Using a landscape or garden designer
Dec
1
Written by:
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Using a landscape or garden designer:
While there have been numerous make-over gardening programmes on TV, you might think you could get all your ideas from the TV or books and apply it to your own garden. While these programmes may give you some useful ideas, and books can be very useful (I have a vested interest in books!), using a professional landscape designer can give you an overall perspective for your property, and hopefully avoid costly mistakes later on.
Some of my clients who are couples have come to me at their wit’s end when trying to decide among themselves what to do with their garden. A number of them have said that they are just about ready to divorce each other! While I have few skills sorting out marital problems, a fresh perspective can be just what is needed.
What can a designer do for you? Firstly they should listen, then listen and then listen! If there is a couple, both need to express their point of view. It is pointless just taking on board one point of view. These views may also be diametrically opposed (hence the reference to divorce above!)
This wish list can include things such as wanting a vegetable garden, a courtyard area for entertaining, preferring native plants and so on.
On top of this there are constraints, such as:
1. Budget- many clients don’t have any idea of what a job will cost. Their wish list may need drastic pruning as a result!
2. Site factors- the size of the section, whether it is flat or sloping, and existing features like services and trees all need to be taken into account.
3. Climatic and soil factors – you need to consider the prevailing wind, amount of light, whether there are frosts, and what type of soil you have. For example, is it a free-draining sandy soil, or a heavy clay soil that gets very wet in winter?
Once these factors are taken into account, you can start looking at solutions. For example, if a flat area for entertaining is wanted, but the section is on a steep slope, a solution could be a deck.
There may be more than one solution. If you have a wet area at the bottom of your section, you could either create a water feature, or put drains in the area and make it useful.
Ultimately, there are three factors to consider, that is, function, aesthetics and budget. Function means the plan has to work. Aesthetics means it looks nice, while we all know what budget means!
A designer should provide you with a base plan drawn to scale. This means measurements and quantities can be worked out from the plan. A concept plan will show you what the garden layout will be like, including hard surfaces such as paths, and soft features such as plants and lawns. A planting plan will show which plants go where. Construction details show how structures like walls and decks are built, and may involve engineers plans.
The good thing about a plan that has been completed with your input is that it can be implemented over time, as the budget allows. The important thing is that the whole garden has been considered, rather than a piecemeal approach.
All good things take time. This is why I believe a landscape plan can help you. Make over gardens are all very well, but unless you take on board the wishes of the client, and consider the long-term picture, the results will never be as good.
Happy planning!