Garden Genius-the gateway to completeness and self -fulfillment

 

By Robert Zvidza

Garden Genius Private Limited is a professional garden designing and landscaping company based in Harare. They have become a household name in Zimbabwe through their superb garden designs.

 

Homes & Styles Magazine recently caught up with Helena Du Coudray, the Managing Director and owner of Garden Genius, to talk about her company and her passion for creating beautiful outdoor living spaces.

 

This is her story.

 

“I studied landscaping at a college in Cape Town when I finished high school but l found myself on a different career path of Public Relations. I had a very long career in Public Relations where I worked for different big companies in the country. I then got tired of wearing high-heeled shoes and stockings and decided to start Garden Genius.

 

“We started from humble beginnings in 1997. At that time there was only one company in the country that did landscaping owned by the well-known landscaper Errol Tarr. We have progressed since then to where we are.

 

“We pride ourselves in having survived a  very bumpy economic situation in 2008 and have since grown to become a household brand in Zimbabwe. Experience counts,” she says.

 

Over the years Garden Genius has created thousands of gardens for residential homes, corporates, mines, and retail outlets around the country and has now purchased modern 3D equipment and software to enhance their garden designs.

 

“With this 3D equipment we are able to design a garden virtually and a client has the chance to see exactly how their garden will look and we can change virtually anything the client wants. The gardens usually turn out exactly the same or even better than the drawings,” said Helena.

 

But what inspires her? “I like clean homes, I don’t like clutter and I work with different colours and themes. These have to match. I like modern straight lines and energy has to flow. One has to feel good inside.

 

“Over the years of landscaping in Harare, I have become aware of the climate. The weather has become erratic and it’s very difficult to find the balance between plants that prefer dry conditions and water-loving plants so we’re very careful in choosing which plants to use. We have to respect the water situation and the environment so we’ve resolved to use a lot of stones and succulents in our designs.  

 

“We use suitable plants which last for a longer period of time. We don’t use annuals (plants that quickly bloom and fade away) rather we go for perennials (which bloom throughout the year) as well as succulents which provide contrasting colours - white against green, red against yellow and we also balance leaf textures and shapes.”

 

Garden Genius, according to Helena, also makes use of Japanese plants that are evergreen perennials and often have an overall harmonious shape with stylish foliage or flowers. They are slow growers and tend to have a peaceful presence.

 

To make their work easier Garden Genius has established a nursery with a vast selection of healthy and established landscaping plants.

 

“This makes our work much easier as we don’t have to run around looking for plants for our clients. We have a large amount of stock on hand and we are very fast. We take a maximum of three weeks to design and establish a normal garden.

 

Asked about her future plans with Garden Genius, Helena says they are satisfied with the level they’re at now.

 

“We are happy where we are, but I would want to get more into designing. I feel I am powerful with design. When I walk onto a site I can see what needs to be done at once in seconds, that’s my strength. I always make site visits to have a feel of the ground, soil texture, and availability of water.”

 

She has a few tips for those aspiring to have beautiful gardens.

 

“When you want to start a garden, it is good to have a plan first and be able to stick to it. You execute it bit by bit as and when you can afford it. At Garden Genius we put great emphasis on the preparation of the ground before planting by feeding the soil using natural decomposed manure.

 

 

“The colour of your garden wall is also extremely important in bringing out your garden. I like to use dark khaki grey. Even a Dura wall can be painted using the same colour,” she says.

 

So if you want a beautiful garden contact Garden Genius, you won’t be disappointed.