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.
Please share your wishes and also let us know if you want to split this into two or three phases.
I’m not sure how it is where you are, but here you wouldn’t be able to get a landscape gardener booked for 2018 anymore.
Smaller projects might possibly be squeezed in between.
I’m not sure how it is where you are, but here you wouldn’t be able to get a landscape gardener booked for 2018 anymore.
Smaller projects might possibly be squeezed in between.
The bag of chips is within reach, the beer is open – really entertaining here [emoji4] Related to the topic, I catch myself thinking while reading some price estimates here whether some landscapers might not be quite right in the head... [emoji6]
Seriously, try putting the costs of your shell construction including earthworks in relation to the prices for your garden. They are probably in the same price range. Just by comparing the technical complexity and the use of materials/equipment, I couldn’t justify to myself or my wife even considering spending as much on the garden as on the shell construction – or, with an estimate of €1,000 per square meter (about $100 per square foot), as for the entire house. But sure, live and let live.
R.Hotzenplotz schrieb:
He initially planned a budget of €100,000 but didn’t come close. In the end, it cost double, yet he still had to make significant compromises.
Seriously, try putting the costs of your shell construction including earthworks in relation to the prices for your garden. They are probably in the same price range. Just by comparing the technical complexity and the use of materials/equipment, I couldn’t justify to myself or my wife even considering spending as much on the garden as on the shell construction – or, with an estimate of €1,000 per square meter (about $100 per square foot), as for the entire house. But sure, live and let live.
R
R.Hotzenplotz14 May 2018 22:2210% of the total construction cost for a garden is not unusual. I have heard this several times. But now I really need to get some specific quotes.
And I can’t compare one garden to another. For example, we want a swimming pool and things like that; those are not free of charge.
And I can’t compare one garden to another. For example, we want a swimming pool and things like that; those are not free of charge.
R.Hotzenplotz schrieb:
I work six days a week and only have Sundays off. And I really want to keep that day free to focus on things I absolutely have to do myself. Unfortunately, I have very little free time anyway, and I want to enjoy Sunday with my daughter. I can fully understand that, and I especially appreciate the prioritization of free time and your daughter. However, given those circumstances, I would at least consider whether a 1000 m² (about 10,760 sq ft) plot of land is really the most practical choice. No criticism intended, just something that came to mind when I read about the six-day workweek, etc. [emoji6]
R
R.Hotzenplotz14 May 2018 22:33ruppsn schrieb:
However, I would at least ask myself whether a 1000 m² (about 10,764 sq ft) plot is really the optimal choice based on the circumstances. No criticism, just something that crossed my mind when I read about the six-day workweek, etc.Why?
Honestly, a 700–800 m² (7,535–8,611 sq ft) plot would have been perfect—definitely better than one of those shoebox-sized lots where you can see what the neighbor is grilling or overhear the latest domestic argument. I really think that’s unacceptable!
But you can’t just carve out plots however you want. After years of searching, we were glad to find a plot like this a bit outside our original target area. It’s a bit too large, but better too big than too small.
But what does that have to do with a six-day workweek? Especially if you work a lot, having a great private retreat at home is important—somewhere you can see what you’re working so hard for.
R.Hotzenplotz schrieb:
10% of the total construction cost for a garden is not unusual. The approach isn’t that unreasonable. It’s always a question of what exactly is included. Outdoor areas versus garden.
But if the garden costs €200,000 (about $220,000), then the house would also cost €2 million (about $2.2 million). THEN (!) it would indeed be in proportion again.
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