Kent


<p>Got a vision for your outdoor space, but don&#8217;t know where to start? We asked local, luxury landscaping expert and founder of&nbsp;<a href="https://langdalelandscapes.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Langdale Landscapes</a>,&nbsp;Nik Edser, for his ultimate guide to getting your dream garden project off the ground.</p>



<p>With 25 years’ experience and an ever-growing word-of-mouth client base, Nik has built a solid reputation for excellence, attention to detail and overseeing every single element of his team’s projects from start to finish.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Regularly designing and constructing gardens in the Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells area, Nik and his team will also travel throughout the rest of Kent and surrounding counties.&nbsp;</p>



<p>So you want your garden to go <strong>FROM THIS</strong> (below)?</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Langdale-Landscape-building-project-landscaping-before.jpeg" alt="Langdale Landscape building project landscaping before" class="wp-image-92204" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Langdale-Landscape-building-project-landscaping-before.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Langdale-Landscape-building-project-landscaping-before-800x600.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Langdale-Landscape-building-project-landscaping-before-1000x750.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Langdale-Landscape-building-project-landscaping-before-400x300.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Langdale-Landscape-building-project-landscaping-before-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Langdale-Landscape-building-project-landscaping-before-700x525.jpeg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p><strong>TO THIS</strong> (see below)?</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Langdale-Landscape-building-project-landscaping-pool-after-1000x667.jpg" alt="Langdale Landscape building project landscaping pool after" class="wp-image-92203" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Langdale-Landscape-building-project-landscaping-pool-after-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Langdale-Landscape-building-project-landscaping-pool-after-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Langdale-Landscape-building-project-landscaping-pool-after-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Langdale-Landscape-building-project-landscaping-pool-after-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Langdale-Landscape-building-project-landscaping-pool-after-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Langdale-Landscape-building-project-landscaping-pool-after.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-here-s-nik-s-7-simple-steps-to-designing-your-dream-garden">Here’s Nik’s 7 SIMPLE STEPS TO DESIGNING YOUR DREAM GARDEN&#8230;</h2>



<p></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">1. Do your research. Arm yourself with some basic knowledge before meeting tradespeople.</h3>



<p>Nik says: &#8216;It&#8217;s always good to approach the meeting with an idea or a general feeling of what you are looking to do. It can be a full-scale plan &#8211; or just the seed of an idea. </p>



<p>Some clients come to us with a very specific vision of what they want and a Wishlist that we then need to try to organise into a design. But equally other clients just bring a very basic outline, like please come up with a dream garden with a seating area and a kitchen.&#8217;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/young-woman-working-laptop-.jpg" alt="young woman working laptop" class="wp-image-92226" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/young-woman-working-laptop-.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/young-woman-working-laptop--800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/young-woman-working-laptop--1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/young-woman-working-laptop--400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/young-woman-working-laptop--768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/young-woman-working-laptop--788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">2. Write down some clear notes about what you need from the project &#8211; from the practicalities to your dream space desires.</h3>



<p>Nik says: &#8216;This is always useful. Try and be as clear as possible if you have any specific requests, put them in writing. It&#8217;s always handy to know what you want even if it&#8217;s a bit vague.&#8217;</p>



<p>&#8216;Most people have a few things they definitely want along with a list of things they would like, budget allowing. These can vary from a shed or compost area, right up to a swimming pool, hot tub or outdoor kitchen.&#8217;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="717" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/image-of-notepad.jpeg" alt="notebook page and pen ideas" class="wp-image-92227" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/image-of-notepad.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/image-of-notepad-800x574.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/image-of-notepad-400x287.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/image-of-notepad-768x551.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/image-of-notepad-732x525.jpeg 732w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">3. Go for recommendations. Where has the landscape gardener worked before? Word of mouth is always best.</h3>



<p>Nik says: &#8216;This is a must. If your friend/contact is pleased with the work then this is always a good start! When someone has suggested a landscaper, I would always recommend going round to see their garden and look at the quality of the finish and the design. Does it make you go &#8220;Wow&#8221; when you see it?&#8217;</p>



<p>&#8216;Ask questions like &#8211; did they turn up every day and were they nice to have around? (They could be with you for a long time)! Did they do the works for the cost they quoted? Was their team big and was it well managed? Is the company a design and&nbsp;build? Going with design and build means you get used to dealing with the same people and they will see the project through from&nbsp;the initial meeting to the finished garden which can make the build a lot less stressful.&#8217;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">4. Choose someone with lots of specific experience. Have they won any recognition or awards?</h3>



<p>Nik says: &#8216;It&#8217;s always advisable to go with a company that&#8217;s skilled in your sort of garden. Lots of companies work on specific size projects from courtyard gardens to mid sized gardens up to large scale projects.</p>



<p>&#8216;So depending on what you&#8217;re looking for it&#8217;s definitely worth doing your&nbsp;research so you don&#8217;t waste your time on the wrong company that only do small urban gardens when you have two acres and want a pool and a garden room. They will not know where to start.&#8217;</p>



<p>&#8216;Possibly look at whether a company has won any awards for the gardens they have built. For example, this year, Langdale Landscapes exhibited at RHS Chelsea Flower Show! To have a garden judged at Chelsea is about as tough as it gets and with gardens. </p>



<p>&#8216;We also enter into the Association of Professional Landscapers awards and these are also judged on the same thorough criteria. If they have a got a &#8220;Best in Show&#8221; or &#8220;Best in Category&#8221; then you are probably in pretty safe hands.&#8217;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1424" height="2018" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Langdale-landscapes-garden-design-project.png" alt="Langdale landscapes - garden design project" class="wp-image-92231" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Langdale-landscapes-garden-design-project.png 1424w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Langdale-landscapes-garden-design-project-565x800.png 565w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Langdale-landscapes-garden-design-project-706x1000.png 706w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Langdale-landscapes-garden-design-project-282x400.png 282w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Langdale-landscapes-garden-design-project-768x1088.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Langdale-landscapes-garden-design-project-1084x1536.png 1084w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Langdale-landscapes-garden-design-project-370x525.png 370w" sizes="(max-width: 1424px) 100vw, 1424px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">5. Make sure they see the process through from start to finish</h3>



<p>Nik says: &#8216;The reason most of our clients come to us through recommendations is because they really like the way we work &#8211; where we oversee the project from start to finish &#8211; from designing and then building the garden right through to us then maintaining the finished space.&#8217;</p>



<p>&#8216;You don&#8217;t want to be given a lovely design but then left to find a company to build it. We provide a fully managed process from start to finish with project managers who work closely with the client to achieve the garden of their dreams and this has worked very successfully for 20 years and keeps going from strength to strength.&#8217;</p>



<p>&#8216;Our clients are spending a lot of money on these projects and want to ensure they receive the service they deserve and that their expectations are met throughout the whole process.&#8217;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">6. Get a detailed quote from the landscape gardener you’re considering</h3>



<p>Nik says: &#8216;Always get a detailed quote fully itemised. This is crucial and helps with any value engineering if required to get the cost to where you want. I would always steer clear of anyone that just gives a lump sum quote for the works as you have no idea what is included &#8211; and more importantly, what’s not!&#8217;</p>



<p>&#8216;It’s&nbsp;really just a case of ensuring that you are working with someone that has a lot of experience of garden design and construction and knows what looks best and can create a lovely layout &#8211; that they are then able to build.&#8217;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">7. Ask about professional membership</h3>



<p>Nik says: &#8216;This is a good one! We are members of the APL (Association of Professional Landscapers) and we are vetted heavily before being allowed in, to check on health and safety along with insurances and so on. We also have our quotes looked at and our design work to ensure we are providing a high level of service. They also get references from previous clients and suppliers to check you are working to a good standard and will then visit a total of three projects that are either underway or completed, so they can look at general work practices and site conduct.&#8217;</p>



<p>&#8216;They then carry out audits on the business every year to ensure you are maintaining the standards. So if a landscape designer is a member of the APL then at least you know you’re&nbsp;working with a good quality business.&nbsp;There are also other organisations with similar entry requirements British Association Of Landscape Industries&nbsp;(BALI) and Society of Garden Designers (SGD).&#8217;</p>



<p><em><a href="https://langdalelandscapes.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Langdale landscapes</a></em></p>


7 foolproof steps to realising your dream garden

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