When to Design Your Garden

Spring is when everyone starts thinking about their garden, so it’s no surprise that landscape designers get swamped with inquiries. But here’s a tip: the best time to kick off the design process is actually in autumn or winter. Starting then gives us plenty of time to plan, so everything’s ready for building and planting when the weather starts warming up and your garden will be done in time for summer.

Alternatively, we can work on your garden design during the summer when it’s just too hot for planting. That way, by the time autumn rolls around, we’re all set to build and plant, giving your garden a head start for the next summer.

How Much Time Should You Plan For?

The Design Process:

• The Idea: We start with a concept, working closely with you to create a garden that’s uniquely yours. Whether you’re looking for a complete garden redesign, advice on planting in tricky spots, or just want to enhance what you already have, we’re here to help breathe new life into your outdoor space.
  This initial phase usually takes a couple of weeks.

• Designing the Hard Landscape: We then provide detailed, to-scale design plans that show the layout of the hardscape and planting areas, along with recommendations for materials and suppliers. These plans can be hand-drawn or CAD-generated.
  This stage typically takes a few weeks to complete.

• Planting Design: Once the hardscape plan is in place, we know exactly where the planting will go, so we can start selecting the right plants. Our horticultural expertise helps us choose plants that suit the style and mood of your garden.
  This stage also takes a few weeks to complete.

Building Your Garden:

With the design in hand, it’s time to bring your garden to life. We can continue working with you beyond the design phase, helping you source and oversee hand-picked contractors and suppliers to ensure the garden is built to the highest standards and according to plan.
Once contractors are booked, the construction and planting of your garden typically take a minimum of six weeks.

In Total:

This gives us a minimum of 3 months to plan ahead for, but in many cases, it can take longer.

Timing Tips: Just a heads up—landscape designers tend to get booked up during the busy times of the year, so it’s smart to plan ahead.