Working with a garden designer
Thinking about getting a professional to take a look at your garden? We’ve got everything you need to know
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Like ‘civil engineers’ with a love of plants, garden designers cover the technical side of garden design – walls, steps, terraces as well as bringing in mature trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. A good garden designer will bring creativity and imagination, plus ingenuity to solve the problems of the site and the practical experience to implement the plans cost-effectively.
QHow do I choose the right garden designer? Acting on a recommendation can be useful but ultimately you must choose a designer whose taste and style is aligned with your own. Arrange a consultation and allow them time to look at the garden and to listen to your brief. You want to enjoy the process of commissioning a new garden so it’s important to choose someone who you like and get on with.
QHow much will it cost? The cost will vary depending on the scale of the project but costing is calculated around the same set of principles. Make sure your designer lays out all the costs associated with the design right at the start. The build cost is based on a detailed set of design plans, construction drawings and from these you’ll be quoted at a fixed price. Ask your garden designer to approach a couple of different contractors to enable cross-referencing of costings. You may be asked for a deposit upfront and some designers will invoice after the completion of each stage.
QIs there anything I can do to ensure the best outcome? Being clear about your needs and budget from the offset is best policy. This allows your designer to give you a planting scheme that suits your lifestyle, and the time and skills that you have to look after it. If you underestimate your budget you could restrict the initial creative concept; if you overestimate you could be disappointed if the design has to be scaled down or re-worked.