Preparing for Your On-Site Garden Consultation: A Comprehensive Guide
Congratulations on embarking on the journey to create your dream garden! The first step in this journey is an on-site consultation, which is an essential component of the design process.
Preparing for the consultation is an important step towards ensuring that the final outcome exceeds your expectations. This guide provides comprehensive information on everything you need to know to prepare for your consultation, the first step within the design process for any project.
Gather Inspirational Garden and Landscape Photos
Before your consultation, gather photos of gardens and landscapes that inspire you. These photos will provide us with an idea of your taste, preferences, and style, and serve as a starting point for the design process. You can use online resources like Pinterest or Instagram, or create a physical scrapbook of images from magazines or books.
When selecting photos, focus on what speaks to you, without worrying if they are practical or achievable. You might be drawn to a specific color scheme, a type of plant, textures, or a particular style of hardscaping. Whatever it is, we want to work with you to create a design that captures the essence of everything you love.
Determine Your Garden Style
Understanding your garden style is a crucial step in the design process. Do you prefer a formal or informal garden? Are you drawn to a specific style like Japanese or cottage gardens? Do you want your garden to be a tranquil oasis or a lively gathering place? Is the goal of your garden to benefit wildlife or promote sustainability? Then you may prefer native gardens! Is the goal of your garden to be beautiful, but also low-maintenance and as self-sustainable as possible? Then you may like xeriscape gardens.
To determine your garden style, consider your home's architecture, your personal style, and your lifestyle. We will provide guidance and suggest styles that suit your specific needs.
Common Garden Styles
English Garden Style: This style features an emphasis on formal design elements, such as hedges, topiaries, and neatly manicured lawns paired with naturalistic colorful perennials.
Xeriscape Garden Style: A xeriscape garden is designed to conserve water by featuring plants that are native or well-adapted to the local climate and require minimal watering. This style often includes gravel or other hardscape elements to minimize water usage.
Cottage Garden Style: This style is characterized by its abundance of colorful flowers, often arranged in a haphazard, naturalistic manner.
Traditional Southern Garden Style: This style is characterized by evergreen foundational plantings paired with traditional flowering shrubs and low-maintenance ornamental grasses and perennials.
Prairie Garden / Dutch Wave Garden Style: This garden style, also known as the New Perennial movement, originated in the Netherlands in the 1980s and emphasizes the use of naturalistic plantings with a focus on perennials and grasses. The style is characterized by its use of mass plantings, meadow-like arrangements, and an emphasis on texture, movement, and color.
Formal/French Garden Style: This style emerged in the 17th century and is characterized by a highly symmetrical design, with geometric patterns and precise lines. Features include parterres, fountains, and topiary.
Modern Garden Style: A garden design style that emphasizes clean lines, minimalism, and simplicity, often featuring a focus on hardscaping and architectural elements, as well as carefully curated plant selections.
Japanese Garden Style: A traditional style of garden design that incorporates natural elements such as rocks, water, and plants to create a serene and peaceful environment. Common features include water features, bridges, lanterns, and carefully placed plantings.
Pollinator or Butterfly Garden Style: This style is designed to attract butterflies and other pollinators, featuring nectar-rich flowers and host plants that caterpillars feed on.
Determine Your Budget
Having a budget in mind before your consultation will help us in creating a realistic and achievable design proposal that meets all of your needs. Be honest about your budget and what price range you're wanting to spend within.
Just as a real estate agent would not suggest a home that is far over their client’s budget, we do not want to propose materials or features that are financially unrealistic. Keep in mind that gardens are an investment, and a well-designed garden adds value to your property. For help in determining your project budget, check out our recent article on Nashville 2023 landscaping costs.
Working from your budget, we can provide guidance on how to prioritize your spending and make the most of your project. We can suggest cost-effective options using different plants and materials or recommend where to splurge to achieve the desired effect.
Consider Your Garden's Functionality
Think about how you want to use your garden. Do you want to entertain guests, grow vegetables, or create a peaceful retreat? Are you wanting to create a design for maximal curb appeal? Consider your lifestyle, the needs of your family and how you plan to interact and live within your garden space.
If you have children or pets, you may want to incorporate features like a play area or pet-friendly landscaping. If you love to entertain, you might want to include a dining area or outdoor living room. If your have erosion or drainage needs to address, you may want to discuss hardscaping, such as retaining walls, and irrigation solutions to consider for your project.
We can help you create a garden that's not only beautiful but also functional and practical for your exact needs.
Prepare Questions and Concerns
Before your consultation, make a list of questions and concerns you have about the design process. Some common questions include:
What is the timeline for the entire design and installation process?
What is included in the design fee?
What is the installation process like?
Do you provide maintenance and aftercare guidance?
Use this time to ask any question, however big or small, and we will provide answers and address any concerns you may have.
Prepare Your Property for the Consultation
On the day of your consultation, make sure your property is ready for our visit. Clear any clutter, mow the lawn, and remove any pet debris. This will give us a clear view of the space and make it easier to envision the design. During your consultation, we will be taking photos for use in your design proposal. Having your space free of clutter makes for clearer design renderings from the photos we will take.
Be Open to Suggestions and Collaboration
Finally, be open to suggestions and be willing to collaborate throughout the design process. Ultimately, this is a collaboration working upon your goals and needs and our creative and functional expertise. Trust the process and enjoy the journey! This should be an enjoyable and exciting time for you and your family––let us handle the rest!