Question 1

Can I justify a garden designer on a small project?

Accepted Answer

A well thought out garden can positively transform the way you live and when you appoint a professional designer, you can be sure your project is in safe hands.

With smaller gardens in particular where everything is on show,  it is absolutely imperative that every design element and detail is well considered and justified - in small spaces there is no hiding place for bad choices made.  Mistakes, however small, can be costly and will completely offset an otherwise successful outcome.  Furthermore, the most challenging but exciting spaces, often the ones to create the ‘wow' factor, are the small gardens where expert design solutions are truly inspiring and tranformational.

Question 2

How much does garden design cost?

Accepted Answer

Design costs vary according to the content and scale of the project.

Garden Design Plans can range from £500 for simple makeovers to £ several thousand for complex projects.

Planting advice and/or plans cost in the region of £180 to £1500 depending on the amount of planting.

Consultancy advice is charged at £80 per hour respectively subject to the nature of the advice sought.

In terms of actual build costs, most newly designed gardens including irrigation and lighting fall into the following categories: -

£18,000 - £35,000

£35,000 - £60,000

£60,000 - £150,000

Small partial improvements are costed per job. For example, an existing garden 'revamp', a new planting scheme etc.

Question 3

How long will it take?

Accepted Answer

The full Design Process from the Initial Consultation to the Final Presentation of the Master Plan & Supporting Construction Documentation is usually a period of 4-6 weeks.   The build stage depends largely on the scale of the project and ranges from two weeks to 7/8 months.

Question 4

Can I have a designed garden that is sympathetic to the environment?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can strike the healthy balance of urban development and  preserving our environment.  Even with very contemporary designs,  there are always design solutions to ensure an ecological relationship between landscape and urban design and build.   Part of our ethos is to always ensure that part of the Design Brief takes into account the nature and wildlife we are privileged to have living alongside us.
 
Please see here for more information on our Environmental Commitment.(javascript:void(0))

Question 5

Where do you source plants and materials?

Accepted Answer

All our trees and plants are sourced from top quality industry standard trade nurseries and growers throughout the UK, and sometimes Europe where certain species are desired or specified.  
 
For large shrubs and trees, we personally visit the nurseries to choose and select them ensuring the perfect form and size for the jobs in mind.

Question 6

Will my new garden continue to look good years beyond the design and build?

Accepted Answer

Like everything, if a good quality build and materials are used at the outset, there is no reason why your garden shouldn’t continue to look fabulous years after the design.  Of course there will be elements you need to maintain at certain frequencies such as repainting or re-oiling of furniture, cleaning of paving etc.  
 
The most important investment will be the maintenance of your plants.  It is a very important part of the initial brief to fully understand the requirements of a garden once established and not to be over-ambitious with the amount or type of more labour intensive planting (such as perennials) to be incorporated if you are unable to look after it yourself and/or appoint a gardener to do so. This will be discussed in detail with you and forms part of The Brief.

Question 7

I don't want a big re-design, just something to jazz my garden up a bit. Can you still help?

Accepted Answer

Yes absolutely we can help! You’d be amazed at the results from a simple garden make-over of which we have done many.  Please do contact us and we can talk you through how we can make the most of your outside space.

Question 8

I've heard astro turf/fake grass is bad for the environment. What do you suggest?

Accepted Answer

There is no doubt that the introduction of artificial grass is damaging to our environment.   Whilst it may have huge benefits for our everyday living in terms of low maintenance and time management, with year round use, it is vey much to the detriment locally of the soil health, wildlife, habitats and drainage (especially with the change in weather pattern we now experience).  Furthermore it of course impacts on carbon footprint in terms of its manufacturing & transport as well as final disposal into landfill.  Companies are moving towards products allegedly less impactful but nothing quite replaces natural grass or an alternative landscape material without the use of this product.

Notwithstanding the above, like everything, there are times and places where artificial grass could be an acceptable choice.  Where this applies, we like to compensate by ensuring corridors for wildlife are maintained and plenty of wildlife planting is incorporated. 
 
You can read more about our Environment Commitment h(javascript:void(0))ere.

Question 9

Is the lighting of my garden harmful to wildlife?

Accepted Answer

Yes, light pollution is harmful to wildlife. It illuminates habitats they would otherwise use for their survival and protection and alters the relationships between predators and prey.  Light and dark have the biggest influence on circadian rhythms.  Most songbirds migrate at night and become very disorientated when travelling through excessive artificial light (ALAN).

This is not to say you cannot have lighting in your gardens.    A well thought-out scheme will mitigate unnecessary light polution and also unnecessary cost.   There has been a long standing tendency in the industry to over-spend on lighting up gardens.     The skill to create the desired functionality and ambience is about careful selection of spaces and features.

TRIS WILLIAMS

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