First Meeting
Our first meeting at your property will usually last an hour or so and is free of charge. I can show you some examples of my previous work and discuss with you any ideas you may have for your garden, along with any likes or dislikes whilst you show me around. I feel this is a good time for us to get to know each other and for you to decide if you feel we can work together.
The Brief
After our first meeting, I’ll type up everything that we discussed and email back to you a proposal, including my costs for all stages of the project. This way you can just have a design produced or you can have a full service agreement where I can manage your garden transformation from start to finish.
The Survey
I’ll carry out a detailed site survey, taking measurements, photographs and levels of your plot including house position, locality, drainage, aspect details and any existing trees/plants and soil samples. For larger, more complex sites I’d recommend a site survey by a specialist surevyor. This is also a good time for us to talk in more detail about any particular styles, materials or functions you wish your design to include.
The Concept
If you wish, I’ll create a Pinterest board with some images based on our discussion at our first meeting. I’ll share this board with you and very much see this as a 2-way process for us to create an overall moodboard for your garden. At our next meeting I’ll present you with some sketch ideas for discussion. I’ll then either go to a final CAD drawn plan or make revisions, which would take us to our third meeting, where I’ll present final drawings.
The Plan
Once you’re happy, the final plan will be drawn with 3D CAD software and any elevation drawings, construction drawings and a detailed specification list presented. At this stage, you will be free to find and appoint your own landscaper if you wish.
The Build
I will send the approved design to get a quote for you with one of my trusted landscape contractors. This will involve another site visit to talk through the plans with the landscaper and I will work with them to ensure the most cost-effective quote for your build. Once the cost is agreed, contracts will be produced and signed and a start date will be agreed. I can project monitor the build if you would like me to - this would mean visiting the site on agreed dates for the duration of the build and this cost will be clearly shown to you.
The Plants
Following on from our earlier discussions on likes and dislikes, I’ll send you an online link to a list of plants with images which will work for your site, soil and aspect for you to approve. Once you’ve fed back to me on this, I’ll design a planting plan which will include full botanical plant names, quantities, placement and sizes. One round of amendments is allowed for to this plan. After this is agreed, the final plan will be presented. This will be drawn at a scale of 1:50 with hand-drawn sketches of the proposed elevations. I will send the approved plant list for quoting to include delivery, feed and any additional sundries we may need. Once costs are agreed with you, I’ll arrange a delivery date and prepare your garden for planting, including removing any weeds and improving the soil (if necessary) to give the new plants a good start. Finally, I’ll share your online garden with you for one year, free of charge. This will show all of your plants and explain any specific details on aftercare, such as when and how to prune. After one year, you can continue the subscription online, but this would be at your own cost.
I’m fully insured, with both both Public Liability and Professional Indemnity cover. Certificates can be provided upon request.
The Legal bit