ᐅ Setting Priorities in Landscaping. Should the entire garden be planned at once?
Created on: 1 May 2018 19:20
R
R.Hotzenplotz
Hi!
We are slowly but surely preparing to get in touch with landscape gardeners – they said that once the ground floor shell is complete, it’s worth meeting on-site.
I’ve read that, based on experience, around 18% of the construction costs should be budgeted for exterior works and the garden. For us, that would be in the six-figure range. However, we only have about €50,000 (around $55,000) available to start with. So priorities will have to be set.
From your point of view, what are things that should definitely be considered and implemented from the beginning? What can maybe be planned for mentally but realized at a later stage?
So far, we have only made rough plans and want to ask 2-3 landscape gardeners for proposals.
Here’s what we have in mind so far:
Front garden:
- Driveway and path to the front door with large stone slabs
- Two small trees in the front garden, maybe a maple and another variety
- Lawn
- Possibly two strips of bark mulch to the left and right of the front door path with small mushroom-shaped trees
Garden:
- Terrace
- Mostly lawn, few flower beds
- Possibly a hedge at the sides of the property; a fence maybe later
- Due to the property’s topography, possibly stairs leading from the terrace down into the garden
- A kind of seating area at the far end of the property
- Possibly a spot elsewhere for our loungers with some of those yellowish grasses around them (I think they are called pampas grass)
- We are thinking of a green pergola – but we’re not sure yet if it should be on the terrace or at the seating area
- I dream of a large tree in the garden, but I haven’t researched that properly yet and haven’t found the final solution with just a quick online search; it probably requires professional advice
- In the longer term, a swimming pool or a hot tub could be an option (but we have no technical information on that yet).
I think it’s important to give landscape gardeners clear instructions from the start.
Would it make sense to have the entire final garden planned and then implement it step by step?
I’m looking forward to some tips on how to approach planning and prioritization, and on how to best communicate with the landscape gardener.
Top priority is of course the access path at the front and probably the whole front garden, so that we don’t start many things in different places but end up finishing nothing.
We are slowly but surely preparing to get in touch with landscape gardeners – they said that once the ground floor shell is complete, it’s worth meeting on-site.
I’ve read that, based on experience, around 18% of the construction costs should be budgeted for exterior works and the garden. For us, that would be in the six-figure range. However, we only have about €50,000 (around $55,000) available to start with. So priorities will have to be set.
From your point of view, what are things that should definitely be considered and implemented from the beginning? What can maybe be planned for mentally but realized at a later stage?
So far, we have only made rough plans and want to ask 2-3 landscape gardeners for proposals.
Here’s what we have in mind so far:
Front garden:
- Driveway and path to the front door with large stone slabs
- Two small trees in the front garden, maybe a maple and another variety
- Lawn
- Possibly two strips of bark mulch to the left and right of the front door path with small mushroom-shaped trees
Garden:
- Terrace
- Mostly lawn, few flower beds
- Possibly a hedge at the sides of the property; a fence maybe later
- Due to the property’s topography, possibly stairs leading from the terrace down into the garden
- A kind of seating area at the far end of the property
- Possibly a spot elsewhere for our loungers with some of those yellowish grasses around them (I think they are called pampas grass)
- We are thinking of a green pergola – but we’re not sure yet if it should be on the terrace or at the seating area
- I dream of a large tree in the garden, but I haven’t researched that properly yet and haven’t found the final solution with just a quick online search; it probably requires professional advice
- In the longer term, a swimming pool or a hot tub could be an option (but we have no technical information on that yet).
I think it’s important to give landscape gardeners clear instructions from the start.
Would it make sense to have the entire final garden planned and then implement it step by step?
I’m looking forward to some tips on how to approach planning and prioritization, and on how to best communicate with the landscape gardener.
Top priority is of course the access path at the front and probably the whole front garden, so that we don’t start many things in different places but end up finishing nothing.
For your house and budget, terraces on different levels or with planted raised beds (calf height) as dividers would also work well. Use high-quality, natural materials: elegant granite, slate, larch wood... and occasionally deviate from structural norms.
For structured planting, it helps to sit on the sofa or stand by the kitchen island and see where your eye naturally lands, or what is visible from the kitchen through the living room door. Then place a focal point plant or something else there.
For structured planting, it helps to sit on the sofa or stand by the kitchen island and see where your eye naturally lands, or what is visible from the kitchen through the living room door. Then place a focal point plant or something else there.
H
HilfeHilfe2 May 2018 06:55I need to let 50,000 € sink in first.
Just have it done, it should all be doable.
Regarding the trees and so on. The nice thing about the garden is that we also do some work ourselves. We're always busy moving around and doing something.
Just have it done, it should all be doable.
Regarding the trees and so on. The nice thing about the garden is that we also do some work ourselves. We're always busy moving around and doing something.
R
R.Hotzenplotz2 May 2018 07:03HilfeHilfe schrieb:
I need some time to process €50,000.I have seen gardens that are very beautiful but not high-end, and some of them cost mid six-figure amounts. For example, try searching for Terwiege Essen and check out their references.
Also, the 18% of the construction costs that are "typically" estimated for landscaping called my attention. For us, that would be about €125,000. The plot is also 1,085 m² (11,680 sq ft) in size.
Later, I will call a local company that, in my opinion, has great references on their website. However, there are no price details for their reference projects. I’m very curious to see what happens next.
My wife and I have already reached a basic agreement on the front yard. I’m happy to share some pictures once we have something documented.
We will talk to the landscaping contractor and then decide whether it might be better to hire a landscape architect. The landscaping contractor’s website actually shows quite detailed planning documents. Additional experiences would be helpful here. Who has worked with a landscape architect, and where were the limits reached that a landscaping contractor could not handle? I could imagine this being relevant for running water features—possibly also in cases like ours, with uneven site topography.
Ah, this is all so exciting.
H
HilfeHilfe2 May 2018 07:06R.Hotzenplotz schrieb:
I have seen gardens that are very beautiful but not high-end, yet sometimes cost in the mid six-figure range. For example, just google Terwiege Essen and take a look at the references.
Also, the 18% of construction costs that are "typically" allocated for landscaping caught my attention. For us, that would be about €125,000. The plot size is 1,085m² (11,680 sq ft).
Later, I will call a local company whose website, in my opinion, shows great references. However, there are no price details for the reference projects. Now I’m really curious how it will turn out.
My wife and I are already basically in agreement. I’ll gladly share some pictures once we have something in writing.
We will speak with the landscaper first and then decide whether it would be better to hire a garden architect. The landscaper’s website actually shows quite thorough planning documents. Other experiences would be helpful at this point. Who has commissioned a garden architect, and where have limits been exceeded that pushed a landscaper beyond their capabilities? I can imagine this might be particularly relevant for water features—possibly also in our case with uneven terrain.
Ah, it’s all so wonderfully exciting. Asking €50,000 for the garden and then complaining about the additional costs for the old condominium billing
Fits perfectly.
Those are luxury problems you have. I don’t fully understand the post either. Looking for self-affirmation? Well, I’m proud to say everything in my garden was done by myself.
That means everything, and not focusing on how much it cost or that I had someone else do it.
R
R.Hotzenplotz2 May 2018 07:13HilfeHilfe schrieb:
Those are luxury problems you have. I don’t quite understand the post either. Seeking self-affirmation?Well, I wrote that I found several sources online where very high costs were mentioned. Since those costs are unmanageable, I just wanted to be somewhat prepared for the discussions with the suppliers. But I’m just doing that now anyway. I’ve already received good advice here.
The neighbor two houses down has also recently built. He’s spending around €300,000 (about $320,000) on his garden. But he also has several water features, and more or less hoses are laid across the entire garden. They’ve been working on it nonstop for over two months now and there isn’t a hint of greenery yet.
HilfeHilfe schrieb:
I’m proud to say everything I’ve done in the garden was done by myself.That’s a problem for us. Neither of us are gardeners, and on top of that, we’re both pretty clumsy.
Like my parents, we’ll probably only really get the hang of it once we actually have a garden to maintain ourselves. That’s why we’re keeping it as low-maintenance as possible for now. It’ll work out.
H
HilfeHilfe2 May 2018 07:33R.Hotzenplotz schrieb:
Well, I already mentioned that I found several sources online quoting very high costs. Since we can’t afford those, I just wanted to be somewhat prepared going into discussions with the providers. But I’m just going to go ahead with it now anyway. I’ve received some good advice here.
The neighbor two houses down just built recently as well. He’s sinking about €300,000 (approximately $320,000) into his garden. But he has several water features, and they’re laying water hoses more or less all across the entire garden. They have been working on it nonstop for over two months now, and there’s not a single bit of greenery to be seen yet.
That’s a problem for us. Neither of us are gardeners, and on top of that, we’re pretty much all thumbs.
Like my parents, we’ll probably only really learn how to manage once we have a garden of our own and need to take care of it. So, for now, we’re keeping it as low-maintenance as possible. It will work out. You don’t want to be outdone by neighbors like that. I get it.
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