Sage Landscapes

Ollie Sage is the man behind Sage Landscapes and is involved with all projects in every step of the process. A self-confessed perfectionist with a sharp eye for detail, he considers himself as a highly skilled craftsman with more than a decade of experience under his belt. He aim is to maintain a small and dedicated company that is customer focused with excellent communication skills that listens to its customers.

Originally from Maidstone, England one of his first memories was helping his ‘old man’ cut down a Schumacher tree at the age of 4. He recalls wildly swinging a dulled blunt axe (Can’t help but think Work Safe might have something to say about that) trying to chop the limbs to fit in the back of his father’s car. Moving several times and revamping the family garden on a shoestring budget made Ollie realise that working in the mud with the bugs was in his blood.

Landscaping is inevitably varied, as no two sites (or clients) are the same and requires ‘multi-trade’ knowledge to be competent. Mixing this knowledge, with originality, provides opportunities that satisfy his need for creativity and difference. All this keeps him deeply interested in landscaping. He learnt his trade from the roots up through Hillier Landscapes, England where he was privileged to work on a range of projects from high-end small domestic gardens up to multi-million-pound contracts. He was handpicked to work as part of a highly skilled team on many award-winning gardens at Hampton Court, Gardeners World and Chelsea Flower Show. 

Most notable projects include:

• The Mars Garden – Sarah Eberle, Chelsea Flower Show (2007)
• Beatles Tribute Garden – Yvonne Innes Chelsea Flower Show (2008)
• Canarie Island Spa Garden – David Cubero and James Wong (2009)
• Princes Beatrice Garden – Chris Beardshaw, Carisbrooke Castle (2009)
• Warner Village Resorts – Sarah Eberle, Lowestoft (2009)

He left Hillier landscapes in the summer of 2009 and set up his own small company ‘Sage Bros Landscapes’ with strong focus on good communication and listening to customers. He offered a quality residential design and build service to Bristol, England. This was a huge success and his reputation amongst clients, suppliers and piers was soon known. Ollie was very sad to close this chapter of his life when he decided to emigrate to Nelson, NZ in 2012 where he was offered a project management/foreman position for a high-end local landscaping company. He enjoyed working closely with award winning designer James Wheatley on many challenging projects from unique and complex water features to large formal rose gardens.

In 2016, Ollie sought once more for independence and is excited to see where Sage Landscapes will take him and what captivating and interesting projects the residents of Nelson can challenge him with.

Planning is probably the most crucial stage of any project and the benefits should not be overlooked. Conceptual design allows you to explore different avenues of possibility and view a project at various stages without ever breaking ground. In this respect it is very cost effective, as a change of mind or direction on site would be quite costly. We like to say, “a day planning is at least a week on site”. So, weather planning a small courtyard, an awkward transition space, or developing a large lifestyle block, or a bare section, a plan should be considered an invaluable tool in helping you get the most out of the space.

Although every project is different, just like every client and their needs are different, we generally find the design process follows this general pattern.

Our Design Process

Initial meeting

First, we make a mutually convenient time to meet and discuss your potential project. We use this time to wander your garden whilst listening to you, your needs and your wants, and to better understand how we might best assist you. In this meeting we cover a lot in brief, such as, Material possibilities and finishes, Shape layout and flow, Style, theme or direction, what you like and don’t like – trees, plants and colours etc. We find the more we understand you, the better the result will be.

Proposal of Service

A short time after the initial meeting having reflected upon it, we will present you with a ‘proposal of service’. This out lines what we have understood from the initial meeting and the key take home points. It also outlines time needed to tackle the design concept and anticipated costs. Once the proposal has been accepted, we can begin initial drafting.

Initial Concept Drafting

Here we look at the fundamental layout considering shape and size of spaces, identify important focal points and lines of sight and consider how everything interacts with everything else. With a wide range of methods available to us, we generally prefer to use CAD (computer aid design) system. We feel this allows us to use our time most effectively as we can explore alternative options and make alterations with ease. Once we have some options to show we normally email them through and follow it up with either a phone call or a second meeting to discuss your thoughts and to further focus the project. After these collaborations we naturally move into lead concept drafting.

Lead Concept Drafting

This is where we take the preferred ideas from the initial concepts and explore these in more detail and experiment with possible variations. At this stage, we often take what has been a traditional 2-D, top view plan and bring it to life by making it a tangible 3-D model complete with textured effects and colour. At this stage we also start considering planting options and positions and place these on the plans. It is not uncommon at this stage for the client to have multiple finished concepts that all meet the brief outlined in the Proposal of Service and are strong contenders for instillation.

At this point we generally consider the conceptual design service complete. Concepts are emailed to the client along with supporting notes outlining what can be seen and brief thought process behind the work along with any other information we feel relevant. However, occasionally we are asked to take things one step further and collate the favoured options and present these in a final concept.

Final Concept

Here we take the ideas from the lead concepts that have resonated the most with the client and bring them together in one final plan, making only minor changes to knit the different aspects together. The end result is a well thought out garden concept that holds a lot of information and has gone through an elimination process (decided by the client) to give you a final concept that best meets the brief and your individuality alike.

If you would like to enquire about a design concept, we would love to hear from you.

At Sage Landscapes we believe in delivering projects to the best of our ability. This begins by working in a logical, progressive and efficient manor as we bring what is on paper, to life. Through the instillation we are careful and thorough, using best practice techniques to ensure your garden will be robust and up to the test of time. Finishing details are meticulously executed with care, all the time monitoring the spend as we try to better the agreed budget.

We understand this can feel like an invasive stage, as we ‘move in’ and ‘take over your garden’ especially on longer projects, but we aim to keep your property clean and tidy and all disruption to a minimum. We will keep you up to date with progress and informed of potential disruptions so you can relax and enjoy this transformation knowing your garden is in safe hands.

Landscaping requires a diverse skill set (and a large toolbox to match), that is why it takes many years to become a true Landscaping Meister. As a dedicated and skilled team, we are happy with all elements of landscaping, so much so we say, if it is outside, we can do it.

Earthworks

With tip-trucks and our own mini excavator ‘Doug’ and an array of attachments we are well placed to complete any excavations, trench digging, grading, hole boring, stump removal and levelling as needed.

Carpentry

We're skilled and efficient in many aspects of carpentry such as retaining wall and deck building and enjoy creating bespoke and one of a kind pergolas, arbours and timber structures. We have installed many timber staircases using a variety of methods and have also built small ‘summer houses’ and shelters that required the added complexity of fitting roofs.

Masonry

We are experienced in many concrete, masonry and other wet trades and are competent laying, bricks and blocks as needed, along with facing walls in natural stone or installing exterior tiles/stone veneers. We enjoy placing concrete and can apply different finishes as required, likewise we are skilled at laying a multitude of paving tiles utilising the best technique for the tile and site conditions.

Irrigation/Plumbing

We can effectively install a variety of automated watering systems and irrigation lines. Whether your garden requires a misting system for a vegetable plot, drip line for an ornamental garden or pop ups for the lawn we can help get the water to where its needed. We can also install additional garden taps as needed to save you dragging a long hose.

Lighting/Electrical

Some designs require the instillation of garden lights and exterior power points. Working in conjunction with an electrician we are happy to install all cabling as required and arrange final fixing and wiring on your behalf.

Lawns

A garden is not completed without an open space of lush green grass. We have installed many lawns and for best results, preparation is key, and this varies between sites and existing soil conditions. We have also installed artificial lawns for those who don’t want to cut grass or have an awkward area where grass won’t grow.

Ponds and Water Features

Water brings a relaxing ambiance to any garden and we encourage its use wherever possible. This can be in the form of a simple ‘off the shelf’ water feature kit set, implementation of a nature pond and water course or a bespoke crafted and contemporary water feature. Having installed many we can assist you which ever you prefer.

External Services

We maintain good working relationships with our suppliers and other trusted trades and services such as, Electrician, Plumber, Engineer/fabricator and builder. When needed, we call upon these services to ensure we can deliver elements of projects that are beyond our skill set, whilst maintaining our own high standards along with industry standards.

If you would like to enquire about any of the services above, we would love to hear from you.

Plants bring life and movement to a garden; foliage moves in the wind and plants steadily grow and fill the space between them, blossoms develop and fall, lush new leaves fill once empty branches before putting on a show of their own, every leaf becoming a flower, changing from vibrant Green’s to glorious Red’s, vivacious Orange’s and stunning Yellow’s. Before finally falling to the floor revealing the plants inner structure as is slumbers till woken by the warmth of Spring.

Not only do plants live in a garden but they invite and support nature too. Birds feed on berries and seeds and take small twigs to build nests, bees visit flowers for pollen and nectar and pollinate nearby plants in the doing so, Caterpillars clamber amongst branchlets eating tender leaves before cocooning and emerging as a magnificent Butterfly. Other numerous insects and creatures make residence in the garden, on or near the plants and shrubs using them in various ways to support their needs.

So, it is important to remember that plants are more than just ornamental things that make a garden look nice.

We understand that planting is a diverse element of landscaping with so many possibilities to choose from it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Before starting any planting project, we identify a usable plant palette based upon key criteria such as, site conditions, light level, type of plant, purpose and style.

By fully understanding these criteria and subsequent points, plants are carefully selected and well positioned for their needs. Whilst well prepared holes permit strong and healthy root growth and use of slow release fertilisers and placement of mulch allow for optimal growing conditions year-round.

Site Conditions

This is perhaps the most important point to be aware of, as knowing your site conditions will allow you to choose plants that will thrive and prosper in their location instead of struggle and perish. The six main soil types are.

• Clay – poor drainage, noticeably swells and shrinks, can be rich in nutrients
• Sandy – drains easy, dries out fast, holds fewer nutrients
• Silty – holds moisture, usually rich in nutrients, may need improved drainage
• Peaty - acidic, fewer nutrients, retains water, may need improved drainage
• Chalky – stonier, free draining, often alkaline so will need fertilisers to balance this
• Loamy – even mix of sand, silt and clay, ideal characteristics for gardening

It pays to be aware of highly changeable areas, or areas that are an exception to the site ‘normal’, areas that remain wet year round, or areas that are extremely dry for part of the year and then extremely wet in winter. These areas are always challenging and will need careful planning and most likely an alternative approach.

Light Level

Light level is essential to a plant, knowing the aspect of the sun and the anticipated sunshine hours will further help identify what plant will be suited to the area in question. There are three basic light levels.

• Full Sun
• Semi Shade/Part Sun
• Full or Heavy shade

Type of Plant

This identifies the fundamentals for plant selection and helps to quickly focus the direction of choice. Simply broken down into these five categories.

• Native
• Exotic/Introduced
• Evergreen
• Deciduous

We find the site and obvious practicalities often help decide this, for example, you naturally limit the amount of deciduous plants around a swimming pool to minimise debris and leaf drop reaching the pool.

Purpose

Are you wanting plants to serve a practical function?

• Form a hedge or screen
• Cover an unattractive wall or fence
• Stabilise a steep bank
• Provide shade
• Produce edible fruits
• Encourage wildlife
• Fire resistant
• Ornamental purpose only

It is possible for things to serve a duel or even triple purpose and when a plant has multiple functions its value in a garden (particularly a small garden) increases.

Style

Style is critical when developing a garden and different approaches will heed different results. It is important to consider these options and how to balance them together.

• Colour, both foliage and flower
• Texture of foliage and growing habits
• Natural shape of the plant as it grows
• Placement
• Density of planting
• Formal planting
• Use of symmetry
• Natural/Random placement
• Planting on mass
• Small number reoccurring group planting
• Individual planting
• Layering (ground cover, mid-level, trees)

A well thought out garden will consider many of these points and balance them together in a creative and fun way.

If you have any upcoming planting projects, we would love to hear from you.