Garden designers for new build / blank canvas diets

[startingoveragainagain]

Has anyone used a garden designer for their new build garden?

Do you recommend doing it that way?

Do you mean a garden designer who draws up a plan that you pay for (ie literally just the design work), or do you mean a landscape gardener who can come up with a plan and then build the whole thing and plant it?

We came up with a rough plan and the landscapers tweaked it and brought it to life .
Not cheap but the best money we have spent!

We had a garden consultation rather than a full design on our established garden (from the previous owners). I was absolutely clueless about all things to do with gardening, I had no interest so no idea what made a garden look nice - so that was my first challenge - I needed to figure out what I liked.

One came to visit and he rejected us - said he couldn't help me achieve what I wanted - that was useful because when I looked at the designs on his website properly (I had done more reading by this stage), he was a bit basic, and lacked imagination, he focused on landscaping.

The designer I eventually went with came to my house - and spent almost a day with us - I loved some of her ideas - and it was a good open discussion and we made some good decisions, she's on hand if I need advice and if I need it she can come up with a formal plan, but I usually have a strong view on design so this approach suits me.

Was it worth it? Definitely - we are planning some hard landscaping and that is so expensive, I wanted to get that right, I wanted to have a good conversation with someone who knew what they were talking about. The consultation cost 3-5% of the project costs.

Currently, its a plot of top soil. So I'd need a design and someone to do at least the hard landscaping. It's not a square / rectangle, so would like an expert to help make the shape work. Id be happy to do the planting, but would probably need a bit of help with plant choices, although could use someone like garden on a roll for that I guess...

You need a landscaper who can draw up plans as well then.

You don't necessarily need a garden designer, although if you can afford it I'm sure it would be helpful.

Our next door neighbours used a garden designer and then a landscaper and were very happy with the end result. When we got quotes for landscaping that was so expensive that we couldn't afford the extra for a designer on top, but I did some research and knew for example where I wanted seating areas to be to get the morning and evening sun. So I could advise the landscapers.