So, you’ve booked your first meeting with a garden designer—congratulations! That’s a big step in the right direction towards the garden of your dreams.
To make the most of this initial consultation, a little preparation goes a long way. Going into the meeting equipped with a few essential considerations can give the designer all the tools they need to create a garden that reflects your vision and fulfils your practical needs.
If this is your first time working with a garden designer, we’re sharing five key things to have in mind—or even better, on hand—to make sure the transformation is off to a successful start.
Don't worry! If you don't have answers to everything right now. The purpose of this list is to spark your imagination and get you to start thinking about the garden you want to create. Your chosen garden designer should guide you through this process and discuss all these aspects with you during your first meeting.
1. Your Wish List
A wish list is essentially a shopping list of everything you hope to have in your garden. It’s key to helping your designer better understand your goals and aspirations for the garden.
To make your wish list as effective as possible, consider things like:
Features you want: Have you always dreamed of an outdoor kitchen? Maybe a water feature? Perhaps a space for growing vegetables? Be as specific as possible.
Priorities: Clearly communicate which elements are non-negotiable and which are nice-to-haves. For example, if a children-friendly play area or a pet enclosure is a must, make it known.
Functional requirements: Think practical considerations, like storage for tools, privacy screens or lighting for evening use.
Your wish list will serve as a starting point for the designer to align their ideas with your needs and preferences.
2. Ideas and Inspiration
As corny as it may sound, when it comes to communicating your preferences, a picture is truly worth more than a thousand words.
Bringing along some inspiration images helps the designer understand your taste and the overall vibe you’re aiming for. You can find inspiration from magazine features, Pinterest or our portfolio of gardens. If you have time, putting together a Pinterest board would be very helpful for the designer to see your vision.
Having visual references will help highlight your preferences. It will also give the designer a good idea of the overall theme, whether it’s a contemporary family space, a romantic cottage garden or a lush tropical retreat.
Likewise, mention any features or styles you dislike. This can save time by steering the designer away from concepts that don’t match your vision.
3. Lifestyle Details
A good garden design should reflect how you plan to use it, so it’s important to share details about your lifestyle and habits with the designer. This helps them create a space that’s as functional as it is beautiful, so consider the following:
Entertaining: Do you like hosting outdoor gatherings? If so, we should prioritise features like a spacious patio, built-in seating or an outdoor kitchen.
Relaxation: If your garden is your personal sanctuary, think about incorporating elements like a hammock, water feature or cosy seating areas that will be perfect for unwinding after a long day.
Family needs: If you have children, play areas, safety features and durable surfaces should be top of mind. Similarly, secure fencing or shaded spots should be priorities for pet owners.
Year-round use: If you dream of enjoying the garden throughout the year, features like outdoor heaters, evergreen plants or louvered pergolas, can make it more versatile.
Maintenance: Be upfront about how much time you have and are willing to spend maintaining the garden. If you prefer low-maintenance landscaping, we can suggest suitable plants and materials. Alternatively, your designer can help arrange a garden maintenance service to help take care of your garden. This frees you up to enjoy a more dynamic space without the effort of maintaining it yourself.
Understanding your lifestyle helps us create a space that truly complements the way you live.
4. A Clear Budget
Establishing a budget is one of the most critical steps in any garden project. A clear budget helps set expectations from the outset and makes sure that the designer’s proposals are tailored to your financial constraints. That’s why being honest about your financial boundaries is paramount.
If you have a firm budget in mind, then great! But if it's more of a guideline and you're open to being flexible, let the designer know.
When setting your budget, be sure to take into consideration costs like design fees, materials, labour and ongoing maintenance. Communicate what you’re willing to prioritise and where you’re willing to compromise to give the designer better clarity.
5. Technical Restrictions
Every garden has its own constraints that the designer must consider when creating the design. Providing detailed information about these factors will make sure the proposed design is both creative and practical, and prevent issues down the line!
Key things we have had to address in the past include:
Tree preservation orders (TPOs): If any trees on your property are protected, let the designer know. As these trees require special permissions for any pruning or removal, and the designer will need to plan around them.
Soil conditions: Share information about your soil type (e.g., clay, sandy or loamy) and any drainage issues. This will influence plant choices and structural considerations.
Plants you want to keep: Whilst they may not be protected, some plants or shrubs might hold a special place in your heart. These can be integrated into the new design or relocated if necessary.
Conservation and Planning Restrictions: If your property is part of a conservation area or subject to homeowners’ association rule, any relevant guidelines or documents would be helpful.
If your home is a new build, you may need to submit a landscape planning application for any proposed changes to the garden or the house. This could include elements like new boundary walls, gates or fencing. It’s a good idea to inform your designer about this in advance, but there’s no need to worry—we’ve handled many landscape planning applications like this without any issues.
By addressing these factors early on, you help the designer anticipate challenges and create a design that complies with any regulations or site-specific limitations.
Now You’re Ready for a Productive First Meeting
Preparing for your first meeting with a garden designer doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By giving these considerations some initial thought, you will help the designer understand your needs and create a tailored plan.
Think you’re ready to make your dream garden a reality? Get in touch now and get the ball rolling.
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