How the Garden Design Process Works

One of the most common things people tell us when they first get in touch is that they did not realise how the process worked. They had an idea that professional garden design was for other people: people with larger gardens, larger budgets, or more clearly-formed ideas about what they wanted. The reality is more straightforward, and more accessible, than that picture suggests.

Here is how a project with Unique Projects actually works, from start to finish.

Stage 1: The Initial Conversation

The starting point is a conversation, not a commitment. We ask you about the space you have, how you use it currently, what is and is not working, and what you would like it to do for you. We are also asking, at this stage, about practical realities: budget range, timeline, access for materials and machinery, and any planning or building regulation considerations that might apply.

This conversation can happen on the phone, by video call, or in person on site. For most Devon projects, an early site visit is worthwhile because gardens in this part of the country have their own character: the interaction of Atlantic climate with the local topography creates specific conditions around drainage, exposure, and plant selection that it helps to understand in person.

Stage 2: The Design Brief and Survey

Once we have agreed to proceed, we carry out a formal survey of the site. This covers dimensions, levels, existing features to retain or remove, soil type, drainage, aspect and light, and any utilities or services running under the garden. The survey information feeds directly into the design work.

The design brief documents what you are looking for: the uses of the space, the aesthetic direction, any specific plants or materials you have in mind, the maintenance commitment you are comfortable with, and the priorities if budget means the project needs to be phased.

Stage 3: Concept Design

The concept design is the first visual representation of the proposed scheme. It typically includes an overhead layout plan showing zones, levels, planting areas, hard landscaping features, and access routes. We present this to you with explanatory notes and discuss it in detail. This is the stage for significant revisions to the overall approach, not details.

From the concept, once agreed, we develop the detailed design: full material specifications, planting plans at species level, and construction drawings sufficient for contractors and for any planning applications required.

Stage 4: Contractor Procurement and Project Management

For clients who want full project management, we oversee the contractor procurement process, inviting quotations for the construction phase and advising on selection. We provide site supervision during the build phase to ensure the design intent is being executed correctly and to deal with the practical issues that always arise on garden construction projects.

Stage 5: Planting and Completion

Planting is typically the final phase and the one that transforms a garden from a construction site into what you imagined. We source plants appropriate to the Devon climate and the specific conditions of your garden, and place them according to the detailed planting plan developed in the design phase. This is also where the project becomes most visibly rewarding.

Ongoing Maintenance

A completed garden is the beginning of a relationship with a living system, not a finished product. We offer ongoing garden maintenance services to clients whose projects we have designed and built. A garden maintained by the team who designed it tends to develop well because we understand what it was intended to become.

Contact Unique Projects to discuss your garden design project in Devon.