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.
haydee schrieb:
A pool is definitely something great for children.... except in extreme cases where unsupervised, playing, unsteady toddlers drown in the home pool or pond...No one wishes for that, but extra caution is absolutely necessary.
(Source of danger -> duty to secure and supervise).
Regarding the costs;
At around €45 (net) per hour for a skilled worker, having two skilled workers digging around the garden all day can easily add up to €1,000 to €1,200 (gross) by the end of the day.
Including materials and equipment use, it’s easy to reach the 100 K mark.
The pools already look impressive and also expensive. I would rather go for a natural swimming pond.
Anyway, something like that would only come into consideration once the swing and other playground equipment are removed from the garden. For children, a cheap inflatable pool from the hardware store works fine for a long time. It can grow with them, as it usually needs to be replaced every 2 or 3 years.
I recently saw a water feature on Pinterest that might have suited your style. Unfortunately, I didn’t save it, as it doesn’t fit our situation at all. In our case, it would probably get clogged over time with stones and sand that the kids (likely the whole daycare group in rubber boots) throw in and play with. If there are no kids around, then the shady neighbors will come by. The large stainless steel sphere used as a fountain stone was quite impressive.
Get a quote and maybe ask 2 or 3 landscaping contractors for offers. You can still decide afterwards.
Anyway, something like that would only come into consideration once the swing and other playground equipment are removed from the garden. For children, a cheap inflatable pool from the hardware store works fine for a long time. It can grow with them, as it usually needs to be replaced every 2 or 3 years.
I recently saw a water feature on Pinterest that might have suited your style. Unfortunately, I didn’t save it, as it doesn’t fit our situation at all. In our case, it would probably get clogged over time with stones and sand that the kids (likely the whole daycare group in rubber boots) throw in and play with. If there are no kids around, then the shady neighbors will come by. The large stainless steel sphere used as a fountain stone was quite impressive.
Get a quote and maybe ask 2 or 3 landscaping contractors for offers. You can still decide afterwards.
R.Hotzenplotz schrieb:
So, all in all, as I said, a good impression. Okay, then I misunderstood.
I find this post quite amusing.
It seems to me a bit like, let me show ordinary people what you can do with a lot of money...
I believe you are a wealthy man, but I think people who spend around 100,000 euros on their garden are rare here.
A bit like the motto,
Dear Dacia drivers in the
Dacia forum, which color should I order my new Ferrari in?
Anyway, enjoy your new green space a lot.
It seems to me a bit like, let me show ordinary people what you can do with a lot of money...
I believe you are a wealthy man, but I think people who spend around 100,000 euros on their garden are rare here.
A bit like the motto,
Dear Dacia drivers in the
Dacia forum, which color should I order my new Ferrari in?
Anyway, enjoy your new green space a lot.
I find it rather unfortunate that there is so much criticism about this. At least, that’s the impression I get when multiple people keep emphasizing what a waste of money it is to “sink” so much money into the garden. Well, if only one mention that it could be done more affordably had been made, that would have been enough.
However, I also don’t understand why a water feature or pond wouldn’t suit a modern house – especially since contrasts can actually be quite interesting. But if you’re also fine with a pool, then it fits just as well.
However, I also don’t understand why a water feature or pond wouldn’t suit a modern house – especially since contrasts can actually be quite interesting. But if you’re also fine with a pool, then it fits just as well.
That might be because it is added that this is "just standard." There is no doubt that you can spend money freely anywhere in and around the house. For those who want to do so, they are sincerely encouraged to go ahead. However, it has already been implied here that such expenses are necessary for a reasonably decent exterior area.
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