Core Garden Design Service – Complete Garden Planning for Somerset Homes

For many homeowners, improving a garden involves more than replacing a single feature. It may involve rethinking the layout, improving circulation through the space, introducing new planting areas, or creating better connections between the house and the garden.

Our Core Garden Design Service is intended for these types of projects. It provides a structured design process that explores ideas, assesses site conditions, and produces clear, buildable plans that contractors can follow with confidence.

For homeowners across Somerset — including Frome, Bruton, Wells, Castle Cary and surrounding villages — this service helps turn early ideas into a coherent plan before construction begins.

The service takes advantage of our in-house, hands on experience in constructing gardens, which ensures our designs take advantage of correct material specification & a “real-world” knowledge of how they are to be built.

When a Core Garden Design Is the Right Approach

A full garden design is often the best option when:

• The garden layout needs to change significantly
• Several elements need to work together (patios, paths, planting areas, structures)
• The relationship between house and garden needs improvement
• Levels or drainage need to be addressed
• A clear plan is needed before approaching contractors

Rather than tackling individual elements separately, this process allows the garden to be designed as a complete space.

Step 1 – Initial Site Visit and Discussion

The process begins with a visit to your property.

During this visit we typically:

• Walk through the garden together
• Discuss how you would like to use the space
• Identify opportunities and constraints
• Talk through possible layout ideas
• Review materials, styles and inspiration

This conversation helps establish the overall direction of the design.

Step 2 – Site Survey and Assessment

Accurate measurements are essential for producing reliable design drawings.

For many gardens we carry out a measured survey in-house, recording:

• Garden dimensions
• Existing features
• Levels where necessary
• Boundaries and access points
• Key structures and trees

We also assess practical considerations such as:

• Access for construction
• Soil conditions
• Drainage requirements
• Sun orientation
• Views and privacy

This information forms the foundation for the design work.

Step 3 – Developing the Garden Design

Using the survey information and our discussions, the design process begins.

This stage may involve exploring several layout possibilities before refining the preferred direction.

Key aspects of the design often include:

• Patio and seating areas
• Pathways and circulation routes
• Lawn and planting zones
• Structural elements such as walls or steps
• Garden structures such as pergolas or screens
• Outdoor dining or entertaining areas

The aim is to create a layout that works both practically and visually.

Step 4 – Materials and Landscape Specification

Choosing the right materials is an important part of the design process.

We provide guidance on:

• Paving types and layouts
• Walling materials
• Steps and level changes
• Drainage considerations
• Edging and borders
• Timber structures and features

Advice is based on both design considerations and construction practicality, helping ensure the finished garden performs well over time.

Step 5 – Planting Advice

Planting is often a key part of the design, helping soften hard landscaping and create seasonal interest.

Advice may include:

• Suitable planting areas
• Structure and layering within beds
• Trees or screening plants
• Low maintenance planting approaches

For some projects a detailed planting plan may also be developed if required.

Step 6 – Design Drawings and Visualisation

Once the design has been developed, you will receive a set of drawings to guide construction.

These typically include:

• Scaled 2D garden layout plan
• Setting out plan for contractors
• Construction detail views where required
• 3D visualisations to help illustrate the design

These drawings allow contractors to understand the intended layout and build the garden accurately.

Revisions and Refinements

After reviewing the design, you will have the opportunity to provide feedback.

The process normally includes:

• One round of design revisions
• Minor adjustments where needed
• Clarification of details

This ensures the final design reflects your ideas as well as the practical considerations identified during the process.

Budget Aware

How many times have we heard of garden designs that look amazing, but are way over budget! A client commissions a design, sets a budget of £25k, only to find when they approach landscapers for a quotation, the cost of the build is £40k! With our in-depth knowledge of garden & landscaping pricing, we always aim to ensure our designs are built to an achievable budget.

We estimate the cost of the build as we go through the design process, making adjustments as necessary as we proceed.

Whilst we can’t absolutely guarantee the quotations you receive will all be in budget because of factors beyond our control, we will try our best to budget cost it fairly as we design, to achieve a positive result.

Advice on Working With Contractors

Many homeowners find it difficult to compare quotations because different contractors may interpret ideas differently.

A clear design package helps ensure:

• Contractors are pricing the same layout
• Materials are clearly understood
• Construction methods are consistent

If helpful, we can also provide guidance on:

• What questions to ask contractors
• How to compare quotations
• Ensuring proposals meet the design brief

In some cases we can also review quotations to ensure they are comparable and aligned with the design.

Pricing

Our Core Garden Design Service is typically priced from:

£850 – £1500

The exact cost depends on the size and complexity of the garden.

Payment is normally required before design work begins.

Full terms and conditions are available on our website.

A Structured Approach to Garden Design

A well-planned garden brings together layout, materials, planting and construction considerations.

For homeowners across Somerset — whether in Frome, Bruton, Wells, Castle Cary or nearby villages — a clear design process can help transform early ideas into a garden that works beautifully in practice as well as on paper.

If you are considering a larger garden project and would like professional guidance before construction begins, our Core Garden Design Service may be the ideal starting point.