Planting Design

It depends on the complexity of the garden. If you only need a planting plan for one or two beds, their outline with dimensions and adjacent fixed structures will be sufficient. However, if you need a planting plan for several beds, you will need to provide a plan of the whole garden. Planting in any part of the garden should be integrated with the house and the rest of the garden. A garden plan is essential to understand the relationships between planting areas and the rest of the garden. For example, what you can see from different locations, including from inside the house, what the sun and shade patterns are, etc.

Depending on the season, workload, complexity of the brief and how quickly you can provide me with all the information and feedback, it can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months from the initial consultation to the handover of the final plans.

In principle, you can plant at any time as long as the ground is not frozen and you can water your plants regularly after planting. However, many plants have a better chance of survival if they are planted in early to mid spring. A very good time window for planting shrubs and trees is late summer and early autumn, when the natural life cycle of the plant encourages root development.

Ideally in the early autumn of the previous season, but allow at least two months to ensure that you receive your design well in advance of ordering plants. Also factor in a few weeks for the plants to be delivered. It is also much easier to assess the garden and soil in the warmer months than in the middle of winter.

No, I am a registered freelance landscape designer, which covers a very similar range of work to that of a landscape architect, not a landscaper or gardener. The planting is to be carried out by you. If you prefer to have the planting done for you, I can help you find a gardener or landscaping company. I can also help you lay out the plants before planting.

No, I am an independent designer and don’t resell any products, including plants. I can recommend a reputable nursery in your area or online where you can purchase good quality plants.

This depends on the understanding what constitutes ‘low maintenance’. Naturalistic perennial gardens require much less maintenance than traditional gardens, cottage gardens with a high proportion of annuals or vegetable and fruit gardens, but you will still need to look after your plants. Especially in the first two years after planting new plants require regular watering. You may also need to weed occasionally until the plants reach their full size and take up all the space in the border. Finally, plants are living organisms and the planting will change over the years, so you will need to edit the design from time to time. However, it is possible to design with less or more work in mind, so I will tailor the plan to your abilities.

No, but I do specialise in wildlife friendly naturalistic planting design and the eco-conscious approach to design can save you money on water and purchases at garden centres.

No. I ensure that my planting schemes include native species, but scientific research shows that it is not necessary to have only native plants to achieve ecological value. However, if you wish to have only native plants in your garden, it is perfectly possible to do so.

In most cases you don’t need to. Firstly, choosing plants that are suitable for the conditions in your garden will reduce the likelihood of pest damage. Secondly, plants have evolved with the insects that eat them, and small amounts of damage won’t harm ornamental plants. Naturalistic planting with a variety of plant species creates a small ecosystem where predators help control plant-eating insects. Finally, chemical pest control in the home garden is counterproductive. It always harms beneficial insects along with the pests and upsets the natural balance between pests and predators, ultimately leading to more pest outbreaks. Pesticides are also unhealthy for us. If there is a real pest problem, we will discuss biological control methods.

That depends on your preferences and what plants are currently growing in the garden. If they are invasive, I will suggest removing them. If the plants are not suitable for the location they are growing in, I may suggest moving them to a different location or removing them altogether.

Even drought-tolerant plants need water for the first two seasons before they become established. Due to climate change, we are experiencing more unpredictable weather, not just less rainfall or higher temperatures than in previous decades. This trend is only going to get worse over time. Although my designs are water-conscious, few plants can survive the current mixed and unpredictable weather patterns in Europe. We can have mild winters or severe frosts, dry or wet springs, very wet summers or two hot months with no rain at all. This is why I recommend installing a simple irrigation system when you plant. This will save you time on manual watering and allow you to water deep into the root zone of the plants. However, whether you prefer an irrigation system or hand watering is entirely up to you.

Yes. If you don’t think you need instructions or post design support, I can remove these services from your quote. The price of the service will be adjusted accordingly.

You have a standard statutory right of cancellation of two weeks after signing the design contract. You can also cancel the contract at any time and you will only be charged for the work done up to that point.

You always pay after you have received the service. This is done in 3 instalments: after the initial consultation, after you have received all your planting plans and documentation, and at the end of the support period.

No. You will receive an invoice to be paid by a standard bank transfer.