Re-designing your garden and finding a top-quality Garden Designer is no mean feat. Here, expert garden designer Chris Deakin gives 5 tips to ensure you enlist the right person for the job.
If you’re thinking about giving your garden that much needed makeover, you’ve probably already decided you need the help of a seasoned professional.
But choosing a garden designer isn’t as simple as it might at first seem; you need to enlist someone with the skill set needed to create a fabulous end result and ensure that your designer of choice shares your vision and are equipped with the determination to make that vision a reality.
Professional garden designer Chris Deakin, who has worked in the industry for over 20 years, explains the top 5 tips you should follow when choosing a professional who can help you achieve your dream outdoor space.
Word of Mouth
One of the most reliable methods for choosing a gardener who can transform your outside space to suit your specific needs and style, is through word of mouth. If you know someone who has had their garden designed by a professional and you like what you see, then the chances are they’re worth investigating further.
The great thing about word of mouth is that you can get an honest customer perspective of the whole design experience. This means that you not only gain a realistic understanding of what end result you can expect, but a reliable insight into the level of customer service delivered as well.
Research Online
With so much available online, it’s unsurprising that masses of garden designers have their own websites, which you can browse at your leisure. These sites can include everything from business ethos and examples of work, to pricing, the design process and case studies.
What’s more, if you like what you see, there’s usually also a ‘contact’ tab, which provides you with a messaging service or phone number, so you can ask the designer themselves any questions you may have.
Industry Recommendations
Industry recommendations are a sure way to find a quality designer. If you don’t know of a vouched-for garden designer first hand – or simply want the opinion of someone who’s in the know – then asking local garden centres, gardening societies and clubs is a reliable and useful resource you should make use of.
If a garden designer is personally recommended by a business in the industry, you can rest assured that they not only trust the quality of their work, but also the pricing and reliability.
SGD
If you’re looking for a garden designer you can rely on, then The Society of Garden Designers is a good platform to help kick-start your search. The SGD lists all their accredited garden designers, which you can use to find those operating in and around your area.
These garden designers have undergone tough assessments to become SGD registered, having demonstrated skill, passion and knowledge in their profession.
Furthermore, all SGD registered garden designers have worked in the industry for at least three years, meaning they’re sure to be equipped with the experience needed for your project.
Consultation
Once you have shortlisted potential candidates to make your garden vision a reality, it’s time to start making contact. These designers’ philosophies and work may have caught your eye, but you now need to make sure they’re “the one”. The only way to do that is to talk, ask questions and share your vision.
Garden designers are busy people, but most will offer their time to complete an initial consultation to help them understand the aspirations you have, your specific needs and preferred style.
If a designer can get on board with your vision, make creative suggestions which get you excited and show passion and eagerness to transform your space; you can be sure that they’re of the highest quality and are up to the job, meaning you are finally ready to enlist them to revamp your outdoor space!
This blog post was contributed by Chris Deakin. Chris is an award-winning garden designer with over 20 years of experience in the industry who operates throughout Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as across the country.