HOW IT WORKS

How postal garden design works

The process involves making sure I know as much about your garden as you do, but I also need to know as much about the things you like and dislike in a garden. Making sure it caters for everyone that will use it and what you want to use it for.

In my experience, no two gardens are ever the same - that's why I love the challenge of designing a space for you to enjoy for years to come.

Below is a step-by-step guide to how postal garden design works. Please take a look and, once you're ready, fill in the questionnaire to get started.

Pre-Design

1. Return the design questionnaire with an indication of overall budget if you know how much you want to spend. The garden does not have to be built in one go and the planting especially can be phased in. I will then contact you with my payment details.

2. Following payment, I will provide you with a copy of the OS site plan of your property for you to annotate with measurements and information I need to know. I will provide you with a scale ruler so you can take the measurements from your garden and easily mark them up on the plan.

3. You then mark up the OS site plan with all the relevant information that is needed for me to produce a design.

4. Return the plan along with any photos, drone footage or anything that will give me an accurate view of your garden.

Concept Garden Design

Once I have the plan, I will produce a concept design for you based on your measurements. This will show you where all the features are in the garden, where the borders are and the size and shape of them and the layout of the patio and lawn. The design will enable either you or a landscaper to plot the design in your garden and build it.

In the inspiration gallery, you can see lots of examples of different concept designs to show you the style of design I will produce.

The first design is always colour-rendered as it helps bring the design to life. The subsequent revision will be a black and white version.

Making changes to the design

When you receive your colour rendered plan you will also receive a black and white copy. This is for you to make notes on and send back to me with any changes you would like. When you receive your design, please take time to think about it.

Included in the price is the cost of doing one revised plan based on your feedback. If any further changes are needed after the first set of revisions they are charged at my hourly rate of £30 plus the cost of postage and printing.

Planting Schedule

Alongside the design, I will give you a planting schedule which will tell you about the different plants I recommend. The schedule is broken down into the different borders but it is not a planting plan. It does not tell you exactly where each plant goes, but a lot of this is common sense as I will have chosen a range of plants that are compatible in your garden and will work well together. The schedule will also tell you how to care for your plants in the future.

I can also provide a quote for the planting design if required. I have examples available so you can see what type of information it contains and determine whether you need it.

You will also receive a book explaining how I have put the planting schedule together with pictures of some of the key plants used.

Indication of cost to build and plant the garden

Although I won't be building your garden, and landscapers prices vary from region to region and between different landscapers, I will try to give you an indication of what I think the garden should cost to build and plant.

This helps provide a benchmark when you are getting quotes but also helps you decide which elements to keep or take out if the cost is more than you want to spend.

Ongoing Support

If there is anything you are not certain of or want to query, then the best way of contacting me is via email.

Often during the day, I am out planting or doing site visits for the bespoke design service, so I won't have your design with me.

If you email me then I can get back to you via email and explain anything that is not clear, or just bounce some ideas about with you.

I use a number of online suppliers for plants, as well as local nurseries. I will advise you of these in the planting schedule. However, it is always worth using local nurseries where you can, especially if the plants have been grown locally. Not only does it support the local community but it means that the plants grown locally will be adapted to your climate and should survive better than something that has been grown in a different part of the country.

Ready to get started? Tell me more about your garden in the questionnaire