The Creation of a Good Design

A good design is vital to creating a beautiful garden. It is all your ideas laid out in an understandable way. We take everything into account, from the shaping of patios and paths to the sunniest spot to sit in the evening, and from the creation of beautiful flower beds to the selection of the nicest spot in the garden to enjoy your morning coffee. Furthermore, which plants will thrive in your soil? How big will they get? Is there enough sun or shade? In addition, there are always technical issues such as levels (will I need steps and how many)? Do I need a retaining wall?

A good design will solve all these issues and much more. It will bring your ideas to life.

At the beginning of the process we will sit down with you and go through all our garden design services. We will create a design brief by discussing with you your ideas for the garden, and then we will use this information to create meaningful plans.

Please note, we are not landscapers and a separate contractor will be needed to implement the designs. We can, however, assist with the selection of a landscaper and conduct site visits during the garden creation.

Implementation

Once you have the final design, accurate quotes from landscapers can be sought. We can supply full technical specifications to help you and the landscaper price up and then implement the design. We can liaise with your chosen landscaper and can check the setting out to make sure everything is where it should be.

We also offer a full overseeing and project management service to see your garden through from start to finish. In addition to this we offer a planting service where we can source your plants, set out and plant the garden.

After Care

When to prune, feed, or cut back? Shani Lawrence Garden Designs offers written maintenance schedules, because maintaining a garden should be simple and enjoyable.

We also offer consultations and yearly visits to ensure the healthy progression of your garden.

Step 1: Garden Consultation

This stage allows our designer to view your garden and give you general advice as well as discussing the possibilities for your garden. There is a fee for this consultation. Sometimes this consultation will be enough to give you the inspiration you need to progress your garden, or alternatively you may wish to move on to a full design service with us.

Step 2: Quotation for Design

A design brief will be discussed and a quotation will be given, with a detailed breakdown of our design fees. An acceptance slip must be completed prior to the commencement of design works.

Step 3: Garden Survey

Depending on the size of the garden, we will either undertake a survey ourselves or introduce you to a qualified land surveyor who will undertake a full topographic land survey for you.

This stage will provide an accurate assessment of your garden including:

• Soil samples

• Aspect

• Plant listings

• Either full topographic, or spot level and distance measurements, taken usually with a digital level.

• The survey can be omitted if a land survey already exists.

Step 4: Draft Design Consultation

At this stage we will present you with two draft design layout plans and discuss both with you. We will use these as the basis for forming the final design.

Step 5: Final Design Consultation

You will receive:

• A design concept drawing to scale

• A 3D sketch or colour drawing of the design  *optional

• Planting plan and

• Technical specifications or notes (detailed information to enable successful construction of the design) *optional

We prefer all our designs to reflect our commitment to sustainability and nature, in addition to providing planting that is aesthetically pleasing and beneficial to wildlife. We offer a service specializing in habitat creation, which may be of interest to amateur naturalists, community habitat creation schemes, local authority projects and designs requiring planning permission in areas such as national parks.

The service will follow the same format as the general design service but can include:

• Assessment of the existing wildlife value of the site, this can include the involvement of a local ecologist.

• Species specific planting and habitat creation.

• Sourcing of seeds or plants of local provenance.

• Data sheets will include organic advice and maintenance plans.

• Products will be sourced from sustainable sources, or recycled.

Read more about our wildlife and habitat creation projects >>

Are you involved with a school or community group and have a piece of land that you want to get create with? We can design and create fruit and vegetable areas as well as woodlands, ponds and wild flower areas.

We can set up workshops tailored to your group’s needs and in addition provide advice to teachers and community project leaders. We have worked with primary school aged children, secondary pupils, as well as people with disabilities and mental health conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Read more about our school grounds and community projects >>