GARDEN CONSULTATION We can all run into problems and obstacles when it comes to managing and maintaining our gardens and that is where I can help with a local and independent garden consultation. My advice will be tailored specifically to you and your garden, with its particular climate, soil, plants and views. I will provide a fresh pair of eyes, an unbiased opinion and advice based on a lifetime of professional gardening and managing garden projects. The aim is to save you time, money, and frustration. There can be many reasons for wanting a garden consultation; you may have a design-related query or a specific practical problem, or you might just want to learn about the plants you have found in your new garden. I will use my extensive experience to help you find solutions to get your garden working for you again.
GENERAL GARDEN DESIGN ISSUES Perhaps you know that your garden is not working for you, but you are not sure what to do about it. Is the garden outdated and overgrown, or perhaps it is a ‘blank canvas’? On my visit, I will assess your garden and we will talk about what you want to achieve. Then, we’ll think about the options, sometimes illustrating ideas with quick pencil sketches. Finally, we’ll look at the best ways of making it happen. There will be no expectation of further work following the consultation but, you may wish to consider my other services: planting designs or regular maintenance. If you prefer to carry out your garden transformation yourself, a written report with an action plan can be given to yourselves to work through.
SPECIFIC ISSUES IN YOUR GARDENI can help you deal with a range of problems commonly encountered by garden owners. For example:
I’m new to gardening and don’t know where to start?
How to tame an overgrown garden
Why are my plants looking sick?
How can I make my garden safe and more interesting for young children?
How can I make my garden more attractive to birds, bees and other wildlife?
What’s the best way to screen an unsightly view?
How do I choose the best trees and plants?
How can I improve poor soil or get my grass to grow?
How can I set up a vegetable garden?
How do I get rid of the weeds, or the pests?
How can I make my garden more attractive to potential buyers?
Whatever your problem, I can help you make sense of it all and can provide action plans or be on hand to help you manage your garden moving forward.
PLANT IDENTIFICATION It pays to know the names of your plants so that you can find out more about them. I will start you off on that journey by identifying all the 'mystery' plants in your garden (including the weeds, if required) and putting small labels on them. If any more plants (e.g. spring-flowering bulbs) emerge after my visit, I will identify them for you free of charge from photographs.
CONSULTATION PRICE My 2021 rate is £60/hr, with £60 minimum fee per visit, plus travel expenses for longer distances (over 10miles of Lowestoft). I find that a consultation of 1 to 2 hours duration is usually sufficient for an average-size garden. The fee includes my preparation time at home, a basic soil test and - following our meeting - a written summary of my recommendations. For plant identification, the price includes the labels and a list of all your plants emailed to you after our meeting. Yearly maintenance schedules that you can work from are an additional £60.
Please, contact me for further information or to make an appointment.
***Due to the coronavirus and distancing measures, I am now offering video call consultations. As we are able to still work outside any garden visits can still go ahead but will have to be social distanced according to the rules. ***