From design to completed garden

1. Consultation

Firstly, we meet, chat through all your ideas & the design process and have a look around your garden.

This is your opportunity to let us know everything you would like in your garden and will inform the basis of the design. This takes up to one hour.

2. Brief & Fee Proposal

I draw up the information from our meeting into a brief for you to check, add anything or change anything. We can swap ideas and photos to feed into this too, so the garden really reflects your style and ideas. Along with the brief, we provide a fee proposal tailored to your needs.

3. Site Analysis, Second Consult & Pre-Design

 A survey allows an accurate, scaled design to be produced. A full topographical survey is required for most gardens, although my own team can carry this out for small, simple, level gardens.

All gardens also require a garden survey, where I visit to take photos, soil samples and notes, and to get to know the garden and its surroundings and we can have a further chat. All of the information is drawn up digitally and assessed ahead of the design phase.

4. Concept Design

This is the main design stage. I research, design and map where every element goes, from paving, walls, steps and paths to planting areas and key trees, making sure everything flows and that you have a cohesive, technically accurate plan.

You also receive concept, planting style and material images, a material specification and 3D visuals to help you picture the finished space.

We then meet to talk through the design, work through any edits and look at material samples and planting ideas.

After this, I produce the Masterplan, the final blueprint of your garden layout.

5. Detailed Design

These drawings allow the contractors to understand accurately and easily how the garden is to be built.

This includes material layouts, a scope of works document, dimensions, levels, as well as construction drawings for bespoke elements such as steps, water features or pergolas, and lighting schedules.

6. Planting Design

Our comprehensive planting design service includes Planting Plans, Plant Lists and a Photo Plant ID document. Planting Plans map the name and location of each and every plant, and are developed according to the conditions, style and for year round interest, using my extensive knowledge. I source and order of all plants and trees from high quality nurseries.

7. Tendering

Once the design specification pack is ready, trusted, skilled landscaping contractors are asked to quote for the build, and together we choose who will carry out the work. We can then book a time slot with the contractor, usually 3-6 months from confirmation.

8. The Build

I can project manage the build, coordinating with the contractor and overseeing progress throughout.

This is a key part of a successful garden build, ensuring that it is built as designed, with the correct materials, and working through any supplier or site issues as they arise.

Projects last from a minimum of 2-3 weeks for very small, simple gardens, to 3-8 weeks for small to medium size gardens, to several months for large scale projects. Medium to large scale projects can be built in phases. Timescales will vary depending on complexity.

9. Planting

Planting begins once the majority of the hard landscaping is built. I coordinate the gardeners, my team and the landscaping contractors carrying out the planting work. Afterwards, I can offer guidance on establishing and caring for your new plants, and am often involved on an ongoing basis, guiding you or your gardening team and developing the plans over time.