The beauty of the landscape is reflected in the form, texture, and color, of plants, stone, light, and water. Sitescape Design is a landscape design firm that creates environments that invite, engage, and function for your lifestyle, and are guided by your goals, priorities, preferences, and budget. Our collaborative approach, throughout the process, will make your dream a reality.
There are five stages to the landscape design process beginning with the consultation and ending with the master and planting plans. We do offer additional design services, that you can pick and choose from as required depending on the requirements or complexity of your project.
For both private and commercial clients, the landscape design process starts with the consultation. This provides the opportunity to meet and generally discuss the project; we can then establish a design brief and appropriate design fee. The consultation allows the client and designer to get to know each other a little better, to assess the existing garden and talk through ideas for change. Whatever style of garden you desire, we will discuss how it could potentially be designed and talk generally about what may be possible and interesting avenues worth exploring. During the consultation we will discuss your ideas, likes, dislikes and the things most important to you.
Once the initial consultation with the landscape designer has taken place we are then able to provide the client with the fee proposal and written design brief – a description of the scope of work and the deliverables. Pricing the installation and construction costs follows later in the process once the design is approved and materials selected.
Once the client has accepted the fee proposal we then undertake a full visual and physical survey of the garden. This includes photographs, measurements, and levels. We also make notes on sun and shade orientation, drainage, views and condition of the soil, and the location and condition of existing features that will remain within the project site. Depending on the project complexity, we may, with your permission, engage a specialist surveyor.
We document all of the information from the site analysis on a base plan using your plot plan (usually found with your closing documents or from the town) to locate the property lines and house footprint.
A preliminary sketch plan, mood board, and/or digital model will be carefully prepared and will be presented to you at an early stage showing you how the proposed design could look, including layout, plants, and materials. This stage serves as a discussion point offering you an opportunity to input your thoughts and help ensure that any changes that you may require can be made simply prior to arriving at a finalized design.
The Master Plan (similar to an architectural plan) is the finished scale drawing, fully annotated, including short form specifications, and construction notes. The master plan is required for the contractor to cost and build the garden as intended.
PLANTING PLAN
The planting plan, included with the Master Plan, shows the positions of the chosen trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, grasses, ferns, and bulbs used in the garden. The plants are shown on a short form planting specification on the plan. In addition, a separate plant schedule, which shows their Latin names, quantities and sizes is prepared for final budgeting.
When the landscape design process is complete, the installation phase begins. We work with trusted partners to make your project a reality with a garden you can enjoy for years to come. Our fees for this phase will be provided once the approved project scope is finalized.