Garden design service

PHASE 1: Initial consultation, site survey and scaled design drawing

The first step is to meet on site at your home to discuss what you would like to achieve from your garden.  This will involve a detailed discussion with you and other relevant family members so that I can understand as much as possible about your aims and aspirations for your outdoor space.

I will then conduct a site survey, which will involve taking detailed measurements, photographs, soil samples and notes on the conditions and aspects within and around your garden, and how your home relates to your outside space.

Following this I will create a scaled drawing of your garden and devise an initial design for you, based on our initial consultation discussion. This will be a hand drawn 2D visual – an aerial layout.

I will send you this in a garden design document, complete with a digital moodboard which will give you a visual idea of elements within the new design, including hard landscaping materials, planting suggestions and styles.

Please note that an exact planting plan will not be conducted at this stage, but at a later stage, as detailed below.

PHASE 2: Finessing the design

Once I have shared the initial design with you, we will meet in person to go through the design in your garden.  I will bring a hard copy of the scaled drawing with me and we will discuss the design in depth.   

This meeting will allow you to share your feedback and I can subsequently make any changes you would like to the design. A final scaled 2D design drawing will be created on the back of our meeting.

Please note that any further changes required to the design after this point will be charged at my hourly rate.

PHASE 3:  Construction detail and pricing

Once the design has been agreed, I will then put together construction detail documents that can be shared with hard landscapers, so that they can quote for the work required to create the garden.    I can manage this process for you and provide you with like for like quotes from different landscapers.  You can then decide on your preferred contractor.

PHASE 4: Overseeing the construction phase

I can work alongside your chosen contractor to agree on a start date for your project and give you information about the proposed length of the project.  I will visit your garden at a series of intervals throughout the construction process, to ensure that the design is going according to plan.  If any unforeseen issues arise during this phase (as they often do when a site is being prepared) I will work with you and the contractor to help resolve them and communicate them.

PHASE 5: Planting design

Once the soft landscaping areas have been physically created by the contractor, I will get to work on your planting designs.   My planting designs consist of a 2D visual of the planting area(s) in question, with the names, quantities and locations of the plants indicated.  I also supply a detailed planting list, with photographs and descriptions of each of the plants noted.

When we have agreed on the planting plan, I can then provide you with a quote to supply and install the plants.  Ideally this will be done after the construction phase is fully complete.

After the plants have been installed I will give you detailed aftercare instructions to ensure your plants get off to the best possible start.

I will arrange a visit to meet you and see your garden so that I can understand the conditions of your space, such as soil ph., aspect and climate.

During this visit, we can discuss your likes and dislikes, including colours and textures, as well as seasons that you would like the garden to look at its best. If you are not sure what look you would like to achieve, it can be helpful to look at Pinterest boards and magazine clippings for inspiration in advance.

During my site visit, we will also discuss practicalities including how much time and energy you are able to put into your outdoor space. This could have a significant impact on the planting choices that we make to ensure your garden is right for you in terms of sustainability.

I charge a fee for producing a planting design. This starts at £295 plus £20 per square metre and will increase depending on the complexity of the design. If you decide to proceed I will create your detailed planting plan and planting list.

I will only specify plants that are hardy and that I believe will do well in your locality, as well as the specific area of your garden that you have in mind.

It is then up to you to look through the plant list and ensure you like the look of all of the plants. If there are any you dislike, we can arrange suitable substitutions at this stage.

Once you have approved the planting plan I can then get a quote for the supply and installation of your plants.

Following the agreement of this quote, I will arrange a delivery date and planting date and will ask for payment for 50% of the overall fee up front.

I will then attend your site on the specified date to layout and plant your plants, providing detailed aftercare instructions to ensure their ongoing care.

If you are interested to learn how to look after your own garden, and would like the skills and expertise to do this with confidence, please check out my one-to-one gardening tuition service.