Frequently Asked Questions

It starts with a site visit. We assess your property — soil type, drainage, sun exposure, existing vegetation — and discuss how you use the space and what you want from it. From there, we develop 2-3 concept options with preliminary plant palettes and cost estimates. Once you pick a direction, we produce detailed planting plans and specifications. The whole design phase typically takes 2-4 weeks depending on project size.

Design takes 2-4 weeks. A residential garden implementation typically takes 2-6 weeks depending on size and complexity. Estate-scale projects can run 2-3 months. We give you a realistic timeline at the start — we'd rather under-promise than leave you waiting.

Yes. We have a landscape designer (Widson Ambaisi) and a landscape architect (Martine Lotom) in-house, so we cover everything from the initial concept through to construction supervision. You can also hire us for design only — we'll produce drawings your own contractor can build from.

We work across Kenya — Nairobi and its suburbs (Karen, Runda, Kiambu, Westlands), Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, and other regions. We also operate in Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Somalia. The 2024 Zaara Park project in Mogadishu is our largest cross-border engagement to date.

Landscape design focuses on what grows — plant selection, garden layout, planting schemes, and the relationship between plants, soil, and climate. Landscape architecture focuses on what's built — site grading, drainage, retaining walls, paving, and the technical drawings that contractors need to build from. At Botanique Designers, both disciplines work on every project.

Yes. We design and implement landscapes for offices, hotels, restaurants, schools, hospitals, and public parks — not just residential gardens. Commercial projects often require different plant selections (low-maintenance, high-impact species), irrigation planning for larger areas, and compliance with county regulations. Our 2024 Zaara Park project in Mogadishu and institutional botanical labelling work are examples of our non-residential portfolio.

It depends on scope. A small residential garden design starts around KES 50,000-100,000 for design fees. Implementation costs vary widely based on materials, plant sizes, and hardscape complexity — a typical residential garden might cost KES 200,000-1,000,000+ to build. We provide detailed cost estimates before any work begins so there are no surprises.

We offer a brief initial phone or WhatsApp conversation at no charge to understand your project and determine if we're a good fit. Site visits and detailed consultations are charged because they involve professional time, travel, and site assessment work that informs the design.

Monthly packages typically include lawn mowing, hedge trimming, bed weeding, fertilisation, pest monitoring, and general cleanup. Quarterly packages add aeration, top-dressing, seasonal planting changes, and irrigation system checks. We write a maintenance plan specific to your garden — your plants, your soil, your climate zone.

Absolutely. Many clients hire us for design only and use their own team or contractor for the build. We produce detailed planting plans and specifications that any competent contractor can follow. We can also do periodic site visits during construction to verify the work matches the design.

Yes. We design and install drip irrigation, sprinkler systems, and micro-irrigation setups tailored to your garden's plant types and water source. Every system is zoned to match different water needs — lawns, flower beds, and established trees don't need the same watering schedule. We also retrofit and repair existing systems. Installation typically takes 1-3 days for a residential garden.

We start with your site conditions: altitude, rainfall zone, soil type, sun/shade patterns, and drainage. Then we match species to those conditions. A garden in Karen (1,800m altitude, red volcanic soil) gets a completely different plant palette from one in Mombasa (sea level, sandy soil, high humidity). We select at the species level — not just 'a shade tree' but specifically Terminalia mantaly or Markhamia lutea based on what your site needs.

Kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) is the most common and hardy choice for Nairobi's altitude and climate. For a finer lawn, Paspalum or Cape Royal work well but need more water and care. Bermuda grass suits drier, sunnier spots. We recommend based on your specific conditions — soil, shade, foot traffic, and how much maintenance you're willing to do.

Yes. Indoor plant success depends on matching species to actual light levels — not what looks good in a catalogue. We assess your space, select species that will genuinely thrive (not just survive for two months), specify containers, and provide care schedules. We also offer ongoing maintenance visits for commercial interiors.

Yes. We design water-wise gardens using species that are naturally adapted to your local rainfall — native grasses, succulents, indigenous shrubs, and drought-tolerant ground covers. Combined with proper soil preparation, mulching, and efficient drip irrigation, a well-designed garden can thrive on significantly less water than a conventional lawn-heavy landscape. This is especially relevant for properties in Nairobi's drier months or in semi-arid areas like Naivasha and parts of Laikipia.

Plant taxonomy is the science of identifying, naming, and classifying plants. Botanical labelling involves creating accurate identification labels for trees and plants — typically at schools, universities, botanic gardens, and institutional campuses. Each label includes the species' botanical name, family, common names, and origin. We verify identification using herbarium standards and our own Ask Botanique database of 110+ East African species.

Most residential gardens in Nairobi need weekly or fortnightly mowing and monthly comprehensive maintenance (pruning, feeding, weeding). Gardens with irrigation systems need less frequent watering attention but still need regular plant care. We'll recommend a frequency based on your garden's size, complexity, and plant types.

Yes. We offer monthly and quarterly maintenance plans. Monthly is better for gardens that need regular mowing and active bed management. Quarterly works for lower-maintenance landscapes with established trees and ground covers. Each plan is written for your specific garden — not a generic checklist.

A typical monthly visit includes: lawn mowing at species-appropriate height, hedge and shrub pruning, bed weeding, deadheading, fertiliser application, pest and disease inspection, irrigation system check, and general cleanup. We keep a log of each visit so you can track what was done and any issues flagged.

Yes. We'll start with an assessment visit to document your plants, assess their condition, and understand the design intent. Then we'll write a maintenance plan based on what's actually in your garden. If we spot issues — wrong species for the location, drainage problems, pest infestations — we'll flag them and recommend solutions.