Specialising in small city gardens, Helen Lush is a qualified and experienced artist and garden designer and as such offers the benefit of her aesthetic expertise as well as practical and horticultural perspectives. From transforming a tired border to a complete design service with layout and planting plans, Lush Gardens can release the potential of your outdoor space. A professional garden designer, using a fresh objective eye can see more easily what can be done to improve the site and, by working to a plan, help avoid making expensive mistakes.

During the initial visit, Helen will talk to you about how you would like the garden to be and take soil samples, photographs and measurements. Be ready to answer lots of questions about the garden, such as "How much time do you want to spend looking after it?", "How many people and of what ages will be using it?", "Do you want to attract wildlife?" and "Do you enjoy eating outdoors?" After the visit you will receive a detailed report describing how the project might proceed, including approximate costings, sketches and terms of business. For many people this single visit and written response is all that is needed. Clients wishing to do the work themselves can now proceed at their own pace.

For those needing more detailed drawings, Helen will start to prepare a hand-coloured, scaled layout plan from which a contractor can work. This will be delivered in person to ensure full understanding. Lush Gardens does not employ contractors itself but would be happy to recommend them and to play an advisory role at an hourly rate. After approval of the layout plan a planting plan can be prepared, plants ordered and the garden planted. Help and advice about planting and aftercare will be provided. For more information please ring 0779 275 4011.