Every garden is different, so every service is scoped to what the garden actually needs. These are the four ways to work with me.

A focused, practical conversation about your garden delivered online. Available nationwide.

You send me photographs, measurements and your Eircode. I review everything before we speak. The consultation covers what your garden needs, what it doesn't need, what to prioritise and in what order.

This is the right starting point if you want professional direction before committing to anything further.

This is normally the first step in a garden deisgn or planting plan process however, some clients find that this one conversation gives them enough information to move forward confidently on their own. Online Garden Consultation €295

I visit, walk the space with you, assess the conditions, light, exposure and existing planting, and give you clear, specific recommendations on the day. Available in Cork and surrounding areas only.

Again, this is normally the first step in a garden deisgn or planting plan process however, some clients find that this one conversation gives them enough information to move forward confidently on their own.

It is especially useful for gardens where being physically present makes a significant difference to the quality of advice such as mature gardens with established planting, or clients who simply want the conversation to happen in the space itself. On-Site Garden Consultation €480 + VAT

A professionally designed planting plan created specifically for your garden.

Not a template. Not a generic plant list. A detailed illustrated plan showing exactly what to plant and where, built around your soil type, aspect, microclimate, maintenance capacity and the way you want to use the space.

Every plant is chosen for a reason. The plan includes a full plant list with names, quantities, suggested planting sizes and eventual height and spread, plus a photograph of every plant so you know exactly what you are getting.

The starting price of €895 covers a standard suburban garden area or an area of a lrager garden up to 100 square metres. Larger or more complex gardens are scoped individually. Bespoke Planting Plan from €895

Consultation, bespoke planting plan and plants sourced and delivered. Everything handled.

This is the most comprehensive way to work with me. It begins with a consultation, moves through the design process, and ends with your plants arriving at your door, labelled to match the plan, sourced directly from Irish trade growers at typically 20 to 30% below retail prices.

A follow-up consultation is included to go through the plan together before anything is ordered.

For the person who wants their garden done properly, with everything handled, and as little left to chance as possible. The Complete Service from €1,500

A professional planting plan is not a list of plants. It is a many design decisions that requires understanding how plants behave over time, how tall they grow, how wide they spread, how they perform in Irish soil and Irish weather, how they interact with each other structurally and seasonally, and how they will look and function not just in year one but in year five and year ten.

Getting this right requires knowing which plant thrives on a north-facing Cork hillside and which one struggles. Which performs in heavy clay in Monaghan and which needs drainage. Which gives year-round structure and which collapses in an Irish winter. This is knowledge that comes from thirty years of working with Irish gardens, not from a database or a template.

The cost of a poorly planned garden, plants in the wrong place, wrong soil, wrong scale, wrong sequence, is almost always higher than the cost of getting it right from the start.

Corrective planting, replacing failed plants, starting again with a different approach. These are common and costly outcomes of planting without a proper plan.

My fees reflect the time, experience and judgement required to give advice that is specific, accurate and grounded in real Irish growing conditions. Not general tips that could apply anywhere in the world. The right answer for your garden, your soil, your aspect and your budget.

Several factors determine scope and therefore cost.

1. Garden Size

A compact urban courtyard requires different detailing to a large rural garden.

2. Site Conditions

Wind exposure, soil type, drainage and orientation significantly affect structural decisions.

3. Level of Structural Planning

Some gardens require simple bed restructuring.

Others require full canopy establishment, screening layers and long-term phasing.

4. Existing Layout

If the hard landscaping is sound, planting alone may transform the space.

If layout adjustments are needed, scope increases.

5. Detail Required

Scaled layout drawings, plant quantities, spacing, seasonal continuity and long-term maintenance planning all influence professional time.

Learn more about Planting Plans and Design here

Planting design is not a matter of listing plants.

It involves:

• Structural layering

• Mature size planning

• Proportion and balance

• Seasonal succession

• Wind and soil response

• Long-term growth forecasting

Two gardens of similar size can require completely different levels of structural thinking.

That is why planting plan pricing cannot be reduced to a fixed square-metre formula.

For a detailed explanation of how layered planting works, see our guide to Planting Design & Garden Structure.

A structured planting plan often prevents:

• Overbuying

• Poor spacing

• Future removal

• Loss of privacy

• Seasonal imbalance

• Structural weakness

Correct planting reduces long-term corrective work.

In many cases, the cost of rectifying poorly planned planting exceeds the cost of getting it right at the outset.

Because scope varies, the first step is always a consultation.

An Online Garden Consultation allows us to assess:

• Photographs

• Measurements

• Site exposure

• Objectives

• Existing structure

From there, it becomes clear whether:

• A planting plan alone is appropriate

• Wider design work is required

• Phased implementation is sensible

For Cork-based gardens requiring on-site assessment you can learn more here

If you have a standard suburban garden or a single border, a fixed-price Planting Plan may be exactly what you need, no consultation required.

Not sure which route suits your garden? Start with a consultation and Peter will advise on the right approach.

The Complete Service: consultation, bespoke planting plan and plants sourced and delivered, is available from €1,500.

It is the most straightforward way to go from an empty garden to a finished one consultation, plan and plants delivered to your door, everything handled personally by me, Peter Dowdall. Convenient and cost effective.

See The Complete Service here.