DESIGN / 09
PROJECT
PHOTO: EVGENIIA KUZMICH
– the beginning and the end! GLDA president, Patricia Tyrrell examines some of the practical aspects of successful garden project management
W “I think most experienced designers will tell you that garden design is as much about managing client expectation as it is managing projects”
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here does design end and project management begin? As in many aspects of design there are several overlaps, and for me project management begins as soon as pen is put to paper to design a new project. One could argue that it begins before that. Lots of the decisions that are made on site before the garden designer is brought on board - for example access, poor site management leading to compaction issues, unnecessary tree removal etc. have long reaching consequences for subsequent parts of the project. Broadly speaking, project management for garden creation can be split into two categories: action and documentation. The former captures all that you do and the latter how you record and file it.
GET YOUR FILES IN ORDER Before you agree to do anything for a client, ensure you have a well considered structure for filing and storing documents. It has taken me a long time to realise it, but there's a lot to be said for being well organised. For each job I undertake I begin with the same filing structure, which is essentially folders on my PC. These includes correspondence, contracts, works records, images, drawings, invoices and so on. As soon as anything is produced, it's filed. While this might seem like overkill to some, anyone who has managed a reasonably sized garden build will tell you it's not. For example, one recent large garden project has 60 plus various
HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / Summer 2017
files ranging from pricing, imagery, revisions, contracts, irrigation and everything in between.
FORMAL AGREEMENT Contracts for domestic gardens will be the subject of a follow up article, but it is impossible not to mention it in connection with project management. While you may not feel it necessary to have a legal form of contract, it is vital that you have a written record of what is agreed between you and your client. Your agreement should include scope, expectations, costs, payments, timing and potential additional costs. Don't be shy about this. I save myself time and money by being upfront on these matters.
KNOW WHO YOU'RE DEALING WITH For small projects this can be very straightforward. You might have a single client and contractor. For larger projects you might find yourself dealing with architects, engineers, planners, electricians, plumbers, pavers and countless others. Get everyone's name and details, introduce yourself and make sure you know who is responsible for what.
GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT I recall my early days of design,
