In prime central London, a garden is a plus, but a well-designed garden can be an extremely valuable asset. Every square foot in a London garden makes a difference. Weedy patches of grass, mossy patios, bare fence panels and shabby shrubs simply won’t cut it.
With a bewildering array of garden services on offer, it can be intimidating for a homeowner who has never so much as potted up a tulip. “Redesigning a garden can be incredibly exciting, but with so many talented designers working in London, it’s easy for homeowners to feel overwhelmed about where to begin,” says Andrew Duff, chairman of the Society of Garden Designers. “That’s where working with a professional really comes into its own. An experienced garden designer brings not only creative vision, but the technical expertise to navigate the unique challenges of urban spaces – while also helping you create a garden that’s beautiful, functional and rich in biodiversity.”
The right designer for you
“Ultimately, the goal is to find someone you trust, feel comfortable collaborating with, and who truly understands your aspirations,” says Duff, who recommends that a good first step is to use the Society of Garden + Landscape Designers’ Find a Designer online search. “It allows you to explore portfolios of the SGLD Registered Members, compare their styles and start to identify designers whose work resonates with you.”
George hard at work on a garden design layout
And like all the best relationships, a little chemistry is important. “You’ll want to know if you’re going to get along with your designer,” says Tony Woods, founder of the Garden Club London. “This is a big investment but an exciting project and having a designer you enjoy working with is a must.” Be methodical and draw up a shortlist of prospective designers, look at their website portfolio and social media platforms and ask as many questions as possible. Talk to them about your project and brief to get an understanding if they’re right for you. You can also ask to visit their previous projects or take up references with their clients. Don’t be afraid to approach three or four different designers.
The brief
Coming up with the brief is vital to choosing the right garden designer, says Woods. “A good designer will help you to do this. However, giving as much information as possible at the enquiry stage will be really useful in how the brief and, more importantly for most, the budget is responded to. Are there any features you want to keep? Is privacy an issue? Are any special features, such as an outdoor kitchen or sauna on the wish list?” Be prepared to compromise and hear the word ‘no’, adds Woods. “You also need to know that when potentially told things you don’t want to hear – ‘No, that’s not possible because of budget or planning’ – that you can continue the working relationship in a pragmatic and enjoyable way to revise plans and achieve the best possible outcome for you and your garden.”
The Garden Company’s James Scott draws up a plan tailored to fit a new client’s brief
It may sound obvious, but walk the designer around your garden to clarify your points and take the opportunity to explain what you would like to keep and what you want to get rid of. Think about how and when you wish to use the garden and which plants, materials and colours you like and dislike.
The design
Once appointed, the designer will come back to discuss your exact requirements: what the garden will be used for, what style of planting you prefer, what features you would like to include and how much maintenance you want to undertake. They will then, depending on the topography of the site, measure and prepare a masterplan.
Once you have a design, you can either find a contractor to build the garden yourself or you can commission the designer to oversee the entire process, from installing the hard landscaping to planting the garden.
The budget
For everyone’s sake, discuss the budget from the outset. But prepare to be flexible. “A flexible budget is an absolute must to avoid killing creativity – this doesn’t mean giving your designer a blank cheque but allowing flex and discussing value engineering along the way as the plans progress,” says Woods. “Most designers will charge for a consultation and this is a good sign as it means that you’re paying not only for the time to visit and discuss the project with you but also time to go away and consider options for you and respond with a well-thought-through process, deliverables and defined brief,” he adds.
Charges and payment schedules will vary from designer to designer, so make sure you fully understand the cost implications, what you are getting for your money and when you’ll be invoiced. A good designer should provide a written estimate of the total design costs and explain what the project and payment stages are. It’s essential to agree fees and expenses in advance of any work. Be prepared to be asked for a percentage of the payment, as a deposit, before the design is completed.
Timings
However eager you are to be sipping a gin and tonic in your new garden, be realistic about timings. On average, you should allow about six months from appointing your chosen designer to completion of your garden. However, factors such as the scale of the project, the availability of contractors and any specialist components and unpredictable elements such as time of year and weather conditions could all add to this timeframe. Don’t be surprised if the designer you want has a waiting list and isn’t able to start on your project straight away. You might also need to wait for a preferred landscape contractor to be available.
Finally, communicate clearly throughout the process and be prepared for some disruption as materials may have to be moved through the house, depending on your property. Trust your designer – and if you want to make any changes to the plan, the earlier the better.
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