Job Lot: The landscape designer

By GRAHAM REID

Christine Comber, 36, with her husband Nigel of Landscape Transformations Ltd of Northcote, has been redesigning and remaking suburban and inner-city gardens for the past five years. Nigel has a Bachelor of Horticultural Science and trained at Kew Gardens, London. Her income is "between $40,000 and $60,000, but it varies hugely." They also employ three designers who work on contract basis, and construction staff who work when required.

Do you mostly deal with corporates or private individuals?

Our target market is home-owners who have been in their house for a substantial time and are looking for a revamp. For a lot of our clients, often whose children have left home, their garden has been high-maintenance and they are now looking for a garden that will serve their lifestyle with more flexible outdoor living space and something more aesthetic. People are also realising it's much cheaper to improve your outdoor space than to extend your house.

Are you part of the makeover culture we see so much of on television?

Yes, we're definitely in that home improvement area. Those programmes are often a quick fix though which don't necessarily stand the test of time . Of course, they are done quickly and with people providing labour for free. Our transformations take between a fortnight and six weeks so the scope of what we can achieve is quite different. But people are realising through those programmes that gardens can meet so much more of their living space needs.

What about trends in landscape design? For example, cacti were important 10 years ago ?

Yes, cottage gardens are definitely not fashionable now. Structure - the hard landscaping like pergolas, walls, sculpture - in the garden is hot. Aesthetic spaces which are low-maintenance are definitely in. People are looking to get more out of their outdoor space whereas previously they wanted pretty gardens. But form follows function as [American architect] Louis Sullivan said. A pretty garden also doesn't meet everybody's needs because gardens are often smaller these days.

Do your designs allow for the vege garden?

Yes. Vege gardens aren't always tidy so we define a specific service space with, perhaps, the washing line and that is screened off from an entertaining area. So our focus is everything outdoors whether it be that or hard sculpture, pools, irrigation, lighting ... We look at the complete picture. Outdoor kitchens are becoming the vogue in the high-price range. And water features, too, because the sound of trickling water can mask the background noise of traffic. Good landscaping is about all the senses.

Is there a new, Pacific-Rim-style developing in which we draw from Asian and American west coast influences?

We are developing a strong New Zealand style. The work of Ted Smyth down at Quay Park by the railway station would be an example. The local style is seen in the use of natives in a designed and modern way. The mass planting of one species, or group plantings of indigenous plants, really highlights them.

What about the debate over natives v imported plants?

We like to use natives but we generally do a mix depending on what is appropriate. The location often dictates the plant material. If there are no sensitive environmental factors - like you're not next door to native bush - you can use whatever you like. But natives bring in birds and if people want that, then that's what we use. We look at the texture and form of the plant, whether it is invasive and grows quickly, and what the soil type and drainage will be like. Those are perhaps more important issues for us. And, of course, what the client wants.

What about Feng Shui which seems increasingly popular?

I like what Ron Sang has to say, that a lot of it is common sense. A garden is a natural, dynamic and changing community of plants and animals, and it's a matter of keeping the equilibrium.