Prairie River Gardens Design Process

Here is a breakdown of our design process and the milestones we have in place to make sure the project is moving forward and we are able to get your project completed on budget and on time.

Beautiful yards and gardens take time. A design is your first step towards inhabiting the green space you are dreaming of. So spill the beans. Tell us what you long to gaze at through your kitchen window. Invite us to put pencil to paper and draft your dream space.

Our designs are hand drawn to scale. They feature a full plant list, material list and an estimate for the real life completion of your project.

Each prospective design must start with a consultation so we can divine your ideas and intentions, while measuring up the space we will be working with.

Summer is our busiest season filled with garden installations and consultations. We take on design work in the fall and aim to have it in your hands by the first of April.

Below is a breakdown of our design process and milestones.

To become one of our design clients fill out our questionnaire and book a time for us to meet here.

Stage 1: Material Sourcing

Material Sourcing - We want to know what you love and what you don’t.
We will give you a checklist of specific materials like rock, mulch, brick, specific trees, plants, lighting etc that we need you to complete.
The type of materials you choose will affect the overall budget of the project. We have provided examples with low, mid and high-end pricing as a guide.
We also recommend going to one of our favourite landscapers “Stoneyard” to help you in sourcing materials you want to have included in your design. They are usually open until the end of October.
We also need to know any timing requirements for scheduling purposes ie Wedding in the Backyard
This checklist ensures we are using the materials you want for the design you will love.
Deadline - End of November

Stage 2: Inspiration Phase

You will receive an email with a link to a private Pinterest Board shared with us.
We want you to dream and get inspired! Save images and pins to the board so we can see what you love!
Deadline: End of December

Stage 3: Initial Design Phase

Genevieve will be hard at work creating your initial Design during January and February
This is where she uses the materials you have selected and the images from your Pinterest Board to create your design.
Your design will be based on your budget and may be broken down into phases to accommodate different material/pricing options or timelines.

Stage 4: Review Appointment

You will receive a link to schedule an in-person appointment with Genevieve to review your design.
At this appointment, Genevieve will go through the design with you and make any changes you request.
Deadline: February/ March

Stage 5: Final Design Pre-Approval

You will receive an email with your final design for approval
We offer one complimentary change for your design. Any additional changes will require a change order form and be invoiced at $250.
It’s important to note that any design or material changes at this point can affect the price of your project, scheduling, and product availability.
Deadline for approval: 15 days after you receive your Final Design

Stage 6: Estimate

Once you have approved your final design you will receive an estimate for your project
You have 15 days to review and either approve or reject the estimate
Estimates are valid for 15 days

Stage 7: Approval & Contract

Once the estimate has been approved, you will receive a contract for signing
A 15% Deposit of the total estimate is required at the time of signing
Deadline: March/ April

Stage 8: Schedule

Once the contract is signed and the deposit has been received, your project will be given a tentative install date.
You will be given access to an online client calendar to see install dates or any delays.
Any changes to the schedule will be reflected on the client installation calendar.
Deadline: May/June

Stage 9: Project Completion

Your project will be completed

Stage 10: Final Payment

You will receive your final invoice for payment

A couple of things:

Let us know if you expect to be away during the winter months so that we can accommodate your schedule around our design and review process.
Let us know of any important deadlines or requirements around your project location (ie Wedding in the backyard, away for the month of July, etc)