Garden Design and Creation

Index

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© Mike Greaves 2006

Designing your garden

You can download the directions for our Internet Design Service which contain similar instructions.

Choosing materials

It is a good idea to think about materials, especially hard landscaping, while you are designing. Curved edges are easy with block paviors, difficult with slabs and almost impossible with railway sleepers! It is often better to choose materials which are fairly neutral in appearance. Paving that SHOUTS at you may be exciting at first but can become wearisome later.

Think about contrasts, but avoid using too many different surfaces. Choose contrasting materials that harmonise in colour and texture. And remember the existing house and garden walls - try to create the feeling that the house and garden belong together.

Also consider the environmental impact of materials. The energy used to transport stone around the world will have serious ecological impact; cement products release large amounts of carbon dioxide during manufacture; unethical hardwood harvesting results in serious rainforest damage, so look for products from sustainable forestry schemes. Gravel is better sourced from a local quarry than from sea dredging which causes severe damage to aquatic environments.

Above all, visit and talk to suppliers and actually look at the materials before making your final choice.

Getting it built

If you are using a contractor you will need to prepare a Setting Out Plan. This is a copy of your Master Plan with all the necessary measurements marked clearly on it – this can be done in red or any contrasting colour. You should never scale off plans, as photocopying inevitably distorts them.

It is best to have a specification prepared before getting contractors to quote. That way, you know that you are comparing like with like, and not putting better quality work at a price disadvantage, as well as making sure that your garden project will last, and will be safe.

Think carefully about each area, and write down materials, foundation depths, geotextiles, sub-base compaction, drainage, pointing methods, soil cultivation, turf quality and so on. If you are doing it yourself, you still need to decide on the specification you are going to work to before you start.

If the contractor will be doing the planting you will have to provide a planting plan (thinking about acceptable substitutes) unless you can rely on their knowledge of plants and plant combinations.