What's the process ?

landsacape.jpg

If you haven’t used a Landscape Designer before, don’t worry. Here, we explain the process of working with a landscape designer to achieve your sustainable dream garden.

When to use a landscape designer?

Our landscape designer, Tanya McCabe, can work with either a finished architectural plan or simultaneously along-side your architect when they are designing your new home or renovation.

The advantage in getting Tanya on board when your architect is ‘drawing’, is that both parties can collaborate creatively on ideas that may cross-over or influence each others’ designs. The ideas that flow out of this can be very exciting!

Alternatively, Tanya often works with completed residential plans to design a garden sympathetic to the architectural lines and designs of the structure.

Client briefing on site

Once you’ve made the decision to commission a landscape design, the first step in the process is the client briefing on your site. This gives you an opportunity to share with Tanya the aspirations you have for your garden. This may include your favourite plants, who will use the garden, different areas and functions the garden (eg. Wheelchair access, play areas, outdoor dining), and how much time and effort you want (and can) put into your garden.

From here, Tanya will gain a really clear insight into what it is you want from your garden. This discussion will form the basis of the client brief, and provides Tanya with a ‘springboard’ from which to design a garden that’s perfect for you.

A site consultation fee is applicable at this stage.

Landscape Design Concept Plan

Next, Tanya will present you with a concept sketch of her landscape garden design. It will indicate where hard landscaping is to take place, the various areas or ‘rooms’ of the garden, and nominate plant species and their locations within the plan. Tanya’s in-depth technical knowledge and experience ensures your garden will be sustainable, and therefore be suitable to the water, sun and soil conditions of your property. The concept sketch basically gives you a clear vision of the elements in your garden, the overall design, and a pictorial feel for what it will look like. From here, you can either approve the concept or discuss revisions with Tanya as appropriate.

At this stage, you can choose to purchase the landscape design plan.

Often at this stage, clients just want to jump right in and get started, as they are very excited about their home and garden coming together as one element.

Landscape Implementation Proposal

To turn your garden into reality, a lot of detailed preparation goes into calculating the costs, quantities and labour required from your design.

You will be presented with a fee proposal inclusive of materials, labour, hard landscaping, site supervision, irrigation, plant schedule, and other associated costs.

Note, any engineering or surveying approvals (and associated fees) are managed through your architect (at their billable rate).

Once the implementation proposal gains client approval, then it’s full steam ahead in building and planting out your garden.

Landscape Implementation & Maintenance

We now co-ordinate all landscape works, trades and materials to build your garden. Our clients love the fact that when we hand over the keys to their new home, they’ll be appreciating it amongst their picturesque garden.

We are also available for periodic garden maintenance consultations. Just as you visit your doctor every 12 months for a general health check-up, so too, should your garden receive a maintenance check every 12 months to ensure it is in good health and is strategically and creatively on track.

Tanya loves visiting ‘her’ established gardens to check the health of plant specimens, share great advice and tips, and discuss any issues with you. This service doesn't take alot of time or money, but is really important to enjoying the continued health of your maturing garden.

Contact 4Walls to make your dream garden a reality >>


 

Find out more: