Garden design : my approach
Most garden design projects follow the same process and so will consist of most, if not all, of the following stages, starting with a 20min phone consultation to establish the project outline, budget, timescales and location to make sure that I am a good match for what you have in mind.
Stage 1: Information gathering
- Meet clients at home to discuss project
- Duration dependant on project/garden size and complexity
- Brief desk investigation for planning designations, etc.
- Written document produced stating client brief based on the initial consultation
- Fees, payment structure & terms & conditions provided
- These are discussed, agreed & signed before moving on to next stage
- A number of surveys may be required & undertaken by other professionals for several reasons – professional knowledge, skills and equipment, indemnity insurances & time & financial economy
- May include: site survey, tree survey, landscape and visual impact assessments, environmental & ecological surveys
- I visit site to study in detail for design development
Stage 2: Conceptual Design
- Document package produced including:
- Site layout plan in blocky format showing intent of use of areas & features
- ‘Mood boards’ for garden or garden zones to give a sense of the look & feel of the garden/garden zones
- Client meeting to discuss & agree conceptual design
- Includes one opportunity for minor design amendments
Stage 3: Detailed design
- Details added to masterplan showing features, eg. planting borders, paths, patio, tree planting, hedges, structures, walls, seating areas, etc.
- ‘Mood boards’ showing types of plants, overall feel, colour scheme, leaf/flowering/interest seasons, etc.
- ‘Mood boards’ showing style, colour, quality & materials to be used
- Indicative lighting layout plan (technical details by specialist)
- ‘Mood boards’ showing style, colour, atmosphere, etc.
Stage 4: Planting design
- Plant layout plan
- Plant list specifying species, size, number, etc.
Further options
- Maintenance plans
- Sourcing plants, features, furniture
- Assistance employing hard landscape contractor
- Assistance employing planting contractor
- Assistance with planning applications
- Monitoring project build
- Assistance employing gardener
