After contacting me an initial free visit will be arranged to introduce myself, to discuss your garden and to explain how I work. At this meeting I find out your requirements and tastes, discuss budgets and fee structures. Considerable effort is made to discover how you will live in, look after and maintain the garden so that it can best be designed to suit you.

 

Following this initial meeting a 'Fee Proposal' will be put together and you will be sent two copies. You will be asked to read, sign, date and return one copy to form the contract between us.

 

A site analysis and an accurate Survey of the existing garden is needed prior to any design work. This can sometimes be cut from the process if sufficient information, plans or drawings are already available. The survey is completed either by myself or by a surveyor when dealing with larger or more complex sites.

 

The design starts with an initial Concept Plan, sketches and other visual aids to show you how the garden will look. This document is for discussion and allows me to present my ideas and to make any changes you may wish as we adjust the design to your satisfaction, until the concept is confirmed.

 

A Scope of Works, Layout Plan and preliminary construction specifications are written to enable one or several landscape contractors to provide a price and to set out and build the garden (this tender process can be managed in various different ways). A preferred landscape contractor is generally used however a number of companies who have constructed gardens for me in the past could also be chosen.

 

If the landscape contractor’s costs for the project meet your budget then full construction specification drawings are required. Should the project costs come in higher than the client’s budget there are two choices; revise the design or revise the budget to meet the client’s expectations.

 

The Planting Plan shows the location, size at maturity and spacing of all plants in the garden, both new and existing. A Planting Schedule accompanies the plan listing plant names, sizes and quantities and is used for costing, ordering and setting out the plants.

 

After all plans are confirmed and any revisions re-costed your chosen landscaper will provide a quotation and work can begin.

 

Throughout the process I am the overall project manager; an agent to introduce you to all the required contractors, consultants, skilled workmen, artisans etc, an overseer during the actual build and most importantly as liaison between client, designer and landscape contractor from start of the project to its satisfactory completion.

 

I will be in constant contact with you as the process runs and will ensure that all you hope for in your garden project is achieved in a smooth, efficient manner.