design process

Designing a garden that works may seem a daunting process. Here we break down the steps and jargon, so you know how Susan will help you every step of the way to achieving your dream garden:

• Initial Consultation: this is the first meeting to view the site, show a portfolio of work and establish a brief for the design, based on your needs, experience and the space available. A small fee is charged for this consultation if the garden is not local, which is offset against design work should you proceed. From this initial consultation a document confirming the brief, outlining proposals and the estimated design fees is sent to you for your approval.

• Survey: once instructed to proceed, a survey is carried out, which involves measuring the site, recording levels and relevant information; if the site is large or complex a professional surveyor is employed. From the survey a sketch plan is drawn up. This is a scaled drawing of the design and may include sketches and images to clarify design intentions. This is presented for your approval and if necessary modifications are made. Once approved the Master design is drawn up.

• Master Plan: this is the key design drawing, presented in colour, to enable visualisation of the design and may contain perspective views and section elevations. This drawing contains all relevant design information.

• Planting Plan: this drawing shows the position, quantity and species of plants, and incorporates the plant schedule, which includes pot sizes and planting details. A separate maintenance schedule, specific to the garden, outlines when and what is needed to manage the planting, month by month, will be prepared, if required, once the planting is completed.

• Tender Documents: these include the setting out plan, specification and construction drawings, if required, to enable the contractor, where applicable, to quote for and implement the design.

• Monitoring the build: visiting the site during the construction phase ensures the design is properly interpreted, visits are usually carried out once or twice a week depending on the complexity of the design. Once the hard landscaping is completed the plants are selected and placed in their positions by Susan or the contractor, depending on the size of the project and planted by the contractor or a small team managed by Susan.

CONTEMPORARY TWIST TO VICTORIAN PROPERTY
The brief for this garden was to have an end design that reflected the Victorian property in which most of the features had been restored, but decorated and furnished in a contemporary way. The design is angled across the site at 45 degrees, which makes the garden look larger. It incorporates two seating areas, a timber pergola, a water feature, lighting and timber arch. The materials, stainless steel, granite, slate, stone, grey bricks and timber decking give the garden a contemporary feel.

STAGE 1 – BEFORE
Early summer – The garden before was so overgrown it appeared tiny and half of it was inaccessible with a large shed at the back, a broken sloping pathway and small patch of grass; the garden sloped across the site and up towards the rear boundary.

STAGE 2 – CONSTRUCTION/WORKS IN PROGRESS
Late summer – The garden has been cleared and levelled, new fencing has been erected and electric cabling installed for the lights and water feature; brick edging defines the lawn and the areas for plants. The foundations for the deck and hole where the tank for the water feature will be placed can be seen.

STAGE 3 – AFTER PLANTING
Early spring – The planting is just completed and the beds are mulched.

STAGE 4 – LIGHTING
Late Spring, Second Year – The garden lit up in the evening with Hunza stainless steel bollards, spotlights and downlights.

STAGE 5 – THE GARDEN
Late Spring, Second Year – The garden is starting to fill out, after spring pruning and tying climbers in to their supports; the planting is looking established and healthy. Eventually the fences will be clothed with the many different climbers, the shed will be screened with shrub Hebe parviflora augustifolia and climbing Euonymous f. ‘Silver Queen' and the planting either side of the arch will successfully semi-screen the second half of the garden. Planting has been selected to incorporate scent, flowers and foliage interest.