Garden Rescue 2025 episode 1 - Twickenham
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00The Garden Rescue Team are on a mission to make garden dreams come true.
00:11Charlie Dimmock, Lee Burkhill, Flo Hedlum and Chris Hull are here to answer your gardening emergencies.
00:29Each week, two of our designers will go head-to-head.
00:47And whichever designer loses, helps the winner build the garden.
00:52Good idea. Did you get that on camera? Lee said good idea, Charlie. Amazing.
00:57Turning garden dreams... Open your eyes. I'm so overwhelmed.
01:02...into reality. That is amazing.
01:14Today, the team are tackling a garden in Twickenham.
01:18I'm Mick. I'm Jill. Garden Rescue, this is our dishevelled garden.
01:28We moved here in 2007. We bought this house because of the parking.
01:33We've got lots of cars and Mick likes cars.
01:38Mick has a passion for 1950s Americana, cars in particular.
01:43In fact, he has an all-round passion for 1950s Americana.
01:47I love the 50s scene. I probably start with Elvis, love Elvis Presley.
01:53But the thing I've really got into is jive.
01:58I'm part of the Surrey Jive troupe and we perform at shows and events.
02:03I'm just hooked on the music and the dancing. I just want to be able to express myself to the music that I enjoy.
02:10Whenever Mick likes something, he has to do it wholeheartedly.
02:15I think he's really good at it. I do. Right.
02:20It does look a mess.
02:23One thing neither Jill nor Mick feel good about currently, however, is their garden.
02:29We've got the side patio area done nicely. We've got the decking done nicely and now we're left with this.
02:39It needs a lot of work done to it. It's very sad.
02:42It probably needs rescuing by someone.
02:45We had it looking nice at one time. It was a really friendly family garden and we did entertain a lot, didn't we?
02:51We had barbecues and everything. But once we moved the shed, dug up the foundations, it just ruined the garden.
03:00This is where the shed used to be and this is where the base of the shed used to be, which was all dug up.
03:06And now look at it. Weeds.
03:10It is a mess.
03:12At the moment, we've just lost where to start to actually know what to put there.
03:17You know, that's the thing, isn't it? Knowing what to put in a garden.
03:21This massive slab of concrete was a base for a koi pond, which we had to get rid of.
03:26We used to just put a table and chairs on it and hide it.
03:30That's all we done, sat on it. I think the grandkids swam in it as well.
03:33They did.
03:34I'm ashamed of my garden at the moment. It's just not nice enough to want people to come in and sit out there.
03:40With a filled-in pond, derelict turf and no flowers nor plants in sight, their garden doesn't reflect Jill or Mick's personality.
03:49We just like to have all our friends and family and just really enjoy the garden and make the most of it.
03:57Yeah, lost its love, hasn't it?
03:59Hoping to bring back some sparkle to Mick and Jill's garden is Flo and Charlie.
04:05Oh, who's that here?
04:06Jill and Michael.
04:07Very dapper, isn't he? Look at him.
04:09Oh, that man knows how to dress. Love the shoes.
04:11Dance shoes.
04:12Yeah. Classic cars.
04:14Classic car.
04:15Classic gardener, maybe?
04:17Well, classic as in it looks like a building site.
04:20It looks like the build started already. There's a lot going on.
04:23There's a lot of concrete.
04:24And brick walls and rubbish.
04:26Yeah, OK.
04:27That's a challenge.
04:29And lots going on there.
04:30OK, an aerial view, which gives you a real sense that it's a huge garden, is it?
04:35I was going to say, it suddenly looks really big.
04:37It's really big.
04:38Cool.
04:39I wonder what they wanted to do with that, then?
04:40I don't know. I bet there's a surprise there.
04:44As you can tell, we, and especially Michael, we have a special garden for you.
04:48I bet there's a surprise there.
04:50As you can tell, we, and especially Mick,
04:53are really interested in the 50s.
04:55We love the cars, the films, the music and the people.
04:59Oh, hello.
05:00We'd like a full-on Elvis-style garden.
05:03With a dance floor right across the back
05:05where we can have the troupe practising.
05:07We knew there was going to be something up his sleeve
05:10or on the end of his feet.
05:12A dance floor? That is a theme, isn't it?
05:1450s styling.
05:16We would also like a tiki bar where people could rest from dancing
05:20and have a rest and a drink.
05:22And... A tiki bar?
05:24A tiki bar! I mean, this is going to be fun.
05:27It's going to be fun.
05:28We love the idea of exotic planting
05:31with big green leaves and pops of colour.
05:34I bet I know what it is.
05:35They want a green backdrop so that all the dresses
05:38really stand out and the Hawaiian shirts.
05:41Yeah, yeah, but we've got to have a green backdrop
05:43and there's so much fencing, we've got to cover it up.
05:45Yeah.
05:46Could you please give us a tiki bar and a dance floor
05:49in our own back garden, please?
05:51Can you...?
05:53Could have some fun with this.
05:55Oh, no, definitely.
05:56Look, the budget is 7K, which...
05:59It's a big garden, but it's always a challenge with a budget.
06:02So how is your jive?
06:04Um...
06:05And that's not a euphemism.
06:07LAUGHTER
06:08Well, I mean, I think I would be an enthusiastic jiver.
06:12Let's leave it at that.
06:15Flo and Charlie will create designs
06:17that match Mick and Jill's £7,000 budget.
06:21They will pick their favourite,
06:23which the losing designer will help build.
06:26With a trusted team of landscapers
06:28who provide their labour for free,
06:30the full budget can be spent on materials and plants.
06:37Back in Twickenham,
06:38Jill and Mick have had the final designs through.
06:42Michael and Jill, hi.
06:44I am so excited about this garden.
06:46Hawaiian tiki bar.
06:48I never thought in my designing career
06:50that I would be designing a tiki bar.
06:52So let me take you on a tour of the garden
06:54and point out all the wonderful things
06:56that I have in store for you.
06:58That looks nice.
06:59Yeah, it does.
07:00Jill, Michael, you wanted an area in the garden
07:04where you can jive the night away.
07:07So I've given you a huge patio
07:09that runs from one side of the garden to the other.
07:13I'm using porcelain paving,
07:15so they'll be nice and even,
07:17so you'll be able to shimmy across them,
07:20do your slides and your turns with no problem at all.
07:24Really nice.
07:25Yeah, I like that.
07:26You did say you wanted the patio
07:28to go right across the garden,
07:30so I've given you a very generous patio
07:33right the way across, three metres deep,
07:35so you and the troupe will feel very comfortable
07:39in that space,
07:40doing your moves and your choreography.
07:43Perfect.
07:44Flo and Charlie have delivered patios
07:47both around 40 square metres
07:49for Mick and Jill to jive away
07:51before relaxing with friends
07:53at a Pacific Island-inspired tiki bar.
07:57So you come out of your house
07:59and you step onto this gravel bed here.
08:04And what it does effectively
08:05is it frames this part of the lawn
08:08and we get halfway across the lawn
08:10and lo and behold, we have the tiki bar.
08:13I love the colour of the bar
08:15and that checkered floor, it's lovely.
08:17That's a definite you.
08:18There's some lovely textures
08:20that I've been able to work with,
08:21the bamboo around the bar
08:23and no self-respecting tiki bar
08:25would be complete without a raffia roof.
08:29Yeah, that's really perfect.
08:31The tiki bar.
08:32So here it is and that is just full on fun.
08:37Doesn't have the same colours as Flo
08:39but it's still very nice.
08:41I'm using big chunky pieces of bamboo
08:44for the uprights.
08:46Now what I wanted to do
08:47is make sure that the roof is waterproof
08:50so there's going to be a clear polycarbonate underneath
08:55but so you don't see that,
08:56we're going to put these slatted split bamboo
09:00screening over the top
09:01and then a bench sheet coming off
09:03with planting of ferns underneath
09:05because the lawn won't grow there.
09:07So you can sit there after you've been dancing
09:10with a nice cocktail
09:11and watch the other dancers practise their moves.
09:15I do like the bamboo,
09:16just looks like a Hawaiian bar, doesn't it?
09:19It does.
09:20The tiki bar plays a prominent role
09:22in both Charlie and Flo's designs
09:24but the key for Mick and Jill could be in the detail.
09:28So I wanted to bring in
09:29some of that American diner aesthetic
09:31so I've gone for a checkerboard floor
09:34and the bar top I was thinking red
09:37and I've gone for sparkles
09:38so I'm really kind of like bringing
09:40the kind of fun element to the bar.
09:43That's really 50s, that's just like a diner.
09:46You can't have a tiki bar
09:48without some festoon lighting
09:50so it'll be like you're up on stage
09:52when you're dancing
09:54so your friends can watch you
09:56and it'll be like putting on a big show.
09:59Yeah, it's very rustic, I do like this.
10:01Yeah, I like that.
10:03Both plans for tiki bar and large patio
10:06have impressed Mick and Jill so far
10:09but with the garden featuring so many structures
10:12it's the planting that will make or break it.
10:15So if we step out from the tiki bar
10:18and we're walking towards the patio
10:20so I wanted to foreground this area
10:23with a nice block of planting
10:25with some colour and some evergreens.
10:27Again, the planting will be low maintenance
10:30and easy for you to look after
10:32and that back wall needs something
10:35so my idea is to put lots of climbers
10:38trailing across the back wall
10:40so when you're dancing you feel
10:42actually you're in this luxurious space.
10:44It'll be like a wall of colour.
10:46Yeah, that'd be really nice.
10:48So I've given you a backdrop of shrubs
10:50mainly evergreens that run all the way round
10:54so it'll be like the backdrop to your fancy outfits.
10:57We've got a palm tree in there to add some height
11:01but also so that you can periodically
11:04each summer trim some of the leaves off
11:07and tuck it in under the split bamboo
11:09to give that real authentic tiki bar vibe.
11:13I like that, that looks really nice.
11:15I love the palm tree, I've never had one in the garden before
11:18that's amazing.
11:19So I hope you like my design
11:21it's very simple and straightforward
11:23but I think it will suit you down to the ground.
11:27They're both just so good I don't know how we're going to choose.
11:30So pick me and let's do this.
11:32It's going to be hard.
11:34I know.
11:38Jill and Mick must decide which is their favourite design.
11:42I bet you really like that bar with the red and the black and white.
11:46I do, I do, that's definitely 50s diner that is for me.
11:50And what about this one though?
11:52Look at that bar there, do you not like that?
11:54I do and I like the seating area
11:56so you could sit there with a drink and watch them dancing.
11:59That's beautiful.
12:00I love the backdrop of Flo's there.
12:03All the flowers popping through it, that's beautiful.
12:05They've both given us exactly what we wanted
12:08more than what we wanted in actual fact.
12:12Right, Jill and Michael, come back to us from Twickenham.
12:15Reveal time.
12:16Here we go, hold your breath.
12:18Hi Charlie, hi Flo.
12:20I can't believe you've captured our vision.
12:22You've transported us back to the 50s.
12:25That's good.
12:26Charlie, we love the smooth dance floor
12:28and the backdrop of the evergreen
12:30and the popping of coloured flowers.
12:32Oh, hello.
12:34Flo, you've nailed the 50s style with the red bar,
12:38the red stalls, the black and white flooring.
12:41That will be the checkerboard then, you.
12:43Yes, yes, come on.
12:45We want them both.
12:47Unfortunately there can only be one
12:50and the one we've chosen is...
12:56..Charlie!
12:58Oh, cheeky, I thought he was going to say me and then he said you.
13:02The reason we chose you, Charlie,
13:04is we're looking forward to having a dance floor.
13:06It looks like a stage.
13:08Just can't wait to see this drawing brought to life
13:11here in our garden.
13:12Either way, it's a fun thing.
13:14It's going to be fun.
13:15It's going to be a great build.
13:16You'll have to get your crinolines out.
13:18I'm going to practice my jar before we do this one.
13:20I've got two left feet, I have to say.
13:26Taking the lead with her design,
13:28Charlie will be joined by Flo and an expert troop of landscapers.
13:33With project manager Dan at the helm,
13:36they have just two days to rescue Mick and Jill's garden.
13:40Morning all. Morning.
13:42Here we have one of Charlie's nice designs.
13:45Over there, we are going to have a large patio area,
13:49which Michael and Jill will use as their dance floor.
13:52So I hope everyone's got their PP dancing shoes on.
13:55And then we're going to have a tiki bar just over here.
13:59You know, large bamboo poles.
14:01But before we get to this, we've got the concrete pad.
14:04Unfortunately, we're not going to be able to get rid of it,
14:07but you know what they say, if you can't beat them, join them.
14:10So we'll get the type one, we'll bring it up to that level,
14:13join that level and then we can slab straight over the top of it.
14:16Everyone ready for it? Yeah.
14:18Let's go for it.
14:23First up, Tori will be trying to lose around 5cm of concrete
14:27from the filled-in former koi carp pond.
14:34It's too thick to actually get rid of it all,
14:36but to help us, we're just getting rid of the top layer
14:39so that when it comes to putting our bed to lay our slabs on,
14:42it's a nice, smooth finish.
14:45Charlie wants the area where the concrete slabs sit
14:48to become a raised, level and edged 40-square-metre dance floor,
14:52bordered by Polynesian-inspired planting and rejuvenated lawn.
14:59So while Jamie and Tori cut the turf for that patio at the back,
15:03it's up to Lee and James to weed and remove Mick and Jill's dead planting.
15:10Oh, yes!
15:13You can have the FA cup. I'd sooner have a big stump.
15:18Charlie wants to use sleepers to create a connected framing
15:21around the patio, lawn and borders.
15:24This one I'll go in.
15:26So getting that edging straight and level is crucial.
15:30Is that a nice straight line, yeah?
15:32Yeah, that's straight.
15:34We're more or less now coming to the final stages of prepping the ground,
15:39just finishing off squeezing the odd little bits.
15:42After that now, we're going to get the sleepers in,
15:45because that will just retain all that patio area.
15:50Four hours in, it's time to prep the patio for paving
15:54with Charlie's oversized porcelain tiles.
15:57Charlie's gone for an 800 by 800, perfect for dancing on.
16:01So I'm just starting in this corner.
16:03Just going to work my way across.
16:05A lot to do, so I need to crack on.
16:14This one good to go there, James?
16:15Yes, it is, yeah.
16:22So based on Charlie's design,
16:24we knew that was going to have a big patio area,
16:27so we decided to go for this grid style,
16:29so then it will give that more of a dance floor vibe to it,
16:33other than the alternative, which would have been brick bond.
16:36So definitely they'll be happy with this.
16:39Brick bond paving lays tiles at staggered joins between rows for visual interest.
16:45But Charlie wants that clean, big and modern feel.
16:50With patio and edging underway,
16:52Lee's ready to start preparing Charlie's piece de resistance,
16:56the tiki bar.
16:59Just digging the first hole for the
17:01extremely beautiful bamboo posts we've got for this tiki hut.
17:05So I'm really looking forward to getting them in
17:07and getting it all set out, it's going to look stunning.
17:11Building with bamboo poles requires a little more flexibility.
17:14It's a big didgeridoo, this, isn't it?
17:16Than your treated lumber.
17:18How you going on, Lee?
17:19Getting there.
17:20As you know, there's not a level surface on these,
17:22so it's just a matter of getting as plumb as we can,
17:25and then we're going to start building the internal framework
17:27in between each upright, and that's clad.
17:29It'll look fine, trust me.
17:31I'm happy with that.
17:32Lee is planting eight posts around two and a half metres tall
17:36Yeah, that's level.
17:37as a frame for the tiki bar and rustic tropics-inspired roof.
17:45With the final patio tile in place,
17:48Nice!
17:49the team have worked hard today.
17:51They're ready for Charlie and Flo's arrival in the morning.
17:58Well, Twickenham.
17:59Yes, Twickenham, home of the rugby.
18:01That is very true.
18:02But this, I'm not kidding.
18:04The patio, I'm promising you,
18:07is almost the size of a rugby pitch.
18:10I'm not joking.
18:11Oh, wow.
18:12Well, that's an interesting tease.
18:14OK, all right.
18:17Oh, it is big, isn't it?
18:19I told you it was big.
18:20Oh, my days.
18:21Wow.
18:22They've done well, though.
18:23They've got it all down.
18:25Tiki bar's coming on.
18:26I love the bamboo posts.
18:27The bamboo is fantastic.
18:29But I would like you to do me a raised bed over on that side
18:34OK.
18:35to grow a few things in so that they can dress the tiki bar.
18:39Oh, nice.
18:40Yes?
18:41Maybe some ferns so they can put a nice display on the bar.
18:44And then we'll work on the flower bed in the middle
18:47that's like the jungle planting.
18:49All right.
18:50Lots to go.
18:51Lots to do.
18:52Tiki bars were introduced in 1930s Hollywood
18:55by American adventurer Don Beach,
18:58offering themed Polynesian-inspired surrounds and cocktails.
19:03Working to bring Charlie's vision to life,
19:05but has had to make one change.
19:08What's this extra hole for?
19:10Well, when we came across the land drain
19:12that's coming from the extension.
19:14Oh, OK.
19:15We can run exactly the centre of his posters.
19:18Building on top of the existing drain
19:20could have caused damage to the pipe below.
19:23So sometimes when you do a design, you've got to be flexible.
19:27But I think it works out really well
19:30because originally the bar was this way and you'd serve that way.
19:34But now Michael and Jill can be this way
19:37serving the dancers after they've worked themselves into a frenzy
19:42and want a nice cocktail to relax.
19:45So you come up onto the dance floor
19:48and I wasn't kidding when I said the dance floor is big.
19:52It is absolutely massive.
19:59There's a wooden edge to add texture to Mick and Jill's new patio.
20:032-5-6-5.
20:042-5-6-5.
20:05But Flo and Tori want to create more colour
20:08and a connection to the rest of the garden.
20:10Charlie's asked me to build a raised bed here
20:13and we're going to grow some grasses.
20:15When the leaves dry out, they can cut them
20:17and use them as additional stuffing on the tiki bar roof.
20:20So I've got Tori here and we're going to build this raised bed.
20:24We're going to get our measurements sorted and then put it together.
20:27And as always, the greatest fear is planting it up at the end.
20:33Tori builds the frame for the raised beds
20:35by attaching half a metre wide planks to the back wall,
20:39screwed to 2.5 metre planks at the front.
20:45Coming together really nicely, Tori.
20:47Getting there, Flo.
20:48Yeah, yeah, nice one.
20:49Now, this is a really simple raised bed.
20:51We're only doing three sides because it's backed up against the wall.
20:54So once you've got your timber cut,
20:56putting it together, it's probably about 20 minutes.
20:58And then line it, put the soil in it and then you can plant.
21:01A really simple little project you can do in an afternoon.
21:05Sometimes simple's best, isn't it, Flo?
21:07Yes.
21:08Charlie will introduce raised beds at different points
21:11throughout Jill and Mick's new space.
21:16So I'm just about to do this raised planting bed.
21:20So it works out nicely because we've got the sleeper
21:23that finishes off the nice, big patio,
21:27aka the dance floor.
21:29And what I'm going to do is I'm going to return the sleeper
21:31to come off here, go along to the wall
21:35and then that will just be all incorporated in one.
21:37So then Charlie or Flo will have a nice little planting area then
21:41to work their magic.
21:42While Dan, Flo and Tori build their beds,
21:46Charlie's helping Lee and Jamie get the roof on the tiki bar.
21:50Now we're using this polycarbonate so it's clear,
21:53it'll keep the rain off,
21:55but what I want to do is make it look as pretty as possible.
21:58So we're going to put some split bamboo on top of it
22:02and you'll get that lovely dappled light effect.
22:05At the moment, see, it was really cool using these bamboo posts,
22:10but we've now got to cut round them.
22:13So we're cutting out circles in the polycarbonate roof
22:16because Lee is very particular.
22:19I would have just cut a square and gone,
22:21yeah, that'll do, but not Lee.
22:26Are you very particular about things?
22:28I have to if I'm working with Lee. I've got no choice.
22:33Cutting precisely measured semicircle corners,
22:36Jamie and Lee will lay three polycarbonate sheets across the roof
22:40before they are dressed.
22:42Why do you do this to me, Charlie?
22:44Because you love it, really!
22:47Just follow the same distance. I can't get that far.
22:50The problem is, is we've cut the circle,
22:54but these ridges here are just a little bit fatter,
22:59so you've got to allow for that bit.
23:01So we're just cutting, we're taking off millimetres
23:04because we want it to be exact.
23:10Oh, yeah! Neat as!
23:13Well done, hairy legs!
23:17Here we go. So the bamboo's going on.
23:19This is split bamboo, polycarbonate roof,
23:22very practical, not overly pretty.
23:24By putting the split bamboo on it, it just pretties it up.
23:27Like, see the slats? Yeah, look at that!
23:30Can you see me? Beautiful.
23:32That's lovely.
23:35Great.
23:39So the next thing now is to get the plants in
23:42and really create a lush little corner here
23:45with some little bamboo accents
23:47that are going to mirror the bar over there,
23:50and this space is going to look really lush.
23:54LAUGHTER
23:59Charlie wants to include jungle planting,
24:02like grasses and ferns, in the new garden.
24:12And the plants have arrived! Flo!
24:14Yes, darling!
24:16Plants are here, sweetie!
24:18Got lots of textures.
24:20Lots of textures. Love these oleanders.
24:22Yeah, three of these. Pop of red.
24:24Oleanders... Can you see me?
24:26I can just about see you. These oleanders should do well.
24:29Great. We'll be fighting over those.
24:31That's our pots of red.
24:33Right, I'm going to get these mahonia.
24:35So we'll look at those textures.
24:37We've got nice little round foliage,
24:39fluffy foliage and then holly-like foliage,
24:42so it works well together.
24:44Lots of evergreens, which is great for a low-budget garden.
24:48Prickly plants coming through.
24:53While Flo makes the soil around the garden level ready for planting,
24:57Charlie's working with Lee to get the tiki bar's counter built up.
25:02Now, this is bar height.
25:04It might look high, but this floor is going to come up,
25:08so it's going to be a little bit higher inside, isn't it?
25:12Now, I was thinking, with the bar,
25:14I know in my design it was all timber,
25:17but what about we use one or two slabs on the top
25:21and it will just mix up the different types of materials?
25:26Yeah, I like that idea. Yeah? Yeah.
25:31Screwing legs to a supporting frame
25:33that will hold Charlie's porcelain tile...
25:36I'm looping.
25:39..Lee cuts another semicircle to fit the tile in place.
25:45Ooh, look! Ooh!
25:48I'm nibbling.
25:49This looks very sexy, boys.
25:52They have just cut this out
25:54and made a really lovely joint around the edge.
25:58And then we're going to put some timber in
26:03and then we're going to put some timber in,
26:08so textures, maybe some bamboo, split bamboo,
26:12then another bit of timber,
26:14and then I'm going to plant this up
26:16with some little creeping plants
26:18just to add some detail to the tiki bar.
26:21I did think I could even put the bamboo there
26:24and have it so you could put your nuts and your olives in there,
26:28but Lee thought they might be a bit dirty and gritty that way,
26:31so he's going for a few plants.
26:33It was the detail of the tiki bar that persuaded Jill and Mick
26:38Charlie's design was the one for them.
26:41I will be quite happy sitting at the tiki bar,
26:44watching them all dance, especially if the sun's shining.
26:47My only worry is, will it be sturdy enough?
26:50Is it going to be really flimsy?
26:52How long will it last?
26:55It's a nightmare, really.
26:57I just worry it won't be finished in time
26:59and will it look as good as it does in Charlie's drawings?
27:02Cheers!
27:04Charlie's working hard to make the reality of the tiki bar
27:08as strong as her vision.
27:11I'm just prepping this area here,
27:14so the bench is going here, but I'm lifting the turf.
27:17I'm thinking of planting it up with lots of ferns
27:20and sort of lush plants because it'll be in the shade,
27:23but not only does it make it practical for Michael,
27:27it makes the bench look way more of a garden
27:30and as far as I'm concerned,
27:32the more plants you can get in the garden, the better.
27:40Yep, looks about right.
27:45So these are where the slabs are going to go,
27:49so I'm just prepping the ground with a height one sub-base.
27:52Then we'll have three nice large slabs,
27:55like a little stepping stone kind of effect.
27:57So not only will they be doing steps on their nice dance floor,
28:00they'll be having little steps right up to their bar as well.
28:05Complementary and connected materials are key to Charlie's design.
28:11Now I'm continuing the bamboo theme,
28:14which is already the tiki bar, in this raised bed here.
28:17I'm going to use these in a decorative way.
28:19I'm going to use three of them at different heights
28:22as a kind of organ pipe motif,
28:24but I need to get these two cut down
28:26so I can really get the full effect.
28:34Lovely, thank you.
28:36Is that everything?
28:38Yes.
28:40Lovely.
28:42Lots of bamboo.
28:46Yes, thank you.
28:51Well, that's real, isn't it?
28:54Lots of organic matter in there.
28:58So we're just getting the topsoil in,
29:00but I've got my organ pipe arrangement of bamboo in,
29:03which picks up Flo's.
29:05So basically the theme rolls around into this bed
29:08and then onto the bench and onto the tiki bar.
29:11So it just ties the whole garden together.
29:14And then planting-wise,
29:16Flo's going to have a nice soft, airy planting here.
29:20This is going to be the more jungly area
29:23with sort of pops of hot colours.
29:25And then over on the tiki bar,
29:27we're going to have some scented climbers
29:30and then a backdrop of evergreens.
29:33Easy maintenance because Michael and Jill
29:36want to spend all their time practising their footsteps
29:40and not having to maintain the garden too much.
29:44With raised beds ready for planting...
29:46Come and join me, Charlie.
29:48..the tiki bar almost finished
29:50and all those oversized tiles laid...
29:53Yeah, about there. That's great.
29:55..Flo and Charlie can prepare to plant.
29:58So when you've got a raised bed
30:00and you've got a number of plants to put in,
30:02take your time, because what I tend to do
30:04is I move things around quite a lot.
30:06I get two or three in and then I think,
30:08oh, no, it doesn't quite work.
30:10So you want to kind of get everything in the right place
30:13before you then start planting, digging the holes.
30:19I think I'm happy with that. Yeah.
30:25Oh, lots of plants. That's good. It's a big garden.
30:30Charlie's positioning flowers, plants, grasses and trees
30:35to create her Polynesian-inspired tropical paradise in Twickenham.
30:40In the jungle border, my two key plants are palms.
30:46Hardy palms. We've got Phoenix canariensis,
30:50which is very heavy and very spiky,
30:52so be careful when you're lifting them up.
30:55But they are amazing palms.
30:58Evergreen and a real focal point in a border.
31:02Now, they eventually get to 15 metres tall.
31:06Takes a long time.
31:08And these fronds can get to five metres long
31:13and they just look like giant evergreen fountains.
31:16And then the other palm that I've got, again evergreen,
31:20a Tucson palm, and that's Trachycarpus fortunii.
31:24And it's, again, got these lovely palmate fronds
31:28and, of course, they can trim these leaves off
31:31and use them to decorate the bar or tuck them under the roof
31:35to give that authentic tiki bar feel.
31:39Luckily, this one isn't quite so spiky.
31:57Now, the first of the plants I'm putting in
32:00is this beautiful grass called Hakanukloa.
32:04Now, it's a deciduous grass,
32:06which means that over the winter it will die back.
32:09But at the moment, it's this beautiful golden colour.
32:12It's called all gold.
32:14What I love about this grass is the movement
32:17and the sound it makes.
32:19They're really easy to grow, really low maintenance,
32:22which is great for Michael and Jill.
32:24And the lovely idea that Charlie's had
32:27with putting this in the garden is that
32:29when it has gone over into its autumn-winter dry straw colour,
32:35Michael and Jill can cut it off
32:38and use it on the roof of the tiki bar as part of the dressing.
32:42Wonderful idea.
32:56So, this bench, which Lee and Jamie have constructed,
33:00is very practical, but I want to make more of a feature of it
33:04by planting up underneath.
33:06So, we've got hardy ferns.
33:08Some of them are evergreen and some are semi-evergreen,
33:11but because it's so protected here,
33:13these will be evergreen.
33:15And you get sort of the frondy ones,
33:17you get the full-leaf ones,
33:19and then you get colour changes.
33:21So, these go a nice bronze colour,
33:23so they'll be there the whole time.
33:25It's just those things that just make the difference to a garden.
33:35Now, this plant, you might know it.
33:38It's called Fittunia.
33:40And the common name is... Well, it's got a number of common names.
33:43Fishmint is one of them.
33:45I mean, the name Fishmint, for me, is not quite right,
33:48because when I sniff it, it smells kind of citrusy.
33:51I love it, actually.
33:53And it's a plant that is going to work really well in this border,
33:56kind of ties everything together.
33:58And it loves boggy conditions,
34:00where if you were to plant it in damp soil in open ground,
34:03it really would take off and can become a bit of a problem.
34:06But if you plant it in dry conditions,
34:09it will spread a lot slower.
34:11It's also got these really cute little cream-pink flowers,
34:15which just act like these little sparkles in the plant.
34:19And if I look at it now, take it all in,
34:22I think, yeah, yeah, it all really works.
34:25Love this grass here as it's falling forward
34:28and kind of wrapping itself around the bamboo.
34:32Yeah.
34:35This is another little detail.
34:37The top of the bamboo is just all about that little detail.
34:42Theatre, darling, theatre.
34:44Yeah.
34:45Yeah.
34:55Last bit of planting around the tiki bar.
34:58So what I wanted to do is use evergreen climbers,
35:02so they're always there.
35:04So I'm going to have the Trachlosperinum here,
35:07Star Jasmine, and the Clematis Armandii,
35:10Apple Blossom, over there.
35:12And they'll go up and over and give an evergreen cover
35:16that will just be full of gorgeous scent
35:19and remind Michael and Jill of Hawaii
35:22and jive in the night away.
35:31Bit higher, or is that...?
35:33Bit higher.
35:34Bit higher.
35:35With the tiki bar kitted out...
35:38..final planting in.
35:40That's good, yeah. That's lovely.
35:42After just two days, this tropical dancer's paradise
35:45is almost ready.
35:47Ta-da!
35:49Woo-hoo!
35:53Oh!
35:54LAUGHTER
35:56It's all right. I know!
35:58There's nothing better than sitting down and sighing.
36:01But that was a slog, wasn't it?
36:03It was a slog. It was a long day.
36:05But this garden's completely transformed.
36:08I must admit, I was worried.
36:10It's such a big patio and it can be so dominant,
36:14and you think, I know it's exactly what they want
36:17and they can use it for other things,
36:19but you think, oh, the garden's just going to look
36:22like a parking space.
36:24But actually, very cleverly, by putting the tiki bar here,
36:27it kind of breaks it up.
36:29It acts as a bit of a foil.
36:31And with the planting there... No, lovely, lovely design.
36:35So, do you think Michael and Jill will give us a little bit of boogie?
36:39Oh, I hope so. Maybe learn a few steps.
36:42No, that's a step too far for me, love.
36:45Shall we go and get on? Yeah, yeah, yeah, let's do that.
36:50Jill and Mick's garden was once a concreted-over spa space
36:55with dead stumps and weed-filled borders.
36:58There was no structure to it,
37:00nor space to entertain friends or family.
37:04But with a £7,000 budget...
37:09..it's evolved into a Pacific Island-inspired dancer's paradise.
37:20Right, hold on, I'm just putting you next to your lady.
37:23All right.
37:25Will it be the garden Jill and Mick dreamed of?
37:29I hope you like your garden. Do you want to open your eyes?
37:33Oh, my God!
37:35Oh! Oh, mate, that's amazing!
37:38Oh, my God! That is fantastic, honestly.
37:41Oh, that is... Oh!
37:43Oh, my God!
37:45He's off! He's off!
37:47I knew I wouldn't be able to control him!
37:49This is amazing! Calm down! Calm down!
37:52Oh, dear!
37:54That's quality.
37:56What a brilliant reaction.
37:58I thought we were getting a patio and a bar, but this...
38:01But not like, honestly... I saw the drawing. This is better.
38:04When you come into a garden, you do bring it to life, love.
38:07It's just beautiful. You really do.
38:09It is so, so good.
38:11Where bare grass once led to dry borders,
38:15a rejuvenated lawn now leads to raised beds
38:19filled with tropics-inspired plants, grasses and flowers.
38:25Let's wander this way.
38:27Wow. I think I'll wet myself in a minute.
38:30It's quality.
38:32This is absolutely the best.
38:35Honestly, this is fantastic.
38:37This is just... I love the lights.
38:39The tiki lights are just hidden away.
38:42The size of the bamboo. Yeah!
38:44That's fantastic, mate.
38:46I'm loving the bamboo, which ties all the different areas together.
38:50So, jungle planting.
38:52Now, the reason that we got the palms is so that,
38:55as you cut the leaves off, you can put them up on the tiki bar
38:58and make it much more tiki, if that's a word.
39:01That is for you. It is now.
39:04It's fantastic, Joel.
39:06It's just everything. Well, it's more than...
39:08Jungle planting, inspired.
39:11Come on up to the main reason that we did the garden.
39:15Mick and Jill's filled-in pond
39:17Mick and Jill's filled-in pond once served as a temporary patio.
39:24Now, a slight step, edged by sleepers,
39:27leads to oversized tiles and a stage,
39:30perfect for jiving the night away.
39:34Oh, Charlie! Look!
39:36This is just so good!
39:38It's huge! It's huge!
39:40It's great. It's everything I want, mate.
39:42Can you just show us a couple of moves? Go on.
39:45Just nothing too big, but...
39:49There.
39:50They love the patio.
39:52Of course, it's there for them to jive.
39:54Look, they're jiving.
39:55Charlie, I'll get the whole troop on here.
39:57Not yet, because it's only just laid.
39:59Slow down. Slow down.
40:01Honestly, the flowers there, it's fantastic.
40:04So, I have to say, Flo has been busy on this jungle area there.
40:09So it just screens, it carries the theme through.
40:13It does love it.
40:14And then you can cut those grasses,
40:16and the miscanthus will grow up quite high.
40:18You get the lovely seed heads.
40:20Again, you can use them to dress,
40:22because I've got this feeling from you both
40:24that you like a little bit of theatre, darling.
40:27We do, darling. We love it, yes. We do.
40:30Yes, we do.
40:31So you can dress it up, you can use the leaves on your bar,
40:35everything like that.
40:37That's fantastic, honestly, mate.
40:39Just amazing.
40:40I just can't believe it.
40:42We've got a wonder down here, and we'll talk at the bar,
40:45the Tiki Bar.
40:46Oh, don't you? I do.
40:47So check out the Tiki Bar.
40:49Yes!
40:51Yes, I'm on it.
40:54In front of the area where Mick's ruined shed's at
40:58is now a bespoke Tiki Bar,
41:01awash with details like planting and bamboo slats
41:05to create a taste of tropical paradise.
41:09It's yours. It's all yours.
41:11Can I have a large one, Charlie?
41:13All we've got is soft drinks.
41:15Oh, I'll tell you what.
41:17I'll have something stronger in a minute.
41:19Cheers, darling. Cheers.
41:20Cheers, Charlie.
41:21Cheers, Charlie. Cheers.
41:23Well done, Charlie. You've nailed it once again.
41:26Well done, girl.
41:27And look at this, the top.
41:28Oh, wow, that's fantastic.
41:29Same slabs are down there.
41:31Oh, so we can rest stuff on it, can we?
41:33Yeah, hot stuff, so barbecue, so you can be out here all the time.
41:39So, do you think it's been worth it?
41:41Every single penny, mate.
41:43Every bit.
41:44And more. And more.
41:45So it wasn't just me, it was the team.
41:48So, Flo Landscapers, come on in!
41:51CHEERING
41:53What a team! What a team!
41:56Oh, Flo, honestly, you're amazing.
41:59Thank you, chaps.
42:00So these guys have slayed it.
42:04No more, it's a one-off.
42:06I hope you love using your huge patio to dance the night away.
42:11Oh, we do. We certainly will.
42:13We do, don't we?
42:14If you wait, you see the others. They'll love it.
42:17Yeah? Shall we get the rest of them out as well?
42:19Bring them out, honestly.
42:21Charlie strived to develop a team
42:23that would make the most of his time on the road.
42:26We're going to have a great time.
42:28We're going to have a great time.
42:30We're going to have a great time.
42:32Charlie strived to deliver a space perfect for Mick and Jill
42:36to dance, drink and drift away in.
42:39Look at that!
42:41Come on, have a look, come over here.
42:44They're proud to invite friends, children and grandchildren
42:48to share their garden once more.
42:51They expressed all our thoughts, you know, in this garden
42:55and it's everything we wanted and more.
42:58It's just fantastic.
42:59No, no joints!
43:01When we opened our eyes, it was our dream come true.
43:04I'm looking forward to having the troupe round
43:06and doing our first practice session here
43:08and all jiving together while Jill serves us a drink.
43:11While I serve the drinks!
43:31♪