Design Process
Having a garden designed is often a once in a lifetime experience, so to make the process easier to understand, the key stages are outlined below:
STAGE ONE
BRIEFING
The first stage of the process is the initial consultation, where I come to see your site, and discuss with you your requirements and aspirations. I will ask you lots of questions, some of which will involve access, services and plans for the future. If you have any existing plans or information about your site, now is the time for us to discuss these. I will also have a look around the site to gauge any opportunities and potential difficulties there may be.
You may have some ideas of styles or planting that you like, and this is our opportunity to discuss these. All images that you can share with me are greatly appreciated.
This initial meeting takes between one and a half and two hours, and following our discussions, I will send over a summary of the brief along with a proposal for my design services. This includes the design fee, alongside payment stages and estimated timescale.
STAGE TWO
SURVEY
When you are happy with my proposal, we will arrange a mutually agreeable date for a full site survey to take place.
If the garden is fairly straightforward, then I will carry out the survey, but if it is a complex site with different levels, I will share with you the details of surveyors who can be commissioned to carry out a full topological survey. I will also carry out a site analysis survey, with photographs and commentary on general aspects of the site, such as boundaries, views, trees and planting.
STAGE 3
CONCEPT PLAN AND VISUALS
With a clear brief, the details of the site analysis and a topological survey, I will put together a concept plan proposal, outlining the key areas of the design and broad suggestions for planting and hard landscaping. I will present some mood-boards and suggestions of materials to help to convey the sense of the concept design proposal.
2d plans are not always easy to understand, especially on complex sites with lots of levels, so 3d representations of the proposed concepts are included at this stage to help you visualise the scheme. This can help to convey the flow and layout of the site and help us to decide together on some of the finer details.
STAGE 4
MASTERPLAN & TENDERING
When the concept plan has been signed off, the next stage is to put together the detailed Outline plans for contractors to draw up their quotes from. These are scale drawings and identify dimensions, pot heights, material finishes and general planting schemes.
There may be setting out plans, section diagrams, lighting layouts and construction diagrams depending on the complexity of the site and the scope of the brief.
These are essential drawings to share with your contractors, as the detail ensures that all quotes you receive for building works are based on the same specifications. Please note that you will be engaging the landscapers directly, although I am happy to check quotes as part of a Tender Overseeing service.
STAGE 5
PLANTING PLANS
Once the Masterplans are complete, they can go out to tender and the Planting Plans can be drawn up. You may have a trusted contractor that you would like to use, but we are happy to recommend companies that we have worked with successfully in the past.
Planting Plans are often drawn up while the garden is out for tender, as the planting can be quoted for on a separate basis. In some cases, we are happy to carry out the sourcing and planting of the scheme for you.
Planting Plans take into account the soil and site aspect, but also your preferences for the style of the scheme. A scale Planting Plan is drawn up, with each plant represented by a scale drawing. Positions and quantities of trees, shrubs, climbers, perennials and bulbs are all shown on the Planting Plan.
Accompanying this is the Planting Schedule, which details each individual plant and acts as a shopping list for the landscaper. This list details the plants identifying species, variety, size to buy and quantity needed.
STAGE 6
CONSTRUCTION
For larger projects, a tender package detailing quantities and build specifications can be provided to ensure consistency from the landscapers and parity across quotes.
When the contractor starts work on the site, we offer the option of regular site visits to help to deal with any questions and to ensure the contractor has a clear understanding of the plans. When the diggers come in, they sometimes uncover unseen elements that may mean that we need to make some tweaks to our plans.
When finally the garden is constructed, we can also provide a maintenance plan to ensure your plants and hard landscaping stay at their best as the garden grows.
We are also able to provide garden health-checks when your garden is established, to help you take stock of the plants and look at how the garden is maturing.
Garden Design across Bath, Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire and the Mendips
The Old Rose & Crown, Withy Mills, Paulton, Near Bath, BS39 7PT