Rebecca Wallman Garden Design | FAQs

FAQs

This page should answer most queries you may have, but if you need any further information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. 

What is your working area? 

I am based in Sudbury, Suffolk. In addition to working throughout Suffolk and Essex, I am happy to take enquiries from the surrounding counties and London for suitable projects.

Do you offer a remote design service?

I have worked remotely before and am open to enquiries if you are outside of my normal working area, so please get in touch.

What are your office hours and how can I contact you?

My office hours are Monday to Friday 09.00-18.00. My preferred contact method is by email and is often the easiest way for me to respond if I cannot take a call due to meetings or other work commitments. You will also be made aware if I am out of the office for the day, or on leave, via an automated reply.

Do you charge for an initial consultation?

Yes. The initial consultation involves an extensive meeting with you on site to establish your requirements and desires for your garden, as well as taking you through the design process. This is followed up with a detailed report and quote. As this involves several hours’ work, I charge a fee to cover some of my time, but this will be refundable if you decide to engage me for the design work. My fee is £100.00 within a 10-mile radius of Sudbury and will be worked out on an individual basis outside of this area.

How much will a garden or planting design cost?

Design fees are bespoke to each project and are completely dependent on the amount of work, and services required. To be fair to the client, they are based on the individual project, and not worked out on the size of the garden. Some small spaces can contain lots of fine detailing, while some larger spaces can be simpler. My fee will be fully worked out after an initial meeting and brief. As a guide, my garden design fees range from £1,800 to £4,500 depending on which services clients, and the project require. This can vary from a layout design of the garden, to detailed planting plans, landscaper liaison, specifications, and detailed design drawings for bespoke elements in the garden. As a general guide, fees are between 10-15% of the build cost. Planting design fees will start much lower depending on the size of the area. Here is a link to an article on getting your garden designed and associated fees, which you may find useful.

My current hourly rates are as follows: Design and professional services: £70.00, Setting out plants/planting: £35.00

How is your fee charged?

Garden Design

Deposit Invoice: 30% of the total design fee payable before commencement of any work.

2nd Design Invoice: A further 50% of the total design fee upon completion and presentation of the concept.

Final Design Invoice: Balance payable upon completion and presentation of the presentation plan.

Planting Design

Deposit Invoice: 50% of the total design fee payable before commencement of any work.

Final Design Invoice: Balance payable upon completion and presentation of the planting plan.

All invoices to be paid within 5 working days by bank transfer.

What sort of budget will I need for a garden design and build?

The cost of the entire project will vary greatly depending on the size of the space and your requirements. A realistic starting budget is around £25,000 for a small garden, but this will increase with elements such as water features and lighting. Heavily hard-landscaped areas will cost more, as will spaces with significant levels, and elements such as outdoor kitchens and spa areas can push costs up to six figures. Consideration must also be given to ‘unknowns’ that may be uncovered at the build stage. Very few of us have an unlimited budget, so it really is a good idea when embarking on a project to realistically consider which are the most important elements on your wish list, and which are potentially the most costly. I will work collaboratively with you at every stage to ensure the built garden reflects your taste and requirements, as well as offering solutions to try to keep things within budget.

Will you keep costs within my proposed budget?

While I will endeavour to keep things within your budget, things outside of my control such as the rising cost of materials, means this cannot be guaranteed. However, the concept plan stage provides us with the opportunity to look at potential costs with a landscaper and discuss any proposed cost saving measures before embarking on the final design.

Will I need my garden surveyed?

Yes, a site survey is essential to be able to produce an accurate plan for your garden and to assess any potential issues regarding changes of level, soil structure, access, and so on.

This includes the following information.

• Footprints of all buildings within the site
• Walls & fences including height & type.
• Position of all ground floor doors and windows, including heights.
• All service covers and inspection covers.
• All pipes, drains and cables.
• Levels at regular intervals, all related to an OS using GPS.
• Change in surfaces and type.
• Trees with girth, spread & height.
• Areas of vegetation.

Unless the site is very small, I recommend this job being undertaken by a professional surveyor. A relatively small investment at this stage really can avoid costly errors further down the line.

How long will the project take?

This really varies between projects. Some designs incorporate lots of difficult details which need to be reviewed and discussed, some are more straightforward. Often clients are happy with the concept and wish to make very few changes for the final design, but sometimes seeing the potential garden can raise issues or ideas that need to be looked at in more detail.

Garden design is a creative and artistic endeavour, as well as a practical one. Sometimes inspiration can take time, and initial ideas may need to be reviewed and explored. As a guide you should expect to wait between 2-4 weeks for the initial design.

The second stage after the concept is largely guided by you. Some clients get back to me very quickly with feedback on the plan, while others can take months to think things over fully. While a prompt response will get things progressing quickly, it is really important that you take time to consider all elements to make sure that your new garden will work for you. Find out more about the garden design process here. 

How long will the garden build take?

Garden build times vary depending on the complexity of the project and availability of your landscaper. When a landscaper visits to look at the site and produce an estimate for the work, they will be able to use their experience and expertise to provide you with an estimated timescale.

Can you find a landscaper for my project?

I offer landscaper liaison as an additional element of my garden design service.

The first stage includes sourcing a suitable landscaper and meeting with you both on site, as well as compiling a document to enable them to provide an accurate estimate for the build, which will provide us with the opportunity to review the design and ascertain whether there needs to be any changes for budgetary reasons.

The second stage involves producing specifications and documentation detailing all necessary build and materials information, as well as any extra technical drawings, as required. I can also visit the site during the build, which allows me to ensure that everything is being completed in line with the design vision and discuss any potential issues with the landscaper, as well as checking the planting beds have been adequately prepared prior to planting. This service will be charged at either a fixed or hourly rate.

Please note that any contract is between you and the landscaper. I do not employ him/her on your behalf, and I take no commission for recommendation.

Are you able to source plants for my garden?

If I am producing a design for you, or if you have chosen my consultation service, I can provide plants for your garden, and the majority of my design clients engage me for this. I have extensive knowledge and experience of plants, as well as a range of suppliers with whom I work. This enables me to ensure that you get the right plants for your garden from quality providers, and any substitutions will work in the location, as well as the design. Please be aware that I do not source plants unless I am meeting the delivery and setting, or planting, out.

Are you able to source other products for my project?

While the landscaper is responsible for supplying the hard landscaping materials, I have good contacts with many specialist suppliers in the industry and am able to source furniture, pots and containers, fire and water elements, and much more. I charge a small commission on the products to cover my time.