Does it really cost that much?

We'd like to here some opinions on how we should proceed with our gardenâ�¦ We moved into this property on London/Essex border (E4) rather recently. We've go a smallish garden of aprox 50ft plot excluding the patio. The garden looked neglected for many years. We've done the hard part by erecting the fence, tiling patio, removing ancient bushes and cleaning rubbish. Now we'd like to make the garden up. The design is pretty straightforward: fast growing ever-green screening shrubs at the back, cascading vegetation to the borders, good quality turf in the middle, some arches for roses - nothing fancy, we just after seclusion. So we wanted someone with gardening experiences to help us out and invited a certain garden designer to take a look. What he advised was totally unexpected. Here are the highlights of the discussion: he wanted �£500 for design drawings upfront (what design??); he wouldn't consider including plants selection into his design but rather buy whatever is available around planting time; the rough estimate of the project started at 5k and "would easily push 10k" as plants *are* apparently so expensive. Is it really a case?
Is it really a challenge to find an hones, craft-loving gardener with knowledge of soil and what will work with what in English garden without "designer" price tag?

Thanks for your advice

 

Registered designers do charge a lot, largely to protect their ideas. I know one who said he'd drawn up designs for someone, had them rejected, and when he went past the garden later on, his ideas had been nicked - so you can see the point. If you have someone who is accredited, then you have some come-back - so I'd advise you do check that. If you're just after a few ideas, I bet this website will provide you with some free gratis!

 

i think that you have stumbled on a one day a week worker, i m sure living in such a hot spot you would expect to pay a little extra, but it sounds as tho you have the design idea and want it implemented ......
a good gardener is difficult to find for various reasons, mainly financial........
but if you only want traditional garden you can do it yourself, with regard to turfing, preparation is the key factor ..... check out the internet

 

Try a few landscapers, talk through what you want in general terms & take advice on the most satisfactory & economical ways of acheiving. Then either you or the landscaper draws up plans & planting plans & you get your estimate.
This is the way we normally work, we add a bit to the estimate for time spent on drawings or charge for time on delivery of drawings if its particularly involved.
We get to create schemes that we know will work, customer gets the garden they want, everbody happy.
It's hard to advise on price without seeing the garden but from what you say it sounds like 3k tops, depending on the the size, variety, density of planting.
With regards to planting plans, it's often best to make a few sensible substitutions if the right variety or grade is not readily available at the time.

If your next move takes you to the Chichester area, give us a call. :D

 

Hi there,

I had my garden landscaped two years ago at half the price of a designers' quote and then did all the planting myself. As i was new to gardening, I impulse bought the plants in the garden centre, and many of them didn' thrive, as they didn't suit the soil in my garden.

One way of perhaps getting the cost down, is to have the hard landscaping done, and then to simply get a planting list from a designer, and then purchase and plant the garden yourself. I personally think they have a great eye for what works, and if they are good, will advise you well for your gardens position and conditions.

I am now having to replant some of my garden - an expensive lesson!

 

I think when talking gardening design you need to be very clear what you want.

1. A design that meets what you want from the garden. �£200-500

2. A plant plan and list �£ 200-500

3. The design and planting done for you. �£3k to 15k

Sounds like you already have the bones of your garden either set out and/or clear in your head. If so why a designer? For planting - why spend any money at all. Ascertain what soil you are gardening on, what direction your are facing (light and wind) - then get hold of Roy Lancaster's Perfect Plant, Perfect Place - and in addition browse the gardening pictures in the books in your local garden centre identifying those that turn you on. Voila - your own planting plan - cost time.

If you want the garden made for you - then the price comes high. Worth it as long as the design meets your vision - but far more satisfying to do it yourself. :D

 

Pavel,
for the price you were quoted, are you sure that your garden is not 5 acres!
I have designed mainly large formal grounds, up to 20 acres with the odd smaller plot, and, although it is not cheap, I think the price you were quoted was quite high, for the size of garden
Agree with fran, you could do most yourself, but time is most peoples enemy, and most of the places I have done, the client wants to be able to enjoy the garden from a sitting position, not bending up and down getting their hands dirty, not that there is anything wrong in that..
another book that is quite good is a DK produced book by JOHN BROOKES [ with a little help from his friends ] called POCKET ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GARDEN PLANNING..which is a useful little book and covers most things