Services
Initial Site Meeting
The first stage in the design process is to access your requirements and make an outline assessment of the site. A meeting will be arranged with you. It would greatly assist if you have thought about what you want in your garden. At this meeting ideas and requirements for your garden will be discussed. The use, style, features, plants and colors you like will be noted. These will be drawn up into a client brief.
Site Inventory/Analysis
If you accept the client brief, a site inventory will be arranged. A detailed scale drawing of your garden, including the exterior of the house has to be produced before the design process can proceed. The survey will pinpoint all existing trees, shrubs, details of soil type, aspect, views, architectural features, building materials and local styles will be taken. For smaller properties this can often be done by Margo Martin Garden Design. This phase of the work will be quoted for and agreed with you prior. For Larger sites and/or with significant level changes, it may be necessary to contract a chartered surveyor to conduct the site survey. We are able to instruct a chartered surveyor on your behalf from whom we would obtain a firm quotation for your approval. On completion of the survey the fee should be paid direct to the surveyor.
Conceptual Design
The design will grow from your own desires and the potential of the site. Once Margo Martin Garden Design has been contracted to design your garden, we will produce a preliminary design proposal based on your requirements. This will be a scale drawing in ink and will be subject to your approval. Drawing on tradition, ecology and contemporary ideas, both aesthetic and practical solutions will be sought. Different ideas may be worked through, with the opportunity for client input, before reaching the final design. Modifications can be made, provided they are based on your original requirements.
Master Plan
After you have accepted the preliminary plan it may be necessary to produce detailed working drawings if required by a landscape contractor or the client. The finished design will be presented to the client with full details of all stages for contractors.
Planting Plans
The last part of the design process may be to create a detailed planting plan for each area of the garden. This would specify types and quantities of plants and depict locations of each botanically named plant.
Approvals and Bids
The design can be used to tender quotes from contractors. Landscaping materials will be chosen for quality, aesthetic and association with the site. Should you wish, Margo Martin Garden Design will coordinate bids to qualified contractors and work with you to choose the most appropriate bid.
Project Management of Garden Construction
Margo Martin Garden Design is able to supervise contractors and tradespeople in the building of your garden. We believe the success of our projects and your satisfaction is dependent on our ability to facilitate the implementation of our designs.
Fees
We will work with you to establish a budget for each phase of your project. Initial site meeting $250.00. Design and construction supervision is charged at $60.00 per hour (with a minimum of one hour) plus HST plus expenses.
Travel time is charged at a rate of $30.00 per hour for all visits exceeding a 32 Km radius of the office (with a minimum of 1 hour) plus mileage. Travel mileage is charged at 48 cents per km outside of a radius of 16 km.