Everything You Need To Know About The Landscaping Process
A step by step guide to the landscaping process and what to expect when you hire a landscaper.
Once you have found the right landscaper to build your new garden, the landscaping process can begin. But don’t expect your landscaper to turn up the very next day with a spade in their hand ready to start work. There’s quite a bit of preparation work to do first.
- You must agree the garden design and confirm which materials and materials you’d like installed in your garden. Paving type and colour, pergola design etc. Your landscaper can help by bringing you product samples to choose from.
- Using the garden design as a guide, your landscaper will calculate the quantities of materials needed and build a quotation.
- At this stage you have an opportunity to revise the design and/or your materials choices in order to meet your budget.
- Agree the price and the payment terms and sign contracts.
- Most landscapers will ask for a deposit to secure your place on their job list.
- You must appoint your landscaper as the Principal Contractor for the purposes of CDM (2015) regulations. https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/2015/index.htm
- Landscaper will plan the project and carry out risk assessments.
- Your landscaper will let you know their anticipated starting finishing dates - please be aware that these might be affected by weather and/or unexpected delays in deliveries of materials.
- As Principal Contractor, your landscaper will take full control of project management.
- Materials and equipment will be ordered by your landscaper. These will be delivered to site in stages as the work progresses. You may need to leave space on your driveway to store materials temporarily.
- Work generally begins with garden clearance and digging out footings etc.
- Your garden may be in disarray for some time. Please listen to your landscaper’s advice on where it’s safe to walk and which areas you need to avoid.
Agreeing A Garden Design
The landscaping process cannot begin until your landscaper knows exactly what to build. You may have already worked with a garden designer to create a layout plan. But if not, your landscaper can put you in touch with somebody who can help.
This article will help you to understand the garden design process. https://www.landscaper.org.uk/consumer-information/the-garden-design-process
Your Landscaping Quote
Once your landscaper knows exactly how you would like your garden to look, they can start contacting suppliers to get quotations for all of the materials needed. At this stage of the landscaping process you may need to be patient. Remember that your landscaper is probably trying to juggle project managing and building other gardens whilst gathering the information needed to create your quote.
A quote includes such things as ….
- Machinery costs.
- Skip or Grab hire to take waste away.
- Portable toilets and hand washing facilities for the team.
- Sand, cement and MOT type 1 to provide a stable base for hard landscaping surfaces.
- Drainage channels.
- The services of an electrician for lighting etc.
- Vehicle costs for travelling to and from site.
- Slurry primer and grouts for your paving.
- Decorative features such as pavers, aggregates, mulch, fence panels, bricks, plants, pergola, light fittings, timber, etc
- Business overheads, inc Health and Safety.
- Skilled labour
The quote will of course be unique to your garden and so it takes time to calculate quantities, price materials, and estimate the labour costs. It may take a couple of weeks for your quote to reach you.
Landscaping Contracts
Your landscaper should supply a legally binding contract with terms and conditions. This is designed to protect both you and the contractor and you should read it carefully before signing. Pay special attention to the payment schedule - you need to know what you can expect to pay and when remuneration will be due.
It’s not unusual for a landscaper to ask for a down payment. This will secure your place in the queue for works and it may also be used to buy the first batch of materials.
If you are not offered a written contract, be very wary indeed. Double check whether this landscaper is as skilled or knowledgable as they make out. A contract may seem like a boring bit of paperwork but trust us, it’s crucial.
Project Management
Once you have agreed the layout and materials, settled on a price, signed the contract, appointed your Principal Contractor, and paid a deposit, there really is nothing else for you to do except relax and watch your garden grow.
Your landscaper will have created a detailed plan for their team. The plan outlines which order to do jobs in and when to expect materials to be delivered. If you have hired an APL landscaper, all of the team will be more than competent at their jobs. And although you may have seen various versions of the landscaping process on TV or the Internet, your APL Landscaper will know precisely how to adapt methods to suit the conditions in your garden.
The one thing you MUST do however, is be sure to listen carefully when your landscaper asks you to avoid certain areas of the garden or to carry out certain tasks. This is not just for health and safety - you can actually damage the integrity of your new garden by using new features too soon after they’ve been laid or by forgetting to water newly laid turf.
Asking Questions
Never be afraid to ask questions about the landscaping process. If you have any concerns at all it’s better to address them straight away. A reputable team of landscapers will be happy to put your mind at rest.
Useful Links
Understand the landscaping process by finding out what lies beneath garden features.
Get inspiration for your landscaping project. https://www.landscaper.org.uk/inspiration
How To Find A Reputable Landscaper. https://www.landscaper.org.uk/consumer-information/how-do-i-find-a-landscaper-near-me