Schulzer and Watson has been undertaking the installation of gardens in and around Cape Town since 1999. The company is known for the quality and sophistication of its work, the attention to detail and transparency in dealings with clients. Many years of experience have made the company expert in dealing with the tricky soil and climate of the Cape and a wide range of clients needs. A complete service is offered through all stages of installation to completion of the garden, including coordination and project management of other outside contractors such as pools and tennis courts.
Heimo qualified in Germany in 1997 as a Landscape Architect and Landscape Engineer. After practical experience working for contractors involved in the installation of sculpture gardens and domestic gardens in Munich, he fell in love with Cape Town and worked at Kirstenbosh Gardens. Heimo particularly enjoys the challenge of hard landscaping details and is dedicated to fine quality installations.
Franchesca qualified as a Horticulturist and Landscape Designer in the 1980\'s. She worked initially with the Durban Corporation in their landscape design office and natural areas section. On moving to Cape Town, she became one of three directors of a major local landscape contracting company operating in both commercial and domestic sectors. Since 1995, she has specialised in domestic gardens and is known for a refined and chic style with both contemporary and classic plantings.
The company is situated in the Westlake Business Area of Cape Town, where it occupies its own building with a landscaped garden in a contemporary style. The garden has a large pond with collections of water lilies, surrounded with mixed plantings featuring indigenous and other ornamental grasses. Clients are encouraged to visit the offices if they wish.
Jenny Newman: who is the office administrator and also sources all plants and materials
Louise Nurrish: a qualified Horticulturist who handles all aspects of costing
Ilsa Snell: bookkeeper
Belinda Kemp: administrative assistant
Carrie Latimer: has a degree in Fine arts from Stellenbosch University and has been working on design for Schulzer and Watson since early 2007.
Jerome Davids: Supervisor who has level 3 in Landscape Management and runs up to 2 installation teams
Christopher Mjekula: Supervisor who has level 3 in Landscape Management and runs up to 2 installation teams
Site Foremen: Patrick Mcoli, Michael Mnani, Lewis Sofika, Donald Maqabuka and Dereck Jali all have level 1 in Landscape Management and many years of experience.
There is also a team of qualified bricklayers.
In addition to installing gardens for Franchesca Watson the company also installs the gardens of the following associated designers:
Mary is a qualified Architect who practiced in Cape Town and London, but who has now specialized in garden design.
Tirzah is a qualified Landscape Architect who has practiced in Cape Town, London, Durban and Johannesburg. Tirzah now undertakes commissions for domestic gardens.
The entire process is personalized with as much client involvement as desired. Initial meetings to discuss the concept and particular requirements of the client and the site are held with the designer and the brief will be confirmed in writing. The long term maintenance of the garden will be discussed during the initial discussions with the client as this affects the design and plant choice, although maintenance is not undertaken by Schulzer and Watson. At this stage a quote will be given by the designer for the design stage. On acceptance, the design stage will involve analysis of the site, meetings with other professionals involved on the project, discussions with the client, production of a scaled design concept sketch, further discussions following presentation of the design concept, modifications until final concept is approved. Once the design is finalized, a detailed quote is prepared by Schulzer and Watson. This sets out exactly what materials will be used and in what quantities. It also details many variables such as cartage and labour and will give an estimate of the time required for the installation of the garden. The quotes have been designed to give the client a conception of what will go into the landscape, and follow a detailed analysis of the site by Heimo and requirements for falls, drainage and soil amelioration will be included along with any other specialized requirements of the site and design. The quote aims to be as flexible as possible so that items can be removed or added easily from the quote. Generally the work of an irrigation subcontractor is included along with other relevant specialized subcontractors, such as tree surgeons, stonewalling, boreholes and pumping systems. The company offers project management of the entire outside space around a house if required, i.e. pools, tennis courts, garden lighting, small building works, decking and other paving treatments, driveways, wood and steel screens.
On acceptance of the quotation for installation, a programme will be drawn up and the procedure explained to the client. Other interfaces such builders, security and lighting contractors will be factored into the programme. The project will be guided by Heimo who will undertake the project management, including any technical detailing and practical resolution of any design issues in conjunction with your designer. The site will be managed by a Supervisor and a dedicated Foreman with a team of men experienced in the tasks to be undertaken in the garden. During installation, plant choices will be discussed with the client. This is done by way of plant lists prepared by the designer for each section of the garden, which then are adjusted after discussion. Key plants such as instant trees may be the result of visits to nurseries together with the client. Client involvement is encouraged. The best way forward for the long term maintenance of the garden will be discussed and recommendations made. On completion of the project, a handover meeting will be held when the irrigation system will be explained in detail to the client or the maintenance contractor. Key aspects of the maintenance will be discussed with the client and/or the maintenance contractor.
When building a garden, be aware of the following pitfalls The Cape has long dry windy summers. This is the time that you want your garden to look its best and when most of the plants are growing and flowering. Correct watering is essential. An irrigation system (sometimes with a borehole) is recommended except in a very few exceptional cases, and care should be taken to select accredited contractors. Irrigation pipes should be buried at least 400mm below the ground and use of microjets should be kept to a minimum. Stations of the system should separate grass from shrubberies and adequate overspray (ie overlapping of each sprinklers delivery) is important. Stations should not mix different types of sprinklers. Good topsoil is absolutely essential to the success of the garden and topsoil is a very scarce commodity in the Cape Pensinsula. Good topsoil mixes are available and should be made up to suit the requirements of the site and the plants envisaged. Do not be tempted to economise with cheap topsoils or topsoil of incorrect depths. It is also vitally important in the Cape that soils have good drainage qualities. When adding topsoil it should be installed correctly to avoid subsiding of filled areas. With many areas having heavy soils with a high clay content, and an annual rainfall of between 500 and 800mm per annum usually over only four months, correct drainage is essential. Rainwater needs to be directed and/or channeled from the roof of the house and other hard surfaces. Compacted soils may require treatment. Sometimes a subsoil drainage systems will be required. The hard landscaping elements of the garden eg walls, mowing edges, will form an integral part of the design and will offset the soft planting to its best advantage. These harder elements require to be founded correctly and have suitable understructure. Care should be taken with plant choice. In addition to stylistic considerations, plants should be suitable to the conditions of the site: weather elements(such as wind, shade, sun), the soil conditions (sandy, clayey, acid etc), water availability and level of maintenance intended.
The success of the garden depends on the maintenance. This includes the weekly maintenance (mowing, weeding, trimming, cleaning), the regular feeding (fertilizing) of the garden, timeous pest control, and the seasonal tasks in the garden (pruning, winter clean out and replanting, reprogramming of the irrigation, etc). Many South African gardens employ the services of a dedicated person in the garden who may or may not live on the property. This person can be supervised by the home owner or an outside garden professional. Alternatively, the services of a professional garden maintenance company may be used.
Have the irrigation system (and/or the borehole pump) serviced and any adjustments made including raising sprinkler heights if required. Reset the irrigation times as the rain decreases. Complete planting up any gaps in the garden. Commence feeding the garden (preferably with organic fertilizers) and consider a trace element treatment for any plants showing nutrient deficiency signs. Top up on mulching (compost or otherwise) so that the garden will achieve optimum growth and has that lovely rich look. Plant out any spring annuals that you may want. Consider repotting any pots. Watch the lawn growth carefully and change to mowing more often when necessary. Start to watch out for weeds!
Do regular checks on the efficacy of the irrigation system and have any problems corrected timeously. Reset ir rigation times to compensate for the lack of rain. Keep to your feeding programme of both shrubberies and lawns, preferably with organic fertilizers. Check if a trace element treatment is required in any parts of the garden. Keep an eye out for pests and treat early with organic methods if possible. Check regularly for lawn caterpillar in particular. Dead head the garden on an on-going basis. Lightly prune plants that are getting out of hand as necessary. Mow the lawns regularly, at least once a week. Keep up with the weeding! A garden that is well mulched will have less weeds and require less watering.
This is a holding period for Cape gardens. Most plants are at the end of flowering so keep up with the dead-heading as necessary. Gardens tend to look a bit tired and shabby. Lightly prune to keep things neat. Ease off on the fertilizing and mowing may slow down now. Irrigation is still very important to keep up until the temperatures drop and the rains commence. Deciduous plants will lose leaves now and much time will be spent raking and clearing gutters. Check all drainage systems, and staking of plants in readiness for the winter storms. Most important, plan your winter cleanup and any replanting and reorganization of the garden which will be done during winter.
When the rains commence turn the irrigation system down to only a minute or so each station. This keeps the system running thereby avoiding blockage problems when you reset in Spring. Winter is the time for a major garden clean up and reorganization, setting up the garden for the coming summer season. Prune back all those plants that require it, including the roses. Prune also for shape. Consider having any treework necessary undertaken now. Take up, divide and replant any perennials that have spread too far or need regeneration. Change any planting schemes now if you have new plans. Then let the garden rest and survive the winter. Towards the end of winter or in very early spring, apply a good thick layer of compost mulch in readiness for the garden\'s growth period. Analyse the garden during winter for any drainage problems which can be rectified at a drier time.