Design Process
The process of creating your new garden is exciting and full of opportunity, but can be complex. Nicole is here to help guide you through every step of the journey. Read the step-by-step process below for a brief explanation of what will happen between now and your final garden.
Consultation
Nicole will meet with you and discuss your individual needs, what your dream garden would look like and determining exactly how you want to get the most out of your space.
 
This is a no obligation meeting, usually organised following an initial telephone conversation with you and usually lasts one and a half hours. This is a great opportunity for you to explore your ideas, and ask questions about the process and budget requirements.
 
Following this consultation, Nicole will be able to provide a garden design brief and quote for the design work.
Garden Survey
A full survey of the existing buildings and garden will be taken including elevation, key features, boundaries and existing trees. This will allow for a scale drawing to be taken of the current space.
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During the survey important information about the condition of the garden will be collected including drainage, exposure to high winds, sun direction and aspects beyond the property boundary.
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This is a key part of the process so if the garden is large or complex we may recommend the use of a specialised surveyor.
Design
A series of plans will be produced and discussed with you. The first of these is a Concept Plan which will give you a visual representation of your new garden.
This will include a scale drawing of the proposed garden, including details of hard landscaping and structural features, buildings and planting areas.
Elevation Drawings will allow you to envisage your new garden. Nicole can also provide 3D Visuals allowing you to easily imagine your new space and move around in it.
Working Plans
If you decide that you want to move forward with the design, Nicole can then provide Detailed Construction Drawings. These technical specifications are the design build plan for your new garden and detail the materials, hard landscaping information and dimensions of each element. This allows you to get a range of accurate and informed quotes for the construction of your new garden with ease.
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Nicole can provide a suggested Lighting Plan for your garden or put you in touch with specialist garden lighting designers to enhance the ambience of your new garden spaces and plants.
Planting Plans
An experienced horticulturist, Nicole will draw up a Planting Plan for each area if the garden. This takes into account the nature of your soil, and orientation of the garden to the sun and prevailing winds. Plants are chosen to meet your preferred colour scheme and the time you wish to spend looking after them. A full plant list is provided alongside details of location for every new and existing plant to be included in the garden.
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If you don't require a full garden redesign, Nicole can provide bespoke planting plans to enhance exisiting beds, borders and rockeries.
Build & Plant
This part can be complex, but Nicole can help you in finding the best companies to carry out any required hard landscaping, making sure competitive and firm quotes are provided and that the work completed is of the highest quality. Contractors are used to quoting from and using professional drawings and do not usually make any changes. If changes are required Nicole can advise depending on the scale of changes required, this may take a few weeks.
​Once you have engaged your contractor Nicole offers a Project Monitoring service to liaise with the contractors and be of support through the build process if you do not have the time.
Planting and Finishing Touches
Once the new garden has been constructed Nicole will either be able to organise all of the planting for you, if you do not wish to do this yourself. The advantage is that she ensures that plants are of the right type, size and quality are provided. Nicole is available to lay out the plants according to the plan prior to planting. Alongside this are the finishing touches of sculptures, furniture and garden decorations.
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Then, it's time to sit back and relax in your new garden!