Common questions
about garden design.

Not necessarily. If layout and use work well, a bed or planting area can be designed separately. A full plan makes sense when routes, terrace, seating, functions and planting need to be considered together.

Depending on the task and package, you may receive a concept, hand-drawn view, planting plan, plant list, flowering calendar or setting-out plan. We define the exact scope in the quote and I deliver the completed documents digitally.

Yes. We discuss your feedback at the concept stage and refine the plan. The quote states how many revisions are included and their scope. If the task expands or you want another option, we agree the additional design fee in advance.

We can plan a single border or rethink the whole garden, taking existing trees, plants and paving worth keeping into account. We discuss an approximate implementation budget at the start so the proposals suit your circumstances.

The garden can be built in stages. We consider how the work connects and in what order it should happen, leaving room for elements planned for later.

Using photos, a plan or sketch and your observations, I identify possible causes of overheating, drying or poor runoff. You receive a tailored digital assessment with shade, water retention and specific plant suggestions, soil and maintenance guidance, and three stages of improvement. I note where further surveying or detailed design is needed. A handover consultation and follow-up are optional extras.

Yes. I first identify healthy trees, shrubs or perennials of real value and how the design can build on them. We record the position and expected size of plants to keep in the starting information.

Yes, if plants suit the light, soil, water and available space. Well-chosen layers, thoughtful bed sizes and mulch can reduce maintenance, but I don’t promise a completely maintenance-free garden.

I consider safety, durability and play together. I avoid toxic and thorny plants dangerous to the users, and plan clear play areas, comfortable paths and hard-wearing surfaces. The aim is a garden where children can explore, pets have suitable space and adults can relax.

A climate-adapted garden is a more precise term than a climate-proof one. Drought tolerance involves more than plant choice: soil improvement, mulch, shade and retaining rain all matter. If terrain and soil are suitable, a rain garden can temporarily collect roof or paving runoff and let it soak away slowly. New planting still needs watering while it establishes.

I treat soil, water, plants and wildlife as a connected system. Varied, site-appropriate planting, careful use of water and soil, and habitats for birds and pollinators can reduce needs such as watering and feeding. I design these alongside practical use so ecological ideas work in everyday life.

Yes, if suitable plans, dimensions and photos let us understand the site accurately. Steep slopes, uncertain boundaries or a complex built setting may require extra surveying or on-site checks.

Start with the garden’s location, approximate size, current use, changes you want and intended timing. A dimensioned drawing, photos from several angles and marked plants and structures to keep help refine the details.

The deadline depends on size, complexity, chosen drawings and how complete the starting information is. We confirm the schedule in the quote after reviewing the task.

It helps to get in touch the previous autumn or winter, leaving time for design, discussions and preparation. We work backwards from your preferred start, allowing for design capacity, sourcing and contractor availability. The quote confirms a feasible deadline.

Besides size and complexity, it depends on the drawings needed, existing information and the number and depth of discussions. Package prices provide a guide; your tailored quote states the exact fee.

An order is based on acceptance of the agreed quote. Online orders are paid in advance. For traditional garden design, payment follows an individual agreement, usually in two equal instalments. Exact payment terms are clarified before you order.

You or your appointed landscaper or building contractor organise construction. By prior arrangement, I can help on site when the plants arrive, refining their positions according to the plan and arranging them before planting.

Follow-up on the garden’s development and further advice are available by individual arrangement.

The garden can be built in stages. We consider how the work connects and in what order it should happen, leaving room for elements planned for later.

Discuss replacements first: as well as similar looks, mature size, light and water needs and the plant’s role must fit. If you want help choosing, we agree on the scope and any separate fee in advance.

Yes. You can commission a separate maintenance guide covering seasonal care, pruning, watering and soil. For a garden I already know, follow-up is also available: we review new photos and your experience and refine the tasks. These are separately ordered services.

Landscapers and building contractors can commission a complete garden plan too. Planting and setting-out drawings, plant schedules and material quantities provide a shared basis for quotations, purchasing and construction.

Documents are delivered digitally. Before the quotation we agree file formats, scale, level of detail, revision scope and timing, including any separate specialist documentation required.