full garden design
The typical service I provide is to produce a design, followed up by construction drawings and planting detail, find a contractor for you and then monitor the build on your behalf until completion. For this I charge a percentage of the contract cost of the build and planting, based on the Society of Garden Designers professional fee scale. The percentage charged reduces as the build cost increases. So, for example, if the garden build cost was £20,000 my fee would be 16%, but for a garden costing £50,000 this figure would drop to 12.5%.
- costs:
- see budgeting a full garden design for information.
The process of reaching a completed design involves a number of sequential problem-solving and creative steps, outlined below with a proportion of the overall fee charged as each step is completed.
Stage 1: research and preparation
This includes: preliminary consultations, site analysis, and topographical site survey*, photographic survey, information gathering and compiling a detailed Client Brief.
*Where the garden is particularly large or complex, this will have to be undertaken by professional land surveyors and charged directly to the client.
- proportion of fee:
- 25% for stage 1 and stage 2
Stage 2: development of the outline design
This Includes: development of outline concept proposals, which are discussed and refined, leading to a final design with explanatory visuals.
- proportion of fee:
- 25% for stage 1 and stage 2
Stage 3: development of the design detail
This includes: creating the technical construction drawings, plans for setting out, drainage and levels – all the drawings required by the contractor to implement the design.
- proportion of fee:
- 40%
Stage 4: development of planting detail
This includes: planting plans and schedules with quantities and sizes to create the desired atmosphere and mood for each area of the garden, taking into account any preferences for colour and likes/dislikes of particular plants. I will then provide an estimate for supplying the plants and also for planting them if this is required.
- proportion of fee:
- 25%
Stage 5: (optional) tender process
You may already know someone whom you trust to build your new garden at a good price. However, where the construction budget is large, or the project is not straightforward, a competitive tender process is recommended to ensure the chosen landscape contractor has the skills and workmanship to build the garden and will do so for a competitive price.
I would manage the tender process including preparation of a detailed technical specification document and provision of additional sets of drawings, against which contractors can quote a firm price.
- proportion of fee:
- 10%