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Ask an Expert: Things to Consider When Choosing a Garden Designer
A garden designer can turn your vision of the perfect garden into a reality, but it’s important to choose the right one for you. Here’s how
Just like any design project, there’s a lot to think about when you redesign your garden – more so, when you consider that you’re working with live plants and they come with their own challenges. Here, professional garden designers suggest things you should consider when you’re choosing a designer, as well as things you need to think about before you even start your search.
Professional advice from:
Dru Allan, a director of DESIGNSCAPE UK
Jane Shankster, garden designer at Arthur Road Landscapes
Professional advice from:
Dru Allan, a director of DESIGNSCAPE UK
Jane Shankster, garden designer at Arthur Road Landscapes
Need a pro for your landscape design project?
Let Houzz find the best pros for you
Let Houzz find the best pros for you
Talk to previous clients
It’s so important to get references from previous clients. Read through Houzz reviews of garden designers and request testimonials. Make sure you look past the photography – you also need to know what it was like working with the designer.
It’s so important to get references from previous clients. Read through Houzz reviews of garden designers and request testimonials. Make sure you look past the photography – you also need to know what it was like working with the designer.
Visit other gardens
You should certainly take a look at before and after photographs, but if you can arrange it, try to visit gardens the designer has worked on previously. You’ll get a much better feel for their style.
You should certainly take a look at before and after photographs, but if you can arrange it, try to visit gardens the designer has worked on previously. You’ll get a much better feel for their style.
Consider their breadth of work
Choose a designer who is comfortable working in different areas – tiny city spaces or huge country gardens. You want to work with someone who tries new things. Get to know their creativity – it will help to inspire yours.
Choose a designer who is comfortable working in different areas – tiny city spaces or huge country gardens. You want to work with someone who tries new things. Get to know their creativity – it will help to inspire yours.
Make sure you click
As with all design projects, it’s important you’re on the same wavelength as the person you’re working with. Your relationship with your garden designer should grow and blossom as your project does. ‘Working with your designer should be a two-way process,’ says Dru Allan of DESIGNSCAPE UK. ‘Your designer needs to be perceptive and they should be asking a lot of questions. If they’re not asking questions, they’re not collecting the information they need.’
As with all design projects, it’s important you’re on the same wavelength as the person you’re working with. Your relationship with your garden designer should grow and blossom as your project does. ‘Working with your designer should be a two-way process,’ says Dru Allan of DESIGNSCAPE UK. ‘Your designer needs to be perceptive and they should be asking a lot of questions. If they’re not asking questions, they’re not collecting the information they need.’
Discuss how you use your garden
Your chosen garden designer should understand what you want from the space. ‘How you use your garden is really important,’ says Jane Shankster of Arthur Road Landscapes. ‘Think about what you enjoy doing there.’ So, are you a sunset reader? Do you want lots of fresh herbs? Are you a hayfever sufferer? Do you have friends over in the summer? Make sure the gardener you work with puts you in the space.
Your chosen garden designer should understand what you want from the space. ‘How you use your garden is really important,’ says Jane Shankster of Arthur Road Landscapes. ‘Think about what you enjoy doing there.’ So, are you a sunset reader? Do you want lots of fresh herbs? Are you a hayfever sufferer? Do you have friends over in the summer? Make sure the gardener you work with puts you in the space.
Collect inspiration
Although you might be open to suggestions about your garden design, it’s also good to have an idea of what you like. Use Houzz ideabooks to collect images of gardens you love so you can build up an idea of what you really want. Dru Allan stresses how useful images are to a designer. ‘Images speak volumes. It helps the designer build a mental picture and work with you, rather than working with nothing.’
Although you might be open to suggestions about your garden design, it’s also good to have an idea of what you like. Use Houzz ideabooks to collect images of gardens you love so you can build up an idea of what you really want. Dru Allan stresses how useful images are to a designer. ‘Images speak volumes. It helps the designer build a mental picture and work with you, rather than working with nothing.’
Have a clear idea of your budget
You might want to put a gorgeous pond and waterfall in the middle of the garden, but you need to think about how much this will cost and what you can afford. Be realistic about what your cash will cover. ‘A lot of people have no idea what a garden can cost, but it can run into thousands,’ says Jane.
Browse fabulous water features for your garden
You might want to put a gorgeous pond and waterfall in the middle of the garden, but you need to think about how much this will cost and what you can afford. Be realistic about what your cash will cover. ‘A lot of people have no idea what a garden can cost, but it can run into thousands,’ says Jane.
Browse fabulous water features for your garden
Don’t expect miracles
Be realistic about what plants you can grow in your outdoor space. ‘If you have a north-facing garden that gets very little sun, don’t expect huge blooms,’ says Jane. ‘But don’t be disheartened, either – there’s always something that can be planted, even in the trickiest of gardens.’
Check out ways to use stylish metal planters
Be realistic about what plants you can grow in your outdoor space. ‘If you have a north-facing garden that gets very little sun, don’t expect huge blooms,’ says Jane. ‘But don’t be disheartened, either – there’s always something that can be planted, even in the trickiest of gardens.’
Check out ways to use stylish metal planters
Be realistic about maintenance
Everyone’s ideas of what ‘low maintenance’ means is different, but you do need to be prepared to do a little bit of work in your garden. Jane says this shouldn’t be a chore. ‘Even when you’re doing a little bit of tidying, spending time in your newly designed garden should be an absolute pleasure.’
TELL US…
Have you ever hired a garden designer? Please share your experiences – and photos of the project – in the Comments below.
Everyone’s ideas of what ‘low maintenance’ means is different, but you do need to be prepared to do a little bit of work in your garden. Jane says this shouldn’t be a chore. ‘Even when you’re doing a little bit of tidying, spending time in your newly designed garden should be an absolute pleasure.’
TELL US…
Have you ever hired a garden designer? Please share your experiences – and photos of the project – in the Comments below.
A good starting point for finding a professional is the Society of Garden Designers. If you use a registered member, you know you’re getting someone with the right qualifications and professional approach to their work.