HGTV Landscaper's Challenge

Kathy and Lennie's Bayside Garden

In the spring of 2006, Greener Gardens was selected to participate on HGTV’s Landscapers Challenge and won the challenge! Facing off against two other talented designers, Nancy designed a garden that wowed the homeowners. The Greener Garden’s transformation took the space from drab to fab with everything from lush garden beds to an amazing outdoor kitchen.

Before: A sea of pea gravel	After: A welcoming front entrance
Click to enlarge

The Challenge

The show’s name held true, as the challenges were many. Covered with flagstone pavers and 12” of pea gravel, the ~3500 square foot outdoor space (the entire property is only 7500 square feet) also had multiple fences that divided the area and obscured the lovely Chesapeake Bay view. This small space also housed a large, dangerously positioned 30 cubic yard fish pond.

The homeowners love to entertain and spend much of their time outdoors so they wanted a generously proportioned patio and dreamt of an outdoor kitchen. They also requested a hot tub for relaxation, the ambiance of the tropics and an unobstructed view of the Chesapeake Bay. Nancy’s design fulfilled all these wishes and maximized the given space, creating a series of functional outdoor rooms intimate enough for a few guests, yet expandable for larger crowds.

Before: Large pond obstructing Bay view	After: The outdoor kitchen of their dreams.

Zoning and Permitting

Zoning and permitting created additional challenges for the project’s implementation. Being in the critical area of the Chesapeake Bay, the total amount of impervious surface was limited to 25% of the property. The existing property had been grossly over built to where 98% of the property was considered to be impervious surface. In order for the permit office to authorize the implementation of the new design, we reduced the impervious surface area by 30%. It was also required that a good proportion of the plants be Maryland natives, which limited selection for a tropical theme but added a fun challenge for plant selection.

Before: An unplantable front yard	After: Our signature cedar arbor and newly planted garden

Crafting the Garden Structures

The work was long and hard, but in the end, the team and the client were completely satisfied. After a week of demolition, challenged by 12-15 inches of excessive rainfall, Pierre and the team crafted the garden structures. Attention to detail was given to all of the elements:

• bi-level outdoor kitchen
• large steps framing the bay’s view
• irregular bluestone walkway [leading to]
• newly created front door porch
• boulder-sized stepping stone steps [adjoining]
• recycled bluestone terrace
• cedar fence, cedar arbor and privacy fence detail

Draining the pond

Is this one big enough? Building the outdoor kitchen

The Plants

With the garden structures complete, it was now time for the plants! Being an environmentally friendly company, Greener Gardens strives to use native plants. By combining native plants and exotic tropical plants with contrasting textures and bold leaves, we were able to create the tropical theme desired by the homeowners. We created lush beds of Bayberry, Catmint, Switch Grass, Rugosa Roses and Swamp Hibiscus. Hardy Bananas and flowering Crepe Myrtles were also combined with the mature Hostas preserved from the clients’ previous garden. The Tropical Paradise was complete! All of the challenges had been met with success and the homeowners were more than happy with their new outdoor living space.

Progress, the pond filled	After: Entertainment time
Before: small enclosed front porch	After: A welcoming front porch

Press

Read more about our HGTV’s Landscapers Challenge experience at:

• American Nurseryman May 2007 Issue