeding or watering. Hardy evergreens and rugged ground cover suit it well. That keeps time spent on upkeep to a minimum.
On sloping ground, water is always trying to go somewhere, so we design with it in mind. Falls direct rain away from the house and patios, bases under paving and gravel are free-draining, and retaining edges hold everything where it should be. A weed-suppressing membrane keeps gravel and mulch clean, so you are not picking out weeds each spring. The surface stays smart with just an occasional sweep.
Planting in a Dudley garden needs to be resilient. We use low evergreen shrubs, ground cover that covers bare bank, and perennials that return each year without staking. Raised beds are useful on awkward ground, creating flat growing space, and a patch of artificial or easy-care lawn on a levelled area gives children somewhere to play without a mower. Lighting on the steps makes the garden safer once the evenings draw in.
We visit, look at the levels and drainage and give you plain advice on what is practical. Many Dudley customers start with the steps and a patio, then add planting once the structure is in and settled. We also cover Netherton and Sedgley, so if you are nearby, ask us to come and see the garden. We keep the advice plain.
Based in Hall Green, so we are never far from the gardens we work in.
We look at the job before we price it, so you know what is involved.
Branches, clippings and rubbish from our jobs are cleared and the garden left tidy.
Call, or send photos on WhatsApp, and we will come back to you.
From our base in Hall Green we work across Birmingham, the Black Country, Solihull and parts of Worcestershire. Choose your area.
Yes. We can excavate into the slope and hold the ground with retaining edges to form a level patio, then link it to other levels with steps. It gives you a firm, flat place for furniture and makes the rest of the garden easier to manage.
Tough, drought-tolerant evergreens, low shrubs and hardy ground cover cope well. We choose plants suited to free-draining ground and avoid anything demanding rich soil or regular watering. Mulch and a membrane help keep weeds out and keep the soil from drying too fast.
Not if it is designed properly. Terraces replace one awkward slope with several easy surfaces, and banks are planted with ground cover rather than grass. Steps and paths make access simple, so jobs such as sweeping or trimming take only a short time.
Tell us what needs doing and where. We will get back to you to arrange a visit and a free, no-obligation quote. Photos sent on WhatsApp help.
