Our Approach
The Garden Design Process
9 steps to create a garden that's just right for you
A great garden design process is all about partnership.
We take the time to get to know you and your garden dreams, so we can turn them into a design that fits with your lifestyle.
- Collaboration is key to good garden design. We work with experienced landscape professionals to bring your vision to life.
- We offer a site inspection service during the build process to ensure the design is completed as specified.
Initial Consultation
The garden design process begins with an initial consultation
- We’ll discuss the goals and preferences you have for your garden and assess your current outdoor space.
- After the meeting, we’ll create a comprehensive brief of your proposed design.
- We’ll also include an outline of our design process and the fee structure for your project.
Site Assessment and Concept Design
We undertake a site analysis and get a topographical survey
- We perform a site analysis to understand the relationship between your house, the garden and its surroundings.
- We also obtain a topographical survey that shows the layout of the site, including any changes in level, existing trees, and underground services.
- With this information, we develop your 2D and 3D concept designs.
The Master Plan
Once you approve the sketch plan, those drawings are used to create the master plan.
- This is a detailed representation of the final garden design, shown in various views including plan, elevation, and 3D.
- We also includes a materials palette – showing the types of paving, brickwork, and other elements used in your garden.
- Plus a planting palette – that demonstrates the overall character of the proposed plants.
Construction and Layout Drawings
We design customised outdoor features such as pergolas, pools, and paving to give your garden a unique look.
- The contractor uses our drawings to accurately build each structure and know which materials to use.
- Layout or cascade drawings help the contractor take accurate measurements on-site to ensure the garden is laid out correctly.
- These drawings include site dimensions, slope details for paths and patios, drainage plans, and spot heights.
Planting Plans
With our encyclopaedic horticultural knowledge, we design pleasing and long-lasting floral borders
- We are keen advocates of the right plant, right place method of planting.
- This means understanding soil type, soil pH, likely rainfall, wind exposure, plus sun and shade areas means we can adapt the planting specifically for your site.
- We are also proponents of sustainable gardening which is the avoidance of garden practices which are harmful to nature.
- We will suggest planting more natural insect-friendly species to encourage local wildlife.
Tender Documentation
Tendering is the process where interested landscapers are invited to give bids on the garden construction work
- Tender documentation details the work carried out, which materials should be used and the quantities required.
- It ensures that each landscaper tendering for work is costed on a like-for-like basis.
- For larger gardens, we create a separate tender specification.
- This assists the contractor in the wider scope of the project.
Hard Landscaping & Site Inspections
Once you have selected your landscaper, the hard landscaping begins
- The contractor will produce a schedule of work and the dates for construction will be planned.
- We can arrange a series of project monitoring site visits during the build phase.
- These monitor the progress of the project and check on the quality of the work.
Soft Landscaping
Once the construction is complete we begin the planting
We will take delivery of any soft landscaping to ensure the quality of the plants is of a high standard.
We will also set out the plants to be certain that our planting designs are adhered to correctly.
Aftercare
Aftercare helps to keep your garden looking good
- We provide plant maintenance schedules with instructions on how to care for each specimen within your new scheme with information such as:
- The plant’s flowering period,
- when to feed or mulch it,
- how to prune it,
- propagation methods and
- which diseases to look out for.
