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Design service
  1. Consultation and report - I would be pleased to come and meet you at your home to inspect the site, discuss in detail your ideas and requirements, and the garden’s possibilities and limitations. After this initial consultation , for which there is a small fee, I will provide you with a report, and a quotation for my design fees. Please allow 2 hours for this visit.

    If you commission me to create a design, the fee for this consultation and report is subtracted from the design fee.

    Before the visit, it would help if you and your family consider what you are looking for from your garden. For example:
    What style and colours do you prefer?
    Are you a keen gardener, or would you prefer something that needs less maintenance?
    What do you like or dislike about the existing garden design?
    Who will use the garden?

    Are any of the following required?:
    Area for rubbish storage
    Compost heap
    Screen to provide privacy
    Clothes drying area
    Garden tools & machinery storage
    Children’s play area
    Lawn/turf
    Barbecue space
    Terrace / space for entertaining
    Structures or ornaments
    Water feature or pond
    Greenhouse or cold frame
    Electricity or water supply
    Night lighting
    Automatic irrigation
    Attraction to wildlife

    Budget will obviously have a huge impact on what is possible within the design. Having some idea of the amount of money that you intend to spend is essential at the design stage. Please remember that a well designed garden that meets your needs, and draws inspiration from the house and surrounding buildings or landscape, will add significant value to your home. A garden doesn’t need to be large to benefit from a professional design. In fact, the smaller the space, the more important it is to make the most of it.

    If you have any existing drawings of the garden or house, please have them handy for the visit, as this may reduce the survey costs.

    After this consultation I will prepare a report confirming the brief and scope of the project and providing you with fixed costs for each work stage of the design service. This double-check of my understanding of our discussion ensures that the design I create will reflect your requirements and preferences in terms of style, function and budget. Please note that this is not a quote for the garden build, but for the design process. I will also advise which services need to be carried out by specialist consultants/contractors.
  2. Outline Design Plan & presentation drawings - If you are happy to proceed, we will move into the design stage. I will return to the garden to conduct a full survey & site analysis, take some digital photos, and perform a soil analysis. We can discuss any outstanding queries that you may have about the consultation report. On a large or complicated site, a survey will need to be conducted by a professional surveyor. On occasion, arboricultural reports may also be required to assess the existing trees and shrubs on site. These specialists would be employed directly by you. I would be happy to recommend someone for you.

    Following the survey and analysis, I will create a scaled Outline Design Plan showing landscape features such as terraces, ponds, paths and pergolas, and planting themes. This will be supplemented by notes and, if required, cross-sections and sketches to help you to visualise the garden.

    The drawings will be returned in person so that I may explain the design and give you the opportunity to ask any questions that you may have. One coloured plan will be provided and additional copies are available at cost. All designs will remain the copyright property of Linda Bush Garden Design.

    Minor changes to the design are normally free of charge. However, if you have a major change of mind, I’m afraid that I must charge for a re-design.
  3. Setting out plans - I can provide detailed setting out plans for the contractor.
  4. Construction detail - If you, or the contractor, require Construction Plans and Drawings, I can provide working drawings and elevations.
  5. Planting details and schedule - A detailed Planting Plan shows the names, sizes, exact location and spacing of plants and trees within the design. This will be supplemented by a schedule and description of each plant. Plants are selected to give year round interest, and to be suitable for the soil type and sunny or shady areas in your garden.
  6. Tender documentation - Documentation for a tender includes specifications, an invitation to tender, and a tender report. Please note that all of the above plans, details and schedules will also be required for inclusion in the tender pack.

    Construction service

    1. Hard Landscaping
      A contractor will be required for the hard landscape construction, employed directly by you. This may be a firm of your choice, or I can introduce you to reputable landscape contractors in your area that can build gardens to the high quality that you and I would expect. Building gardens is a specialised branch of construction as the construction is exposed to the elements. The contractor chosen would be required to produce exacting standards of detailing, and to protect the soil and existing plants during construction. I can send plans to the contractor and discuss the project with them and analyse their quotations for you. For large projects, I can organise a competitive tender. Water features, irrigation, lighting and garden buildings frequently require specialist input. The main contractor may organise this, or they may be employed directly by you. Roof gardens, retaining walls and some other structures will require the advice of a structural engineer, employed directly by you.
    2. Planting - I usually carry out the planting myself, and can source plants in good condition at competitive prices. I also offer a sourcing service to supply lighting, furniture and accessories to complete the garden.
    3. Project Management - I prefer to act as your agent to manage the project personally, ensuring that it is completed to the highest standards and on time and to budget. My fee for this project management service is charged on an hourly basis.

    Aftercare

    1. I can provide a maintenance schedule of aftercare. This is a check-list of tasks to be undertaken each month to ensure that your new garden remains looking its’ best.
    2. Once your garden is completed, you may want help with seasonal clear-ups, fine tuning as the garden matures, or maybe a visit to discuss further enhancements. Please contact me, and I will be happy to help.