FAQs
Please browse the section below to see the questions I most often face as a garden designer working in North Yorkshire. Questions relating to Budget, Design, and the Process are found in the specific sections below.
General
What is garden design?
Garden design is the art and process of creating plans to produce gardens in a landscape. Since early human history people have been changing the landscape to suit their requirements, and this assertion of control over the environment continues today in modern garden design.
Can you visit my garden to give me some ideas?
Certainly. A consultation can be arranged and usually takes around two hours. This might consist of a walk around the site and a detailed discussion about how you want your garden to change, what you want to retain, and how I could help to make your garden meet your ambitions.
Can you design my garden without visiting/remotely?
I’m happy to design your garden when visiting the site is not possible. I always prefer to visit a site, allowing me to take in the surrounding area, the ‘genius loci’ of the site, and take plenty of photos and videos to aid the design process, however, where this is not possible, designs can be made if the client can provide enough visual information. In this scenario, a professional survey would likely be required.
What are the differences between a designer/gardener/landscaper?
The garden designer will meet you, carefully designing plans to transform your garden into the dream outdoor space you wanted. The plans show how the garden will look, what it will be made from, and how it will be constructed. The designer may get involved with sourcing a landscaper for the client.
The landscaper will take these plans and make them a reality. Building the garden to the exact specifications given in the plans.
The garden may be planted by the garden designer, the landscaper or an experienced gardener.
The gardener then maintains the garden if the owner requires one.
What if I change my mind about the design?
Before the design stage:
After the consultation, I will issue you with a contract. Once this is returned to me there is a 14 day cancellation clause (similar to a cooling off period), that the client can sign to cancel any further work.
If you want to alter the design:
During the design process, the ability to change a design becomes increasingly complicated. After the Draft Proposal Design, I accept two further major changes before I must start charging for my time at my day rate. This is unlikely to occur as details are generally agreed at the earlier design stages.