Planting Design and Plant Supply

Often the bones of the garden work as they are, the patio is in the right place and the lawn is the right size for the kids to play football. But through lack of time or moving into a new house where the previous owner just wasn’t able to care for the garden anymore the borders have become over grown. Perhaps the colours aren’t your ideal palette and you’re looking for help to add some of your favourite hues into the garden. The time of day that you use the garden can even affect which colours work best, some have the iridescent quality at dusk, for example.

In which case planting design (rather than the full garden design process) maybe perfect for you. Whether working with the plants that are already there (why rip out plants for the sake of it) or starting with a blank canvas (maybe the house is a new build and some paving and lawn is all that was provided).

The Process

The planting design stages are similar to the garden design stages, where we have an initial chat and a wander round your garden and discuss how the garden will be used, what the site is like (is it sheltered, is it sat on heavy clay for example). Even down to what colours you like and don’t like and how much time you can spend on the aftercare.

Surveying The Garden

The garden will then be surveyed, either by me if it’s a fairly standard garden or by a land surveyor if there are lots of changes in level. This will include working out where the windows and doors are to ensure we make the most of your views, down to what type of soil you have.

Planning it all Out

Once I’ve imported the survey and gathered all the information I will start working on the planting design, a planting plan that shows any existing plants along with the layout of all the new plants including how many of each plant. In conjunction with a plant list, showing photos of the plants, names, eventual height and spread and times of year they are at their peak along with any notes on special planting requirements.

Talking it Through

I will then walk through the plan, giving you a chance to comment on it (maybe you would like swap some of the perennials for a shrub or you would like a little more orange and little less purple).

The Realisation

Once the updates are complete and you’re happy with the planting design we will discuss planting the borders. Would you like a plant list and list of nurseries to take shopping? Would you like the plants sourcing for you? Would you like someone else to plant it up for you?