FAQs

Book your free garden consultation

The first step in realising the garden of your dreams is to arrange a free consultation where we will visit you at your home to see your existing garden and talk through your vision and aspirations for your updated outdoor space. 

Perhaps you are wanting to create a family-friendly garden for your children or grandchildren to enjoy? Or maybe you want a grown-up, elegant space for entertaining? Or perhaps you would prefer to keep your garden looking more naturalistic and attract more wildlife and pollinators into the garden. 

Whatever your wishes, we will collaborate with you to design and build your perfect garden together.

The journey to your beautiful garden starts here…
Please contact Melanie to check availability and arrange a consultation.

Frequently asked questions

I am based in Suffolk but have garden projects in London and will happily travel across East Anglia and the Home Counties, and the East Midlands. Having travelled internationally for work in my previous life, I am more than happy to travel within the UK for interesting projects. I specialise in researching the local flora and fauna so that my designs sit comfortably within their existing landscapes. So no matter where you live, please do reach out and we can see how we can help you.

Many will say that you should consider investing in your garden, as you would a new kitchen, but we know that each client and each project is different. Yes the most expensive element of creating a garden will be the hard landscaping but we can still bring our creative flair to other elements, so perhaps it’s about looking at different planting that will create year-round interest and the use of perennials to prolong that enjoyment year after year. 

 

It is also quite possible to tackle a garden redesign in stages, so that you don’t need to spend the money all at once. We are very conscious of the current climate and will work within your budgets. It might be that a simple border renovation or some new garden furniture or accessories are all you need to create a different look and feel for your garden. So, whatever your budget, get in touch to find out how we can work together to transform your outdoor space.

Of course, hard landscaping such as a new patio or a garden feature like a pergola, will add instant impact to any outdoor space. When it comes to planting, different looks can be achieved depending on the plants chosen and the size at which they are planted. We can obviously bring in large plants for an instant wow factor, but it might be easier on your budget to plant smaller specimens and then wait a year or so before your garden is looking its absolute best. We have good relationships with several nurseries so will be happy to source plants for you at whatever size and budget you specify. 

Having put a lot of dedication and consideration into your garden design, we take as much interest as you in keeping it looking nice. As part of our services, we can provide a maintenance plan, outlining different tasks that you will need to do on an annual and monthly basis to keep it looking its best. If you don’t have green fingers, and would prefer not to do your own maintenance, then we can discuss options either for us to recommend gardeners in your local area, or as an RHS qualified horticulturalist, Melanie can offer maintenance sessions depending on her availability.

To arrange a free initial consultation, fill out our contact form or email melanie.taylor@hazelwoodplantscapes.co.uk with some photos of your garden and we will come out and see you. This session enables us to get to know you and understand your vision for your garden and you can get to know us and ask whatever questions you might have about the design process. 

I believe that gardens should fit into their natural landscapes, with planting that reflects the locality. Living in one of the driest regions of the UK, I think it’s even more important to choose plants that are drought tolerant and resilient to the extremes in weather that are becoming all the more frequent. I like several different planting styles, whether that is recreating the romantic cottage gardens of old, architectural jungle like planting for urban gardens or the naturalistic prairie style of planting that makes use of our native wildflowers and grasses. Whatever style you prefer, we can work together to ensure that the planting plan and features of your new garden reflect your own style and personality. After all, your garden is an extension of your home and we want you to feel comfortable in your outdoor space. 

Yes I have both public liability and professional indemnity insurance. Beware any designers or landscapers who do not have the necessary insurance. 

I studied the Diploma in Garden Design at the Norfolk School of Gardening and am a graduate member of the Society of Garden Designers. I also have the RHS Level 2 certificate in Practical Horticulture and have completed the first year of the RHS Level 2 qualification in the Principles of Horticulture.

I am also a supporter of Plantlife, the charity which aims to make lasting positive change for wildflowers, plants and fungi. Their goal is to help mitigate the impact of climate change while rebuilding biodiversity within our ecosystems and I am keen to champion their ethos through my design work.