A garden designer Adelaide should be able to offer design realisation services (helping you create the garden in reality). A well-designed garden is visually pleasing, enjoyable to be in, makes you proud of your outdoor space and can add value to your property.
- Experience
A garden designer brings a fresh pair of eyes to the design process and can offer ideas that aren’t immediately apparent from your vision. They will also have experience dealing with the local climate, soil and plantings that are most appropriate for your location – ensuring your garden is designed to be easy to maintain, low risk of disease or damage, and will thrive over time.
They can help to spruce up an existing outdoor space or create a whole new garden from scratch. A garden designer will take the time to get to know you, your family and your lifestyle. They’ll use this information to help transform your outdoor space into a functional and aesthetically pleasing extension of your home.
A good garden designer will devise designs with your budget in mind, helping you to stay within your cost expectations. They’ll also be able to advise you on which materials are likely to be cheaper than others and how best to make use of any existing hard landscaping features (e.g. retaining walls).
- Portfolio
As well as design, a good garden designer can help with ‘design realisation’ or ‘project management’ to ensure that the project is delivered to a high standard and within budget. It can include sourcing the correct products, estimating materials/labour costs, managing contractors and other professionals on-site to ensure that CDM regulations are being met, coordinating with suppliers or manufacturers and liaising with clients to make sure that the design is being realised as intended.
A good garden designer will always be able to work to your budget and should always work to a timescale. They will be able to provide you with a cost breakdown for each element of the design, and if they have a landscaping/construction team in-house, they can also quote as one overall cost which is a huge advantage when working on a garden project.
- Fees
Garden designers charge for their time and expertise. Many are members of professional bodies who have been vetted and awarded accreditation, and this may result in higher fees. However, it shouldn’t be the only factor you consider, particularly if they are highly recommended or have a reputation for beautiful work and innovation.
A good designer will ask questions about your needs and lifestyle, for example, what you want to use in the garden, e.g. seating, vegetables, entertaining, children’s play, or wildlife. They will also consider the site, soil conditions and light. They will then produce a concept design, which will be either a drawing or a 3D computer model and will transform your ideas into something practical to build. They will also provide specifications and contractor drawings to ensure the garden is built correctly and will oversee contractors as they carry out the work.
- Reputation
Beautifying your garden can dramatically increase the value of your home. However, re-designing a garden is more time-consuming and complicated than many imagine. It requires a huge amount of project managing and coordinating workers, plans and suppliers. It also needs to be done correctly to withstand the elements.
Professional garden designers are skilled specialists in the master planning of landscapes and gardens. They consult with clients, provide advice and, prepare drawings, as well as supply plants and materials and oversee the development of gardens from concepts to construction.
A garden designer Adelaide is also adept at understanding a budget and delivering designs that balance your aspirations with your financial objectives. They will often ask questions that may seem obvious but can make a difference to the outcome of your garden.