WHY DO I NEED A GARDEN DESIGNER?
I am most commonly commissioned when someone has just bought or renovated a house and wants to develop the garden as well. I also receive enquiries from people who want to transform or rejuvenate their outdoor spaces. Often you may be thinking of undertaking work in the garden yourself. Designing and building gardens is a challenging process and requires a diverse range of creative, technical and horticultural knowledge to deliver successful results. Please get in touch with us if you are planning any garden developments to see if we can be of assistance.
HOW MUCH DOES A CONSULTATION COST?
Following an initial phone call to discuss needs and budget, I will arrange to come and meet you for a consultation. This consultation is free of charge.
HOW LONG DOES AN AVERAGE PROJECT TAKE?
A typical design process usually takes around 10 weeks, but this varies depending on the size of the garden and the complexity of the brief.
A typical build of London town house garden is highly dependent on the size and scale of the garden (5m wide x 8m long) but should usually take between 3-6 weeks. Larger complex gardens can take months. It depends on many variables, such as access, complexity and size.
Please note commissioning a good landscaper can also take a few months and be wary of those that can start next week!
I'M THINKING OF RENOVATING MY HOUSE, WHEN SHOULD I GET IN CONTACT WITH A GARDEN DESIGNER?
Ideally as soon as possible. The earlier you can involve a designer, the better. That way I can design the garden concurrently with the architects to ensure a seamless finish. Often people contact us following the renovation which means traipsing equipment through the lovely new interiors
HOW MUCH DOES A GARDEN DESIGN COST?
There is no set or specific formula to working out how much a garden will cost to design. An indicative cost could be in the region of 12-15% of the total build cost, but each project is individual and costed following the initial meeting having taken the brief.
As a benchmark, a concept garden design package usually starts from £1,800, and a full garden design package from £2,500. No VAT is charged at the moment.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I BE LOOKING TO SPEND ON MY GARDEN (AND GARDEN DESIGN)?
Collectively the three governing bodies of the industry (BALI, APL and SGD) recommend that current house owners spends between 4-10% of the current value of the property. This varies dependent on the property itself, the requirements and the ratio of the property to the garden.
WHAT DO I NEED TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE I CALL THE DESIGNER?
Firstly question whether you have the budget to warrant the changes to your garden. The process by yourself can be a demanding one with lots of specialist areas to consider - a garden designer can lead you through this process with knowledge and experience.
Please think about what uses you would want/need for your garden - be realistic in terms of space. Where does the sunlight fall? Is there a colour scheme you are hoping for?
Start creating a Pinterest board or browse mine for inspiration.
WHAT AREAS DO YOU COVER?
I mostly work in and around Surrey, Hampshire and South West London, however I've also completed projects in Gloucestershire, Kent, West Sussex, Oxfordshire and even New Zealand!