GARDEN DESIGN
DESIGN SERVICES
garden design
The design service I offer can be tailored to meet the requirements and budget of my client. I explain each stage of the design process during the initial consultation and discuss to what extent I can assist you in transforming your garden.
initial consultation
This meeting is an opportunity for you to explain your ideas and aspirations for your garden. I will take the time to listen to how you want to use your outdoor space and what garden styles most inspire you. We will discuss the elements you would like to include so that the garden meets your requirements and suits your lifestyle. A walk around your existing garden will also allow me to make some further notes and take photographs of the site.
Based on our discussions and my understanding of your expectations, I will prepare a design brief and seek feedback from you to enable us to fine-tune the design framework. I will also provide a written financial quotation for my design services.
site survey and analysis
The next stage is to complete a detailed site survey and analysis. This is required not only to produce a scaled plan of your garden but also to analyse the advantages and limitations of the site. Measurements will be taken and the location of existing features, such as drainage and services, trees and plants, changes in level and garden access will be recorded. Analysis will also determine aspect, soil type, the setting and views, the style of your home and materials used in its construction – all to build up a detailed fact file upon which the new design will be based.
Depending on the size and complexity of the site, a professional land surveyor may be used to complete the survey.
plan drawings and mood boards
Following the survey, I will bring all the elements from the design brief and the analysis together to create my design. This will usually include concept plan drawings, mood boards and the final presentation plan, from which the garden will be built. I will work with you throughout this process to ensure that you are happy with the design before the final draft is produced. All my designs are hand-drawn, which is my personal preference and are then uploaded into digital format for ease of printing and distribution to yourselves and to contractors.
To accompany the final presentation plan, I can also create setting out plans and detailed construction drawings to aid your chosen landscaper and other contractors to transfer the design into your garden.
tendering and overseeing the project
Employing a reputable landscaper and other specialist contractors is vital in ensuring that your garden is built to the highest standards. To assist you with this process, I can produce a specification document, which gives detailed information about the work to be completed, construction methods, materials and suppliers. This document is sent to each landscaper, along with the design drawings and other supporting information, to enable each to provide comparable quotes.
Once you have selected your preferred landscaper, I can make regular site visits to oversee the different stages, to consult and to ensure that the design is translated, as planned, from the design drawings.
planting design
On completion of the build phase or hard landscaping, the next step is to arrange for planting. As part of the design process, I can produce planting plans that complement the style and feel of your new garden and select plants to suit the site conditions and reflect your personal requirements and taste. For more information on my planting design service, please refer to the section below.
garden styling
As with interior design, choosing the right finishing touches, such as furniture, textiles and accent pieces, which complement the design and complete your garden décor can be worthwhile. I can help with sourcing these elements should you wish.
planting design
A successful planting scheme will give your garden a sense of place, complementing the style of the design and enhancing the hard landscaping and structures within your garden. The right choice of plants and the combination of texture, form, colour and scent can add to the ambience and experience of being in the garden. Whether you would like a single border, a whole garden planting scheme, or as part of a complete garden redesign, I can produce detailed plans for a selected range of plants that will suit the site conditions, your personal requirements, and provide interest in your garden throughout the year.
plan drawings
Following a site survey and analysis, I will create planting plans showing each plant type and the positioning, spacing and quantity of each plant within the border. Accompanying these plans, montage boards will allow you to visualise the textural combinations and colour palette.
plant supply and planting
Working with specialist nurseries, I can source and supply plants that I specify in my planting plans. Once delivered to your home, I will set the plants out into position and arrange planting to complete the planting design.
horticultural consultancy
Are you keen to develop your own garden but are unsure what plants to buy for a sunny border?
Have you just moved into a new home with an established garden and need to identify some plants?
Maybe a climbing rose needs training against a fence, or you're unsure how to prune a shrub that's too large?
With my RHS qualification and long-established knowledge of plants and horticulture, I offer a consultancy service for gardeners and homeowners who do not require a full planting design but need help with a specific area or problem. This is usually a one-off project that culminates in written advice or practical guidance but if you would like regular, ongoing help to develop your garden planting scheme, this can be agreed on a case by case basis.
For regular garden maintenance, I would recommend using a landscape maintenance company or gardener to assist you.
