Design Process
Consultation
The initial meeting is to establish your needs and desires for your garden and the possibilities the space offers. We will discuss how you envisage using it and any design or planting ideas you favour. I will look at your garden to assess its potential and limitations.
It is important at this stage to realistically consider the budget. While it can sometimes be hard to decide how much you wish to spend, an approximate figure enables me to realise what is achievable and move forward to the design brief. I will fully explain the whole design process at this meeting. Following our discussion, you will be presented with a report, which includes the design brief and a quotation for my design fees.
There is a charge for this meeting to cover my time (price dependent on location), but this will be refundable if you decide to engage me for the design work.
Site Survey & Analysis
A site survey is essential to produce a scaled plan of your garden and to assess any potential issues regarding changes of level, soil structure, access, and so on. 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. Soil testing is also essential, and any particularly damp or dry areas recorded, to ensure suitable plant selection. I will take numerous photographs and consider any views that need to be enhanced or concealed, taking into account anything you wish to retain or dispose of.
Concept Plan
Using the information gathered from the site survey and your design brief, I will create a preliminary design for the site. This will help you to visualise your potential garden and will include suggestions for hard landscaping, planting, and any other features needed. I will arrange a meeting to discuss this plan with you, where we can review any possible changes and the cost implications. Once you are happy with this stage, work will begin on the Presentation Plan.
Presentation Plan
This is a scaled drawing of the proposal for your garden accurately detailing areas of hard and soft landscaping, changes of level, and any garden structures or other features.
Planting Design
Once we have a firm concept in place, I will be able to provide you with a quote for the production of a planting plan. I will create an original planting scheme taking into account the particular growing conditions in your garden, your preferences, and how much maintenance is required. In addition, I will produce a plant maintenance schedule, which will be a detailed list of all new plants in the garden and a calendar of maintenance tasks to be carried out.
Technical Drawings & Documentation
Technical drawings are required to enable contractors to replicate the design on the site. These may include specific construction details for hard landscaping and any garden structures, as well as setting out plans to ensure that everything is placed and built exactly as planned. These are backed up with detailed specifications and health and safety regulations to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible.
Landscaper Liaison
You may have a reliable contractor whom you would like to use for the build phase, or you may need me to recommend a suitable landscaper. This will involve meeting together on site followed by documentation detailing the precise work to be done, methods, and materials used. Please note that any contract is between you and the landscaper, and I do not employ him/her on your behalf.
Plant Supply & Planting
It is all too easy to waste hundreds of pounds by selecting low quality plants. I will use my horticultural knowledge to select quality plants from professional nurseries. Once the plants arrive it is important that they are planted correctly and with care and set out according to the planting plan so I prefer to undertake this part of the project.
