Re: Pre-Design Survey

My parents were Brits so I've been hardwired to
garden and am frequently asked landscape design
questions by friends and their acquaintances.
Sometimes they ask me to design their gardens.
And sometimes I say yes, If, I have the time
(and the inclination). But right up front I tell
them that I do not do this as a profession and
that I do not have any formal training and am
not set up with insurance etc. like professional
landscape design/architecture businesses are.

I'm not interested in working on garden designs
that will require a lot of "propping up" with
pesticides, herbicides, copious amounts of water
and other costly and high maintenance items.
So I devised this basic questionaire - adding or
deleting parts as necessary.

It may seem a bit daunting but I hope it gets the
garden owner thinking about things before they
go hog-wild buying "color" at the nursery.

I would be most grateful if anyone would like to
offer criticisms of this survey. Please reply to
nancy@lighthousenet.com

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  I want your garden to thrive not barely survive
  so please peruse these questions before
  we talk about designing your garden.

 1. Where did you spend the first 6 years of your life?
     Any gardening memories?

 2. What do you want this space to do for you?
     How much time do you spend in the space?
     Who else uses it?

 3. Do you plan to make any major changes to the structures
     on your property such as remodeling or painting?
     How would this impact your garden?

 4. Do you have any areas that need special consideration?
     i.e. creating privacy, adding shade or sunny spots,
     hiding a compost pile, redirecting traffic patterns.

 5. How much time and energy will you put into your garden?
     Will you have  help?
     How much and how often?

 6. Will you be using well, city or creek water?
     Will the cost of water impact your garden budget?

 7. Are you familiar with "regional gardening"?
     Are you familiar with Mediterranean gardening?
     Are you familiar with gardening with "native" plants?

 8. What is the budget for your garden and it's infrastructure?

 9. Have you examined the landscape; topsoil, subsoil,
     drainage from your property to adjoining places or
     other geological factors shaped by the weather?

10. Have you noticed deer, gophers, moles, voles, snails,
      slugs, caterpillars, moths or other insects that will be
      sharing your garden environment?  Can you live with
      some damage (not complete destruction) caused by them?

11.  What are some of the items on your garden wish list?
       Any questions or concerns we should address at the outset?


Additional thoughts:



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