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A Designer or a Landscaper? Consultation Plans Planting Implementation On-going development Fees |
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A Designer or a Landscaper? "Should I commission a garden designer, or go straight to a landscaping company?" As a garden designer, I earn my living from interpreting your wishes, not from selling paving or unnecessary hard landscaping. I have no incentive to offer expensive solutions to simple problems. I have a professional garden design qualification, and many years experience to support it. I do not directly employ a construction team, but work closely with several landscaping companies, without any financial ties to them. I am happy to put out your project to tender if you wish, and am able to recommend craftsmen suitable for the scale and type of work involved in your project. I can act on your behalf to manage the whole project, in a similar way to an architect on a building project. Many lanscaping companies offer a "free" design service, but they have to make a living too, and the costs are inevitably covered in their construction costs. Some employ a trained designer to cover this side of their operations, but if you decide to take this route, do check that their qualifications are in design, not just horticulture. |
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Consultation Most design projects begin with an on-site consultation. A couple of hours advice may be all you need to sort out a specific problem - planting an awkward area perhaps, or adding a pool to an existing garden. I will write a short report, containing my advice and summarising our discussions, perhaps with a sketch where appropriate. Where a design is required, the consultation visit takes the form of a briefing meeting, where we can discuss your requirements in depth, and map out a way forward. I will summarise our discussions as a written brief for you to think over before continuing to the design stage. It can be helpful if you make a note before the meeting of your practical requirements, as well as putting aside any images you may have come across that appeal to you - of gardens, sculpture, etc. I make a charge for a consultation visit and report, as do most other designers, which can be deducted from the design fees if you decide to proceed. My fees for the initial consultation are £50 per hour, and usually amount to about 2 hours work. |
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Plans The core of any garden design is the layout plan. In order to create this, I need an accurate survey of the site, showing boundaries, existing features, levels, etc. Usually, I do this myself, but for very large or complex sites I will need a professional survey, which I can arrange for you. I then draw together all the information from you, and from the site (including such things as soil conditions, sights and sounds) to generate the design concept. At this point, I provide sketches for discussion, and you can take as much time as you wish to mull over the ideas and discuss amendments. Once you are happy with the design, I will draw up the accurate layout plan, which will show the complete garden, including lawns, paths, paving, water, beds and borders, trees, pergolas, etc. |
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Planting Plants form an integral part of the design, creating the three dimensional form of the garden and imposing their own style and atmosphere. A planting plan will show each individual plant in its location, all chosen carefully to be suitable for your garden conditions and scale. I have a wide plant knowledge and personal experience of growing most of the plants I recommend. I am able to suggest more unusual varieties where they would be suitable, but in many cases, especially where maintenance is to be minimal, tried and trusted varieties are not to be shunned. |
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Implementation Plans are all very well, but how about getting it built? I am able to find suitable contractors to create your garden for you, drawing from a pool of reliable craftspeople to ensure the best outcome. In order that the design is implemented accurately and to the required standard of quality, the contractor will need a written specification, as well as setting-out drawings and construction details. For smaller projects, these can be simple annotations on the layout plan, while for many, separate drawings will be required. I can put the project out to tender if you wish, and once the contractor is chosen, I can monitor the work by a series of site visits to ensure that everything goes smoothly and the garden is completed to a high standard. |
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Ongoing development A garden is a living thing that continues to mature over many years. If you wish, I can prepare maintenance notes tailored to your garden, and I also like to make regular visits to ensure that everything is developing as it should. Your needs may also change with the years. A reappraisal from time to time will help your garden to evolve with you and continue to make a satisfying contribution to your life. |
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Fees Payment for consultations is required at the end of the visit and is based on my hourly rate of £50. This can be deducted from the design fee if you decide to commission further work. For most design projects I give a fixed quote for my fees, quoting separately for layout plan, planting scheme, and any documents necessary for implementation. I ask for an initial deposit of 30%, the balance to be paid on completion of the agreed work, ie on handover of drawings / documents. In the case of ongoing projects, stage payments may be required. Cheques must be supported by a valid bank card. |
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A Designer or a Landscaper? Consultation Plans Planting Implementation On-going development Fees |
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