Do you have ideas for what you want your garden to look like?
Maybe you know the elements you’d love to include.
Perhaps you’re drawn to a certain style, or you can picture the feeling you want the space to create.
But then comes the hard part:
How do you bring it all together into one cohesive garden that feels right — and lives up to what you’ve imagined?
That’s where the journey begins.
Your Ideas Are the Foundation
Your ideas, desires, and dreams are not just helpful — they are essential.
To state what should be obvious:
This is your garden. Your home. Your dream.
Anyone involved in the process is there to support that vision, not replace it.
A great landscape designer doesn’t take over creatively. They help you shape what you already want into something achievable, functional, and beautiful.
If too much responsibility is handed to the designer without enough input from you, the project can slowly drift away from what you originally imagined.
Your dream must be nurtured.
That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be challenged.
Sometimes a client will request something that sounds right in theory, but a designer knows it won’t deliver the outcome they’re hoping for. In those moments, a designer must have the confidence to offer alternatives that enhance the vision — not stray from it.
Finding the Right Designer to Guide You
So, how do you find the “right” designer?
You could say:
“Someone I feel comfortable with.”
And that’s true — but personality alone isn’t enough.
Landscaping is a significant investment, and choosing the right professional is worth careful consideration.
Here are some key things to evaluate:
- Experience overall
- Experience in the style of garden you want
- Knowledge of compliance and building requirements (easements, permits, regulations)
- The level of horticultural expertise you need
- Their availability during the construction phase
- Their ability to work with trusted landscapers (if they don’t build themselves)
- Proof of completed projects and reviews from happy clients
A designer’s work should exist not only on paper, but in real gardens, with real results.
What Should Your Designer Actually Be Doing?
A strong landscape designer should take what we call the “doctor approach”:
Observe. Evaluate. Offer Solutions.
That may sound obvious, but it’s surprisingly easy for this process to go wrong.
For example:
If a designer believes every garden should be native and drought-focused, yet you love lush exotic planting, the design may miss the mark entirely — and you’ll feel disappointed.
Or, if a designer has limited experience, they may suggest ideas that lack creativity or lead the project in the wrong direction.
The best designers continually cycle through observation, evaluation, and suggestion until the garden is complete.
Observation
This means noticing things others overlook:
- A wet zone that may affect drainage
- A neighbouring property is likely to be rebuilt as a two-storey house, which will shade the garden
- Site access challenges for construction
- How the sun moves through the space
Great design starts with seeing clearly.
Evaluation
Evaluation comes through asking thoughtful questions, such as:
“When you entertain friends and family, what does that look like?”
“How many people do you host?”
“Do you gather around a fire outdoors, or prefer lounge-style seating?”
The design must match your lifestyle, not just your aesthetics.
Offering Suggestions
The designer’s role is to contribute ideas that inspire and elevate the concept.
As we often tell our clients:
“We’ll suggest things you may not love — and that’s fine. We’ll explore alternatives until it feels right.”
That collaborative process is what creates outstanding gardens.
The Key Actions in Landscape Design
To help you understand the journey, here is a simplified overview of what should happen:
- A designer should constantly ask questions and respectfully challenge ideas
- Together, you create a design brief — a written record of what matters most
- Pools, entertaining spaces, sheds, planting preferences, pet considerations
- And remember: the brief evolves as the design evolves
- A designer’s key contribution is offering ideas that enhance your vision
- Compliance and site constraints must be identified early
- Costing must be aligned with the design, so expectations stay realistic
- If design and construction are separate, the designer should coordinate closely with the landscaper
Q&A
How do I know my ideas are the best option?
That’s a conversation to have with your designer.
You want someone who can say:
“Let me offer another approach here…”
Without being so attached to their own ideas that they override yours.
That balance is what makes the collaboration successful.
How do I evaluate whether a designer is the right fit?
Two great starting points:
- Their website and portfolio
- Client reviews and testimonials
Also, pay attention to what they share publicly — it often reveals how they think and what they value.
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What can I do to gain confidence in my preferences?
Expose yourself to great examples:
- Visit friends’ gardens and notice what you’re drawn to
- Attend Open Garden Scheme events
- Explore material suppliers like Eco Outdoor or Yarrabee Stone
- Look at paving, cladding, planting combinations, and outdoor layouts
The more you see, the clearer your own style becomes.
Final Thought
Landscaping your home is a major investment — not just financially, but emotionally.
The best gardens are created when your vision is respected, your lifestyle is understood, and the right professional guides the process from dream to reality.
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