The Artificial Lawn Hub - Steve Lincoln Hubber

Steve Hubber

Steve Hubber

One Of My Favourite Installs We Did :

Cheddington.

Boxing Day - Mum Round For Impromptu Music Jam :

We’re all fairly musical and have a taste for the ridiculous.

Sophia popped over to see Mum - which inexorably lead to a jam.
No photos of Soph though.. but Lorraine may have a video …. 😬☺️

Fun.

Finished A Project Last Week ~
The Sparky’s Knoll :

Another recommendation from one of my favourite clients - Jimmy.
His mate needed his yard sorting.
It was an unlevel space used for golf n goalkeeping practice.

An attractive yard.

Jimmy asked to take metre (and half) off the laurels, install a sleeper break and artificial lawn the area.
Me being me, did above n beyond.
I levelled more, took ivy off fence and placed bark under laurels.

This was the week of the Queen Elizabeth’s Death.

He’s over the moon with it.
His kind and humorous wife kept me sane with tea and breakfast everyday.

Roll out of lawn was a challenge due to the curves, alcoves and inclines.. ☺️

Enjoyable one in Hemel.

One of my last ever gardens this I recon.
Soon be hanging up spade as I have an opportunity to work in film industry.
Been so rewarding and a pleasure meeting and getting to know the clients.
Some becoming friends..

😊

Finished A Wee One Today ~
The Pilot’s Parent’s Golf Tee Project :

A stressless 3 day project for a couple in their seventh decade.
The wife - a chatty woman with razor sharp Jewish humour.

Did this jobby with Self and The Arctic Monkeys and Gorillaz.

Clients asked for patch for the hubby to tee off from - he still plays regular.
Got to this one during the drought.

If you doubt the climate has changed, ask a landscaper.

As a tip, the clients gifted me with grapefruit marmalade and a jar of blackberry n apple jam. Nice.

Pleasant this one.

Finished A Hot One Today -
The Mad Dogs And Englishman Project :

We too watched the reels and read the news about this week’s heatwave .. we planned to do half days and hang it over the weekend.
But, we basically worked with the shadows - and was able to finish the project in 20 hours over three hot days.
😊

Our large August project was postponed until September due to a client sadly having a bereavement.
But these clients here next to Luton Airport said they would fill the gap for us before our next one. 😊

Lovely people who were initially uncertain about artificial lawn but are very pleased with the result.

Special thanks to my lovely lad Carl who ‘braved’ the heat with me to get this done for the client’s weekend.

Attractive space..

Finished Another One This Week -
Norwegian’s Wood :

This is the most beautiful of settings.

In Tring Station there is a majestic house with a long long manicured garden.
At the end of that garden was an overgrown unlevel wooded area with countryside beyond.

The clients tracked me down to transform this area for their children to play in. I believe a trampoline will be placed in one corner.

I decided to push the boat out on this one and levelled it, taking 9 inches of soil at the rear and moved it down to the front, installed a retaining sleeper (cemented onto posts). Then installed blocking around trees.

They have a dog and two Norwegian Forest Cats.

I’ve used Norwegian Zac The Cat on this post to guide you round the area. 👍🏻☺️

The garden backs onto corn fields and rolling hills.

Carl missed the first couple of days due to Covid, then I caught it also 🙄☺️.
But when we recovered, I think we nailed this one.

Scroll through all the photographs below to see the transformation.

Lovely friendly clients. Enjoyable this one.

Cranfield Aerodrome Project Leave Review :

Thanks.

Our pleasure.

Finished Another -
The Cranfield Aerodrome Melt :

Horsey friend’s Mum needed her double front garden ripping out and smartening up.
The clients are also Amelie’s friend’s grandparents… still with me?

Unfortunately, Self didn’t take any before photographs on this one 😱 - mainly due to the fact we had to work swiftly in the scorching heat next to an Aerodrome whilst The UK experienced the highest temps in history.
We were hot. 😬

… luckily for us, the clients kept us alive with drinks every 45minutes, a large parasol, chairs, a table and a fan.. with lunch every day too 😳.
Such kind folk. 😊

So we took out unwanted shrubs and purple slate, and the standard economy new build slabs leading to front door.

We blocked around two shrubs they wished to keep and created a path to front door and framed the lawn areas with blocks.

Then we installed some zero maintenance artificial lawn on both areas - as they have another place on Lanzarotte - thus needed a low maintenance solution.

Clients love it.
Now a tidy crisp wee area ready for pots and a large ceramic pig.

Boy it was hot though.. 🥵☺️

Finished Two Bite Size Projects -
Both Returning Clients :

👍🏻

This year seems to be about being re-hired. Nice.

The first three images show a reconstituted slate bed.
We’ve become quite close to this senior gay couple in a village location in Buzzard County.

They hired me 6 years ago to install artificial lawn and a hedge out front of their property.
Last year we installed a double lawn, sleepers and a block paved patio extension and pathway.
Today we finished the last remaining part of their garden.
We put a foundation down and liner for their rear pot bed.
I also shaped the rear beech hedge and a large shrub.

One of the gentlemen is very ill - so we made them a priority to complete their garden to enjoy the warm months.
Lovely guys.

The other one day project was probably the smallest I’ve done.
Again, a returning client - previously I did her rear garden.
This one was simple; a narrow strip separating her frontage from her neighbour to put pots into.

Pleasant couple of quickies..

Clients Leave Review ~ The Best Friends’ Yard Project :

Previous clients leave a pleasant review.

Thank you guys.

It was fun.

Finished A Project Yesterday ~ The Best Friends Yard Project :

There was lots of hugs, tears and laughs on this one.
It seems most of our clients open up to us whilst working in their yards.
We see real peoples lives, their interesting histories and highs n lows.
It’s certainly been an education running this business over the years. It’s always about the people.

This project was no exception.
This was about loyalty, friendship and support.
I promised not to give too much information.
This garden belongs to two besties in their 50s.
After both experiencing divorce and the strife that goes with that, they decided to live in the same house for the fun of it.
They plan to travel the world soon ~ hence making their garden maintenance free.
One of the ladies - was given ‘the all clear’ on our last day there! Was pretty emotional. The other has been supporting her through this difficult time.

There is real love there between these ‘straight’ women. Was heart warming to say the least.

We shared much laughter, tears and hugs on this project.
And boy they’re funny.

So… they asked us to cement in some block edging, level lawn, install artificial lawn and stepping stones from their Girl Cave from which they watched us graft ☺️

The asphalt you see is the foundation for resin shingle which will further enhance their yard.

A fabulous warm open couple of nutcases - enjoyable this one.

Finished Another One -
Victors (second) House :

Yet another re-hire - chuffed.

This client is quite a character.
Retired now, but was a hotel and business caterer - supplying major establishments n business.
A brilliant orator is Victor. ☺️

His stories are both entertaining and hilarious.
He started his career in Cannes at a top hotel - meeting A-Listers and characters - the stories! 😳

…anyway, I installed a putting green at the side of his house in a desirable postcode in Buzzard County couple of year back. An estate beset in Redwoods and Pines.

Last week I installed artificial lawn and blocking for his rental property closer to town. Met some great people while there.

Carl n Self set to and installed in just days - as the sun hit 34 degrees 🥵 - we retreated on the Friday at lunchtime due to the dangerous heat in the shadeless garden.

Victor over moon.

Here’s some snaps.
Scroll to the end of photos to see the putting green we installed a couple of years ago at his property.

Enjoyable..

Finished A Project Last Week - Another Previous Client Hires Us Again :

Yet another client rehired us to do extra work.
Just a small job this time.
Chuffed.

These guys are in top three of our fav clients. Pretty special people these two.

Two or three years back we created their back yard - last week we returned and popped up a half fence and framed drive with blocking..

More shingle coming this week.

Pleasant spending time with these guys again..

Clients Of The “Two Year Pause Project” Leave A Kind Review :

Thank you.

Was a genuine pleasure to get to know you guys. So happy you like your garden.

Finished Another Project Yesterday -
Thrice Hired Project :

Ooh.. about 5 year ago this pleasant couple hired me to install artificial lawn at their home on an estate in Buzzard County.
Two year ago they re-hired Self to extend their garden.
Three month ago the client called to ask me to install some artificial lawn in their new home in Leightin Buzzard.

Great clients. Cute dog.
They kept Carl and Self alive with drinks and cow biscuits as we microwaved ourselves in a sun trap garden.

A large area which needed levelling from rear into the left hand side.. must have transplanted a tonne and half of soil.

There is not one right angle to install into - so it took every once of experience to judge how much lawn fitted the awkward polygon…

An easy going project on which we conquered the ground to provide the clients and their young children and puppy with a large space to mess around in.

Nice one.
Here’s some pics…

Last Client - The Raised Sleeper Beds, Blocking And REAL Lawn Install - Leaves A Review :

Thanks Guys.

A serious pleasure working for you guys.

Completed A Project This Week -
Phase Two - Real Lawn - Following The Sleeper Beds We Installed At Christmas :

We were re-hired to lay two natural turf lawns into a giant raised bed system that we installed in the winter. 🙂

Over Christmas, Carl and Self worked in freezing conditions and created our most favourite split level sleeper bed planters.

The clients re-hired us last week to lay the natural turf - as now the temperatures are more accommodating for turf install.
We also installed an area of blocks for more pots and maybe some furniture.

We absolutely love these clients.
Very very relaxed and welcoming couple who are passionate about their garden.

The turf is the icing on the cake - and has produced a space that rates as one of my favourite projects to date.

Was great to return and see the raised beds and the climbing arbour we installed bursting with life.
Such a buzz.
Soon enough the garden will be flanked by climbers as they reach maturity.

As always, we paid close attention to every step of the laying procedure, and produced a pleasant ambience that sets off the planters.

Will miss these guys - top clients..

Here’s some photographs of the completed project, including photos from phase one and before.

Proud of this one..

Finished Another Project Yesterday -
The Two Year Pause Project :

A family in Leighton Buzzard called me way back before COVID Lockdown One to level their garden and install artificial lawn.

Due to their other home projects and the pandemic, the project was put on a shelf for two years - and last week I finally gave them a garden to relax in and a yard for their boys to play around on.

They are pretty handy and intend to cover the trampoline legs with trellis and planters and hang two chunky gates where the old garage door is and tackle an unsightly drain next to trampoline.

The clients were absolutely spot on.
Kind, funny and engaged. Their boys seriously a credit to them.

The original garden dipped and rose - so I blended the inclines to give them more of a level playing area.
Also edged the area and constructed steps to rear gates.

I did this on my own as Carl started another garden 4 minutes away.

Clients are so pleased, will miss the chats and generosity of these dudes..
Pleasant project this.

Here’s some photographs….

Finished Another One Yesterday -
The Luton School Academy Mud Kitchen And Garden :

We were happy to have been chosen from a few companies to create three raised beds, a mud bed two supply the little people mud for their mud kitchen and 720 blocks.

The area was an unattractive and unusable space between to school storage areas on the playground.

We worked during the schools two week Easter break while the children were out.

The project was a tricky one, due to the site being on a sharp incline left to right and front to rear.. so we had to install the 720 blocks by blending the twists n turns of the ground whilst not creating an unlevel area for the children.

Really pulled out the stops on this tricky project - the Head Teacher and the Academy Business are very pleased with the result.

We had an air ambulance land in the school servicing the near by Luton and Dunstable Hospital - yards from where we were working at the school.

Pleasant challenging project.

Here’s some photographs.

Finished Another One Today :
The Centre-Ville de Buzzard County :

♥️

This project has gone straight in to joint number one spot with two others.

The clients were absolutely top notch.
Friendly, engaged and made us feel like we’d come to visit, not install a garden.
Even got a cuddle on day of completion.

They painted the fence after week one and the sleeper bed they installed a couple of years ago.

The lady is a stunning human being and her husband a Ewan McGregger type action man.
Both originally from Liverpool with a story to tell.

The property is a charismatic place beset in the old part of town.
We joined up with neighbours and the delivery drivers and skip lorries worked miracles in those tight spaces.

The clients wanted an artificial lawn, a wee blocked area created from engineering blocks and a fence dropping one end by eight inches.
We used strong sturdy scaffold boards under fence and made friends with a senior pipe smoking character on the other side of fence who has tamed the towns pigeons.

We topped off the project with Scottish Pebbles neith the conifers.

The sun shone proudly most of the project - and Carl n Self now wear a tanned face. Nice.

The levels took some planning and we used a large roll to save joins.

The guy built a bar for entertaining and asked us to pop in a golf hole next to the bar.

A truly special project due to the clients and the location.

Here’s some pics…

Finished Another Project Last Week -
The Hidden House Project :

Pretty house, now with a pretty garden, this listed property, tucked away in a small modern hamlet, houses a lovely family and a dog that was way too friendly to be an American Bully.
Kids helped - so cute. ☺️

All in the prep this one, as the lawn was uncomfortably close to a row of conifers that roots needed to be cleared lawn side before we begun.

Showers n sunshine on this one as Spring showed us it was on its way with Robins and ladybirds giving us hope that better times are just round the corner.

First install of a brand new model of lawn supplied by my supplier Green As Grass.

Carl - thanks as always.

Beautiful result.
Nice.

Last Client Leaves Review ~
The Client Garden Rescue Project :

Carl

Thank you Jane.

Finished A Small One Last Week ~
The Client Garden Rescue Project :

Two days before Storm Eunice spiralled across The UK, Carl n Self worked rapidly to transform a small yard - replacing a quagmire with a clean artificial lawn.

The client is lovely.
She desperately wanted to get this done before her employment circumstance changed.
So we pulled out all the stops to make this an affordable project for her. 😊

The original standard quote was untenable due to her budget at this time, so we sort to find a solution.

As I wanted to help, I contacted Odette at my lawn supplier Green As Grass to see if we could find a piece of lawn to accommodate.
Odette found one, which enabled me to tailor the cost to match her budget.
I also discounted my pay to further assist.
I’m soft 😏☺️.

This little garden in the summer is lush with colour, height and interest from the borders. Think cottage.
She’s a good gardener. 😊

We still didn’t skimp on the process and used the standard foundation and cemented blocks as normal.
The drain, the client will cover with a bit of creativity.
The join we joined not using adhesive but nails this time. Not the normal process but that would have increased the cost.

All in all ~ a satisfying little project and a happy client - all completed just before The Storm hit Aylesbury. 😊

Client Of The ‘Client Of “The Chunky Handsome Super Planter System Project” Leaves An Official Review :

Thanks Good People.
Pleasure.

Carl

Completed Another Project Last Week -
The Chunky Handsome Super Planter System Project :

☺️

A piece of work this.

A creative open minded generous couple hired us to create a strong two tier planter one side of the garden and a single large bed on the other.
Plus a climber pergola both sides.
Great clients.

She isn’t as mobile than she would like, so needed an attractive workable planting solution for her gardening passion.

Took some designing this one.
The most complex planters we have installed to date.

It took a staggering :

61 sleepers
300 eight inch screws
14 - 4x4 chunky posts
Enormous amount of sand n cement
Yards of protective liner.
1000 staples
4 tonne of quality top soil..
And more. 😊

Carl n Self worked in freezing temperatures- some days only able to do 4 hours due to ice and rain.
We battled on ☺️ kept alive by copious amounts of tea, coffee, “70s biscuits” and bacon n egg butties.. thank you.

Client happy now to satisfy her passion.

Can’t wait to see this garden in Spring and Summer - it has mature trees and a stunning planting plan.

We shall return to install a natural lawn soon, once the soil temperature increases.

♥️

Finished A Project Today -
The Retaining Wall Cavalry :

We were contacted by the owners of a new build in Bucks initially to lay an artificial lawn - which we install in phase two in January.

The owner had a fence and retaining wall built by UK’s leading house building company.
But unfortunately and surprisingly, their work didn’t meet the owners standards.

So, the developers asked our clients to find someone to install the retaining wall - naturally he contacted us - as we are to install the lawn.

In two days Carl n Self went in there and created the retaining wall - all bolted onto hidden 4 inch posts that were cemented in away from the eye.

The fence that ‘came with the house’ also had issues - so that is to be replaced also.

So, we’ve created a super strong chunky retaining wall, ready for us to go in in January and install a lawn into.

Client is one superb dude - super chatty and happy at last he has a retaining wall to hold up his garden. ☺️

Nice little inbetweener this one.

Watch this space in Jan when we fit the lawn..

Received Another Review Just Now :

Nicola in Pitstone just sent a review over.

Thanks guys.

Cheddington Client Leaves A Message :

😊

Finished Another Project Last Week -
Yet Another Re-Hire - Cheddington Retaining Wall :

The last two photos show a project we did for this super friendly family in Cheddington back in March.
A side garden.
Last week they asked us to install a retaining wall at the rear.

A tricky project due to snow, ice n rain ☺️.

Plus we were working around very old building work carried out years back by a builder.
Took a lot of design to create this wall around strange levels of the old patio and an old step that was loose to say the least.

The family will replace both the step and patio next year.
But for now we worked around it.

A pleasant home to work in.

Plus they bought us fish n chips again.
😊

Here’s some snaps..

Toddington Client Sends Over Project Complete Photo :

Few weeks ago we completed a project for a client who wanted to spruce up an ugly unwelcoming area at the rear of his yard for his wife and grandkids.

We went in and levelled a concrete area and protected a raised decking terrace.
We then installed the artificial lawn.

The newly retired gent has now put his finishing touches to the area with lighting, steps and slabs.

Nice.

Carl