Why Some Garden Designs Fail When It Comes to Construction

Our in-house 25 years experience of both hands on landscaping & garden construction, allows us to see the gardens we design from a build & budget perspective, as well as creating gardens that look great too.

We have witnessed designs that look fantastic on paper but still run into problems once construction begins. In some cases, the design simply hasn’t fully accounted for the practical realities of building a garden — things like levels, drainage, materials, and access.

When these elements aren’t properly resolved during the design stage, landscapers often have to adapt things on site. Sometimes those adjustments are minor, but occasionally they can lead to compromises, delays, or unexpected costs.

That doesn’t mean all garden designers lack skill or creativity. Many produce thoughtful and well-resolved plans. But because a garden is ultimately a constructed space, the design needs to work both visually and practically once it reaches the build stage.

Here are some of the common reasons why some garden designs encounter difficulties during construction.

If you’re considering a garden design in Somerset, Devon or Dorset, we’d love to hear from you & please do read on for more information on potential design mistakes.

Designs That Don’t Fully Consider Levels

Levels are one of the most important elements in landscape construction. Even a relatively gentle slope can influence how patios sit, where steps are required, and how different areas of the garden connect.

If levels aren’t carefully resolved during the design stage, landscapers often have to work them out during the build. That can lead to issues such as:

• steps that feel awkward or too steep, (we always like to have a maximum 175mm riser).
• patios sitting too high or too low relative to the house
• unexpected retaining structures
• poor relationships between different areas of the garden

With experience, there’s almost always a way to resolve level issues. Using the correct threshold details for instance when constructing a patio or deck that meets interior floor levels. Re-thinking step layouts to maybe include an half-landing, to avoid long runs of steps. Terracing a garden, with a series of retaining structures, rather than one big wall.

A well-prepared design should clearly show how the garden transitions from one level to another so the construction process can follow a clear plan.

Drainage Not Properly Thought Through

Managing water is fundamental in any outdoor space. Hard surfaces, lawns, and planting beds all need to deal with rainfall effectively.

If drainage hasn’t been considered properly, problems can include:

• water pooling on patios
• run-off flowing towards the house
• saturated planting areas
• erosion on slopes

The use of shingle areas or self draining paving types can be useful in these situations.

Good garden design integrates drainage solutions so that they are largely invisible but quietly effective in all weather conditions. Connecting patio channels to the storm water system instead of relying on soakaways in unsuitable ground conditions is often a good move.

Materials That Don’t Suit the Site

Materials can look great in inspiration images or brochures, but that doesn’t always mean they are suitable for a particular garden.

For example:

• large-format paving may be difficult to install on uneven ground
• certain natural stones can become slippery in shaded areas
• timber structures may weather quickly in exposed locations

Experienced designers think not only about appearance, but also about durability, installation methods, and long-term maintenance.

Avoiding lots of wastage, by appropriate material choice is always at the top of our own design process. Often we’ve seen designs that require a multitude of cuts to make paving fit a pattern or space, when an alternative, more suitable paving choice could have been made.

Access and Construction Practicalities

Another issue that occasionally arises is that a design hasn’t fully considered how the garden will actually be built.

Questions that need to be addressed include:

• How will materials reach the garden?
• Is there space for machinery or equipment?
• Will soil or demolition waste need to be removed manually?

These kinds of practical constraints can significantly affect both cost and construction time if they aren’t considered early in the process.

Final Thoughts

With properly considered & Landscaper friendly designs, (ones that have the build-ready information they require), the journey from design to build becomes much smoother.

Please check out our design services and contact us if you have a garden design project in mind. There’s no commitment & we are always available for an informal chat.