Design Questions

Why do I need a garden designer?

I am most commonly commissioned when someone has just bought or renovated a house and wants to develop the garden as well. I also receive enquiries from people who want to transform or rejuvenate their outdoor spaces. 

Do you offer an initial consultation?

Yes - because every garden is different so it`s impossible to offer a design fee quote without seeing the garden and talking through your requirements. The initial consultation is an opportunity for us to meet and to talk through what you’re looking to achieve and how we can best work together. 

What type of gardens do you design?

I design residential outdoor spaces of all sizes.  

Is my garden too big or too small for a design?

Absolutely not! I’ve designed gardens as small as 3 x 5 metres and as large as 3 acres – and lots in between. The point of good garden design is to make the most of the space you have available and ensure that the garden and house sit comfortably together. That’s what I set out to do, so you can get on with enjoying your garden. Please refer to our portfolio for examples of our work across a rage of garden sizes.

When is the best time of year to get your garden designed?

I can design a garden in any season, and work throughout the year on different projects. 

What does a garden design include?

Much depends on which stages you are having carried out. Generally, the initial design (the outline plan) will provide you with a scaled complete layout of all the areas agreed in the design brief, showing location of all hard and soft landscape surfaces, making suggestions to materials and features. The plan will also include locations of key plants such as palms and trees, and is labelled giving a description of what each element/ items is, or could be. Once the outline ( concept design) has been approved, the design is developed further to include more detail.

What information do I need to provide to a garden designer?

When you first get in contact with us, our main aim is to assess whether we are a good fit for your project. Assuming this is the case, we will then recommend an initial site visit. This visit will allow us to meet face to face and discuss in more detail what you are wanting to achieve. You will also need to have had some thoughts about the budget you have set aside for the project. A rough guideline is to allow 8-12% of the value of the home for a standard professionally designed and built garden. For something exceptional, such as an oversized pool with infinity edge and/or other more bespoke high-spec elements the budget will need to be much higher.

How many times do you visit the garden?

I may visit several times over the course of the design process. This includes:

• the first initial on-site meeting

• the site survey (if no accurate survey is available and the garden is small enough for me to carry out the survey myself)

• when presenting the concept design

• when presenting the developed design

• at the contractor meeting, once the design has gone to tender and you have chosen a contractor

How long will it take for my garden to be designed?

Much depends on the scale and complexity of your garden design and it’s requirements. In the majority of cases, the initial concept design will be completed in 4-6 weeks. Developing the design further (adding more detail) can take another 6-8weeks, depending on the complexity of the design. Occasionally, in the case of very large and/or complex gardens, the design process can longer as different specialist teams may need t be involved including architects, structural engineers, specialist contractors etc. The design timelines are also affected by your availability to give timely feedback. If for example you are a husband-and-wife team, and one of you travels frequently for work, this may significantly impact design timelines.

What is the difference between a Concept Design and a developed design?

A concept plan provides you with the general garden layout and feel of the garden. It focuses on the spatial and aesthetic intent, and has no detail from which to build from.

The developed design is the evolution of the concept design, and provides more layers of detail in terms of materials for hard landscaping surfaces, structures such as shade structures, outdoor kitchens, swimming pools etc. This developed plan, along with construction details, can be given to a professional landscape contractor and will allow them to construct your garden successfully.  

Why do I need to have garden construction details?

Construction details are an integral part of the detailed garden design package, and specify exactly how to build the elements within a garden. Without the construction details, the design is open to interpretation by the contractor, and may not end up being built quite as either you or I intended. 

Do you charge for revisions to the design?

I include one (1) revision within the initial design fee. Additional revisions will usually incur additional charges.

I don’t have the as built drawings for our property?

It is important that any design starts with an accurate site survey. In most instances, with a little research, most homeowners will be able to locate their property drawings, either from previous owners, or from the property developer, or the municipality.

If they cannot be located, or are found to be inaccurate, in the case of small gardens I can often survey the site myself. There is a separate charge for this. In the case of larger gardens, I recommend that we commission a landscape contractor or professional surveyor to carry out a new survey.

Do you design swimming pools?

Yes, we design the architectural details of swimming pools - size, shape and layout of a swimming pool. The construction detailing and the construction itself is done by a municipality registered and approved swimming pool consultant. 

Are concrete/ shotcrete pools better than fibreglass pre-formed pools?

The recent trend is clearly towards concrete pools, as one has the flexibility to design any shape and size pool that suits ones needs and lifestyle.

Do you also do irrigation and lighting design?

Yes. In terms of irrigation, we work closely with landscape contractors to ensure that the irrigation layout/ design is appropriate and tailored to your garden and planting design.

In terms of lighting, we work closely with industry specialists to ensure the lighting design achieves the desired outcome both in terms of ambient/ mood lighting as well as functional lighting requirements for paths, driveways etc.

I want lots of lawn. Can you design accordingly?

We feel strongly that a garden should be ‘site and region appropriate’, and as sustainable as possible. Here in the Middle East, the climate does not support having a large lawn space. Lawns are labour intensive to maintain, and in the UAE in particular require vast amount of water, toxic chemicals and pesticides to keep it looking decent. Our preference is to design gardens without a lawn space, where possible.

Are lawn-free gardens really usable spaces?

Lawn-free gardens are some of our favourite gardens to design. Having no lawn often means that the planting beds can be that much more generous and as such, homeowners benefit from increased birdlife, butterflies and other insects, as well as lower maintenance costs and lower watering costs. When we design a lawn-free garden we incorporate pathways and seating areas, and use lawn-replacement groundcovers and gravel to introduce different textures.

I have an existing garden. Will you remove all my plants?

If you want specific plants to remain in place we’ll incorporate them into your new design. It’s also worth keeping large trees as these provide an already established structural element to the garden – provided they are not invader species, are in good health and are not damaging your property. More often than not, the very reason clients commission us to re-design their garden is because their existing garden is no longer meeting their requirements, and so usually most of the plants are past their best.

What is the benefit of having a professional planting design?

A planting design help to avoid the creation of a ‘fruit-salad’ garden – a garden with a bit of everything but lacking a cohesive theme. Without a plan and a theme, it can be tempting to incorporate many different plant species, especially if they are all in flower at your local nursery! By planning your garden and taking into account a preferred theme we can choose and group your plant species accordingly for a more coherent look. Furthermore, it ensures that you plant the right plant in the right place, as I will take into account whether a plant is suitable for full sun, part sun, or shade, as well as it’s water requirements, so that plants with similar water requirements are planted together. 

Can we use our existing pavers?

This may be an option, provided they are of a quality that is enhancing your garden and not taking away from it.

We are not homeowners, and are currently renting, but would still like to make improvements to our garden. Can you still help?

Yes, we can still help. Whether you are a homeowner or a tenant doesn’t affect the design process. However, when it comes to the build, understandably, as a tenant one is less likely to want to invest into the garden in the same way that homeowners are happy to, as there is inevitably no return of this investment.

I live in another Emirate/another GCC country. Can you travel to do our garden?

I no longer design gardens outside of the UAE.  

How many design projects are you working on at any one time?

I like to dedicate my time and focus to designing one or two main projects at a time. This way these projects get my undivided attention. 

I will however at any one time also be visiting prospective new clients, and overseeing garden that are currently being built.

Do you have a waiting list?

I usually do have a waiting list of around 4-8 weeks. It’s best to check with me once you’re ready to start the design process. One way of avoiding disappointment is to plan well ahead and contact me well in advance of when you wish to have your garden built.

Installation questions

How long will it typically take from design to a complete garden?

This will depend on how complex the overall build is, and whether you are having a pool built etc. Usually, one would allow between 3-4 months on average.

When is the best time to build a garden?

Our gardens are built all year round.  

Who will install the gardens that you design?

I work with one or two professional landscapers with whom I have built a good working relationships over the years.

Can I use the same contractor that installed my new kitchen to install my garden design?

I would strongly discourage using an interior contractor for any outdoor garden installation. The nature of outdoor construction differs significantly from indoor construction, both in terms of construction specifications, as well as material selection and much more. 

Pricing questions

How much should I spend on my garden ( & garden design)?

Current industry guidelines are to allow 8-12% of the current value of the property for a standard professionally designed & built garden in Dubai. This could be higher or lower depending on the property itself and your exact requirements. For exceptionally high- end gardens, allow a higher percentage.

Do I need to give you a budget?

Yes, we will need a build - budget indication from you at the start, as we will need to take this into consideration when designing your garden. 

I don’t have the budget to do the full garden now, can we do it in phases?

It is best to design the garden in it’s entirety. This really is the point of a design. This makes sure that all elements fit together and compliment each other.

The garden actual build can be done in phases if it is a large garden. The design we have created then becomes the ‘blueprint’ for future phases of the project. For smaller gardens, it is more cost-effective to build the garden in one go.

Depending on the amount of time that has lapsed between each construction phase, contractors will also need to revise their material costs as these vary over time, depending on market conditions.

Planting questions

When is the best time to plant up a garden?

The best time to plant up a garden is between the end of October and the end of March. Planting outside of this window can cause problems due to the extreme temperatures.  In general terms, so long as you avoid extreme weather and put healthy plants into well prepared soil, then they should be fine.

Do you do planting work too?

Yes. We can handle the plant sourcing and installation for you. We work with a wide range of wholesale and local nurseries to provide the best quality plant stock.

How big will my plants be initially?

This depends on your requirements, and the species and sizes we have chosen, but in most cases your plants will be small to begin with. Rather than focussing on size though we take care in choosing the appropriate species and their positions, so even though most of the plants will be small initially, they will soon fill out into their spaces as they grow.

How long will the plants take to mature?

This depends on the plant species, watering, and after-care given to them. Most shrubs and groundcovers will fill out significantly after 10-14 months. With trees, this will take much longer, as they spend the first few years of their life establishing their root systems before they show signs of growth above ground, so expect your trees to start growing significantly only after 2-3 years.

Do you personally choose the trees for my garden?

Yes, it is an optional service. Trees form the backbone to the structure of the garden, so choosing a tree with the correct shape is important.

I have small children/pets, can you avoid using ‘poisonous’ and spikey plants?

Many of the regional plants are toxic when consumed, even the ubiquitous Frangipani tree. Also, here in the UAE we already have a very limited planting palette (compared to the UK for example), and so it isn’t realistic to avoid poisonous and spikey plants, and still expect beautiful planting scheme. We will need you to be okay with both ‘poisonous’ and spikey plants.

If you have concerns, it is best to always keep an eye on younger kids and pets that are prone to putting things in their mouth and do not leave them unsupervised in your garden. 

I wish to have a colourful floral garden, can you design accordingly?

My planting style is to use mainly structural plants ( which are generally spikey), plants with varying hues of green and varying textures and leaf sizes to create interest. Although I will use the occasional plant with colour, particularly white or yellow, I do not provide planting designs that are focused on a colourful floral dispaly.  

Post- installation questions

Will my garden be difficult to maintain?

Initially, it is crucial that your new garden is watered adequately, especially the first 3-4 weeks after installation, that weeds are removed, and that your trees are staked correctly. 

We recommend that you employ a professional garden maintenance company to look after your garden, in order to protect your investment into the plants.

Ideally the garden maintenance contract should be in place by the time the planting has been completed. As mentioned above, the first few weeks of a newly planted garden are the most critical.

A good garden maintenace company will be able to not only care for your new plants, but also check the irrigation system setting etc.

I can help with the handover, to ensure the maintenance company understands the design intent, and that this is upheld going forwards as plants grow and mature.

Will I have to remove weeds after installation?

Yes. Because we are enriching your soil with compost and fertiliser, and creating new beds or altering old ones, you will find additional weed growth after your garden has been completed. This is especially common where we have removed lawn, as the lawn seeds remain in the soil and germinate after installation. Over time your ground covers will crowd out the weeds, but initially one needs to spend time weeding your garden.

Must I turn my soil?

No. We use mulch, gravel or groundcover to cover the open surface areas of your new garden, which helps protect the soil and keep it moist. By keeping your soil moist (but not water-logged), you increase the growth of micro-organisms, which help break down dead plant material which in turn feeds your plants. Turning the soil interferes with this process by exposing these micro-organisms to heat, which kills them and slowly degrades the quality of your soil.

How often will I need to water my garden?

This depends on the plant zones and micro-climate(s) within your garden. The automated irrigation system will be set up to watering according to requirements.