Garden design in County Durham
Good garden design starts with plants and how you want to live outdoors. I design gardens across County Durham and the North East with the planting at the centre: a layout that suits how you'll use the space, and beds that thrive in your soil and light.
How a design comes together
| 1. Your brief | We talk about how you want to use the garden: somewhere to sit, play, grow food or attract wildlife, and how much time you want to spend looking after it. |
|---|---|
| 2. The site | I visit to see the garden's aspect, soil, levels and views, and what's worth keeping, from established shrubs to a good tree. |
| 3. The layout | I put together a layout for the garden: where the seating, paths, lawn, beds and any growing space go, and how they connect. |
| 4. The planting | A planting plan for the beds and borders, with a plant list chosen for your conditions and the look you want. |
| 5. Building it | You can build it yourself, in stages, or hand the layout to a landscaper. I can talk any landscaper through the design so the planting goes in as intended. |
Where I design gardens
I design gardens in Peterlee, Durham, Seaham, Hartlepool, Sunderland, Sedgefield and Stockton-on-Tees, and the villages around them. Outside the North East, I can still draw a planting plan from photos, and for building work I can introduce you to a vetted landscaper near you.
Price
Every garden and brief is different, so I price each design when you get in touch, once I know the size of the garden and what you'd like it to do.
I also offer garden consultations, planting plans, wildlife gardens, veg and allotment coaching, native hedge planting, workshops and talks and gift vouchers, and you can read more about my background.
Garden design questions
Do you build the garden as well?
No. I design the garden and the planting; a landscaper builds the hard landscaping, and you or your gardener can plant it from the plan. Splitting it this way means you can get quotes for the build on a clear brief.
Can I do the garden in stages?
Yes, and many people do. A design means each stage fits the whole, so nothing has to be dug up later.
Is garden design only for big gardens?
Not at all. Small gardens often benefit most, because every square metre has to work hard.
What if I only need help with the planting?
Then a planting plan is likely all you need, and it costs less than a full design.
Talk to me about a garden design
Tell me about your garden and how you'd like to use it, and I'll reply with a price and next steps.