DP Garden Design

Including a modern lighting plan in your garden can really help you maximise your outdoor space, extending the hours you can make use of your garden entertaining whilst also creating a beautifully lit outdoor room you can enjoy viewed from inside all year round. 

Key Ways to Light up your Garden

You don’t need to floodlight your garden, in fact that would ruin the effect. It is all about the subtlety of the lighting plan drawing the eye and creating wonderful new perspectives – it is about the contrast of warm light and shadow to create depth and texture to your garden at night.

Highlighting key focal points in the garden is a great place to start, often using uplighting to bring attention to a sculpture, tree or architectural feature like a gazebo. You will adjust the lamp strengths according to the maturity of the plant or the size of the feature.

Alternatively, you could use backlighting to create a professional garden and corona effect around an object such as a large pot or urn, or downlighting (moonlighting) on trees or walls to highlight a smaller area or single feature or row of single features like beautiful Hydrangeas in oversized planters for example. Downlighting will also convey a sense of security as well as being aesthetically pleasing.

Path lighting will use low fixtures directing illumination downward and out. Again, resist the urge to over light. You can create beautiful circles of light that don’t overlap by spacing the lights out at least 2-3m. They still light the way but do so without being overly bright – we are not lighting a public footpath!

Lighting water features can really create a dramatic effect. However, it needs to be done properly and in pools or ponds that will benefit. You don’t want to simply illuminate algae. With submerged lighting therefore the pond should be chlorinated or at least effectively filtered so that there is clarity. That creates some problems because too much movement distorts the light. Depth is another issue and lights shouldn’t be considered in features more than 4 feet. It therefore might be more effective to light the water feature from above creating a mirror effect on the water through the beautiful reflections of plants or sculptures.

Get in Touch with DP Garden Design

To find out more about lighting as a part of our garden design service please use the resources within our site and contact our garden design team to find out more.

We are located in Alresford, Hampshire but we also cover the rest of Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and West Sussex. Begin your garden renovation journey with us now.

I wanted to write this blog to support in my own small way the work of the Society of Garden Designers, the Royal Horticultural Society and the Landscape Institute who have helpfully published the information I provide below to counter the claims that Plastic Lawns are ‘eco-friendly’.  Loss of natural habitats caused by the decline of the quality of our gardens, green spaces and loss of green corridors is a massive factor in the depletion of our biodiversity. They aren’t the only or the best way to achieve a modern garden design look.

Why Plastic Lawns ‘are not’ Eco-friendly

• They destroy natural habitats & soil:

It takes 2000 years to form 100mm of topsoil. This will be dug out when laying plastic grass and what is left will be suffocated. Earthworms, fungi and natural organisms that thrive in soil will be killed, plants will be eliminated and food for birds, insects and animals destroyed at a time when wildlife populations have plunged by 69% as highlighted by the Society of Garden Designers & the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

• They contribute to carbon emissions:

Plastic grass is made from fossil fuel based plastics, the extraction and processing of which is a net producer of CO2, which combined with the emissions associated with the shipping of it when produced overseas contributes to global warming. By contrast a real grass lawn will absorb CO2.

• They contribute to heat islands:

Real lawns cool themselves when heated by the sun through evaporation, whereas plastic lawns absorb the heat creating areas or islands that can be 26C hotter than the surrounding air.

• They contribute to flooding:

Natural lawns will absorb rainfall slowing the flow of water into drains, plastic grass absorbs less than 50% causing run off and in turn flooding.

• They contribute to pollution of our waterways:

The plastic in the artificial lawn will over time break down which results in the microplastics being washed into our drainage system and waterways whether river or sea.

• They cannot be recycled:

Even where it is claimed these products can be recycled in principle, there are currently no suitable recycling facilities in the UK to accommodate this.

• They do not last forever:

Artificial plastic grass has a lifespan of circa 15 years after which it will end up in landfill where it will continue to pollute the environment.

• They are not maintenance free:

Over time the plastic lawn will accumulate a build up of excrement and urine from animals whether birds, mice, foxes and dogs; in addition organic detritus such as self-seeding grasses, weeds and moss. This will require regular cleaning with disinfectant and other chemicals.

What are the Alternatives to Plastic Lawns?

• Traditional Lawns:

Grass lawns are sustainable, environmentally friendly and safe for wildlife as well as children. They have a natural resilience to drought. They are one of the toughest plants and will recover with rain. You can include areas of ‘rough’ grass within the garden left to grow longer to add to the overall design with interesting shapes and pathways. These can be combined with seasonal planting, bulbs and wild flowers to create beautiful islands of meadow.

• Low Mow Lawns:

Tapestry lawns combine low growing flowering plants that are low maintenance and high in ornamental value to create a vibrant mix of colours and textures. They are beautiful, attract wildlife, absorb rainfall twice as fast as turf lawn and don’t need feeding. Chamomile lawns are a good low maintenance alternative to grass, requiring no regular mowing, feeding or watering whilst helping to improve the soil and attract pollinators.

• Drought tolerant lawns:

Clover lawns are drought tolerant and don’t require mowing or watering and stay green all year round with the benefit of a starscape of flowers during the summer. They can be trodden on without causing damage and will attract pollinators. In addition they take nitrogen from the air and sink it into the ground providing a natural boost of fertiliser for itself and surrounding plants.

• Lawns for play:

Natural grass is still the best option for play and can be easily looked after in the autumn with re-seeding as necessary.  Children will come into contact with soil and immune boosting microbes compared to plastic which ongoing research indicates cause higher rates of injury than natural grass and release toxic gases into the air which are then inhaled.

Pratia pedunculata lawns are one of the hardest wearing non grass lawns when established. A mat forming evergreen plant studded with tiny white flowers through spring and summer, it has been tested as a sports turf option making it great for those with kids and dogs.

Find out more from Garden Design Experts

To find out more about this and creating exciting planting plans suitable for your needs as well as our other garden design services please refer to the resources on our website and email us on info@dpgardendesign.co.uk

DP Garden Design is located in Alresford, Hampshire, but we are able to offer our professional garden design services to the rest of Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and West Sussex. Please contact our specialist team today to kick start your magical garden design story.

You may be thinking about undertaking a garden improvement so that you can both maximise the enjoyment of your outdoor space and add value to your home. In the same way you would use the skills of an architect or interior designer if you were looking to make modifications to your home, you may well be thinking about taking on the services of a Garden Designer or Landscape Architect. However, how much does a Garden Designer cost?

There is unfortunately no one answer to this question, and that is not a case of garden designers being evasive or secretive about their fees. The issue being every job is different in terms of garden size, client brief, and therefore how much work and time will be taken on the project.

Some designers may charge an hourly rate, however this is difficult for the client to really understand what the final costs will be. I tend to work my fee as a % of the total estimated garden build cost. This fee will then be broken down into a number of stages and a garden design process which the client can select from in terms of services:

The Typical Garden Design Process

Site Survey:                      

If a professional surveyor is required they will invoice the client directly. This could range from £450-£900 depending on the size of the property. If it is a relatively simple garden area, the designer may do the survey themselves at an hourly rate.

Initial Client Briefing:     

This will entail a home visit, where an initial brief will be discussed and a guide project cost provided to the client. This will normally take around an hour. It could be charged at an hourly rate or may be offered as a complimentary free service.

Design Stage:                   

This will involve a full site analysis, functional planning and then likely a top view design of the garden (Sketch Plan) using an architectural software. It would also include 3D ‘scenes’ within the designed garden to give an idea of how the garden would feel. If significant changes need to be made or the brief changed from original discussions then this may be charged at an hourly rate over and above the initial cost.

Detailed Construction Drawings:

These drawings will enable the landscape contractor (builder) to accurately construct the design set out in the Sketch Plan, a task they would really struggle to do without these. These will include dimensions, height levels, specification details for materials, drainage plans as well as details on how we want the contractor to build features like pergola’s, water features or retaining walls.

Planting Plans:

We will create detailed planting plans for all the plants and trees in the gardens beds, borders and planters. These will detail the numbers of each type of plant and exactly where the landscaper will need to place them. It will also detail the size of plant to purchase at the time of planting. This will largely depend on the budget available.

Tender Management:

We can also manage the tender process for the client sending the detailed plans to a selection of landscape contractors we recommend so that accurate quotes can be collected. This phase can actually help safe money for the client.

Project Management:

We offer to oversee the build, making a few site visits at key periods of the landscaping phase to ensure that the project is going to plan and following the design and specifications. This could be billed at an hourly rate.

Breaking Down a Garden Design Service

As an example, if the estimated build cost at the initial consultation was £80,000, the designer may charge a 10% fee which covers all the stages through to Tender Management. In this example, that would be £8,000. However, the client may only select some of the stages with each of those being a % of the total fee. For example, Design Stage 25%, Construction Drawings 40%, Planting Plans 25%, and Tender Management 10%. Some of these stages may be fixed based on the estimated project costs, however in some instances the designer may stipulate that they are based on the final build cost and therefore balances would be settled at the end of the project.

The real question isn’t whether you can afford the designer, because our fees are a relatively small part of the overall project cost, but more can you afford to have your garden properly landscaped. If you can afford to build the garden then it is definitely worth completely the project properly.

Using the services of a Garden Designer will mean you will get a garden designed professionally that meets your needs, in a style that takes the clients wishes into account and fits in with the Genus Loci, with consideration given to materials and plants. This will provide the client with a garden they can enjoy for many hours over many years, that will also act as a great investment! They will also identify the best garden design genre to best fit your particular garden, such as a more modern garden design approach.

DP Garden Design Services in Hampshire

To find out more about this and creating exciting planting plans suitable for your needs as well as our other garden design services please refer to the resources on our website and email us on info@dpgardendesign.co.uk.

DP Garden Design is primarily located in Alresford, Hampshire but we are able to cover the rest of Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and West Sussex. Contact us today to begin your garden design journey.

The colour wheel enables the designer to create different combinations that will have differing impacts on the look and feel of the scheme. Therefore, understanding the wheel will enable an appreciation of the relationships between colours to create the best and most professional garden design.

The two main approaches are the harmonious and the contrasting colour schemes. Harmonious colours are those that are near to or adjacent to one another on the wheel – blue, violet and blue-green on the cool side of the wheel; and red, yellow and orange from the hot side.

Harmonious colour schemes In Your Garden

When schemes are dominated by cooler harmonising colours such as blue, violet, blue-green, the planting schemes will look best in the evening as the sun goes down, or in shade. You can also introduce paler pinks into this scheme. You can use different hints and tones of the same colour within a harmonious schemes.

Warm pinks and cerise would be introduced into the hot harmony garden schemes from the warm colour side of the wheel. These schemes are very vibrant and can dominate so best to keep them separate. Some larger gardens might have a whole area dedicated to a hot harmonious scheme enclosed by dark green hedging to accentuate further. Most hot garden schemes will be at their best during late summer and early autumn.

Contrasting colour schemes In Your Garden

These schemes require the use of colours from the opposite side of the colour wheel. So red with green, blue with orange, yellow with violet. Ironically these colours together are known as complementary colours and tend to be bold, with one colours strength making up for the others weakness, making it seem brighter or more intense. You might use the blue of Eryngium with the orange of Crocosmia for example.

Within contrasting colour schemes you can also have what are known as Triad schemes. This is where three colours that are equidistant from one another on the colour wheel are used – again creating bold and vibrant colour palettes. An example might be red, blue and yellow. So you might see blue Salvias, with Yellow Achillea and red Gerbera.

Visiting gardens like Great Dixter in Sussex and Sissinghurst Castle in Kent will give great examples of uses of these different combinations.

Get in Touch

To find out more about this and creating exciting planting plans suitable for your needs as well as our other garden design services please visit our website and email us on info@dpgardendesign.co.uk. Contact our expert garden design team today to begin your garden design journey.

DP Garden Design is located in Alresford, Hampshire but we are able to cover the rest of Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and West Sussex.