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  Cibele Carla Donato December 4, 2011 at 3:18pm

  Thank you very much for your response, in my case I am not doing any planting, I will have to sub contract a landscaper/gardener to do this (I am only designing) but I need to know how much of the budget I have to set apart for this.

   Because the job is not a closed deal yet, I am trying to figure out how much of the budget will go for preparing the ground and labour myself, before I go to a contractor with my planting plan.

  Thank you again and I will have a look in the forum to see how much people charge per hour and try to estimate how long it will take to plant the border I'm designing...

   
• PRO

  Gary RK December 4, 2011 at 3:24pm

  Given your approach, suggest you strike up a relationship with a local landscape contractor and get the info straight from them.

  That would make you budget that much more accurate and hopefull you would then have someone onboard should you get the job.

  Also, are you sourcing the plants and looking for planting only labour ?

  That drastically effects "cost" due to where any plant markup would go..

  Otherwise there's a lot of variables ........
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  Cibele Carla Donato December 4, 2011 at 3:40pm

  Thank you Gary,

  The only reason I don't want to approach a contractor now is I don't want them to waste their time in case I don't get the job, so all I need is a rough figure to make sure I am not overlooking the budget for labour.

  Yes, I am sourcing all the plants and only looking for planting labour...

  Thank you for your response, I will try to come up with an estimate, hope it works! :)
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  Cibele Carla Donato December 4, 2011 at 3:50pm

  Ok, let's try this

  25 m2 border, would need to prepare the soil (is turf over chalk soil currently) and then plant with mixed perennials, such as Eryngium, Aster, Lavander, Viburnum, Echinops, Galium, Ornamental Grasses, Sedum etc... 

   I am allowing £450 just for labour costs, realistic??? 
• PRO

  Gary RK December 4, 2011 at 3:54pm

  As you are supplying plants, are you taking liability as prime contractor for any subsequent issues (ie die back etc ) ? if so, make sure you build that in.

  I ask because anyone supplying the "labour only" to plant would typically not warrantee the planting (as they had no control of quality or source of plants as no profit or contingcy to cover it).

  For us, we only quote and all-in price per plant (source, supply, plant & water) as when you are planting 000's per project it evens out. We would not typically plant "3rd party" plants.
• PRO

  Gary RK December 4, 2011 at 4:00pm

  Based on what planting density and size - 4 to 5 3L plants per M2?

  Strip off Turf

  Add organic matter/Fertilsier

  Plant

  Water

  Mulch

  included ?
  
  Cibele Carla Donato said:

  Ok, let's try this

  25 m2 border, would need to prepare the soil (is turf over chalk soil currently) and then plant with mixed perennials, such as Eryngium, Aster, Lavander, Viburnum, Echinops, Galium, Ornamental Grasses, Sedum etc... 

   I am allowing £450 just for labour costs, realistic??? 
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  Cibele Carla Donato December 4, 2011 at 4:04pm

  Oh WOW, looks like I have a lot to learn!!! :(

  Well, I didn't even think about liability, but I guess that would be on me since I would be sourcing the plants... but may be is a much better idea just to give my plan and plant list to a contractor and they can source everthing! 

  Thanks Gary RK

   
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  Cibele Carla Donato December 4, 2011 at 4:20pm

  So it is an issue as I am just starting and don't even have a relationship with any suppliers/nurseries...  in my case I will be better off sub contracting for the whole package, which means most of the budget would go to the contractor... well, thanks very much for your help, I'll go back to the drawing board now and see if I can stick to my clients budget! :)
• PRO

  Gary RK December 4, 2011 at 4:33pm

  There are a number of good nurseries that are LJN members - so speak to them ....

  Assuming this is a residential/domestic project ?

  I'm guessing you are based on the south coast - there are a number of places within your area that may be worth visiting and striking up a relationship.

  Think about how you, as a designer, wish to work with a contractor on this and future projects...

  Gaynor hopefully can give some insight from her prospective ?

  There is a lot to learn and a lot of it is contained on LJN....

  Think about all these issues up front and when it goes forward as a project you'll have an easier time.

  Good Luck
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  phil smith yewtreelandscapes.com December 4, 2011 at 4:37pm

  hi cibele

  a good place to get your plants would be holmes & sons in winchester, not to far from you, and they have a good selection and at trade prices