Garden Design
MCH Landscaping designs gardens for homes in Lowestoft and across Norfolk and Suffolk, and can build them too.
Garden design that starts with you
A garden should be more than just grass and a few plants and when it comes to designing a garden there is a vast array of different options to consider.
By allowing us at MCH Landscaping to design your garden for you this can take away the stress and hassle and can result in your dream garden being created.
Whether it is an area for entertaining or a place for the children to play, we work closely with our customers to create the perfect space for them whilst working within the parameters of their budget.
Depending on your requirements we either use good old fashioned pencil and paper, or if you are looking to better visualise the design through 3D renders, creating a more involved and detailed design we use Sketch Up.
You can see examples of our work on our instagram feed as well as in our online Gallery of previous work.
BBQ areas, pergolas, colour schemes, decking, patios, steps, seating areas, fire pits. When designing gardens, we take your requirements and personality into account to ensure you are completely satisfied with the scope of the work we will carry out. Then we can get landscaping!
What a garden design includes
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A consultation at your home
We walk the garden with you, talk through how you want to use it and what you like, and take note of the levels, the light and the access.
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A design you can see
A hand-drawn plan, or 3D renders in SketchUp when you want to picture the finished garden before it is built.
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The features you want
Patios, decking, steps, seating areas, BBQ areas, pergolas and fire pits, placed where they work best for the space.
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Materials and colour schemes
Help choosing the paving, timber, edging and planting so that everything sits together.
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A plan that respects your budget
The design is worked out within the budget you give us, with options where there is a choice to make.
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The build, when you are ready
The same team can build the garden, so the design is carried through to the finished job.
What to think about before a design
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How you will use the garden
Make a list of what the garden is for: eating outside, children playing, a quiet seat in the evening sun, growing vegetables, somewhere for the dog. The order of that list shapes the whole design.
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Your budget, and whether to phase it
A clear budget lets a designer put the money where it matters most. A larger scheme can be designed in full and built in stages, so the early work does not have to be undone later.
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Sun, shade and wet spots
Notice where the sun falls in the morning and the evening, where frost lingers and where water sits after rain. Seating usually follows the evening sun, and wet ground needs drainage before anything is built on it.
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Levels and access
Slopes can become steps, terraces or retaining walls, but they add work. Think about how machinery and materials will reach the back garden: through a side gate, a neighbour’s land, or the house.
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Permissions and boundaries
Most garden work needs no planning permission, but raised decking, some outbuildings and work at a listed building or in a conservation area can. Check your deeds for where the boundaries really are.
Good to know
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A design is a plan you can change
Nothing is fixed until you are happy with it. It is far easier to move a patio on paper than once it is laid.
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Lighting and power need planning early
Outdoor lighting, sockets and hot tubs are electrical work for a qualified electrician. Cable routes and ducts should go in before the paving does.
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Planting takes time to fill out
New plants are bought at a size that will grow. A border often looks sparse in its first season and full by its third.
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Be honest about upkeep
Lawns need mowing and borders need weeding. If time is short, porcelain, gravel, artificial grass and low-maintenance planting can be designed in from the start.
How garden design works
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Initial consultation
We visit, look at the space and listen to what you want from it, and talk about your budget.
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Concept and planning
We sketch the layout and the main features, and agree the direction with you.
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Detailed design and materials
We work the design up by hand or in SketchUp and help you choose the materials and colours.
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Landscaping
When you are happy, our team builds the garden from the design.
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Finishing touches and aftercare
We finish the details and give you guidance on looking after the garden, with maintenance available if you want it.
Questions customers ask
Do I need a design before you can build my garden?
No. Whether you already have your vision, or want our support designing your dream garden, we can talk through your ideas and options. Some customers bring a finished plan; others start with a list of wishes.
Will I see the design before any work starts?
Yes. You will see it as a drawing, or as 3D renders made in SketchUp if you want a clearer picture of the finished garden, and the work goes ahead only once you are happy with it.
Can the design work to my budget?
Yes. We work within the parameters of your budget, and where something would cost more than it gives, we will say so and suggest another way.
What can a garden design include?
Anything the garden needs: patios, paths, steps, decking, seating areas, BBQ areas, pergolas, fire pits, lawns, planting and colour schemes. If you have something else in mind, ask.
Can you build the garden you design?
Yes. We can provide the whole package, from the design to the build and then the maintenance to keep it looking its best.
Will my garden need planning permission?
Most gardens do not, but some features can: raised decking, certain outbuildings, and work at a listed building or in a conservation area. If your plans include any of these, check with your local council before work starts.
