Designing Your Garden Using A Designer

Many people think of design and designers in terms of 'glossy magazines'; probably too expensive and certainly flighty. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Most designers work from a well-tried and tested set of rules that have been learnt from many years of experience. Their fees are usually moderate and will almost certainly be less than an architect's.  

For the average garden measuring, say, 15m X 15m (50ftx 50ft) the fees for a design and planting plan would be in the region of £300-£400; the price of a thousand bricks, a dining table or an armchair. This fee and the experience it brings will in all probability save you many times this amount in mistakes and wasted time. It will, in effect, give you an additional room and that alone is worth a good deal. 

A designer's job is to interpret what you want and not to impose his or her ideas on you. There is nothing worse, or wasteful, than a designer that simply does their own 'thing'. You then have their garden and not yours. A designer should be on your wavelength, understand what you want and be able to mould it into a sensible, no-nonsense plan. If you want the fancy and outrageous stuff there are certainly designers who can provide it, but remember that something that may be initially startling may quickly pall. 

If you do choose to employ a designer, bear in mind that they can only produce a plan around what you tell them, so think very carefully about what you want before they come. Think also about what you don't want as this can be just as important. Also, while many people's conception of a well-designed garden springs straight from a magazine page remember that the garden has to contain the ugly as well as the beautiful. You will need to tell your designer about the shed and the greenhouse, the compost heap or incinerator, the washing line and dustbin. 

The great advantage of employing a designer is that they are trained to interpret what you want whilst at the same time paying attention to the good and bad points of your site. They will know what is worth keeping or removing, be able to check soil types and have the ability to recognize plants. Designers will also be able to work out constructional details for any features involved, obtain quotes from reputable contractors and oversee work in progress so that, at the end of the day, you are completely satisfied with the final result. They can do as little or as much as you want. Perhaps, however, one of the best reasons for employing a designer is that they will simply be able to cast a completely fresh eye over the subject you may have become bogged down in looking at day-in and day-out. 

On the debit side, a designer's time will have to be paid for and their fees will either be charged on an hourly rate, to include travel, consultations and the production of drawings, or as a fee negotiated at the start of a job. As with all professional people, and garden designers are just that, ascertain exactly what you are in for and obtain a written quotation first. 

Of course, you do not have to employ a designer to carry out a complete scheme; you can simply buy several hours of his or her time. Such an approach can be invaluable for plant identification, projected growth, condition of trees, soil testing and to advice on just what will grow where. Most designers can also supply you with standard lists of plants for sun, shade, screening, damp and so on, from which you can make your own choice later on. This same approach can be applied to lawn-care programmes, the planting of a specific bed or a suitable combination of fruit trees for a small orchard.  

If you already have an established garden you can still seek a designer's view on how a layout can be improved or modified. Such guidelines can get you thinking and working in the right direction. However, for whatever size of job you employ a designer, it is essential that you have a real rapport with them. If you don't get on, then it is best to say so right at the start - it will save not only misunderstandings but a great deal of hard cash! 

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