The Design Process
Initial Consultation
This is a chance to discuss your garden and how I can help you make it the space you want. Do you have a blank canvas that needs structure or an overgrown mess you need taming? A border that doesn't seem quite right or help connecting areas of your garden?Existing plants can be discussed and any particular love or hate feelings towards them dealt with! How do you want to use your garden? Perhaps you have a specific feature or style you want to introduce but you’re not sure how to fit it in or you just want more colour... we can discuss anything and everything. Images of gardens / features you like are useful at this stage. I will reflect on the notes made during the consultation and formulate a brief from this (for you to check over) and based on this I will send you my Fee Proposal based on the size and complexity of the garden and the Brief.
The first half hour is free of charge, following this a £30p/h fee will apply.
Survey
Once we've agreed a final brief and you're happy to go ahead I will need to survey your garden, this will usually involve taking detailed measurements of the layout and permanent structures. I will also note the soil type, take account of microclimates, simple level changes and views from the house and beyond the garden.
For larger or more complex gardens I will arrange a professional Topographical Survey. This will be key to accurately and creatively designing all available space in the garden. An example of a topographical survey can be sent to you in advance.
The period and style of the house or other structures surrounding the garden will influence any introduced materials so detailed photographs will be taken to capture the identity of the space. It’s sometimes helpful to take photographs from within the house to capture important views that you may wish to capitalise on (or hide!) Photographs of the garden at different times of the year can be extremely helpful, although not necessary - you may have just moved in, any existing plans/surveys you might have are very useful.
Concept Drawing/s and Mood Board
The first thing I will present to you is a concept, or sometimes a number of ideas with different options. This will be a drawing or series of sketches that I will fully explain to you where you'll have an opportunity to feedback and tweak things if necessary.
I can prove 3D perspectives of your proposed garden to help you gain a real understanding of the spaces and how they will work.
You may be happy to progress straight away with the presented concept or it may be necessary to combine a number of ideas into one final Masterplan or detail layout plan. At this stage I'll give an indication of the ball-park cost to build the garden.
Details
The final design, or Masterplan, will be a fully detailed and scaled drawing of your garden, either hand drawn or a CAD drawing dependent on the size or complexity of the project. It will be a working drawing from which a landscape contractor can work to create your new garden along with the additional drawings below...
Construction drawings, Setting out plans, lighting, irrigation and Planting plans:
These drawings explain the details of the garden fully to achieve the 'designed-look' and enable all of the spaces to work seamlessly together.
Construction drawings - details about how to build the landscape features particularly with any unusual, bespoke items.
Setting out plans are necessary when a garden has a brand new layout - it will help landscapers to ensure the paths are correct width and so on with all measurements shown.
Planting plans are important to create a beautifully planted garden, the subtleties of colour, shape and form will be mapped out and labelled as plants on the plan.
You may also want irrigation and lighting plans, to keep the plants watered and then lit in the evenings!
Landscape Estimate & Build
I work with a number of local Landscapers and can recommend the right team for you to provide you with a quote. I will be available throughout to meet you or your landscaper to discuss any design queries. If you want to use your own Landscaper or gain multiple quotes that is fine too.
Planting and finishing touches
I can set the plants out to plan and plant them with a small team (subject to availability) or I can supply the plants and help set them out if you would like to connect with your new space by getting your hands dirty or for your own gardener to plant! I can also source those style features such as the right cushions, chairs, sculptures etc.
Maintenance advice and one and two year review
Once your new garden is in place I can provide you with maintenance advice that is specific to your plot via the Shoot online Garden Notebook.
This will help you get the very best from your new garden in years to come with a full list and photos of all of the new plants in the garden along with optional monthly maintenance emails.
With any garden, plants need time to find their feet, a review of the garden on an annual basis is recommended to make sure that the garden is all you hoped it would be and to make any adjustments where necessary. I can help find you a good Horticulturalist/gardener to get the most from your garden from years to come - always recommended to protect your investment!
This is a chance to discuss your garden and how I can help you make it the space you want. Do you have a blank canvas that needs structure or an overgrown mess you need taming? A border that doesn't seem quite right or help connecting areas of your garden?Existing plants can be discussed and any particular love or hate feelings towards them dealt with! How do you want to use your garden? Perhaps you have a specific feature or style you want to introduce but you’re not sure how to fit it in or you just want more colour... we can discuss anything and everything. Images of gardens / features you like are useful at this stage. I will reflect on the notes made during the consultation and formulate a brief from this (for you to check over) and based on this I will send you my Fee Proposal based on the size and complexity of the garden and the Brief.
The first half hour is free of charge, following this a £30p/h fee will apply.
Survey
Once we've agreed a final brief and you're happy to go ahead I will need to survey your garden, this will usually involve taking detailed measurements of the layout and permanent structures. I will also note the soil type, take account of microclimates, simple level changes and views from the house and beyond the garden.
For larger or more complex gardens I will arrange a professional Topographical Survey. This will be key to accurately and creatively designing all available space in the garden. An example of a topographical survey can be sent to you in advance.
The period and style of the house or other structures surrounding the garden will influence any introduced materials so detailed photographs will be taken to capture the identity of the space. It’s sometimes helpful to take photographs from within the house to capture important views that you may wish to capitalise on (or hide!) Photographs of the garden at different times of the year can be extremely helpful, although not necessary - you may have just moved in, any existing plans/surveys you might have are very useful.
Concept Drawing/s and Mood Board
The first thing I will present to you is a concept, or sometimes a number of ideas with different options. This will be a drawing or series of sketches that I will fully explain to you where you'll have an opportunity to feedback and tweak things if necessary.
I can prove 3D perspectives of your proposed garden to help you gain a real understanding of the spaces and how they will work.
You may be happy to progress straight away with the presented concept or it may be necessary to combine a number of ideas into one final Masterplan or detail layout plan. At this stage I'll give an indication of the ball-park cost to build the garden.
Details
The final design, or Masterplan, will be a fully detailed and scaled drawing of your garden, either hand drawn or a CAD drawing dependent on the size or complexity of the project. It will be a working drawing from which a landscape contractor can work to create your new garden along with the additional drawings below...
Construction drawings, Setting out plans, lighting, irrigation and Planting plans:
These drawings explain the details of the garden fully to achieve the 'designed-look' and enable all of the spaces to work seamlessly together.
Construction drawings - details about how to build the landscape features particularly with any unusual, bespoke items.
Setting out plans are necessary when a garden has a brand new layout - it will help landscapers to ensure the paths are correct width and so on with all measurements shown.
Planting plans are important to create a beautifully planted garden, the subtleties of colour, shape and form will be mapped out and labelled as plants on the plan.
You may also want irrigation and lighting plans, to keep the plants watered and then lit in the evenings!
Landscape Estimate & Build
I work with a number of local Landscapers and can recommend the right team for you to provide you with a quote. I will be available throughout to meet you or your landscaper to discuss any design queries. If you want to use your own Landscaper or gain multiple quotes that is fine too.
Planting and finishing touches
I can set the plants out to plan and plant them with a small team (subject to availability) or I can supply the plants and help set them out if you would like to connect with your new space by getting your hands dirty or for your own gardener to plant! I can also source those style features such as the right cushions, chairs, sculptures etc.
Maintenance advice and one and two year review
Once your new garden is in place I can provide you with maintenance advice that is specific to your plot via the Shoot online Garden Notebook.
This will help you get the very best from your new garden in years to come with a full list and photos of all of the new plants in the garden along with optional monthly maintenance emails.
With any garden, plants need time to find their feet, a review of the garden on an annual basis is recommended to make sure that the garden is all you hoped it would be and to make any adjustments where necessary. I can help find you a good Horticulturalist/gardener to get the most from your garden from years to come - always recommended to protect your investment!
