Do I then build the garden for you?
Don’t confuse landscape contractors, who do the work, and garden designers, who create the plan. The plan should always be in the form of a scale drawing as this not only provides you with a blueprint for action, but a set of instructions which you can then hand over to a landscape contractor. It makes it a lot easier for the contractor to quote and implement when he knows what it is you want. And it is easier for you if you have the support and backing of your designer who will advise on what budget to plan for. Garden designers can often give you the name of reliable contractors who they have worked with - believe me there are some awful contractors out there and some really great ones, you don’t want your precious garden falling into the wrong hands. For a fee a garden designer will brief several contractors on site and review the quote. This fee is payable whether or not you accept the quote and follow up with a project; some people think you do this valuable service for a hobby! If you want your designer to be involved all the way through, I will also supervise the work on site. If the garden is a long way away this supervision has to be tailored to what is practical and cost effective.
