Garden & landscape design
Each of our garden designs is unique and suits the style of architecture: from urban townhouses and Victorian terraces to country cottages and Grade II listed homes. Designs can be for any size of garden, from a small front garden or courtyard to a large country garden in a style that is either contemporary or has a more traditional approach with cottage garden style planting. Commissions cover kitchen gardens and orchards, sloping gardens, cutting gardens, water features and woodland gardens.
At a first meeting at your property, ideas and plans for your garden are discussed which includes the budget you would like to set. The process of a typical garden design will be explained as well as which stages and drawings may be needed for your project. Following the initial meeting, a proposal will be drawn up that outlines initial thoughts and costs; once this has been agreed then the design can begin.
The scheme design
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Stage 1 — The first step is to survey the garden, taking measurements and levels to analyse the site along with a series of photographs. The garden is then designed and a sketch plan produced along with a series of perspective drawings - artistic impressions of your garden.
Images are collated to form a Mood Board that gives a sense of style and colour for both materials and planting. The combination of these drawings will enable you to visualise the new garden plans.
The detailed design
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Stage 2 — Once the initial concept and other ideas for the garden are agreed, the Master plan is drawn up. The technical details are documented in a series of plans which include setting out information, dimensions, ground levels and drainage design.
Construction drawings are essential for items such as water features and pergolas to ensure the design is explained precisely. Samples of materials are provided and those chosen are documented in the specification. All plans are developed in CAD for accuracy and are used by the landscape contractor to construct your garden.
The planting plans
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Stage 3 — Planting plans are now prepared; soil samples are taken in several places to identify the soil type, the aspect noted and amount of light across the space is reviewed. This information enables us to choose the right plants for the site, which are shown on detailed layout plans with individual plants represented by circles, including plant varieties and species, quantities and spacing.
The full schedule of plants is prepared and can be sent to trade nurseries for quotations. Illustrated maintenance plans ensure the garden can be kept as planned.