Discipline 01 · Garden Design
Landscape & Garden Design
The design and specification of outdoor space: spatial layout, hardscape, planting composition, and the drawings and schedules that let someone else build it.
What practitioners deliver
- Site survey, levels, drainage and sun study before any drawing.
- Spatial layout: use, circulation, structure, and the position of hardscape.
- Planting design: mature size, repetition, succession and the maintenance budget.
- Specification: a dimensioned plan, plant schedule with quantities, and a build sequence.
What is measured
- A dimensioned drawing with the scale stated.
- Levels and drainage shown, not implied.
- Planting density based on mature spread, not pot size.
- Maintenance hours per m² per year, agreed with the client.
Standards and bodies
Society of Garden Designers · APLD · ASLA
Across 16 regions
| Region | Climate | Taxa | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Europe Cfb · 7–9 | Temperate oceanic | 15 | Field guide |
| Continental Europe Dfb / Dfa · 4–7 | Humid continental | 17 | Region |
| Nordic & Boreal Dfc / ET · 1–5 | Subarctic and alpine | 17 | Region |
| Mediterranean Csa / CSb · 8–11 | Mediterranean | 17 | Field guide |
| US Northeast Dfb / Dfa · 3–7 | Humid continental | 19 | Region |
| Pacific Northwest Csb · 7–9 | Warm-summer Mediterranean | 20 | Region |
| California & Southwest Csa / BWh / BSh · 5–11 | Mediterranean and arid | 22 | Region |
| US Southeast Cfa · 7–11 | Humid subtropical | 20 | Region |
| Tropical Latin America Af / Am / Aw · 11–13 | Tropical | 18 | Region |
| Andes & South America Cfb / Csb / ETH · 6–10 | Temperate and highland | 20 | Region |
| Africa Aw / BSh / Csa · 9–12 | Tropical savanna, highland and Mediterranean Cape | 21 | Region |
| Middle East BWh / BSh / Csa · 7–11 | Arid and semi-arid | 18 | Region |
| South Asia Am / Aw / Cwa · 8–13 | Monsoon tropical and subtropical | 19 | Region |
| Southeast Asia Af / Am · 11–13 | Equatorial | 22 | Region |
| East Asia Cfa / Dwa / Dfb · 4–10 | Temperate monsoon | 24 | Region |
| Australasia Cfb / Cfa / BWh · 7–11 | Temperate and arid | 26 | Field guide |
FAQ
What is the difference between garden design and a planting plan?
A design sets the layout, levels and materials; a planting plan lists species, quantities and spacing inside that layout. You need both to build, and the plan is the part a contractor prices.
What should a garden design include?
A measured survey, a dimensioned layout, levels and drainage, hardscape specification, a plant schedule with quantities, and a build sequence. If the drawing has no scale, it is a concept.
How long does a design take?
A small residential scheme is typically 2–4 weeks of design time once the survey is done; planning permission and contractor availability add separate delays.