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.
R
R.Hotzenplotz2 May 2018 17:05Then our costs will also reach six figures...... we have a very uneven plot of land, and earthworks will definitely be necessary beyond the standard scope.
1000€/m² (1000€/sq ft)?
It's a good thing the site is flat, we have plenty of excavation material, and otherwise the property is quite simple in many people’s eyes.
Paving at the front, garage, and terrace with decking will be done right away, as will filling the plot. The rest will come gradually. I will create a small stream myself, as well as the planting (except if it involves a larger tree). There will be no lawn, just a meadow. If I end up incorporating a dry stone wall somewhere, then a professional landscaper will have to do it, because I’m not up for carrying stones.
I’m curious to see the prices then.
It's a good thing the site is flat, we have plenty of excavation material, and otherwise the property is quite simple in many people’s eyes.
Paving at the front, garage, and terrace with decking will be done right away, as will filling the plot. The rest will come gradually. I will create a small stream myself, as well as the planting (except if it involves a larger tree). There will be no lawn, just a meadow. If I end up incorporating a dry stone wall somewhere, then a professional landscaper will have to do it, because I’m not up for carrying stones.
I’m curious to see the prices then.
lastdrop schrieb:
You should show this to everyone who says, “We’ll do the garden later/on the side/by ourselves...” Because then it costs nothing anyway...“Saying it costs nothing” is probably a bit underestimated, but with 100 €/m² (one hundred, not one thousand!) of garden area, you can get quite far.
If a lot of earthworks are needed, I would allow 150 €/m² (square meter), but if a landscaper quotes you 1000 €/m², I’d really ask what he had for breakfast.
Best regards,
Andreas
Yes, without doing some work yourself, it won’t be possible to keep costs low.
I would also have a professional handle the paving. For the lawn and plants, I wouldn’t be willing to pay for the work.
What I would definitely do is install an irrigation system.
Otherwise, I’d go for a nice mix of colors with different flowering periods.
Ground covers help prevent ugly weeds. And since you don’t feel like doing the work, I would recommend a robotic lawn mower.
I would also have a professional handle the paving. For the lawn and plants, I wouldn’t be willing to pay for the work.
What I would definitely do is install an irrigation system.
Otherwise, I’d go for a nice mix of colors with different flowering periods.
Ground covers help prevent ugly weeds. And since you don’t feel like doing the work, I would recommend a robotic lawn mower.
R
R.Hotzenplotz7 May 2018 22:42Check out the Rheingruen website.
Great gardens!!!
Great gardens!!!
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