Garden Designers

[justgivein]

My better half is taking over are large garden.Ever since lockdown her interest in gardening has blossomed but she's like that with everything she has an interest in.I'm quite happy with it , alright a bit wild full of Helleboros,roses,strawberries ,ferns ,acers,fatsia and the like all in the right positions doing nicely thank you.
She now wants a garden designer wants to spend shed loads of money on a small patio , lots of colourful shrubs and plants etc.Any experiences would be great .Are they good value for money,do they listen to what you want, know about spacing, positioning, full sun ,light shade or do they rely on what plants are convenient to lay their hands on.Any thoughts would be great before we raid our savings.Off to work apologize can't reply today.

I hope so. Have just paid for someone to do a design for us (we will do the work ourselves). We found them through Houzz.

One of our friends used one and is very happy with the results (lives nowhere near us so could not use the same one).

Disclaimer: I’m a garden designer.

A good one should tick all those boxes. Ask for qualifications - some people will set themselves up as a garden designer after a one day course. You want to see that they attended Horticultural college for a proper course, or have an RHS diploma.

Landscapers are a mixed bag - you’ll often get a well laid patio, but planting can be a bit paint by numbers and often planted too close together in order to achieve an instant effect, which might not work long term.

Ask to see previous work. Happy clients will be delighted to show off their gardens. Ideally you want to see ones that have been established a while and stood the test of time.

Finally, word of mouth is everything. Like with builders and other tradespeople, the best garden designers get all their business through recommendations. I have never advertised; I don’t even have a website, and I am turning down work.

Thanks for responding this really does help.

I'll check out my neighbours they had their back garden rebuilt.See if they were happy with cost and final outcome.Must admit like the idea of design and DIY but not enough time hope it goes well for you.