Garden designs and plans

Professional garden design for you or your chosen contractor.

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Garden designs and planning

Our design-only service provides scaled layout plans, planting plans, and detailed specifications for clients who prefer to manage construction separately or already have a trusted landscaper. You receive the same quality of design, the same attention to site conditions and planting detail, but remain in control of how and when the garden is built.

See our other garden landscaping services

Who is this service for?

Professional garden design for you or your chosen contractor

• Already have a landscaper or builder they trust and want to work with
• Are planning phased work over several years and need professional plans to guide the process
• Require scaled drawings for planning permission, listed building consent, or conservation area approval
• Want to self-build elements of the garden but need professional planting plans and material specifications
• Prefer to obtain multiple construction quotes from different contractors using a single set of plans

If you would prefer one team to manage both design and construction, our design-and-build service may be more appropriate.

Clear plans and visual drawings look

Who this services is for

The design-only service suits clients who:

• Already have a landscaper or builder they trust and want to work with
• Are planning phased work over several years and need professional plans to guide the process
• Require scaled drawings for planning permission, listed building consent, or conservation area approval
• Want to self-build elements of the garden but need professional planting plans and material specifications
• Prefer to obtain multiple construction quotes from different contractors using a single set of plans

If you would prefer one team to manage both design and construction, our design-and-build service may be more appropriate.

Design led by Eli

All design work is led by Eli Jacobacci, who specialises in creating buildable, well-detailed plans for awkward sites and challenging conditions common across Kingston, Surbiton, and Richmond. Eli’s plans are contractor-friendly – thoroughly specified, clearly annotated, and designed to be priced and built without ambiguity.

Her approach focuses on strong structural planting, practical circulation, and materials that suit both the property and local conditions. Plans include full construction notes covering drainage, foundations, and build sequence, along with detailed planting specifications and sourcing guidance. Any competent landscaper should be able to deliver the work accurately from the information provided.

What you receive

The design-only service delivers a complete set of professional drawings and specifications. The package typically includes

• Scaled layout plan showing all hard landscaping, structures, circulation routes, and planting zones
• Detailed planting plan with species, quantities, pot sizes, and planting densities
• Materials schedule specifying paving, walling, timber, aggregates, and finishes
• Construction notes covering levels, drainage requirements, foundations, and build sequence
• Plant sourcing guidance including recommended nurseries and acceptable substitutions
• Aftercare notes for planting establishment and seasonal maintenance requirements

All plans are provided as printed A3 copies and digital PDFs. Additional site visits during construction can be arranged separately if required to ensure design intent is maintained.

The design process

The process begins with a site visit to discuss how you intend to use the garden, assess soil conditions and aspect, identify any drainage or structural challenges, and establish your expectations around maintenance and budget. This consultation typically lasts 60 to 90 minutes.

Following the visit, we provide a written design fee proposal outlining scope and deliverables. If you proceed, a detailed site survey is carried out and Eli prepares an initial concept design showing proposed layout, key structural elements, and broad planting zones. This is presented as a scaled plan with supporting visuals.

Once the concept is agreed, Eli develops the design in detail – specifying materials, resolving levels and drainage, and working through planting at species level. Plans are annotated with construction notes to ensure your contractor has all the information needed to price and build accurately.

The final package includes layout plan, planting plan, materials schedule, and construction notes, presented as printed copies and PDFs. From initial consultation to final delivery, the process typically takes six to ten weeks depending on project complexity.

Creating plans that contractors can build from

A good design-only service delivers plans that any competent landscaper can price and build without guesswork. Specifications must be clear, materials readily sourceable, and construction notes thorough enough to address the practical questions that arise on site.

Our plans include levels and falls for paving, foundation depths for walls and structures, drainage routes and soakaway positions, and planting pit preparation requirements. Material specifications are precise – not ‘natural stone paving’ but ‘tumbled limestone 600x900x22mm laid random bond with 10-15mm joints’. Plant specifications include pot size, root type (bare root, rootball, or container), and acceptable substitutions where availability may vary.

Because Eli has worked alongside construction teams throughout his career, he understands the information contractors need and the questions they will ask. Plans are designed to minimise queries during build and ensure design intent is maintained even when the designer is not on site.

Working with your contractor

If you do not already have a landscaper, we can suggest contractors who have successfully built from our plans in the past. We do not take referral fees or commissions – these are simply professionals we know to be capable and reliable.

Site visits during construction can be arranged separately if you would like Eli to attend at key stages to ensure design intent is being maintained, resolve any on-site challenges, or confirm planting positions and finishes. This service is charged at an hourly rate and typically involves two to three visits depending on project complexity.

We remain available to answer contractor queries during build and can provide clarification on specifications or substitutions if materials become unavailable. This support is included within the design fee and does not incur additional charges.

Design fees and timescales

Design fees for the complete service (consultation, survey, concept design, detailed plans, and specifications) typically range from £1,200 to £4,500 depending on garden size and project complexity.

Smaller urban gardens (up to 100 square metres) usually fall within the £1,200 to £2,000 range. Medium-sized gardens (100 to 300 square metres) typically cost £2,000 to £3,500. Larger gardens, projects requiring planning permission, or particularly complex sites may exceed £4,500.

From initial consultation to final plan delivery, the design process typically takes six to ten weeks depending on project complexity. Where planning permission or listed building consent is required, timescales extend to reflect local authority processing times.

Why choose Flourish for design-only work

Design informed by construction knowledge: Because Eli works alongside an experienced construction team, designs are buildable, appropriately detailed, and grounded in an understanding of Surrey soils, drainage requirements, and local material availability. Plans are practical, not aspirational.

Horticultural credibility: Plant selection is informed by genuine horticultural knowledge, not aesthetic preference alone. We understand soil pH, moisture tolerance, aspect requirements, and how plants establish and develop in Surrey’s heavy clay soils.

Contractor-friendly specifications: Our plans are designed to be clear, detailed, and unambiguous. Contractors can price accurately from the information provided, and build queries during construction are minimal because the specification is thorough.

Local knowledge: Working exclusively across Kingston, Surbiton, Richmond, and Surrey means we understand local planning requirements, conservation area constraints, and the soil and drainage conditions that define how gardens perform in this area.

Related services

• Garden design and build (full service)
• Planting design and installation
• Hard and soft landscaping
• Garden fencing and screening
• View our portfolio

Commission your garden design

If you are planning a garden project and require professional plans for your own implementation or for your chosen contractor, we would be pleased to visit, discuss your requirements, and provide a clear design fee proposal.