One of the biggest surprises for clients is how quickly garden budgets are used up. A garden isn’t just plants and paving - it’s an outdoor building project. Before anything looks good, money is spent on groundworks: excavation, waste removal, levelling and drainage. These essential steps are mostly invisible, but they’re what make a garden last. Materials also add up fast. Paving, timber, soil and plants - especially good-quality or mature planting - cost more than many people expect. On top...

When I begin a new garden design, one of the first steps is always a site survey and analysis. This stage is about more than just measurements and sunlight — it’s a moment of discovery. I walk through the garden, observe its character, and look closely at what already exists: the plants, materials, and even forgotten or weathered objects. Very often, I find items worth keeping — not just for practical reasons, but because they help tell the story of the garden. Mature shrubs or trees can act...