Laurie Konigkramer and Rachel Chenery see landscaping and garden maintenance as more than just a job – it’s a way of life (and a great one at that)!
Laurie and Rachel grew up in Assagay and have a deep love for the area and its people. “I have always had a vision of owning a farm in the Assagay or Lello Valley, as we know it. That’s how we came up with the name for Lello Landscapes,” Laurie explains.
For the couple, this is very much a lifestyle business, with creating beautiful, functional gardens an extension of what they do at home. Over the past 12 years, Laurie and Rachel have transformed an eight-acre property in Assagay, clearing the land of thick invasive bush and building their dream home. “I spent many hours out here with a chainsaw, chopping down trees to get through to the pristine sourveld grassland we are surrounded by today,” Laurie continues. “It has been a beautiful thing, watching the property take shape as we develop each of the levels.”
Laurie and Rachel live at the highest point of the property, perched on the hillside below Kearsney College, with enviable views! We’ll bring you more about this very special home in the near future, so keep an eye out.
When it comes to transforming other people’s gardens, Laurie takes pride in simplicity well done. “There’s no point getting caught up making something impressive if it isn’t functional,” he says. Since 2005, Lello Landscapes has made its mark on hundreds of properties across the Upper Highway, providing practical, affordable solutions for upmarket homes.
There are three vital aspects to any garden plan:
- how much time the client wants to dedicate to their garden;
- practicalities (children, animals, water use); and
- personal taste.
Once these have been established, Laurie and his team will draw up a plan to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Accurate costing is an essential part of what Lello Landscapes offers and once the quote has been approved, the client can sit back and watch their new garden take shape, knowing that they are in safe hands. Laurie and his team will take care of all the details, so that what you receive is a complete garden, ready to be enjoyed.
Part of what makes Lello Landscapes so efficient and cost effective is the fact that Laurie and Rachel employ their own expert tradesmen to deliver top-quality hard landscaping, from paving to dry stone walling. “We have the most amazing staff and have a wonderful working relationship with them,” Rachel says. “They take great pride in their work and strive to be the best in everything they do.”
The company source their own rocks and grow their own plants in a nursery across the road from the couple’s home. “I am a plants man at heart and plants are central to all my designs, with hard landscaping tailored to each client’s taste,” Laurie says.
Having spent five years working as a supervisor at The Royal Botanic Gardens: Kew in England, Laurie indulged his love of plants, learning about a wide range of species. Today, he uses that knowledge to produce gardens that are rich with colour and variety, using both indigenous and exotic flora.
Another aspect of the business is GardenRite, an estate maintenance service that Rachel oversees, with contracts at Kirtlington Park and Chaceley, amongst others. The company has a staff compliment of 60 across the two divisions, professionally run and closely overseen by the owners.
If you’re looking for a simple, cost-effective solution for your garden, whether free-standing or across an estate or complex, get in touch with Laurie today.
073 785 6760 lellolandscapes@gmail.com www.lellolandscapes.co.za
