Bringing in the garden professionals

Bringing in the garden professionals

Bringing in the garden professionals

There are lots of ways in which you can create a garden but whatever you do you'll need a plan and that's where a garden design comes in. If you're a keen amateur gardener there are plenty of inspirational books like Andrew Wilson's Book of Garden Plans'. But if you've not got the inspiration or you just haven't the time to study the ins and outs of surveys, planning requirements, construction drawings and what plant to put where then you'll likely need a garden designer. You can find designers who have passed stringent professional requirements and are members of the UK's professional body for garden design the Society of Garden Designers or at the British Association of Landscape Industries.

Designers come in all shapes and forms and can provide anything from a short on-site consultancy to full construction and planting plans. A good garden designer will take time to work closely with you, discovering what makes you tick, offering a variety of solutions and recommending the best way of meeting your individual requirements. Some local gardeners may have great plant knowledge as well so always ask around if all you want is a new planting scheme. You may find a friend who can recommend someone to help you revamp your borders and do the planting for you.

Whilst many of us are able to plant a garden and even turn our hand to putting up a shed or digging a border some of the larger jobs like walls, fencing, water features, patios and lighting are best left to a professional who can provide a fast, efficient, professional service. And how do you bring this all together? Well that's the job of a landscaper. A good garden designer will have a range of specialists, garden builders and maintenance people they can recommend to you. The best are those with a proven track record of great gardens. Don't be swayed on price because you get what you pay for and you don't want a contractor skimping on soil preparation or foundations for paving. A good garden designer can often save you money by getting competitive quotes and designing to a budget that keeps the expensive hard materials to a minimum.

And once its all built you'll either have the gardening bug and be prepared to maintain it yourself or you might want some help. Great maintenance companies are in demand but there are plenty around that can help your planting thrive and keep your garden looking good in the future. Ask around for a recommendation or ask your garden designer and landscaper as they may well also provide such a service.

That's a very brief version of how to get that unruly jungle under control with some professional help and to a budget. Always remember to ask those important questions such as a designer's background and a landscaper's track record before signing them up and look forward to a great new outdoor space.

Andrew Fisher Tomlin is a Director at the The London College of Garden Design which runs short garden design courses to help you improve your planting as well as design skills.

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