Face to face advice???
Lyndalan
Posts: 7
With more than 2000 threads already apologies if this has been asked multiple times already, I am happy to be redirected.
We've just extended our house and the garden has been cleared over the course of this summer. It was primarily faded balmullo stone chips over polythene on top of subsoil. (Very compacted and poor drainage) and weed infested grass.
We have laboured over numerous plans and ideas, I've watched every gardeners world, garden rescue and love your garden this year, I've visited every garden centre in the area and really all I'm looking for is to bounce ideas off of someone who can provide good advice on our intentions?
Our garden is south facing with woodland at the bottom. I've started by laying a small area of new turf for my daughter's play zone, we would like a wildlife pond (I'm aware re child safety), seating area and a modern feel..... however the budget is small £5000.
I've spoken to landscaping companies however because I want to do the majority of work myself and at £600 for a consultation am I being unrealistic to be able to have a chat and some advice re my plans cheaper??' we are in the north east of Scotland, if anyone can suggest an organisation or advice service which is reasonable it would be much appreciated.
All advice welcome
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Last edited: 21 October 2017 22:21:59
Posts
Are there any NGS or town/village open garden events you could visit next spring/summer? If there are you'll see some great gardens and most owners will be happy to chat.
Thanks slum, yes we visited council gardens and private gardens this summer and it was very inspiring.
I think the trouble we have is too many ideas and too many options. Starting with a big blank canvas, a minimal budget and almost no gardening knowledge is a bit overwhelming. We have about 100 sketches on graph paper all with pros and cons.
I'd love to have a professional come in and create an amazing garden however we simply can't stretch that far.
Our gardening clubs are thin on the ground in this area.
I am currently asking some local pro designers for an hourly rate to see if I can chat over our plans, I just wondered if I'm missing something obvious that was worthwhile??
Cheers
Have a look in the yellow pages online for garden designers. There are quite a few in the north east of Scotland. AN initial consultation will not cost a lot and then you could go on if necessary to a full blown plan to scale or just a sketch or just stop at the consultation stage.
Make a list of what you really want in the garden ie table for 6, barbecue area, veg plot etc etc and be realistic on the amount of time you can spend on the garden. A budget of £5000 is very healthy if you intend to do the work yourself.
And remember that gardens are not made quickly - they evolve over the years as time and money allows. A garden designer will give you a blue print to work with and money well spent if you cannot make any decisions yourself.
I feel that gardens are often more about the gardener than about design. I have seen some of these instant gardens and they can be very fine, in an impersonal way, but they don't feel like home! In your position, I would make a list of the things I really like, evergreens, bright coloured flowers, structural features etc etc. and then look around to see if they grow well in your area. Begin with the long term, big plants - perhaps trees or shrubs and try them out in various positions. Look at them from every angle as well as indoors before you plant them. Later, you can begin to fill in, choosing plants that appeal and fit as your ideas develop.
There are many gardening magazines and sites which have ready made planting plans if you prefer this approach and these will show you the seasonal changes, final sizes and so on.
Thanks hogweed and posy, we are trying to settle on the structural elements, I guess just lacking the confidence to crack on.
We are looking for a nice seating area at the bottom of the garden where the sun lasts longest. The pond will be more central however being for wildlife will have plenty of planting to provide cover for critters. Also hoping to screen my daughter's play area, try and hide the trampoline!!
We have general ideas for trees and shrubs but like you say posy will focus on those over time.
Watching programs that have quick turnarounds does give a false sense of reality, especially if doing the work yourself.
We have emailed a couple of designers so hopefully they can provide a bit of reassurance and confidence.
Cheers
Last edited: 22 October 2017 21:30:33
The problem with programs where they treat gardens like static designs, they tend to end up looking 'stock' and similar. Of course, this is not true for all, but if you don't show the designers exactly what you want, they will possibly steam roll their ideas into your garden.
You sound like you have quite a few definite ideas in your head. Keep saving images you like, colour combinations and hard landscaping ideas you like. That is what you need to be showing the designers.
A garden normally evolves and changes all the time. I think you need the general shape and hard landscaping sorted first, and that is the main priority. Planting should come second and does not need to be rushed with the same time as all the hard landscaping. That should keep the costs down too.
You could try asking at your local Garden Centres and Nurseries if they know of any pro gardeners and landscapers who would provide advice without charging an arm and a leg. If you don't actually want a design and planting plan that shouldn't be too expensive.
Hi Lyndalan,
I agree with hogweed that a budget of £5000 is very healthy. Judging from your photos your garden does not look that huge. If you spend 10% of that budget on paying for advice (and plans, etc) from a competent garden designer, it seems more than fair to me.
I've always found it strange that no-one would envisage to have a house built without paying for the services of an architect but people are unwilling to pay for the services of a garden designer when creating a garden. That being said I did not turn to a designer when I extended my own garden. But the nursery where I bought the bulk of my plants did provide (for free) a detailed plan and sound advice. Most designers will provide a range of services, from preliminary sketch (sometimes free) to detailed plan to hard landscaping to complete planting, etc.
In his message above Borderline gives very sound advice.
PS What is the size of your garden? If you have made a plan (or plans) could you post them for us to see? My own garden plan is visible at http://www.rezeau.org/wp-garden/en/garden-plan-2/
Looking forward to hearing from your progress and best wished for your plans.
You have had some very sound advice above. A design & plan alone which you can execute yourself should not be too expensive. Other suggestions might be are there any horticultural colleges near you as you might be able to get them to recommend someone or even get a final stage student to help with a plan. As you are in Scotland you could try contacting the Beechgrove garden programme they have a problem solving spot on the show, you never know you might get lucky & get Chris Beardshaw to come round.
Papi Jo I think garden designers may suffer from the Chelsea effect. Rather like very few of us would wear catwalk fashions, show gardens have become so peculiar, and so little to do with real people, their children and pets that few would want their designs. The cost is a fantasy, too. I feel gardens are for enjoying, not a display of concept art.