As a client, you need to define what it is you wish to achieve - and include as much detail as possible.

When choosing a professional landscape designer ask around your friends and acquaintances for recommendations, check the Yellow Pages, magazines and internet. Speak to several specialists before making your decision. Make sure you’re employing the right person for the job - if you require a full makeover then a landscape designer maybe required. But if you require a general ’tidy up’ then a landscape contractor may be more aligned.

Anyone can call themselves a landscape designer, so don’t be shy about asking about their qualifications and experience. And ask to see their portfolio or - if possible - look at some of their work. Ask for references or testimonials - often these are included in their website. It is so important you get the right person, who is compatible with your budget, lifestyle and taste. You must feel completely comfortable with this person and feel like you are on the same "wave-link".

Finally, don’t be shy about asking about their fee structure. Landscape designers prefer to see the property and meet the clients before they can give a realistic estimate of the costs involved in creating a design plan.

The design process is a framework of steps. The landscape designer’s main objective is to achieve a design that meets the clients overall request - this is the client brief. The designer gathers all the information about the site and the client then analyses this information to prepare a programme statement, which is a list of all the elements and requirements the design solution must achieve and satisfy. Next a concept plan is drawn up, where each area is identified for a particular function. For example, a utility area, entrance area etc. The pattern plan is produced, which shows shapes and materials for each area. For example, lawn for the active area, hard surface for the passive area. It does not include any planting at this stage and is not seen by the client.

The first plan presented to the client is the proposal plan; this contains all the information about structures, materials and colours that are relevant. The proposal plan is then discussed with the client and any changes are made. The planting concept is next created, where plant features, for example, height and colour, are indicated. This is then fine-tuned into a planting plan ready for implementation.

This process is an example of the framework used, however all landscape designers will have their own way of doing things depending on how they were taught and their own experience. As a client, it is important for you to know there is a framework a designer should use to create you own personalised design and you only see the end result through a series of logical steps.