As you sow, so shall you reap

PUTTING money into property has been a no-brainer for the past five or 10 years — but the equally smart people also put their money into plants.

Landscaping pays dividends, and the vendors of 7 Greendale are set to reap the rewards of a spend worth €25,000 in today’s terms.

Prioritising where to spend the money on a new home is a struggle — but the garden is an investment which goes on growing.

The couple who a few years ago moved here and drafted in garden designer Martin Brady at the start.

to plan and oversee their front and back gardens.

That was just five or six years ago, and already the maturity is startling, with complete privacy in the good-sized back garden, along with a constantly changing backdrop of colour and horticultural interest.

The garden at this property is big enough to have distinct sections, almost themes.

The eye-catcher is probably the subtle water feature, which decants a soothing supply of water into a pond next to the 500 sq ft patio, emerging from the deep red cover of a Japanese maple.

A business relocation to Kilkenny brings about the sale of this home and Sonia Irwin of James G Coughlan Associates is confident of its €950,000-plus price.

For this, a buyer will get a 1,950 sq ft detached four-bedroom home which feels much larger.

In perfect order, it is clear the owners put a bit of extra cash into the finishes (Roman blinds as well as other quality soft fabrics and curtains, for example) and the garden.

Two of its four bedrooms are en suite, built-in wardrobes are plentiful, all rooms qualify as doubles in the size stakes and the master bedroom is large enough to comfortably accommodate a sofa underneath its bay window.

There’s a fine 20’ by 13’ lounge, with maple floor linking via oak double doors to a dining room, with patio access.

There’s a study or play room to the left of the hall, and behind is a bit of a surprise — a generous 21’ by 16’ kitchen/dining room.

The few extra feet of width is an obvious bonus for a room which will get heavy family traffic.

A utility room has garden access to a side of the house which is used for ‘chores’ — there’s a shed, lots of storage for garden furniture and waste recycling, and strategically-planted bamboo screens out the neighbouring house.

There’s another access to the back garden at the other side of the house, and off-street parking in front on a cobbled drive for up to three cars.

The setting is close enough to Douglas village to walk to the shops, schools or churches.

For the other devotions, Douglas Golf Club is just over the Maryborough Woods boundary, with development and relocation plans for the golf club inching forward.