the garden design process

• This involves a meeting between you and Caroline or Louise to look at the garden, talk through your practical requirements and discuss initial ideas and outline budget.
• At this meeting we explore how you wish to use the space, what features you may wish to include such as areas for outdoor eating and entertaining, sunny/shaded seating areas, lawns, play area, kitchen garden or vegetable plot for grow your own, storage, lighting, water features, planting for screening etc, all information which helps us to formulate your brief.
• Following the meeting, we will send you a letter outlining the design brief. This letter also gives details of the practical phases of the design process along with associated fees.
• Fees – Gardenmakers offer competitive fees based on the guidelines established by the Society of Garden Designers. Like architects, Garden Design fees reflect the time spent on an individual project and are charged in one of three ways:
  
  • A flat fee for each phase of the project (generally for projects up to £20,000)
  • A percentage of the final overall cost of completing a project (generally for projects over £20,000)
  • An hourly rate (for small projects or aspects of a project where other fees do not apply)
• Budgets – We work closely with clients to establish realistic budgets for projects. We pride ourselves on working within agreed budgets.

• Before the design stage can be started, a site visit will be undertaken. This includes a survey and site analysis to measure the garden, to map existing features such as paving, paths, walls, structures; to record existing levels and specific conditions such as aspect, drainage, soil and light.
• For large or complicated sites we may recommend that a specialised survey is commissioned. We are able to arrange these, briefing the surveyors to ensure the required information is supplied.

• Initial Concept Plan – Using the site survey, site analysis and the client brief, we develop outline ideas for the garden.
  These ideas are presented to clients at a meeting where we use sketch plans, drawings, photographs and illustrations to show the proposed new layout and to help the client visualize the new garden and particular features. We will also discuss materials to be used for specific areas of the garden, showing examples where possible. These might include stone for paving, walling and paths, timber for decking, pergolas, gazebos, and garden buildings, as well as other materials. Key structural planting including trees will be discussed as will the planting themes for particular areas.
• Final Design Plans – Once the initial concept plan is approved, full scale plans are produced. These include an overall Layout/Presentation Plan showing the new design for the garden with details of hard landscaping elements, garden features, structural planting and areas of planting. This plan is accompanied by a scope of works and full specification detailing the materials to be used and how the garden will be built. A setting out plan and detailed construction drawings are also provided as necessary. These give additional information regarding measurements, levels and construction, and are necessary to ensure the new design can be implemented and that the garden is finished to the required standards.

• Construction – Gardenmakers have built up close working relationships with a select group of landscape contractors and specialists chosen for the quality of their workmanship, professionalism and attention to detail.
  • We assist clients with the appointment of a contractor suitable for their particular project taking into consideration location, the scale of the project and materials to be used. Our contractors are selected for their experience of working with all types of external materials. They are also selected for their ability to combine their hardlandscaping skills with the preparation of planting beds, tree planting, turf laying and other softlandscaping skills.
  • Gardenmakers have excellent contacts with specialist contractors to assist with all bespoke elements such as water features, swimming pools, ponds and natural pools, and lighting design.
  • In all cases we liaise with contractors, meeting them on site to discuss the scope of work, providing detailed plans and/or sketches to assist them with preparation of a quote for the work to be undertaken. Gardenmakers’ involvement in this process ensures quotes are competitive and carefully adhere to the scope of the work and specification
• Project Management – Once a contractor is appointed, we carry out site meetings during the construction phase to monitor progress, acting for the client to ensure work is carried out according to the specification and to the highest professional standards.

garden makers offer a complete planting design service.

• Detailed planting plans are drawn up from scaled plans of the garden taking into consideration the site and its local conditions and the planting preferences agreed with the client.
• Once the planting plan has been agreed, we are happy to deal with all aspects of sourcing, delivery and planting. Plants and trees are personally selected from reliable nurseries and key specimens are carefully researched for quality, shape, size and colour.
• We oversee delivery of plants and trees to the site and undertake the setting out and much of the planting ourselves.
• Our close personal involvement in every aspect of the planting ensures that all elements of the new design for the garden achieve maximum impact.