WHY HIRE A GARDEN DESIGNER?
GARDEN DESIGN SHOULD BE ENJOYABLE
You may not commission a redesign of your garden very often – few people do, a garden is after all meant to evolve and grow with you – so when you do, it’s important that the process is as seamless as possible – enjoyable, even! it’s also important that it ultimately gives you the result you’d hoped for. Let’s talk about the merits of using a professionally trained Garden Designer, someone who has undergone formal training to at least diploma level. The garden designer is to the garden what the architect is to the house. They not only have to be well versed in spatial configuration and construction techniques, they also need a sound knowledge of plants, soil science and drainage, plus an attention to detail that extends to colour matching, dressing and lighting the space.
CREATING A VISION FOR YOUR GARDEN
A garden designer should have the ability to translate your dream into a reality. Gardens are living entities and designing something that is continuously evolving is not straight-forward, but a garden designer will provide the visual inspiration – and indeed the vision – that comes from working with landscapes every day. A good designer will help you refine your wish list if necessary, striking a balance between ambition and budget. Designers view plants as part of a palette rather than individual specimens and it’s often these planting combinations that give so much impact to the garden.
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE IN GARDEN DESIGN
Garden designers also bring technical expertise. In working to a designer’s drawings, you will avoid the pitfalls that can cause so much stress and additional cost. No sinking paths or failing decks, no waterlogged soils and drowning plants, no choosing the wrong plant for the site conditions and, above all, no missed opportunities! A garden designer should provide impartial advice on materials and construction techniques and should provide information on sustainability and the ecological and environmental impact of the design. They will also represent your interests when liaising with landscape contractors and allow you access to their network of suppliers and specialists. In short, employing a garden designer brings peace of mind.
Selecting a Garden Designer who is a member of the Society of Garden Designers, the professional regulatory body for those working in this field in the UK, will give reassurance that work is completed to a high standard.