Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Nov 24, 2010 12:36 pm Hi folks, We are wanting to start getting a plan together for our back yard. Currently it is a square patch, all lawn except for a perimiter of garden bed, a small deck, a garden shed, and some veggie beds (in progress). But before we start planting or putting in paving, we would like to get an overal plan for the space and work towards it bit by bit (it will take time because we don't have the funds to do it in one hit). But if we have a plan we can do it as we can afford it (ie, paving, then shading, etc, or vice versa - you get the picture). My question is... we need inspiration or some ideas of how we could style the back yard. Can anyone please tell me roughly how much it might cost to get someone to come out, talk to us about what we might have in mind, and to draw up some plans/ideas. Even if we ended up doing it ourselves, we need some ideas to get us started (for eg, we are not sure whether to extend our deck or to just add paving at the bottom of the deck?). Even if they didn't draw up plans but just pointed out what might work with our space that we can then take on board - or not. We are in bayside Melbourne. Do you call 'landscapers'? Do they do design or just carry out the work that has been designed for them? Ceebs Re: Ideas or quotes for backyard landscaping - question 2Nov 24, 2010 12:48 pm We are in the process of thinking about this as well, I rang a Landscaper who is coming out to do a design for us, he quoted $500 to do the entire thing right down to the plant list. Site Start: 10th September, 2010 PCI : Friday 27th January, 2011. Handover: 3rd February, 2011 Build Thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37677 Re: Ideas or quotes for backyard landscaping - question 3Nov 24, 2010 1:02 pm Thanks ring09 - that's not too bad. My only concern is if you pay the $500 but don't like their plan . I'm a bit fussy and would ideally like to see two or three options or ideas = but can't afford to pay $500 a pop. But at least that gives me an idea of how much they charge, so thanks again. Ceebs Re: Ideas or quotes for backyard landscaping - question 4Nov 24, 2010 1:11 pm We are doing up our back yard too. If you type into Google "Landscape Design" or "Garden Design" and your suburb some companies should come up. I did this and had a look at the various websites to see what styles they did. Most seem to offer some sort of consultation verbal for one hour, some charge for it, and then from there you can sign a contract with them to design something for you and they will design and draw up plans and provide an itemised quote for you (all for a fee of course) and up to then there is still no obligation for you to get them to do the work. Just be careful who you choose, I choose one after asking around, $80 for the initial consultation then $1800 for the plans to be drawn up, after 2 months of chasing them up for it they came out to show us the design, it does not really reflect our brief to them at all, they have left out some major features in the space (we entertain all the time with outside table and chair set, they have left no room for this!) and it has pretty much left me disheartened that my comments, pictures and issues I have given them have been ignored. Anyways, this just happened so I am still upset about it! Just be clear in your brief and maybe summarize in an email to them afterwards so there is no misunderstanding. And as my husband has said to me the designer is there to work FOR you until you are happy with the design. They should provide an itemised quote so you can pick things to do now and what to do later. Re: Ideas or quotes for backyard landscaping - question 5Nov 24, 2010 1:49 pm May be try using a basic and intuitive landscape design software Ceebs. That way you can do anything that you want or even try different combination at your own pace without having to spend anything but your own time. I am sure there is a lot of ppl willing to help you here if you ask any question or advice about which plants to choose and stuff in here. I recently finished my house and after landscaping, have begun to plan a fence. To be honest its been a bit of an afterthought so I'm after some much needed advice. The… 0 2003 I would say both styles you have pictured are steel. The lower chord of the first pic would be a massive lump if made using timber considering the size of the rafters. If… 1 6150 DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair That laser level looks lovely! We bought one for less than a quarter of that price off eBay. It worked really well for us and it's still going now, five years later. After… 1 16710 |