Project Management

As an independent professional garden designer I can work with you to create a fresh and inspired garden layout plan accompanied with 3D images that meets your brief.  From that point, I can continue to manage the project through to completion by introducing you to local professional landscapers I work with to obtain quotes, or I could work with a landscaper of your choice to see the project through if required.

Below is an outline of The Garden Design Process:

Initial Garden Design Consultation (Free)
This first meeting is free and tends to last about an hour.  It allows me to see the garden, identify the size of the job in hand and understand what you want to achieve.  It also gives me a chance to show my portfolio and give you an idea of budget figures for the whole project to help establish which of my garden design services would suit you best.  There is nothing more disappointing than having a beautiful garden designed that is not within the budget to build, which is why it is important to decide budgets up front to help me establish the best way forward for an affordable garden design solution.  You may find this checklist useful for preparing for this meeting:  Garden Design Brief Checklist

Garden Design Fee Estimate – how much will it cost?
Following the initial Garden Design Consultation I will send you a garden design fee estimate that outlines the cost to produce a new garden layout plan, planting plan and plant sourcing.  If you are unsure what budget to set for the project, I can suggest a budget figure to work to based on experience of previous garden builds.  Accurate costs for landscaping the garden can only be quoted once you have an approved garden design layout drawn to scale.

The cost to transform a garden is similar to the investment of a new kitchen. Both kitchen and garden design and build are major investments that will give years of pleasure and add value to your property.  As a guide, I would say that a realistic budget for building a small to medium garden would be in the region of £10,000 to £15,000 / £20,000.  Simpler builds with little hard landscaping could be achieved for less. 

More complex designs that include desirable hard landscaping elements such as patios, water features, raised planting beds, pergolas, garden lighting, garden irrigation and mature planting will all add to the construction cost. My garden design fee varies depending on the size of the garden and the complexity of the brief and can be quoted after the initial consultation.

Garden Design Brief
If you choose me to create your new garden design, I would return to take a full garden design brief and spend some time with you to understand how you use the garden now, and how you would like to use the garden in future.  This enables me to design a new layout that makes best use of the space available and meets your practical needs as well as the look and feel you’d like to achieve.  Any pictures of elements you particularly like are always useful – they don’t have to be images of gardens or plants – it could be a shape or a sculpture or a montage of colours that will act as inspiration for the new design.

Garden Site Survey
Following the design brief, the garden site survey entails measuring the garden in detail and ‘getting to know’ the site to identify what is going to work best where.  I make a note of buildings overlooking the site, the movement of the sun to identify ‘hot’ and ‘shady’ patches in the garden and take soil samples to establish which plants will thrive best. I also note key views from the house, changes in levels, what has worked and what hasn’t worked regarding plants. This helps to build a picture of how the site can be transformed so I will spend quite some time to ensure I have all the information I need to create an exciting new garden layout that is practical, interesting and unique to you.

Garden Design Master Flat Plan Layout and 3D images –
drawn to scale
The next step is to produce a flat plan layout to scale of your new garden for approval.  I often present this as a pencil sketch first for your initial feedback before finalising the design.  The final garden design will include 3D images of key views to help you picture your new garden.  As long as the brief doesn’t change, any adjustments required to the flat plan will be done within the design fee quoted until you are happy with the layout and I can produce a final plan to scale ready to be quoted. 

Garden Construction Estimate
The master flat plan can be used to obtain costs for building the garden.  I work with reputable and experienced local landscapers who can provide a quote for transforming your garden design into a real garden and offer invaluable input into the technical aspects involved and material choice. Alternatively, you can choose your own landscapers to obtain competitive quotes.

Planting Schemes
Detailed planting plans follow once the layout plan is approved and the area to be planted is finalised.  Once we have discussed your plant likes and dislikes in detail in terms of shape, form, colour and level of maintenance required I produce a short list of plant images that fit the brief for approval. 

The Planting Plan is then drawn to scale, indicating the position and quantity of each plant and is accompanied with a plant shopping list that can be costed to give you a budget figure for the plants.  To give you an idea, an average plant budget for filling a new small to medium garden with plants could easily be around £1,500 to £3,000, depending on the size you buy, which is why I advocate installing an irrigation system and spending time and money on improving the soil and adding a mulch to give the plants the best conditions to help them establish and thrive.

Plants are carefully selected for their suitability to the soil and aspect, taking into account ultimate height, spread and visual impact based on flowering times and how the colours, textures and shapes combine together throughout the gardening year to create the look and feel you’ve always wanted to achieve in the garden. 

Garden Design Build and Project Management
The contract for building the garden will be between yourselves and the landscaper you select, but I always like to see my garden designs through to completion to ensure our initial vision is achieved so I will be on hand at key stages during the build to ensure all is going to plan. This time will be quoted under project management and includes time on site to approve layout with you. 

Plant Sourcing
The plants add the finishing touch, so while the guys are busy building the garden, I will be working to source the plants that will soften the hard landscaping and bring the garden to life. The plant budget is one of the most flexible areas of the garden build which can be adjusted based on the size and maturity of the plants you choose.  I will work within the budget you set and personally select good quality plants, making suitable substitutions if necessary.  Sourcing plants for a whole garden at once is a time consuming job requiring access to specialist nurseries and is a service I offer to ensure all plants arrive in time and looking good.

Planting Plan Layout
I offer this service to ensure the plants are arranged naturally based on experience and may adjust the position of the odd plant once in place to enhance the look. Once laid out, the plants are ready to be planted by either myself, the landscaper or you depending on what has been agreed.

Garden Maintenance Aftercare
To help you keep your garden looking good, I can produce an aftercare schedule that tells you what you should do with each plant and when if required.  This can be quoted once the planting plan is complete.

Naturescapes provides a friendly and professional garden design service to transform your
garden, extend your living space outdoors and add value to your home.
If you would like to view my portfolio and obtain a free, no obligation quotation for garden design.

Call Carol on

01296 696985

email: carol@nature-scapes.co.uk

Naturescapes Garden Design and Planting Consultancy, Halton, nr. Wendover - Aylesbury UK.
Creating beautiful gardens across Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire.