1. Why use a garden designer?
Engaging a professional designer enables you to achieve a professional finish. In the same way that an architect draws on experience and spatial understanding to plan a house, a landscape designer uses an understanding of plants and space to achieve a balanced outdoor space. Details such as drainage, materials, construction techniques, lighting, pathways, seating and utility areas, storage and views are all considered and resolved so that all you need to worry about is defining what you would like to achieve in the brief.
2. How much will it cost?
How long is a piece of string? As a rough guide, gardens cost about the same as kitchens. Whilst plants and turf are inexpensive, the bulk of the cost is found in labour and waste removal. The role of a garden designer is to help you spend your budget wisely rather than help you spend more, and often what is spent on fees is saved in efficiencies elsewhere.
3. Can you help me source plants and furniture?
Yes – I supply them at trade price plus a small percentage to cover the time taken to source them. Plants are living things so once under your care they are not guaranteed.
4. How long does it take to get the design?
Depending on current workloads and the complexity of the site, it takes approximately two weeks once I am back in the studio with all the measurements from the site survey.
5. How does project management work?
I can either charge a percentage of the total build cost or a daily rate – it depends how hands on you would like me to be. Some clients prefer for me to oversee the tender process and select a contractor before leaving you both to get on with it, some prefer for me to be there once a week checking progress and spend. Please get in touch to discuss your specific requirements.