My hubby is a landscape gardener, and will try and answer some of your questions for you, he could give tips for what to do in the garden on a weekly or monthly basis if you like? (him writing this, not me) any way back to the "flat" not quite sure which variety they use, but the closest you can grow yourself is Cupressocyparis without getting to technical it's a hybrid between chamaecyparis and standard cupressus. "Hagerston grey" has a lovely grey-green foliage. "Leighton Green" is the greenest of them.
If you want to grow from cuttings, root semi-ripe cuttings in late summer (now) they will grow in full sunlight in well drained soil. Hope this helps!
Bryan.