Creating Gardens and Outdoor Spaces to Enjoy
Services:-
Professional Garden and Landscape Design
Planting Plans and Schedules
Plant Supply and Planting
Project Monitoring
Construction Detailing, such as bespoke pergola, ponds/water features, walls etc
Lighting Schemes
The Design Process
The full design process can typically take the following stages, but it will depend on the amount of design input and support you require for your individual project and budget
1. You Dream it and Contact me
2. Initial Consultation
At the initial consultation I will have a chat with you to understand what you want to achieve and how you want to enjoy your outdoor space. We will explore your garden together, identifying what you like, what you don’t like, what you want to keep, any challenges and generate ideas. We will discuss your budget. It is beneficial for me to have as much information as possible about your preferences for the overall style or look you wish to achieve, colour, hard landscaping materials, plants and features or structures you might wish to include or retain within your garden. The meeting will be followed by an outline of our discussion and a breakdown of the design fees.
3. Site Survey and Analysis
An accurate scaled survey of your garden is required before any design work can begin. Depending on the size of your garden or specific features of your garden, such as slopes, level changes etc, the survey will either be carried out by myself or I will recommend the instruction of a surveyor to carry out a topographical survey.
I will conduct a site analysis of your garden to make notes on the aspect of your garden; soil; existing features, trees and buildings; the character of your home and atmosphere of the surroundings; level changes; access points and take photographs of the views from your home and different areas of the garden.
4. Concept Designs
Initial design concept drawings will be created to illustrate a vision for your garden design for discussion and review. This is an important stage to get the use of space and balance right, and the flow of the garden showing seating areas, pathways, hard landscaping, water features, structures and will form the basis of our next discussion. Mood boards for hard landscaping and to communicate the overall feel of the space will be produced to help you visualise the proposed design. Your input at this stage is highly valued to ensure all elements of the design are on brief and to make any changes if necessary.
Depending on the size of your project and budget, or if you are having a go at a self-build this may be sufficient for your needs.
5. Master Layout Plan
When the concept design has been revised as necessary, and approved, a set of detailed drawings are produced. A detailed Master Layout Plan will be created. This is a scaled drawing specifying all the materials to be used in your garden design. This is a “blue print” of your garden design. The master layout plan will show the location of any hedging and trees, but it will not detail the plants and shrubs to be used.
A Setting out plan will also be produced and this shows the measurements of the hard landscaping and how the design relates to your home.
Construction drawings are necessary if there are special features such as retaining walls, a bespoke pergola or water element. You may want lighting to enhance your garden. If so, I can provide a lighting scheme and liaise with lighting specialists.
These technical drawings will help a landscaper to quote and implement the garden that I have designed for you.
6. Planting Plans and Schedule
Detailed planting plans will show the position where to plant trees, hedges, shrubs, grasses, plants and bulbs. A planting schedule is produced specifying plant species, size of plants and how many to be used as a basis for pricing and ordering.
The planting of a garden brings together the overall style. Every plant is chosen based on your preferences and the conditions in various areas of your garden. It is important that plants complement the garden, the materials used and provide all year seasonal interest.
The creation of a planting plan and schedule can be a standalone service if you want to refresh an existing border or plant up a new border. I can supply plants from reputable nurseries, at a more competitive rate than your local garden centre, so call me before you decide to buy them yourself.
7. Construction and Project Monitoring
When the garden design is drawn up and agreed, the next stage is to find a reputable landscaper to quote for your project. I can assist you with this process.
The landscaper that you decide to instruct will be able to source materials, construct and build the design.
If you would like me to, I can aid the landscaper on site, answer any questions they may have and monitor the work to ensure that the garden I have proposed is built in line with the design, to the correct specifications and standards.
8. Enjoy your Garden!
If you are lucky enough to own a garden, no matter how small or large, and you need inspiration as to how you can enjoy your outside space to its full potential, then please do get in touch
CONTACT
07769 018542
angela@amdgardendesign.co.uk