Before your free consultation it pays to put in a bit of pre-planning to make the most of it.

Exactly what do you want out of a landscape? Do you want space to live in, do you want paved areas to BBQ on, lawn areas for the kids to kick a ball or score a “hundred in the back yard at mom’s” or a quiet little nook down the back in the shade to retreat to on a hot summer’s day.

Have a look at the way the sun travels across your property, which areas are in shade and which are in full sun. Are there any particular locations that are constantly damp, or where the grass has proven to be very hard to grow?

If the work is to include major excavation and or retaining walls you will need to find out where your sewer line runs, and connects to the mains. If the mains do run on your property we will need to know where it is. If it is near any proposed retaining walls you, as the landowner, will need to inform the water board of you intentions. The water board will then tell you if the wall requires engineering to protect the sewer line. This may add extra cost to the landscape, or we may be able to design around it.

Take a walk around your local area, particularly if you are not a horticultural type, and look at plants that are doing well that you like. Take a small cutting if you can, and keep it for the consultation. Even if that plant proves to be not suitable, it will give me an idea of what you like in a plant.

Try and take the time to go to a landscape supply yard and have a look at paving bricks to get a bit of a handle on prices and the types of pavers that you may like.

Finally, discuss the outcome of all this with your partner, so you have an agreed sense of direction over your landscaping requirements.