Landscape & Garden Ideas, Design,Construction & Management

A landscape project from start to finish

This section is designed to help you decide what you want to do, how you

want to do it, and what you want to do.

The various steps are laid out with sufficient detail to enable you to conceive,

plan and then carry out and finally complete your own project, either yourself

or by employing someone to help you.

So where do we start?

I have set this section out in a chronological order of events, in the life cycle

of a project.

So, each chapter becomes a place of reference as you progress

through your own Scheme.

Ok.. the items needed at this stage are:

1. Initial equipment.

A digital camera ,Pencils ,Notebook - wants to be small enough to carry around.

A place to store photographs, notes etc.

Tape measure.

2 Timing for the project

Lets talk a little bit about the best time of year to do work ,

also how the seasons affect what is carried out,

we should mention how long you have lived where you are

Work in most Zones above zone 6 is a year round event.

In England , for example, there is usually only a heavy frost during the month of January /February – this is not always the case but often the only time when the ground doesn’t thaw.

Why is this important ?

Two main reasons we will discuss later, Concrete and Mortar work should only be carried out on a rising thermometer that has already reached 2 degrees above freezing point.

The other is , if you attempt to plant a frozen potted plant or root balled tree it will more than likely never break into leaf.

The best time of the year to commence work is therefore invariably the Spring

when nature is attempting to start anew from a period of dormancy.

From a contracting point of view it is a very busy time, and often if you

want to be “booked” in you would need to order the works way back

in September or maybe commence the process even earlier, as some

years we have been ‘booked’ for 12 months or more.

Back to first things first. You want to do something but are not sure what,

or you know what but are not sure how.

This is where the storage box comes in along with the camera.

3. Wish List

The secret to getting what is best is to prepare a wish list here is a

typical one we use.

Then find pictures in magazines or take them

of those items features you want in your landscape.

Brief decription of what you are looking

for : ................................................

.................................................................................

..................................................................................

.................................................................................

.................................................................

How you use your garden :

Do you have animals ? : Yes / No.

Do children play in the garden ? : Yes / No.

Do you like gardening ? : Yes / No.

Do you like cutting grass ? : Yes / No

Do you entertain in the garden ? : Yes / No.

Do you like relaxing in the garden ?Yes/ No.

What sort of Budget you would like us to Design

to : ............................................................

(It helps enormously if we can have a figure to

work to, we should be able to produce a Design

within 10 percent )

Some items to consider :

Lawns. Yes / No

Shrubberies Yes / No.

Rockeries Yes / No

Ponds Yes / No.

Streams Yes / No

Fish / Koi Ponds Yes / No.

Paths Yes / No

Patios Yes / No.

Terraces Yes / No.

Walls Yes / No.

Ground contouring Yes / No

Vegetable gardens Yes / No.

Garden Features :

Garden Shed : Yes / No.

Power & Lighting Yes / No.

Irrigation Yes / No.

Summerhouses Yes / No.

Greenhouses Yes / No

Gazeboes Yes / No.

Pergolas Yes / No

Seating Yes / No.

Please add any other comments on the back of this sheet,

the more we know the better the design.

There is a section with all the forms for you to download or print if

you want to - its in the subscription sections.

Design Process ( 1 items )

4 Design

We haven’t mentioned Design yet, as before a design can

materialize it is necessary to establish what is required and

how much one wishes to spend ( the budget).

The later will not only affect the grandness of the scheme

it will also affect the best way to approach the work.

You will have a figure in mind, by all means keep some

back, I suggest 10%, but, do let the Designer know what you have in mind,

he will be able to tell you if you are realistic, what can be

done for the money, and what would be best to contemplate – you

can always increase or decrease the amount.

I would always recommend that a client spend time with a designer.

It matters little that the designer is an “in house” designer or a ‘separate design business’ .

Often the separate designers are initially more expensive as there are some obvious overlaps in the work to be done.

The important issue is that you are committed to carry out the works

in the most cost effective, efficient manner, for this a design is required.

I know, I hear you saying, but this is going to cost me lots of money.

Well yes, it is, but what you are paying for is an expert who

can take your ideas, wishes ,dreams ,budget and turn them

into a workable reality that can then be followed by you and

a construction companies craftsmen.

With out the medium of a drawing for all to see and envisage

the final outcome, all you can hope for is a rough interpretation

of your wishes, requirements and dreams interpreted by

the guy on the  ground – this may be all you need.

I can tell you with absolute certainty that it will not be the best

you could do for the money.

Think of it this way, how many buildings get built without the

benefit of Architects drawings?

Why should your scheme be any different?

Indeed if it entails buildings, high fences, or swimming pools etc.,

then a drawing is required to apply for the necessary planning consents.

As we move through the design process, some areas will overlap,

to make reading easier, each chapter is arranged with an appendix

covering all the items mentioned in each , along with typical full examples

of specifications etc.

In addition to enable a quick referencing each chapter has “quick notes”

which are simple shortened suggestions for you to glimpse at

and delve deeper if needed.

So, now the decision is the choice of a Designer.
Defining your wish list ( 0 items )

The secret to getting what is best is to prepare a

wish list here is a typical one we use.

Answer the questions first.

(Then find pictures in magazines or take digital pictures of

the features as you see the sort of things you like

in your landscape.

Store these for using as examples of what

you want.)

Here is a typical questionaire...
Brief decription of what you are looking

for :                          ................................................

.................................................................................

.................................................................................

..................................................................................

.................................................................................

.................................................................

How you use your garden :

Do you have animals ? :      Yes / No.



Do children play in the garden ? : Yes / No.

Do you like gardening ? :    Yes / No.



Do you like cutting grass ? :         Yes / No

Do you entertain in the garden ? : Yes / No.



Do you like relaxing in the garden ?Yes/ No.



What sort of Budget you would like us to Design

to :   ............................................................

(It helps enormously if we can have a figure to

work to, we should be able to produce a Design

within 10 percent )

Some items to consider :

Lawns.                 Yes / No

Shrubberies          Yes / No.

Rockeries              Yes / No



Ponds                    Yes / No.

Streams                Yes / No



Fish / Koi Ponds     Yes / No.

Paths                     Yes / No



Patios                    Yes / No.

Terraces                Yes / No.



Walls                      Yes / No.

Ground contouring    Yes / No



Vegetable gardens    Yes / No.

Garden Features :

Garden Shed :         Yes / No.



Power & Lighting      Yes / No.

Irrigation                  Yes / No.



Summerhouses         Yes / No

.

Greenhouses             Yes / No



Gazeboes             Yes / No.

Pergolas                  Yes / No



Seating                  Yes / No.

Please add any other comments on the back of this sheet,

the more we know the better the design.

There is a section with all the forms for you to download or print if

you want to - its in the subscription sections.
2 Project Timing ( 0 items )

2 Timing for the project

Lets talk a little bit about the best time of year to do work ,

also how the seasons affect what is carried out,

We should also mention  how long you have lived where you are .

Once you have ived somewhere for a year, you will know where

the sun traps are in the garden, where the shade is most often,

any micro climates, where there is poor drainage,etc.

all important when making alterations.

Work in most Zones above zone 6 is a year round event.

In England , for example, there is usually only a heavy frost during the month of January /February – this is not always the case but often the only time when the ground doesn’t thaw.

Why is this important ?

Two main reasons we will discuss later, Concrete and Mortar work should only be carried out on a rising thermometer that has already reached 2 degrees above freezing point.

The other is , if you attempt to plant a frozen potted plant or root balled  tree it will more than likely never break into leaf.

The best time of the year to commence work is therefore invariably the Spring

when nature is attempting to start anew from a period of dormancy.

From a contracting point of view it is a very busy time, and often if you

want to be “booked” in you would need to order the works way back

in September or maybe commence the process even earlier, as some

years we have been ‘booked’ for 12 months or more.
1 of 7 Initial Equipment ( 0 items )

Ok.. the items needed at this stage are:

1. Initial equipment.

A digital camera ,

Pencils ,

Notebook - wants to be small enough to carry around.

A place to store photographs, notes etc.

Tape measure.

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