Garden Design Services

Prioritising the planting

You may have recently built a home and already completed the hardscaping. Perhaps you've moved into an established home and inherited a garden that doesn't feel like yours. Or an existing garden may simply have become tired, overgrown or difficult to maintain.

Planting has the power to significantly shape the character of a home and how the garden feels around it. A considered planting plan can transform an existing space without the cost or disruption of redesigning everything that's already there.

I'll visit the property to learn more about your garden, understand what you're hoping to achieve, assess the site and existing conditions and take the measurements needed to develop the planting design. The completed plan identifies the plants, quantities and locations needed to bring the garden together.

This could suit you if:

• the hardscaping is already established;

• you've inherited a garden that isn't quite you;

• the planting is tired, neglected or no longer working;

• you want an affordable garden refresh;

• you're preparing your home for sale.

Already have a garden layout designed but it hasn't been built yet? I can also develop a planting plan from suitable dimensioned plans and relevant material information provided by you, your designer, builder or landscaper.

My planting design service supplies you with:

• A Planting Plan

• A Plant Schedule

• Plant Image References

A Planting Plan shows you what plants go where. This is a computer drafted 2D plan based on your site dimensions and an initial discussion outlining your desires for the space.

The plant selections and positioning will focus on:

• Site Conditions

  climate, soil, sun/shade exposure, wind exposure, frost risk, water availability

• Plant Performance

  size at maturity, growth rate, longevity, maintenance requirements, pest and disease susceptibility

• Design Considerations

  overall garden style and character, functional requirements, seasonal interest, structure, visual balance and interest within the planting combination

A Plant Schedule listing all of the plants in the Planting Plan.

It provides you with:

• Plant names (botanical and common)

• Plant quantities

• Pot size/maturity recommendations to purchase

• Procurement & purchasing guidance

• References to the Planting Plan

Plant Reference Images to help you visualise the proposed planting palette.

Design fees (introductory rates while I’m establishing my portfolio)

Front or Backyard starting from $450

Establishing the layout and character of your garden

If you're starting with a new or largely undeveloped garden - or an existing garden where the layout needs to change - the concept design establishes how the different parts of the garden will come together.

I'll consider how the garden relates to your home and surroundings, how you want to move through and use the space, and the arrangement of planting beds, paths, paving and other relevant garden elements. The basic package will present this in a 2D Plan.

I'll also help establish a general material palette and direction for elements such as paving, gravel, steppers and edging, helping the hardscape and planting feel like parts of the same garden.

Once the layout and overall direction are established, the planting is developed in detail through the planting design.

This is suited to projects where the garden needs to be designed, but detailed construction documentation isn't required. It can be particularly appropriate for relatively straightforward projects, where you’re comfortable working through construction details with your landscaper, or confident in delivering the design intent yourself.

Design fees (introductory rates while I’m establishing my portfolio)

Front or Backyard starting from $750

When greater design detail is important

For projects involving more substantial or expensive construction, investing in detailed design documentation provides greater clarity before work begins and helps protect the investment being made in the landscape.

The process begins with the development of the concept design.A round of client review and revision is included at this stage, allowing the overall layout and design direction to be agreed before the more detailed documentation is prepared. The basic package will present this in a 2D Plan.

The approved concept is then developed into more comprehensive drawings, specifications and, where appropriate, construction details.

This gives contractors a clearer understanding of the design intent, providing a more consistent basis for quotation. The additional documentation also helps reduce the risk of the finished garden departing from the agreed design intent by more clearly documenting dimensions, material selections, specifications and other information relevant to the proposed work. Where appropriate, the documentation may reference relevant standards though responsibility for construction methods, compliance and execution remains in the hands of the contractor.

For projects involving significant expenditure on landscape construction, I recommend Detailed Design rather than relying on concept-level documentation alone.

A detailed planting plan is developed alongside the garden design to provide a coordinated approach to the completed landscape.

Design fees (introductory rates while I’m establishing my portfolio)

Starting from $2000