SARAH CADMAN
GARDEN DESIGN
introduction
Gardens are as individual as we are; simple or complex, open or hidden, playful or serious, for everyone or just someone.
They can be a place of rest and relaxation.
A ‘useable’ space, for growing, walking and playing.
Somewhere to view from indoors.
A working garden with fruit trees and vegetables.
A wild zone, not for lawn mowers, with a wildflower meadow and orchard.
“Sarah transformed my boring blank canvas of a garden into a beautiful, colourful and interesting low maintenance garden with which I am delighted. She took my brief on board and at the same time gave valuable guidance and advice. Sarah is a genuine career garden designer and gardener and I highly recommend her.”
Ms R, Forest Row, East Sussex
formal garden style
There are many choices to make on the way to having the garden you want.
Maybe the garden was created previously and just needs a little ‘tweaking’ to make it feel that it is part of your life now.
At other times the garden area doesn't feel right at all, and needs more dramatic interventions.
Just by changing certain plants, or making structural interventions to the layout to create a space that feels right.
Garden design uses a language of its own to create a sense of place, through which a garden can take shape.
formal style | modern style | informal style | cottage garden style |
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modern garden style
informal garden style
cottage garden style
testimonials
Here are just a few reviews of sarahcadmangardendesign, giving you an idea of how I work, some very honest and interesting reviews of my company to help you decide about whether to go forward and work with me on your garden project.
designing
A design begins with a consultation, which is an informal discussion about your wishes for the garden. From the consultation I will create a brief, which will form the basis for the design. In agreement, I will measure up your garden (large scale gardens may require a qualified land surveyor), with this information I can start designing.
At the next stage of the process I will develop an outline/concept design, which is to scale, with supporting sketches/mood boards for discussion. This is to give you a good impression of your future garden and allows for the design to be worked through with any necessary changes to be made. The outline/concept design gives you a good idea of the layout of the garden it does not finalise material choices, levels or any intricate details of features.
To give you a good idea of what plants to put in your garden I can put together a planting plan, which shows the location, quantity, and other characteristics of plants suitable for the garden.
A final stage, is the layout plan which will show the final arrangement of all areas of hard and soft landscaping involved in creating the garden. The layout plan can inform a contractor so that he is able to estimate costs and build the garden. I will also (if agreed), draw up more detailed design plans that may be necessary for the construction of walls, etc.
The design can be used to develop a garden either in stages over a period of time, or sooner for an immediate result.
example of a planting plan
garden design with entertaining area, water feature, privacy was created using a raised bed system
showing selected plants for a grasses garden
the client wanted to use the area by existing outbuilding for entertaining, it also needed screening
some examples of designwork
sustainable gardening
Sustainable; ‘to be produced or sustained for an indefinite period without damaging the environment, or without depleting a resource, to be renewable’.
There are a number of ways to be Sustainable in the garden, here are some major ones to consider:
Organic
Water management/conservation
Not using plastic – a big topic, but there are many choices out there for gardeners - hover over the images to read more
Peat free – peatlands are being removed from the land at an alarming rate, they are a richly diverse ecosystem that stores a huge amount of carbon, which is released into the atmosphere when they are disrupted by large scale removal.
Nowadays there is a growing awareness of this issue and peat free composts are being sold, however, making your own compost is still the better option.
Planting for pollinators – choosing to use plants that are beneficial to insects especially the pollinators such as bees, this generally means using native plants, but having an array of plants that flower throughout the year is preferable.
Using drought resistant plants – where possible plant these generally low maintenance plants that use less effort and resources to thrive. In areas of the garden that are usually dry where plants would normally need a great deal of water these plants will survive with very little added moisture.