| Most of us think we know most of what there is to | | | | your dream slowly come to life. A good garden |
| know about gardening if we've been at it for more | | | | designer can do that for you. Often it goes further. |
| than a few years. By and large that can be true, but | | | | The designer will see all kinds of things that you have |
| what we usually don't realise is that we are limiting | | | | not thought of that will make the garden look and |
| ourselves. If you want something in your garden that | | | | work better. You will certainly end up with something |
| is out of the ordinary, then hiring a garden designer | | | | very special. |
| will help you to create something very special. | | | | Your designer will start with a site analysis. This is to |
| What can a garden designer do that most of us can't | | | | ascertain the condition of your garden and what can, |
| do? Well, they are the specialists and the experts in | | | | and what can not, be done with it. The site analysis |
| all things to do with the garden in the area you live in. | | | | will include accurate measurements, a note of all |
| That's important, for many costly mistakes have | | | | existing conditions throughout the garden, drainage |
| been made through simple errors of judgement, or | | | | conditions, the general landscape and any key |
| the simple lack of knowledge. | | | | elements within it, sunlit areas and shaded areas, soil |
| One story is told of someone who bought a cute | | | | conditions, and any micro-climate areas that may |
| looking little potted plant they thought would look | | | | exist. |
| nice in a corner of the garden near the house. Within | | | | The planning comes next. All your thoughts and ideas |
| a few years of planting it had grown to alarmingly | | | | will be used if at all possible, but listen to the designer |
| huge proportions, and a few years later it was | | | | if he or she says that another idea will work better. |
| almost threatening the house! Some expert | | | | Don't be too stubborn and insist on your dream |
| knowledge gained through hiring a garden designer | | | | garden as it may not be the good idea you think it is. |
| would have avoided that costly mistake. | | | | Be led by the expert. It's what they do best. |
| There are three basic things that you should get | | | | Hiring a garden designer will help you to create |
| from a good designer. There are of course many | | | | something very special. It will actually save you |
| more things, but if your designer is a good listener | | | | money too. Those who choose to go it alone often |
| and pays attention to the things you say, if they | | | | find themselves in trouble because they didn't have |
| have extensive knowledge of local plants and suitable | | | | the experience or the foresight and something |
| landscaping material, and if they give you satisfaction | | | | difficult came up that they couldn't cope with |
| at the end of it all, then you have chosen well. | | | | adequately. Put your trust in the specialist, let them |
| It can be very satisfying indeed to have a concept | | | | do the work while you watch your dream slowly |
| of what you want in the garden, however vague, | | | | blossom. |
| and be able to tell someone your ideas and then see | | | | |