From Initial Meeting to Design and Construction
Before jumping into redesigning your garden, take some time to consider what's good and bad with it now? What would you like to change? How much time do you have to maintain it? How much do you want to spend? Think also about the style, features and uses you want to include in a new garden.
In order to redesign your garden we would work together through several stages and follow up discussions to create and develop a final plan. So what are the stages?
Stage 1 - Free Initial Visit
Before my visit, I forward a questionnaire for you to complete about your garden. The results of the questionnaire and discussions at our first meeting provide a brief for me to follow if you wish me to proceed to Stage 2 and begin designing your new garden.
Stage 2 - Site Survey to Concept Plan(s) and Mood board
To create a Concept Plan I need a Site Survey to work from. If the site is not too complicated I am happy to complete the Survey. I'll photograph, measure and record the details of your garden; it's size, aspect, existing features etc to make an accurate Site Survey. If the site is particularly complex we would need to have a surveyors survey completed.
I use the Site Survey and the brief to create a Concept Plan/Mood boards for you. We meet again to discuss my Concept Plan and confirm we are heading in the right direction. The Concept may need some minor adjustments to reflect our discussions so I make the changes required (usually, if amendments are minor, at no extra cost).
I use the Site Survey and the brief to create a Concept Plan/Mood boards for you. We meet again to discuss my Concept Plan and confirm we are heading in the right direction. The Concept may need some minor adjustments to reflect our discussions so I make the changes required (usually, if amendments are minor, at no extra cost).
Stage 3 - Presentation Plans and Rendered Images
The next stage is to create your 3D Presentation Plans. I can provide perspective, elevation and/or section cut views of the new garden (further charges would be made depending on the number and complexity of images required over the basic set I prepare).
These Presentation Plans really bring the new garden to life. With these you can explore in 3D the shapes, mass, colour, texture and scale of materials and plantings chosen for the design: without committing to the expense of having the garden built. After pondering these images and checking you are happy with your choices of paving etc you will want get the garden built. For this you will need Construction Plans and a Bill of Quantities for Contractors to quote for the build.
These Presentation Plans really bring the new garden to life. With these you can explore in 3D the shapes, mass, colour, texture and scale of materials and plantings chosen for the design: without committing to the expense of having the garden built. After pondering these images and checking you are happy with your choices of paving etc you will want get the garden built. For this you will need Construction Plans and a Bill of Quantities for Contractors to quote for the build.
Stage 4 - Construction Plans
The Construction Plans and Bill of Quantities ensures your chosen Contractors provide you with accurate pricing in their quotes to construct the garden and have detailed information about how you want the garden built. They specify what materials are to be used and show scaled Plans to showing all dimensions of the items to be built.
With clear and accurate plans the Contractor and you know what is expected and helps prevent any surprises during and after the construction work is done.
With clear and accurate plans the Contractor and you know what is expected and helps prevent any surprises during and after the construction work is done.
Stage 5 - Planting Plans
The Planting Plans provide the names and numbers of plants needed to create the garden. It shows where they're to be planted and any additional requirements for watering, staking etc. It will also include a Planting Schedule if I complete the planting; which in effect is a quote for me to source all of the plants for you, arrange delivery and planting (Labour whilst planting is charged at an hourly rate unless otherwise stated).
Stage 6 - Lighting and Irrigation Plans
If your plan includes lighting and/or irrigation I can complete plans including fixtures schedules for the work to be quoted for and carried out.
Stage 7 - Maintenance Schedules
Maintenance schedules advising how to maintain the garden after its been built can be provided. They're a good way to ensure that pruning to establish and develop the planting goes well.