Why use a landscape designer?

A garden is an extension of our home and, especially with the long, warm Hawkes Bay summers, we spend a lot of time outside during the day and into the nights: it is a part of the social fabric that makes us who we are.

A landscape designer creates an outside environment that matches and enhances your unique lifestyle - family, couple or individual; social or solitary; seeking privacy from neighbours or wanting to include them; people who enjoy gardening and those who don't want to spend time on garden maintenance, etc .

Jamie Macphail has a passion for the lifestyle that Hawke's Bay offers and the wider physical landscape. His designs are developed to reflect that lifestyle and landscape. His mission statement is to design gardens that enhance their owner's lifestyle.

Selecting a Landscape Designer or Landscape Architect can be Difficult

What's the difference between a designer and an architect?

To call yourself a Landscape Architect you must have a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and belong to a professional organisation. Most very large scale landscape developments, including public works, are carried out by landscape architects.

Landscape Designers are not necessarily qualified although some, like myself, are (see Profile). Anyone can design a garden and offer that service for a fee.

The critical points are:

An understanding of the structure of a garden, from soil and climate through to plants that suit an area, and knowledge of construction techniques.

Creative flair is also an important factor, someone who can pull together the physical realities and do something that looks good and works well.

Most importantly you must select someone you will enjoy working with.