Garden design - help needed

[JapanRed]

Hi all,

Having a house built but we are in need of some inspiration for the garden. Are there any decent websites/apps or anything else that either offers a free/cheap garden design service or shows examples of what can be achieved?

Likewise is there anyone on here who likes this sort of thing and might fancy mocking something up if I post the details?

Thanks in advance.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Stick up an outline, and maybe some photos, and you'll be awash with recommendations and suggestions. Good luck, watching with interest.

[Blakeatron]

Just started our garden makeover. I am not a keen gardener, my wife is more into it.

Luckily we have a friend who is a garden designer who has guided us to our design, our initial ideas were rubbish compared to what we were thinking!

As per house/kitchen/car designing, garden designing although can be self designed - is better off in the hands of a professional!

[jules_s]

Blakeatron said:

Just started our garden makeover. I am not a keen gardener, my wife is more into it.

Luckily we have a friend who is a garden designer who has guided us to our design, our initial ideas were rubbish compared to what we were thinking!

As per house/kitchen/car designing, garden designing although can be self designed - is better off in the hands of a professional!

Agreed

I work with landscape Architects continually and they bring concepts I wouldnt dream of

Well worth a fee - even for an Outline

[Octoposse]

I'll just plant the seed (ho ho) that height differences (slopes, terraces, mounds, etc) can really add interest, drama, and a sense of space.

Mentioned it early before builders start levelling things or carting off topsoli!

[Pheo]

Have a look on Houzz

[How u doing]

jules_s said:

Blakeatron said:

Just started our garden makeover. I am not a keen gardener, my wife is more into it.

Luckily we have a friend who is a garden designer who has guided us to our design, our initial ideas were rubbish compared to what we were thinking!

As per house/kitchen/car designing, garden designing although can be self designed - is better off in the hands of a professional!

Agreed

I work with landscape Architects continually and they bring concepts I wouldnt dream of

Well worth a fee - even for an Outline

3rd ed

Gardens cost a lot of money, time and effort, so an experts view is invaluable. You use an architect when house building for a reason.

We were restricted partly by site plus only had a small area, so used one on an hourly rate. She worked more as an advisor whilst I drew up the plan.

Money well spent.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

I'd actually disagree from personal experience.

I would recommend a garden designer for a planting design wholeheartedly but most of the (well respected and successful) ones I've worked with have zero clue about how to achieve whatever they imagine at a reasonable budget.

[Polite M135 driver]

Maybe it’s just more expensive to do properly than you think? (my experience)

[AJB88]

Also in the same boat, just moved in to a new house (to me) and need some inspiration. Garden has had a hole dug at one side for pending extension that I wont be doing now so need to fill that first (presuming get a load of rubble).

[CharlesdeGaulle]

AJB88 said:

Garden has had a hole dug at one side for pending extension that I wont be doing now so need to fill that first (presuming get a load of rubble).

Swimming pool!

[Simpo Two]

I'm amused anyone needs an 'app' to design a garden. Capability Brown and Gertrude Jekyll did quite well without apps, and I managed with a mere book - think of that!

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Polite M135 driver said:

Maybe it’s just more expensive to do properly than you think? (my experience)

Possible, but I’m acutely aware of the cost of groundworks which seems to evade a lot of garden designers in my opinion.

Maybe the analogy can be crossed over to cars if you’re enthusiastic about gardens-can someone with a Skoda Superb estate really equate to why someone would spend all that money on an RS6 to do the same job?

My own advice-write a list of areas you want (lawn for kids to play, patio for entertaining, hot tub zone etc) then ask a builder for a rough idea on how much to build and lay what you want.

Then, get your garden designer to draw up what should go where in accordance to your soils etc.

[PhilboSE]

Polite M135 driver said:

Maybe it’s just more expensive to do properly than you think? (my experience)

It's more expensive to do than anyone thinks, including garden designers! I've had 5 designs made for gardens by pros, to a stated budget, when the quotes from the landscape gardeners came in they have always been 50%-100% more than the budget the designer was supposed to be working to.

You only have to watch "Your Garden Made Perfect" on iPlayer to see the implementations come in half baked and overbudget against the original design.

I'm currently landscaping my whole garden, I'm doing all the work myself and it's still costing more than I thought it would - materials and plants don't seem that expensive by the individual or 1m2, but over a decent area it all adds up.

[PhilboSE]

JapanRed said:

Likewise is there anyone on here who likes this sort of thing and might fancy mocking something up if I post the details?

Thanks in advance.

I don't mind giving it a go, as an enthusiastic amateur who has both paid for and self-implemented a number of garden designs in my own houses. I've got a reasonable library of design books that I shamelessly plagiarise.

I'll need:
- a reasonably accurate outline of the garden including boundaries and immovable features like established trees and outbuildings
- indication of soil type and aspect
- details of any elevation changes
- what you want from the garden, as examples:
- patio / seating / dining / sunlounging areas
- food prep area / kitchen
- water feature
- outbuildings / sheds / workshops
- family area e.g. climbing frames / swings / large lawn for games etc
- space to grow veg
- etc.

Finally, an indication of the sort of style you want. This can be things like cottage garden, classic English, contemporary, reflective (e.g. Japanese style), urban, whatever. If you're unsure then I'd suggest a "contemporary modern" design which is the most on trend at the moment.

I don't have any design specific software, I work on a mix of paper and PC paint/drawing tools to give an outline design.

[BigRuts]

PhilboSE said:

I don't mind giving it a go, as an enthusiastic amateur who has both paid for and self-implemented a number of garden designs in my own houses. I've got a reasonable library of design books that I shamelessly plagiarise.

I'll need:
- a reasonably accurate outline of the garden including boundaries and immovable features like established trees and outbuildings
- indication of soil type and aspect
- details of any elevation changes
- what you want from the garden, as examples:
- patio / seating / dining / sunlounging areas
- food prep area / kitchen
- water feature
- outbuildings / sheds / workshops
- family area e.g. climbing frames / swings / large lawn for games etc
- space to grow veg
- etc.

Finally, an indication of the sort of style you want. This can be things like cottage garden, classic English, contemporary, reflective (e.g. Japanese style), urban, whatever. If you're unsure then I'd suggest a "contemporary modern" design which is the most on trend at the moment.

I don't have any design specific software, I work on a mix of paper and PC paint/drawing tools to give an outline design.

Having recently moved to a new place where we are waiting on planning I would gladly take you up on your offer in the coming months. I'll get a project thread up soon enough as we've got plenty to do.

[Polite M135 driver]

PhilboSE said:

I don't mind giving it a go, as an enthusiastic amateur who has both paid for and self-implemented a number of garden designs in my own houses. I've got a reasonable library of design books that I shamelessly plagiarise.

Snip

Finally, an indication of the sort of style you want. This can be things like cottage garden, classic English, contemporary, reflective (e.g. Japanese style), urban, whatever. If you're unsure then I'd suggest a "contemporary modern" design which is the most on trend at the moment.

Also always a good idea to ask how many pull up bars the client wants.

[so called]

Simpo Two said:

I'm amused anyone needs an 'app' to design a garden. Capability Brown and Gertrude Jekyll did quite well without apps, and I managed with a mere book - think of that!

I assume they used lots of paper.

[xerawh]

Also watching this thread.

Philbo if you have the time and desire, could I get your help as well as we are really stuck?

Want to keep it simple so won't set out any complex or intensive "needs"

[PhilboSE]

Blimey, plenty of demand for garden designs it seems!

If anyone wants to send me some stuff then send me a PM and we'll take it from there. I can't really offer anything more than an outline design to act as inspiration - certainly not a full blown design, but a base to start from maybe.