is it worth getting a proper garden design?

[93pjb]

We have a small urban garden (about 12m by 7m) which was brand new 3 years ago. I have stuck loads of plants in over the last couple of years but am pretty clueless and the result is distinctly underwhelming. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to get a designer to prepare a plan that I could gradually work to over the next couple of years?

We have a patio outside the house then a lawn and a shed on paving at the end of the lawn. There's only one flower bed which is just a shady strip along the western edge of the lawn about 50cm wide.

I haven't really got any money to spend on it so wouldn't be planning to change much of the structure (just the flower bed maybe). I guess it's mainly planting plan I need but I just feel that with a bit of vision it could all look so much better. Would it be worth paying for the vision bit and how much might that cost? Also would a designer cope with the vision being compromised to include a playhouse and a trampoline (and in an ideal work a swing)?!

Thanks in advance for any advice!

This book and/or this book might be cheaper!

ha - thanks, the problem is I really struggle to think in so many different dimensions at once so I always just end up focussing on the plants - "oh, I like that one" - stuff it in and see what happens but it is not really working...

Yes! I have used a garden designer three times. Worth every penny. Every. Single. Penny.

She did the thinking. I know a bit about gardening but not enough to design and I simply don't have the time or inclination to learn.

It saved us money in the end - no expensive mistakes. But most of all it saved us time and stress. We spent a total of about 4 hours per garden talking to her and going over plans with her. Then we did what she said and it was wonderful. No arguments, no agonising. We got gardeners in to do some work and did some ourselves. We couldn't have hired two days of gardeners without her plan because we'd have had no bloody idea what to ask them to do.

She's had so much work out of us! Multiple friends and family used her after they saw how great it is.

Luv do you think a garden designer would be willing to provide ideas on an existing feature ? We've a well established beech hedge half way down our garden which breaks up the garden (good) but isn't symmetrical (bad in my mind). It would be a crime to take it out but I'm unable to see how to work it into a design. I'm not sure if designers prefer a clean slate to work with though ?

Thank you - that's what I was thinking - do you mind me asking how much it cost? Thanks