Three dream houses to buy if you love gardening

By Grace McGettigan
20th Jun 2018

Three dream houses to buy if you love gardening

Are you an ambitious gardener keen to get your fingers dirty? Not only is gardening an enjoyable pasttime, it’s also good for your health. Bord Bia, the Irish food board, says people who spend time in the garden are inclined to breathe better quality air; revitalizing both the body and mind. What’s more, it lowers our blood pressure. The human eye can see more shades of green than any other colour. Green triggers a response in our sympathetic nervous system; relieving tension in the blood vessels and lowering blood pressure as a result.

Gardeners can save on gym memberships too, with approximately 243 calories burned within 30 minutes of pushing a lawnmower. Turning a compost pile for 15 minutes can burn in excess of 100 calories, while lifting a full gallon watering can in each hand is equivalent to eight-pound dumbbells. Plus, you have the satisfaction of living in your own bespoke, floral oasis. If you’re an avid gardener in search of your perfect workspace, have a look at these three properties on the market right now:

2 Blakeney, Thormanby Road, Howth – €675,000

With large, luscious gardens, this two-bedroom house on Thormanby Road is a gardener’s playground. Spend your mornings watering the potted plants or trimming back the hedges. Relax beneath the trees or sit on your private, sandstone patio overlooking the flowerbeds. The 1,453 square feet Victorian house is hidden behind electronic gates, down a sweeping driveway. Inside the home, you’ll find a spacious living room; kitchen; two double bedrooms, and a modern bathroom with a free-standing tub.

Photo: Gallagher Quigley via Daft.iePhoto: Gallagher Quigley via Daft.iePhoto: Gallagher Quigley via Daft.iePhoto: Gallagher Quigley via Daft.ie

Ashton, Sandyford Road, Dundrum – €1,250,000

This five-bedroom home on Sandyford Road sits on grounds of approximately 225 square metres (or 2,420 square feet), with a large, secluded garden located to the rear. Measuring over 320 feet in length, it boasts numerous trees, flowerbeds and shrubbery. The garden also features a raised decking area; perfect for al fresco dining after a long day of pruning plants. The property’s front garden is bright and full of greenery too. Carefully groomed bushes line the driveway and the perfectly manicured lawn. A side-garage is also included, giving you ample space to store your tools and equipment.

Photo: Quillsen via Daft.iePhoto: Quillsen via Daft.iePhoto: Quillsen via Daft.iePhoto: Quillsen via Daft.ie

Wilford House, Shankill – €4,350,000

If you’ve recently hit the jackpot in the national lottery, why not invest in this gorgeous Georgian house in Shankill? Located on seven acres of landscaped grounds, the six-bedroom property oozes character and prestige. While much of the land is consumed by trees and carefully mowed lawns, the space could be beautifully transformed by large flowerbeds. Flowers would give the onsite water-features (such as the pond shown below) a much-needed boost of colour. Other features within the house include a home-cinema; playroom and winding staircase.

Photo: Knight Frank via Daft.iePhoto: Knight Frank via Daft.iePhoto: Knight Frank via Daft.iePhoto: Knight Frank via Daft.ie