Finding someone to lay a patio for a garden design

[dreddypuss]

I'm a self employed lady gardener (RHS & C&G qualified) who has, up until recently, concentrated on soft landscaping (planting plans etc) but I've now been asked to design a garden with a patio, arbour, pergola etc.

I need to find someone to do this landscaping work for me and have no idea where to start as most of my contacts are tree fellers, lawn layers etc.

Any ideas please for someone reliable and prepared to do "one-offs" for me - I'm learning a bit about prices etc from forums such as these but am still very nervous about people not turning up etc.
Would it benefit me to go on a short course to learn about how deep hardcore etc should be so I would then know if someone is doing a good job?

 

[Nerine]

I bet there are loads of lovely people here who can help. A course would be good but in the meantime there are a couple of books you might like to read.

The Complete Book of Garden Design, Construction and Planting. Cassell Paperbacks or Garden Planning by Robin Williams, this one is an RHS publication. These were recommended in the RHS advanced design module.

Ask friends and neighbours if they know anyone. Go back to your college and get in contact with the landscape tutor for recommendations. My 'tame' landscaper is someone I met on an RHS course. Look at their work and ask their clients if they were happy. Trust your instincts and make sure you can get on well with them. If the job goes well you can use him again. Good luck

 

[Patho]

ask your local hire shop if they know any "hard Landscapers"

what area is the job in?

 

[dreddypuss]

Pinner, Middlesex

 

[Thermo]

As a landscaper i would say choose carfully, there is a lot of crap out there. Find a decent one and look after them. Look at the quality of their work. speak to their customers. speak to their suppliers as well. check if they have insurance, website, clean and tidy etc etc.

From a landscapers point of view i want to be able to work with someone who knows what they are talking about and has a good understanding of how it is built. SOme things that look great on paper are just unbuildable or do not work/look good in real life, despite what a designer tries to tell you. You need to get an understanding of materials the construction processes, lead times, build times etc.

I walked away from a £25000 job this year (before it was started)
The designer rushed me for a quote, with some detailed drawings. The quote was done then they asked for savings. I pointed out various construction details he had done which were both time consuming and expensive. lovely detail but useless. He also couldnt properly design certain aspects of the project and wanted to make it up as we went along. The final straw was when he told me the job was accepted but nothing would be done until he returned from holiday. That was despite the fact that unless some specialist materials were ordered the job would not be able to start. Frankly he didnt know his arse from his elbow in terms of construction or the processes involved.

That is why i say get to know them, because we dont want to be held up or have to go back and redo/change stuff through lack of understanding etc

 

[dreddypuss]

Thanks Thermo your points are very helpful. I realise that I need to know a lot more than I do at present, and that the best way forward is to certainly go on some kind of a course from a landscapers point of view (I believe that Paving Expert do 1 day courses for preparations of site for laying patios and also actual laying for £75 per day per course) so that I can at least learn the basics and be able to understand how hard things are for you guys!

 

[Thermo]

contact your local horticultural college. Most do one day saturday courses for various aspects of landscaping eg patio laying, turf, bricklaying etc. Also handy to get a building dictionary (chudleys very good). Dont be afraid to ask and DONT bullshit!

If you want some comments on your designs etc, then have a look at my profile and send me an e-mail. You never know you might be able to return the favour one day!