Garden Design and Landscaping
The Garden Design Process - The First Site Visit and Initial Meeting.
Should you wish to use us to prepare a design for you, you can telephone us or email us from the information provided on the “contact us” page. You would then have an initial site visit between yourself and us. At this initial meeting you would be required to provide some information that includes what plants you like, what plants you don’t like, what your required style of garden would be if you have an idea - If you do not have an idea we will assist. Sometimes we recommend that you collect pictures or ideas you like so we can extrapolate from that (Never replicate as this is not creativity!). We would require information on children, ages, as well as pets. Other information that is needed includes any shallow subterranean pipes, electrical conduits and water pipes. It is advisable to have both partners at the meeting, if applicable, but if this is not possible, then at least one partner should have the requirements explained from both parties perspective. At our initial meeting we will discuss budget with you. For most people this is the unknown. We dont provide any figures or budgets without a design. The fundamental factors affecting budget are:
1. Hardscapes to be included - Water Features, Paving, Decking, retaining Walls for levels - These can take up 50% of the budget very easily and are the more expensive component - Refer to Water Features for an idea of what water features can cost.
2. Project Management - Green By Nature uses highly qualified managers on site who are trained in our turnkey solution business - They understand pool building, water feature building, Paving, Decking as well as Plants and Planting. We charge a line item for this service as it results in a clean and well installed solution.
3. Irrigation - If youre garden is not automatically irrigated then you should consider a fully automated irrigation system. This will be an additional cost based on the numer of zones required as a result of water pressure and plant zoning. Green By Natures managers have been on irrigation courses as this is quite a technical aspect to the business.
4. Logistics, Top Soil, Compost, Rubble removal - These are individually small line items but do add up. The quote wil itemise these.
5. Size of Plants - Your size of plants will affect your budget. Larger plants are more expensive. Generally the optimum size of ground covers are in smaller bags (4 liter and 2 Liter size bags). Trees vary and we generaly use 50 Liter and 100 Liter sizes although we do install larger ex ground trees.
An example of our quote can be found further down this page.
We would require a site plan of the house as this will reduce the time spent on measuring up your area. This is not always possible
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Our Initial Site meeting will involve us taking pictures of the existing site so we can transform it to your requirements as shown above.
Once we have had the initial site meeting we will start the design process. This can take anywhere from three to five weeks depending on the size and complexity of the design. If we can get the design sooner we do, however we make a point of not rushing designs as we find this hampers creativity. Our designs are unique and no two gardens are the same. We have won awards nationally for our gardens so we do take pride and time in creating a design.
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The design fees are for the time spent on your garden. We will provide an idea at the initial meeting of what it may cost. For your design fee we will present the following to you. You will receive a full design Layout of the plan on A3 similar to the design plan above which is the actual design for the pictures immediately above.. This may be accompanied by section drawings where the garden is very large. In larger gardens an irrigation plan will also be provided. Along with the design you will receive a list of plants and pictures of the plants to give you an idea. Any water features or objet going into the garden will be supported by pictures to assist in giving you an idea of what you will be getting.
The quote may accompany the first presentation or it may be prepared after the first presentation when the design is presented to the client. The quote is very detailed and will provide information such as bag size of plant and height of tree, as well as quantities. For pools and Decking the quote will also provide specs of wood to be used as well as any technical information. To view an example of our quote please click here.
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This results in a unique design, tailor made to meet your specific requirements. Each person has his or her own unique characteristics and this is reflected in the gardens we have done for our clients to date.
Design Installation
The garden is a place to feel peaceful and well rested after the hard grind of the fast paced pressures of life. To this end we ensure the process of designing and installing the design is done in a way which is pleasurable for both us and the client. We will take over full management of the design but you as the client are welcome to be as involved as you wish. Our passion is reflected in the garden but ultimately the garden belongs to the client so we try and include as many aspects that personalize it for the client.
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Our managers are trained to manage the site hands on. We do charge this as a separate line item to improve transparency. Our managers will stay on site for at least 80% of the time and when they are off site they will be attending to issues surrounding your garden. Pictures of our managers are under contact us. We care for the gardens we install and our clients we work alongside. Our managers are there to ensure that the garden is properly installed and any problems dealt with as soon as they are discovered.
Installation can take anywhere from two to six weeks depending on the size of the job. During this period our staff will be on your site and we will endeavour to keep it as clean as possible. Suring the early stages it is very messy however we try to keep it as comfortable as possible. Our managers are there to assist if you do have problems in this regard. Click here to get an idea of the detailed design installation process.
For Mystical and Fairy Garden
Click here to see the section on DIY LANDSCAPING should you wish to have some ideas on installing your own garden.
1. Hardscapes to be included - Water Features, Paving, Decking, retaining Walls for levels - These can take up 50% of the budget very easily and are the more expensive component - Refer to Water Features for an idea of what water features can cost. This results in a unique design, tailor made to meet your specific requirements. Each person has his or her own unique characteristics and this is reflected in the gardens we have done for our clients to date.
The garden is a place to feel peaceful and well rested after the hard grind of the fast paced pressures of life. To this end we ensure the process of designing and installing the design is done in a way which is pleasurable for both us and the client. We will take over full management of the design but you as the client are welcome to be as involved as you wish. Our passion is reflected in the garden but ultimately the garden belongs to the client so we try and include as many aspects that personalize it for the client.
Our managers are trained to manage the site hands on. We do charge this as a separate line item to improve transparency. Our managers will stay on site for at least 80% of the time and when they are off site they will be attending to issues surrounding your garden. Pictures of our managers are under contact us. We care for the gardens we install and our clients we work alongside. Our managers are there to ensure that the garden is properly installed and any problems dealt with as soon as they are discovered.