GARDEN FEATURE ON A BUDGET 🌿 You don’t always need a massive garden budget to make a big difference to your outdoor space. Sometimes the smartest approach is to pick one area of the garden and concentrate your budget where it will have the most impact. A relatively small amount of walling could be used to create a raised planting bed, built-in garden seating, a BBQ or outdoor cooking area, a feature wall, a change of level, a focal point or even a simple water feature. Rather than trying to change the entire garden at once, think about the one feature that could make the biggest difference to how the space looks and how you actually use it. And if you have some basic DIY or self-build skills, there may be parts of the project you can tackle yourself. Doing some of the work yourself can help keep the overall garden budget under control and allow you to put more of your money into the materials and features that really matter. The materials featured in this video can be picked up from RDC Paving in Clondalkin, Dublin, Ireland. At GreenTouch Outdoor Advisory, we provide independent outdoor and garden consultancy for homeowners across Ireland. We help people make better decisions about their gardens and outdoor spaces before committing to expensive work. That can include advice around: Garden layouts and how to use the available space Patios and paving Garden walling Raised beds and planters Garden seating areas BBQ and outdoor cooking areas Outdoor dining and entertaining spaces Garden rooms and covered outdoor areas Fencing and boundaries Privacy and screening Planting and planting schemes Trees, hedging and shrubs Low-maintenance gardens Drainage and wet gardens Heavy clay soils Sloping gardens and changes of level Paths and access Accessible and wheelchair-friendly gardens Driveways and entrances Permeable paving and surfaces Material selection Reusing existing paving and garden materials Garden renovation and improvement Self-build garden projects DIY garden projects New-build homes and gardens Home renovations and extensions Outdoor lighting considerations Outdoor living Garden features Landscape construction decisions Getting better value from your landscaping budget Whether you’re working on a new-build home, self-build project, existing garden, rural property, urban garden or simply trying to improve one small part of your outdoor space, good decisions at the beginning can save a lot of wasted money later. You don't necessarily need the most expensive materials. You don't necessarily need to replace everything that's already there. And you certainly don't need to tackle the whole garden at once. Sometimes one properly considered feature is enough to completely change an outdoor space. GreenTouch Outdoor Advisory works with homeowners through video consultations and on-site garden and outdoor consultations across Ireland. Our approach is practical: look at what you already have, understand what you're trying to achieve, identify where your budget will have the greatest impact and make informed decisions before the spending starts. After more than 25 years working in landscaping and outdoor spaces, one lesson comes up again and again: Planning where you spend the money is just as important as how much money you spend. Think before you spend. Follow and subscribe for more practical advice on gardens, landscaping, planting, paving, outdoor living, self-build projects and getting better value from your outdoor space. GreenTouch Outdoor Advisory Helping you make better outdoor decisions. #Garden #Gardening #GardenIdeas #GardenInspiration #GardenDesign #GardenTips #GardenAdvice #GardenOnABudget #BudgetGarden #DIYGarden #DIY #DIYProjects #SelfBuild #SelfBuildIreland #IrishSelfBuild #HomeBuild #NewBuild #NewBuildIreland #HomeImprovement #HomeRenovation #IrishHomes #IrishGardens #Ireland #Dublin #Landscaping #Landscape #LandscapeDesign #LandscapingIreland #IrishLandscaping #GardenLandscaping #OutdoorLiving #OutdoorSpaces #OutdoorDesign #GardenMakeover #GardenRenovation #GardenTransformation #GardenFeature #RaisedBeds #RaisedPlanters #GardenWall #GardenWalling #GardenSeating #BuiltInSeating #BBQArea #OutdoorKitchen #OutdoorDining #Patio #PatioIdeas #Paving #PavingIdeas #PavingIreland #RDCPaving #Clondalkin #DublinIreland #Fencing #GardenFencing #GardenBoundary #PrivacyScreening #GardenPrivacy #Planting #GardenPlanting #PlantingDesign #Trees #Hedging #LowMaintenanceGarden #Drainage #GardenDrainage #ClaySoil #SlopingGarden #AccessibleGarden #WheelchairAccessible #Driveway #PermeablePaving #GardenMaterials #BuildingMaterials #Reuse #SustainableGarden #GardenRoom #OutdoorRoom #HomeAndGarden #IrishHome #IrishProperty #Homeowners #GardenConsultation #GardenConsultant #OutdoorConsultancy #OutdoorAdvisory #GreenTouchOutdoorAdvisory #ThinkBeforeYouSpend

Permeable resin-bound surfaces — where does all that water actually go? 💧 I’m down at RDC Paving Centre in Clondalkin, Dublin, Ireland taking a look at permeable resin-bound surfacing and putting it to a very simple test — a bucket of water straight onto the surface. With a correctly designed permeable system, water passes down through the resin-bound surface rather than simply running across it. But the finished surface is only one part of the story. For a permeable resin-bound system to work properly, what happens underneath the finished surface matters too. The base, build-up, drainage and overall specification all need to be appropriate for the system being installed. We’ll get into much more of that in another video, including the aggregate, grading, build-up and some of the differences people need to understand when looking at resin surfacing. Resin-bound surfacing can provide a clean, seamless finish while allowing water to pass through when installed as part of a suitable permeable system. It can be used across a wide range of residential and commercial projects, including driveways, garden and outdoor areas, paths and pedestrian areas, apartment developments, hotels, shopping centres, commercial developments and larger communal outdoor spaces. RDC can supply the materials and also offer a supply-and-fit service for residential and commercial projects. This first video isn't about getting buried in all the technical details. I simply wanted to show you what a permeable resin-bound surface actually looks like when you put a serious amount of water onto it. And yes — pouring the water onto it was far more satisfying than it should have been! Plenty more practical outdoor advice and more from RDC to come. Think before you spend. #GreenTouch #GreenTouchOutdoorAdvisory #ThinkBeforeYouSpend #RDC #RDCPaving #PermeableResin #PermeableResinSurfaces #ResinBound #ResinBoundSurfacing #ResinBoundDriveway #ResinDriveway #ResinPaving #PermeablePaving #PermeableSurface #PermeableDriveway #Driveway #DrivewayIdeas #DrivewayDesign #DrivewayInspiration #Paving #PavingIdeas #PavingDesign #PavingContractor #PavingSystems #HardLandscaping #Hardscape #HardscapeDesign #Landscaping #Landscaper #LandscapeContractor #LandscapeConstruction #LandscapeDesign #GardenDesign #GardenIdeas #GardenInspiration #GardenMakeover #OutdoorLiving #OutdoorSpaces #OutdoorDesign #HomeImprovement #HomeImprovements #HomeRenovation #HomeRenovations #Renovation #RenovationIdeas #DIY #DIYProjects #DIYHomeImprovement #Property #PropertyDevelopment #PropertyDeveloper #RealEstate #RealEstateDevelopment #Construction #ConstructionIndustry #ConstructionLife #Contractor #Contractors #Builder #Builders #Building #BuildingContractor #Developer #Developers #CivilEngineering #Groundworks #Drainage #SustainableDrainage #SUDS #SurfaceWater #WaterManagement #Stormwater #DrainageSolutions #ConstructionMaterials #BuildingMaterials #LandscapeMaterials #PavingMaterials #DrivewayContractor #CommercialLandscaping #ResidentialLandscaping #CommercialConstruction #ResidentialConstruction #PropertyIreland #ConstructionIreland #LandscapingIreland #GardenDesignIreland #IrishHomes #IrishProperty #IrishConstruction #Ireland #Dublin #DublinIreland #Clondalkin #UK #UKConstruction #UKLandscaping #UKHomes #Europe #EuropeanConstruction #USA #America #USConstruction #USLandscaping #Homeowners #NewBuild #NewBuildHome #SelfBuild #SelfBuildIreland #Architect #Architects #Architecture #LandscapeArchitecture #PropertyRenovation #ExteriorDesign #ExteriorRenovation #OutdoorRenovation #GardenAdvice #PracticalAdvice #HomeAdvice #BuildingAdvice #ConstructionTips #LandscapingTips #GardenTips #DrivewayInspiration #OutdoorInspiration #ResinBoundAggregate #ResinBoundSystem #ResinSurfacing #ResinBoundPaving #PermeableSystems #PorousPaving #WaterPermeable #SustainableLandscaping #SustainableConstruction #MaterialInnovation #ModernLandscaping #ModernHomes #ModernGarden #ModernDriveway #HomeAndGarden #GardenTransformation #PropertyImprovement #KerbAppeal #CurbAppeal #Shorts #YouTubeShorts

WHEELCHAIR FRIENDLY GARDEN | Accessible & Inclusive Garden Design Wheelchair accessibility is something we expect to see considered in public spaces, but when it comes to our own gardens and outdoor spaces, it can sometimes be overlooked. For this particular coastal garden, wheelchair accessibility needs to be an integral part of the design from the very beginning. But that doesn't mean the garden needs to feel clinical or that we have to compromise on planting, colour or the overall look of the space. At the moment, a large section of this garden simply isn't being used. It's an exposed coastal site with a lot of wind, so the aim is to turn that unused lawn into somewhere the whole family can actually enjoy. We're going to reuse natural stone paving that has already been lifted elsewhere in the garden to create a wide, wheelchair-accessible path leading across the lawn to a new barbecue and entertaining area. Within the new space, we'll introduce a built-in floating bench alongside a table specifically designed so an electric wheelchair can comfortably fit underneath. This allows the wheelchair user to sit naturally at the same table alongside everyone else, rather than having accessibility added as an afterthought. There'll also be space for a barbecue, seating and entertaining — somewhere for the family to sit, eat, relax and spend time together. Because this is such an exposed coastal location, we'll introduce a number of ornamental multi-stem trees around the space. These will help filter some of the wind and create a greater sense of shelter while also giving the new entertaining area structure and visual interest. And accessibility certainly doesn't mean giving up on planting. We can still have plenty of colour, texture and seasonal interest using low-maintenance planting. It's about choosing the right plants for the right location and creating something that looks good without becoming unnecessarily demanding to maintain. Good garden design should consider the people who are actually going to use the space. In this case, we're taking an exposed and underused part of the garden and creating a practical, attractive and inclusive outdoor space that can be enjoyed by everyone in the family. Think before you spend and follow for more practical outdoor and garden design ideas. #WheelchairFriendlyGarden #WheelchairAccessible #AccessibleGarden #AccessibleDesign #InclusiveDesign #InclusiveGarden #GardenAccessibility #GardenDesign #GardenIdeas #OutdoorLiving #OutdoorDesign #GardenInspiration #CoastalGarden #CoastalGardening #LowMaintenanceGarden #LowMaintenancePlanting #GardenPlanting #MultiStemTrees #BBQArea #OutdoorDining #OutdoorEntertaining #IrishGardens #IrishGardenDesign #Ireland #GreenTouch #GreenTouchOutdoorAdvisory #BarryMurphy #BarryMurphyOutdoorAdvisor

Simple outdoor ideas from Cork City, Ireland. I popped into Cork City before an outdoor consultation and had a look at this @corkcitycouncil project on St Patrick’s Street, with the planting carried out by @pavillionballygarvan. What works so well here is the combination of simple design and strong planting. The raised planters have a rich red powder-coated finish, with hardwood timber seating incorporated directly into them. Then you have the planting softening what would otherwise be a very hard urban space. Hydrangea ‘Limelight’, Nepeta, Salvias, ornamental grasses, silver birch trees and seasonal colour all work together to create interest, structure and movement. The big takeaway is that you don’t need to copy the scale or the finish. You can bring the same thinking into your own outdoor space with a raised planter, built-in seating, a simple tree canopy and repeated groups of plants. Sometimes the best garden inspiration doesn’t come from another garden at all. Look around your towns and cities. There are ideas everywhere. Think before you spend. #GardenDesign #OutdoorIdeas #CorkCity #UrbanGreening #GardenInspiration #IrishGardens #PlantingDesign