Your garden designed around you
- The design stage
- Garden types By Ecossistemas - Ecoviveiros - Ecossistemasol
- Garden areas
- Fences and gates
- Decking
- Pergolas
- Garden Decoration
Since we began landscape gardening on the Algarve in 1992, we have created hundreds of beautifully landscaped gardens of a variety of shapes, sizes and budgets
Irrigation Systems for the Algarve garden
It is essential throughout the Algarve, that each garden needs to install an adequate irrigation system. With longer, hotter summers and drying northerly winds, it is imperative to keep the garden healthy throughout the year. This needs to be properly installed using recognised parts such as, Rainbird.
We also now offer Garden Maintenance - not just the standard maintenance that is often found across the Algarve, but dedicated, experienced professionalism.
We provide a monthly service whereby your garden is correctly looked after and attention to detail is paramount. Pruning is done according to the specific needs of the individual plant, utilising fertilisers when necessary and spotting bacterial and pest problems before they take hold. Irrigation adjustments and checks are carried out each month throughout the year, saving you money on your water bills.
We offer advice and landscaping options where you can reduce - yes reduce, the maintenance and water costs!!
Our aim, when we take your garden on board, is to reduce the hours - and therefore Euros - you need to pay to keep your garden in tip-top shape. Within our service you get a detailed bi-annual or montly report highlighting water cost wastage, tips and advice on how to reduce maintenance costs as well as suggestions on what plants could enhance your garden.
So you really are getting first class service from our experienced gardeners who actually want to save you money.
Call us today to find out how we can help you.
The first step in creating your dream Portuguese garden design is to arrange an appointment with me personally.
I will visit, discuss your plans, take photos, make early suggestions, and after digesting all the information, will prepare a free descriptive presentation of our suggestions including a ball-park figure so that you have an idea of the costs involved.
This is normally done within 10 days of our visit.
If you like our proposal, we will schedule a second visit where we can elaborate further on specific plants and themes and tighten up all costings so that you know exactly what your budget is before we begin to make your dream garden a reality. At this stage we can also discuss schedules of work and payment options.
We can also offer detailed drawings of your future garden either computer generated or beautifully hand drawn,
Due to the ongoing climate changes, and declines in water reserves here on the Algarve bringing higher water bills, we as landscape contractors, have to adapt to environmental conditions.
Back in 2000, we started to offer clients alternative landscaping ideas to large areas of lawn by introducing low maintenance gravel gardens on the Algarve with a range of styles and contrasts to keep both maintenance and water costs down.
Once the existing soil has been upgraded with humus, rotted manure and slow release fertilizer, we lay coils of irrigation tubing with small drip feeds attached.
Following this we plant a selection of lush foliage and colourful shrubs then lay the area with a porous yet weed suppressing membrane.
This can then be dressed with a range of coloured pea gravel with ornamental rocks or graded pine bark with terracotta pots or cork cuttings. The design choices here are endless.
This style of garden focuses on water conservation and clean, crisp gardens with minimal maintenance.
We can fit any type of design within your existing garden or start from scratch. The long term effect is both rewarding in your pocket and aesthetically pleasing.
We can also create and advise on water features, natural rock retainers, pathways, terracotta pot styles and trellising within the features.
Even if your Portuguese garden is the size of a postage stamp, with a little inventiveness and imagination, we can transform a small terrace or neglected square of soil, into your own mini garden of sunshine.
A new deck with terracotta pots, a rock and gravelled dry garden, a section of artificial grass or even an edible themed garden with your own organic vegetables and herbs. All these themes are possible and often this transformation can take as little as two days work.
Give us a call and we will be happy to offer some simple and free design options and costings.
For those wishing to bring a touch of the tropics to their garden here in Portugal, we are fortunate with our climate in this part of the Mediterranean to plant a range of species that adapt very well to the Portuguese weather.
Providing they are not too exposed to harsh northerly winds, or planted in frost-prone locations, you will find we can introduce a whole range of different palms, cycas, strelitzias; as well as bananas, mangoes and passion flowers.
A tropical theme has a lot to do with leaf structure - glossy leaves, striking foliage colours and an assortment of trunks of different sizes, all allowed to fill and clump together. The highlight of this theme would be to see stunning multi-coloured flowers or seed pods popping through the undergrowth.
A tropical theme looks fantastic around a swimming pool creating the perfect oasis, and if it has been mulched with rock and decorative gravel, your maintenance costs are heavily reduced and there is no debris or mess to fall in the pool.
For those who want to be big, bold and tropical - let us come and give you a taste of Tahiti.
The predominant theme for garden design in this part of the world is of course, the Mediterranean style garden.
We are blessed with the wonderful Portuguese climate - no real extremes in temperatures, and virtual year round sunshine. Perfect conditions for the Mediterranean plants and fauna, making our job so much more enjoyable as we are blessed with such a vast array of attractive plants and shrubs to choose from.
Whether it's a Provence style with swathes of lavenders you are looking for; a Moorish theme with terracotta pots and backdrops of pink or red bougainvilleas; a sophisticated Italian Renaissance design with columnar cypress trees and neat gravelled borders; or even an eclectic mix with a rage of colours to brighten up your days from January through to December, we can design a garden to make you smile.
We will create your perfect garden literally from the ground up - beginning with thorough soil preparation, state-of-the-art irrigation systems and meticulous planning and strategic placement of plants to create the optimum growing conditions, in just a short time, your garden will be ready for you to sit, relax and enjoy.
Let us reinvent your outdoor space and make your dream garden a reality.
Lawns are becoming quite a luxury in Portugal due to the increase in water bills we have experienced here over the last decade. Boreholes will lessen the cost if you are looking for a large, lush lawn within your Mediterranean garden, although there are a selection of turfs and seeds that can cater for a more drought and pest resistant green area.
We can offer a range of grasses to suit your needs, from a bowling green finish, to a dog and family friendly, more robust mixture. And for those that want complete maintenance free lawns, we offer and install synthetic grasses that look just like the real thing.
Green areas are essential in your garden and to help you we are able to advise on the ongoing water and maintenance costs spread over a year, so you will be able to compare and evaluate the long term benefits.
These days, a large proportion of my landscaping business involves taking out once prized lawns in favour of more cost effective solutions, which often involves artificial grass for those who just cant give up the look of an English-style garden.
Fortunately, new technology and a competitive market has created synthetic grasses that really do look like the real thing. Yes, the initial outlay may seem more expensive than the real thing, but when you consider that there simply are no on going maintenance or water costs - it’s an option well worth considering. It is easy to install and never again will you have to replace a broken sprinkler, add fertilizer, chemical treatments, get the strimmer or mower out… the list is endless. Just don’t be tempted to choose the cheaper options that have hit the market as they have minimal guarantees and quite simply, look pretty awful.
The geology of the Algarve is built up of three different strata - a composition of red and white limestone; sandstone - which is found closer to the coastal cliffs; and syenite - a rock very similar to granite, which is found in the hills of Monchique -Nave sienito.
Used as either rough rocks or cut slabs, this beautiful, natural resource can bring a wonderful rugged dimension to your garden that is not only functional but also architecturally interesting.
Many properties in the Algarve are built on slopes, meaning the gradient in the garden is difficult to plant effectively as the run off from the rains make it challenging for plants to take root. Using our machines JCB ,bob cat and kutota & caterpiler and our experienced staff, large retaining walls can be built that need no planning permission. Stone walls can be built up to 3m high and once back filled with soil, you have the perfect planting area for lawns, shrubs or trees or we can lay a weed membrane and finish with a mulch of pine bark or gravel.
Natural stone rockeries can be built as a screen or simply to add a decorative feature to your garden, perhaps incorporating steps leading from one part to another. There are some stunning plants that are so at home when planted amongst rock walls and rockeries. Lotus Bertheloti (Parrots' Beak), Russelia Equisetiformis (Coral Plant), Lampranthus (Ice Plant) and Lantana Montividensis (Weaping Lantana) - all produce showers of flowers
Your stunning Portuguese garden is never complete until you have finished the driveway or calcadas.
Calcada is the most commonly used medium for access areas and parking here on the Algarve, as it's strong, hard-wearing and fits perfectly with the Mediterranean setting.
A range of colours can be used and all of your drainage issues and gradients can be taken care of within the design.
The perfect finish can be given to lawn edgings, cut-outs and roundabouts with calcada stones.
The perfect final touch to your Algarve garden.
Access through to your new garden is essential to carry out pruning, pick fruit from your orchard - or just to meander and take in the gorgeous new smells and sights.
Ornamental stepping stones, granite pavers or flagstones are just some of the eye-catching materials we can use.
These can be set in a variety of mulches such as gravel or pine bark so that movement around your Mediterranean garden can be clean, easy and attractive.
Flowers and Shrubs in the Algarve
When carefully designed and managed, it's possible to have a range of colours and scents throughout the year in your Portuguese garden.
We have a whole encyclopeadia of Mediterranean and semi-tropical plants to choose from - you just need some expert advice as to which are suitable for you.
Your garden should always look good from spring to early summer with fresh blooms and flowers, but many shrubs only come to life in late summer or early winter. Varieties such as the Pink Trumpet Vine or Flame Vine fit into this category perfectly.
We have such a range to choose from, we can afford to colour co-oridinate and choose cooler blues, whites and purples around a hot sun-trapped terrace or vibrant reds, pinks and oranges to spice up a hot section around your pool. Add to the mix the heady scents of exotic jasmines, perfumed citrus blossom or fragrant lavenders and we have blast of Mediterranean heaven on earth.
And it's not only about flower colour. We can choose from multi-coloured fronds and foliage with a range of cordylines, yuccas and phormiums that can change in contrast depending on their position in the warm Portuguese sunshine.
Let us make the very best of your garden by picking what is right for your own personal style.
Trees and Palms in the Algarve
A simple definition of the word’ tree’ says “a plant having a permanently woody main stem or trunk, ordinarily growing to a considerable height and usually developing branches at some distance from the ground’.
Here in the Algarve we have a massive range of different trees, some indigenous and others that have crept in from abroad like some modern day John Tradescent. The trees endemic to Southern Portugal – olives, carob, cork-oak, were traditionally used to provide an income and not as ornamental species, although nowadays some ‘specimen’ olive trees sell for many hundreds of euros. Sadly, many of the plantations in Portugal and Spain have been dug up in favour of more profitable crops such as housing developments!
But over the years, those housing developments, together with new hotels and golf courses have re-introduced some of the traditional favourites as well as prompting the garden centres to supply new species, which have settled and thrived in this climate. But as the above definition says, “growing into a considerable height”, you must choose your tree locations very carefully. We have seen so many examples of trees being planted at a nursery height of 2 metres, close to swimming pools, below verandas, next to sewer pipes etc. etc. etc., Each year they get bigger and more attractive – that is, until the water meter is spinning around and you cant work out why, the pool starts to leak and your expensively laid garden terrace has lumps and bumps in it. Yes, you’ve guessed it, the roots have spread like wildfire in search of water and they’ve hit the jackpot! Unfortunately, there is only one winner in this saga – the chainsaw! The poor tree gets massacred and you are faced with the hefty repair bills.
So take careful consideration and professional advice before you give a permanent home to a tree that should outlive you and your descendants! If planted correctly, trees will provide great wind barriers, much needed shade, frost protection, boundary markers – and above all a beautiful showpiece for your garden.
There is a greater need, these days, to become more self-sufficient, and what better way than to 'grow your own'.
We can construct raised planter beds using natural wooden sleepers or rock retainers, fill them with good quality top soil and fill them with a range of salads and herbs for you - or simply give advice on what will do well here so that you can follow 'The Good Life' yourself.
We can advise on crop rotation and companion planting without the use of chemicals from our considerable knowledge on growing organic vegetables.
Here in sunny Portugal, most people’s ‘water feature’ (if they can afford it) is a swimming pool. Although many of our clients are asking us to design gardens with a view to reducing water costs, but still retain a lush, tropical vibrancy. Surprisingly, well designed water features can help to reduce those costs and allow you to use more water loving plants.
It's becoming popular now, to create your own ecological pool where you can grow water plants, providing a healthy environment for fish and other wildlife - and still have the option to swim in it yourself.
Water features bring a calming, relaxed atmosphere to your garden. The sound of a babbling brook or stream is soothing to the soul, de-stressing you and bringing a healthy chi to your outdoor space. And as its also promoting wildlife in the form of birds and bees, this will do a tremendous job in pollinating your plants and trees.
Pools, lakes, ponds or a trickling water feature go a long way to accentuating your garden, encouraging you to spend more time in your own paradise.
Ponds and Lakes in Portugal
It’s always best to locate your pond in an area that doesn’t have the full heat of the Algarve summer sun all day long, so a large evergreen tree or a pepper tree to create shade in the afternoon will not only look good, but help reduce the algae levels too. No pond will be entirely free from algae but there are things you can do to keep it at a minimum with a good balance of pH, temperature and water control. Apart from restricting sunlight and heat, especially in the hot summer here in Portugal, we are blessed with a whole range of plants that will provide protection, colour and oxygenation for your pond.
We can decorate your pond with species such as Water Lillies (Nymphaea), with their large round pads floating on the water surface, but as their colours and sizes are quite endless we will need to choose carefully as colour combinations need to be taken into consideration and keep them to a minimum as they can be quite vigorous in growth and end up taking over your pond and upsetting the whole balance of your ponds’ eco-system. Water Lillies will bloom for several months and, as long as you have depths between 12 inches and 1 metre, have several hours of sunshine and keep them away from splashy fountains, you should be able to look forward to little islands of yellows, pinks and reds.
The category of plants that grow around a ponds’ edge are known as Marginals, and cover a huge spectrum from those just requiring a wet soil, to those needing to be sat in several centimetres of water in order to survive. Many people mistakenly plant them in rockery beds and then wonder why they haven’t fared too well – Cannas are a prime example. They really do love wet, peaty conditions and look great on the edge of ponds. We tend to use the ‘mini’ or ‘nana’ varieties for smaller ponds, but for anything larger, we can use the standard Canna Lillies, which will stretch up to about a metre in height. If you want some plants to sit in the water itself, we can plant Bullrushes (Typhas) and Arum Lillies (Zantedeschia Aethiopica). We would use the smaller species of Bullrushes but you will still need to carry out yearly autumnal maintenance to thin out all of your water plants to stop them choking the ponds’ resources.
The other consideration for your pond or lake is what type of pump you want with regard to water splash and flow. A pump will provide plenty of aeration and some great visual effects as well as reduce mosquito build-up as they cannot reproduce in moving water. We recommend a good, recognised brand of submersible pond pump, which can be connected to a timer switch. It doesn’t need to run all the time, especially not through the night, but 6-8 hours a day will keep the bugs at bay and any fish happy. A pond design we have used many times, positions the pump so that the water flows out of a terracotta pot or urn and cascades down onto rocks or stones before entering the pond.
Fountain ideas for your Algarve garden
Just a simple small water feature, be it made from granite, marble or bamboo, is enough even for a small to medium sized garden.
Set on a water retaining vessel which is disguised and buried below ground, plus a small pump set to a timer, and you can experience the relaxing sound of trickling water throughout the day.
Gate and fencing options for your garden
Fencing and enclosures are essential in determining your boundaries as well as maximizing security. But within a landscape design, they can also act as great wind barriers and sun-traps, enabling you to grow your favourite climbers or delicate shrubs.
Mortared or dry stone walls, bespoke wooden trellis designs or simple chain-link fencing can be constructed to suit your specific needs.
We have a large portfolio of design and concepts that will further enhance your Portuguese garden. Contact us for more information.
Decking ideas for your Portuguese garden
A decking area is a perfect setting for al-fresco dining, be it overlooking a panoramic view on your roof terrace, a space for entertaining or an extra space for sun-loungers around the pool.
It's also an ideal solution to cover over old tiles, concrete or a troublesome patch of weeds or grass.
There is a whole spectrum of materials on offer these days from pre-prepared pine panelling; ipe (Brazilian Walnut) decking strips or the maintenance free composite that comes in a whole range of different colours. So plenty of options to suit all budgets and tastes.
Steps, fascias and lighting can all be incorporated to make this chilled out area, more relaxed and convenient for all hours of the day and night.
Pergolas and trellises for your Portuguese garden
Pergolas and gazebos offer plenty of structural height and architecture to your Portuguese garden. We often use them as entrances or doorways to another part or theme of your garden landscape design.
They can be designed from pine, eucalyptus or chestnut in a modern or rustic style that blends in superbly with your overall concept. As well as providing height, they are great for incorporating shade with the addition of trailing a whole host of colourful twining climbers or vines.
Honeysuckle, jasmine, passion flowers, pyrostegia or pandoras love weaving amongst the wooden frames and bring sparkles of colour and divine heady scents that will light up your garden.
From a small entrance pathway, a shady car park area or meadering maze, we can create something to suit all bugets and tastes.
Furnishing your Portuguese Garden
Ornaments, statues, figurines, bird baths and gazebos; all enhance the finished product of a garden, whether they are situated at a focal point, as a surprise at the end of a meandering path, or simply as a decorative edge to a water feature. They give an extra dimension, serenity and often a mystical enhancement that entices you to spend more time enjoying your garden.
We utilise raw materials on hand here in Portugal, and turn them into beautiful natural sculptures to grace any garden. Wood is plentiful in this part of the world and very sustainable – and we use eucalyptus, cork-oak and chestnut; pressure wash them, dry and treat them in a protective oil and the gnarled clumps of nature take on a complete architectural character of their own. Quite often we utilise parts of the wood that have decomposed, add soil and small aloes and agaves of even trailing geraniums. Hollowed out cork is an ideal candidate for this. With the cork oak being moisture retentive, you don’t even have to water it so much.
Another form of stunning wooden architecture can be derived from driftwood or petrified wood. Years of battling winds or saturation from the salt water will carve an array of different shapes and forms into all types of wood. With just a simple bit of cleaning and protective varnish, they add a wonderfully esoteric dimension to your gravel beds and gardens.
The other preferred favourite ornament material for the garden is stone, be it a natural stone wall or a huge, strategically placed slab. They provide year round interest when your perennials die back in the winter, whether you use them low and wide to emulate anchors, or tall and skinny as sentinels; they provide stunning accents within the garden architecture.
The staple favourite of natural garden ornaments here in Porrtugal is the terracotta pot. Very large urns can command prices up to a thousand euros, and although they do look undeniably stunning in a garden, chipped, broken, stained or smashed pots can be leaned or sunken into your gravel, soil or pine bark and give an immediate ornamental
