THE GARDEN DESIGN PROCESS
PRELIMINARY STEPS
MEDITATION ON A GARDEN, YOUR GARDEN.
Please take a moment to visualise how you intend to make use of your garden. Will it be a space for entertaining friends, hosting informal parties or summer BBQs? Will it serve as a play area for children or simply be your retreat for reading, relaxing and catching some sun? Deliberating on your garden's intended purpose is a vital initial step. Reflect on what aspects of your current garden you appreciate and what you'd like to change. Lastly, think about your budget and establish how much you're willing to allocate for your garden project. Having a clear budget in mind is a crucial aspect of the entire process.
INITIAL CONSULTATION
WE EVALUATE TOGETHER YOUR GARDEN AND DISCUSS YOUR NEEDS AND PREFERENCES.
The journey begins with an Initial Consultation at your property where we engage in a comprehensive discussion about your garden aspirations, preferences and functional requirements. This meeting typically lasts for about 90 minutes, sometimes longer, depending on the size and complexity of the site. Here you'll have the opportunity to share your desires for the garden's aesthetics and discuss any practical needs you have. This initial consultation, for which there is a fee, serves as the foundation for creating a garden design that reflects your vision.
COMPREHENSIVE REPORT
THIS DOCUMENT REPRESENTS THE BRIEF FOR THE PROJECT.
Following the initial consultation, I will compile a Comprehensive Report that consolidates the outcomes of our discussion and articulates our design objectives. If the project's scope is broader and more intricate, I may ask you to complete a questionnaire before our first meeting. This report serves as the official project brief and represents a record of the design objectives that were discussed during our initial meeting. I will provide you with a copy of this report along with our fee proposal as part of the approval process to proceed with the project.
CONTRACT AND DESIGN FEE PROPOSAL
ONCE THE ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS ARE COMPLETED, CREATIVE WORK TAKES CENTRE STAGE.
With this report, I will also send you an email containing a Contract detailing the Design Fee Proposal. The contract will comprehensively outline the entire design process, payment structure and relevant terms and conditions. Its purpose is to ensure you have a transparent understanding of the different stages involved in turning your garden vision into reality as well as the associated costs for the survey of the site and for the drawings. Once we receive your signed approval of the contract, we can begin the design phase which starts with the Site Survey.
SITE SURVEY AND ANALYSIS
MEASURING THE SITE AND TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS.
The first step of the design work is the Site Survey and Analysis during which we take precise measurements and capture detailed images of the existing area. The work carried out during this phase provides essential information about the potential of the site and also possible problems to solve. It forms the basis for the design plan, ensuring this takes into account the physical characteristics of the space and aligns with your vision. For smaller and less complex gardens, I will personally carry out the survey of your garden. However, for larger and more intricate gardens, I may recommend engaging a professional surveyor. The surveyor will liaise directly with you to arrange a suitable date and agree upon a fee.
OUTLINE DESIGN PLAN
WHERE THE GARDEN STARTS TO TAKE SHAPE.
In this phase, your garden's character begins to take shape, inspired by our initial discussion and the site survey and analysis. The Outline Design Plan helps you see the proposed garden layout from different perspectives with the aid of 3D renderings. Here I consider elements such as the position and size of lawns, paving, seating areas, pathways and vegetation to ensure your garden is as functional as it is beautiful. The concept plan represents an initial, simplified rendition of the final design. It shows the spatial relationships between the various areas but it still lacks specific details about materials and plant species. The former will be included in the Detailed Design Plan whereas the latter will be specified in a separate drawing, the Planting Plan. At this stage, adjustments to the concept plan are included in the design fee.
DETAILED DESIGN PLAN
THE COMPLETED VERSION OF YOUR GARDEN DESIGN.
In this phase I refine the garden design, specifying materials and adding more details. It's where the conceptual vision transforms into a concrete plan. I will recommend materials for pathways, garden structures and decorative elements, ensuring they align with the design's aesthetics and functionality. This phase elevates the garden design with specific material choices and detailed planning, bringing us closer to realising your dream garden. In this densely detailed drawing, there is no available physical space to designate the specific plants for which a distinct Planting Plan is required (please see further). Sometimes separate construction drawings are also needed to help the landscapers to execute the construction of various features (a pond, a pergola, a retaining wall etc.).
PRESENTATION OF THE PROJECT
YOUR NEW GARDEN IS FINALLY REVEALED.
Once the design work is finished, we'll arrange a date for the presentation of Detailed Design Plan. During this meeting, we'll discuss any minor necessary adjustments to ensure the design reflects your vision and satisfies you completely. Our primary aim is to transform your garden into your dream space. This drawing shows the layout and the hard landscaping of the garden. Plants are shown only if they have a structural function and their names are not specified at this stage. Examples of structural plants are hedges or trees needed to create shade and protection from intense sun or maybe topiary like elegant box spheres. All the plants with their specific names are shown in the next and final stage of the design work.
PLANTING PLAN
THE DESIGN COMES ALIVE WITH A VARIETY OF PLANTS AND FLOWERS.
The planting plan, which is always accompanied by a plant schedule and a plant palette, is an essential component of the final phase before the construction of the garden begins. The planting plan provides a detailed layout of where each specific plant will be located within the garden, taking into account factors like spacing, sun exposure and aesthetic considerations. It essentially serves as a map for planting during the construction phase. The plant schedule complements the planting plan by listing all the plant species to be used in the project, along with their quantities, sizes and other relevant details. This document also helps ensure that the right plant species and the correct quantities and sizes are procured and planted according to the design. The plant palette is a sheet with beautiful images of all the plants specified for the project.
IMPLEMENTATION
YOUR GARDEN BECOMES A REALITY.
Once the Masterplan and the Planting Plan are completed you can choose your own contractor to implement the design or I can recommend landscapers that I am familiar with. I can also offer a project monitoring service with scheduled visits during the construction process. This ensures that this crucial phase reflects perfectly the specifications of the design agreed at the planning stage and that the drawings are thoroughly understood.
PLANT MAINTENANCE MANUAL
ENSURING THE GARDEN EVOLVES BEAUTIFULLY.
Upon the completion of the garden installation, you'll receive a complimentary plant maintenance guide. Drawing from my extensive experience as a former National Trust head gardener, this guide equips you with the knowledge and insights needed to care for your new garden and keep it thriving. It will contain information for you or for your gardener on pruning schedules, border maintenance, watering tips etc.
