Choosing a garden designer

Sometimes a new garden can be a daunting challenge, or you might simply want to have a nice, interesting garden but have no interest in doing the work yourself, especially at the initial, heavy, stages of establishing the landscape. You could employ a garden designer and landscaper for this role.

The choice of a garden designer is quite a personal thing. the designer needs to meet three main criteria: they must be enthusiastic have good ideas, and be ready to incorporate or at least discuss your own ideas on the design; they should be able to show you existing gardens that they have designed (and that you like!); and they should be within your price range.

By far the best way to find a garden designer is by personal recommendation, since this eliminates a large part of the risks - both for your garden and your bank balance - compared with simply searching in your phone-book. If you do need to choose one 'randomly' you need to be sure that their business has been established for a few years, and that they can provide quality references from existing clients. They should also have a portfolio of photographs, both from previous jobs and as ideas for your own garden.

It will be clear quite quickly if your designer is enthusiastic and full of good ideas. They should be able to describe your future garden to you in a way that you know it will be right to you, and should be someone you believe you will be happy to work with. Levels, features, plants, terracing, colour contrasts and blocking unsightly views are the kind of things they will discuss, and how best to combine these features to make the most of your particular garden.

Before agreeing to any contract you need to discuss the plan in detail, and be completely clear what the price includes. A garden to be re-levelled and newly stocked with large established feature trees will cost a lot more than if the plants will all be small at the outset, for example. the estimate/quoute for your design should be completely clear on what exactly is included in the price.

Speak to at least two or three designers about their different ideas, and if necessary ask one about the suggestions of the other.

Finally, discuss their workload. Unfortunately, as with most trades, if someone is good at their job they get lots of business and may not be available to do your garden for some time. This is preferable than choosing the garden designer who is available straightaway because they have no other jobs on!