I’ve done landscape design for many years and developed a methodology for approaching the design. Works every time:~) Thought I’d share it.
Step 1 – BUDGET: Have a budget in mind before starting. It doesn’t mean you’ll be right on target, but at least you’ll be able to set the scope of project within a reasonable range. Most people have a budget set aside for the garden. If not, consider these possible guidelines.
- Smart Money put the number at 4% of the cost of the sale price of the house.
- A Wall Street Journal article has all sorts of numbers to see
- Think about cost per square foot for remodel. The garden is an addition to the house. How much would you spend on an interior remodel?
Step 2 – GOALS & AESTHETIC: Establish your goals for the project. You can use a questionnaire such as this one. To get a better sense of your own style, keep a folder of pictures from magazines and photos of gardens you like and even ones you dislike. A pattern usually starts to emerge.
Step 3 – SPACE PLANNING: Set out the functional areas of the garden and how they flow together – the ‘rooms’ and the ‘hallways’ of the exterior space. We’re not talking specific plants or materials just yet – this comes later. A few options in 2-d and photos help to illustrate the layout. The goal is to create space flow that ties it all together. This is the time to take stock of sun/shade patterns, noises/annoyances, privacy issues and other external pros and cons you want to address.
Step 4 – MATERIALS: Choose your hardscape and softscape materials. This phase is where you have all the flexibility in meeting budgets. Hardscapes are always more expensive than you think.
- That stone wall costs too much? Swap it out for a less expensive stone and style of wall. A ledgestone fitted wall runs 3-4x more expensive per square foot than a more casual fieldstone wall (Both labor to install and stone contribute to this differential). Still too much? Use a hedge for now, and swap it out for a wall when time and budget permits. You have still achieved the design goal of separating the spaces.
- The plants too expensive? Downsize them to smaller containers. There are some plants that grow fast and some that go slow – downsize the fast growers and your patience will reward you.
- I can go on and on and on…
Step 5 – LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR: Work with these people before you finalize a design. Having rough estimates can help to avoid sticker shock and set expectations. While most don’t possess design skills (hey, I don’t know how to build a wall), they can provide you with helpful ideas about options to achieve design goals.
While I know you’re in a hurry to get your garden installed, don’t rush this process. Give yourself time to develop a point of view – I usually take 6-10 weeks with my clients for an optimal result. Trust me, you’ll enjoy the result much more.
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