The garden design process
Consultation
The consultation is an important first step. Over the course of the consultation we’ll get to know your garden or outdoor space, understand the light and know the soil. We’ll get to know you, know your home, and understand how you want to use your garden.
From this, we can start to define a brief. The brief can be used to highlight existing problems, identify opportunities, and define what you do and don’t want from your new garden. The best garden designs keep true to their brief.
Site survey
The site survey is more than just running a tape measure around - the survey also captures changes in levels, the positions of trees, and how the sun, shade and wind affect your garden.
A site inventory will also be taken, recording any planting, furniture or materials that can be reused or repurposed.
Concept design
Using the site survey as a basis, a concept design can be produced. The concept design aims to provide you with an idea of the garden we’d like to build for you, based on how we’ve understood your brief, with plan and elevation drawings (birds eye view, and the view from your house). The concept design will be presented with some moodboards for the overall garden style, planting style and other visual references.
Final design and specification
Based on your feedback on the initial concept, the drawings can be developed into a final design. This design package includes everything that a landscaper will need to actually build your garden, with a design plan, any construction drawings, hard landscaping specification and a lighting plan if required. The final design and specification give you visibility of every single “ingredient” going into your garden.
Planting design
Now we get to most clients favourite part - the plants! The planting design responds to the unique qualities of your garden - sun, shade and soil - as well as the kind of feeling you want to create. We will produce planting plans and an aftercare schedule so you know how to look after your garden as it establishes.
Garden build and project monitoring
When you’re happy with your garden design package, Studio Mooney Garden Design will invite trusted and reputable landscapers to tender for the build of your garden. After receiving and comparing quotes, the choice of landscaper is yours. During the garden build, we’ll be on-site regularly to check-in with landscapers on build progress, and answer any questions throughout.
Planting installation
The final stage of your garden build is the planting installation. We’ll manage everything directly, working with some of the best nurseries to provide you with beautiful specimen trees, shrubs and perennials.
We plant everything ourselves, following the planting plan we designed for you, before handing over your new garden to you to enjoy.
Aftercare and garden development
A garden is never really “finished”, and new gardens take at least 3 years to establish. We can provide ongoing care and development of your garden, helping it to live up to its design as it develops over time.