A CLASS ACT

Exuding subtle sophistication and contemporary flair, this designer garden offers the ultimate in relaxed family living

- Carrol Baker

This complex project on a Victorian heritage property encompassed many elements. Among them was rejuvenating tired front gardens that involved the mammoth task of relocating grand old trees to create a sense of entry and symmetry to the landscape.

Ian Barker, director of Ian Barker Gardens, says the owners wanted a garden that exuded a definite wow factor with loads of roadside appeal. “The brief for the front garden was simple: to make heads turn and create a showstopper that would command roadside attention,” he says.

The two Magnolias (Magnolia soulangeana) and three Japanese Maples (Acer palmatum) were relocated by Established Tree Transporters. The process involved cutting around the tree roots cleanly with high-pressure water jets before removal to reduce shock to the trees.

There is always a risk in transplanting trees so to help the process, the transplanting was conducted in cooler weather to increase the chance of success. “Relocating the trees gave us the instant canopy we were looking for,” says Ian. The front gardens are classic and timeless, with formal undertones and contemporary elements. They are soft and flowing, with a tightly clipped hedge and a line of plants pointing the way to the path entry.