| If you want to improve the look, design and planting | | | | good designer. The only way you will know is to |
| in your garden, then you may well be thinking about | | | | meet and talk. Ask to see a portfolio of their work |
| getting a garden designer in to help. | | | | and, if they have a website, have a look at it. This |
| So what makes one designer better than another? Is | | | | will give you a feel for the standard of their work |
| there such a thing as good design? | | | | and what you can expect from them. |
| In short yes! | | | | The next issue is how much will you be charged. |
| Garden design is all about shaping and organising | | | | There are a number of ways that designers will |
| space, meeting client requirements and also | | | | charge for their time. Some will charge per hour, |
| harmoniously linking the house to the garden and the | | | | some per job and some as a percentage of your |
| wider environment. | | | | total budget. Some will charge a fee for the first |
| Gardens are for people as well as plants. We're all | | | | consultation; others will not. However, whatever |
| different and what we expect and need from our | | | | method is used, the cost of the design service is |
| gardens will vary. A good garden designer will | | | | usually linked to the quality of the overall service. |
| understand what you want and help you achieve it. | | | | So use your first meeting with the designer to |
| So how do you choose a designer? | | | | assess them. Make them assure you that they are |
| A quick look at Yellow Pages will confirm that plenty | | | | good enough and that they care about you and your |
| of people offer this service. But it may not be as | | | | garden. |
| simple as that. Some practitioners are not garden | | | | At the end of the day it is your garden. It has to |
| designers at all - they are planners, horticulturists or | | | | work for you. |
| builders. Qualifications alone are not a guarantee of a | | | | |