Garden Design Cost

Are you looking to design your garden?

In this guide, we'll explore the costs involved in garden design - but, as a rough guide, you're likely to spend around £1,950 on garden design.

Looking for a garden design quote? Take a scroll through our professional gardeners and garden designers who will be happy to provide you with free, no obligation costs.

If you'd like more information on garden re-designs first, keep reading.

How Much Does a Garden Designer Cost?

Looking for garden renovation costs?

The average cost of designing a garden is £30 to £150 per m². However, there are many ways that a garden could be designed or renovated.

So, how much does a garden designer cost?

To hire a garden designer to plan your new or renovated garden would cost roughly £600 to £4,500.

Why is there such variance in garden design costs?

Garden design costs vary depending on:

• The type of job - Adding small plants is fairly simple, while a whole garden re-model (including landscaping and hardscaping) will cost more.
• Garden size - The bigger the garden, the higher the costs, as well as if the land needs levelling beforehand.
• Ease of access - Narrow alleyways, gateways, or steep slopes can all add to your project's cost.
• Property location - Homes in and around London will cost more than those in the north of the UK.

Next, let's take a closer look at garden design prices...

Garden Design Prices

Supply Cost of Garden Design Work

Now, let's look at the supply costs for these garden jobs. This excludes the cost of labour.

These costs are relevant if you intend to undertake landscaping/garden renovation work as a DIY project:

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Additional Garden Design Costs

It's a good idea to make the most of the gardeners at your property while you're having your garden designed. Here are some jobs you might want to consider:

Garden Turf Costs

A high-impact garden improvement is to lay new turf.

The cost of new turf is £15 per m², totalling £120 to £1,250 to turf a small 50m² garden.

Once your new turf is down, you'll want to keep on top of your lawn maintenance to ensure the new turf beds in properly.

Treating your lawn costs £45, and can help to bring your lawn back to life if you've encountered problems with moisture absorption, improper drainage, or brown spots.

Garden Decking Costs

If you want to create an outdoor space suitable for entertaining guests, installing decking can be a great idea.

Garden decking costs on average £1,750, depending on the material you choose, the size of your decking, and your location in the UK.

Garden Fence Costs

To improve your garden's privacy, the cost of garden fences can be a small price to pay if you want to stop nosy neighbours from looking in.

Costing between £200 to £220 per fence panel, you can either opt for a full fence replacement if your existing fence is particularly tired, or you can replace one or two panels if they've been damaged in adverse weather.

Garden Maintenance Costs

Keeping on top of your garden can be hard if you're not particularly green-fingered.

Garden maintenance costs £200, and gardeners can take care of general jobs such as weeding, mowing the lawn, hedge trimming, pruning, and more.

Labour Costs and Timescales

Want to know about garden design timescales? Here's what you need to know:

• Garden designers charge £60 to £200 an hour.
• Garden design labour costs will depend on your project scope.
• The design process often takes around 4 weeks in total.

The labour costs and timescales will vary depending on:

• Project scope
• Garden size
• Current garden condition
• Ease of access
• Adverse weather conditions

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What Impacts Garden Design Costs?

Let's take a look at several factors that can influence the cost of your garden design.

Type of Garden Design

The more complex a garden design, the more expensive it is likely to be.

This is because the design work may take longer, and more work and supplies will be needed to construct the garden itself.

• High cost: Full garden re-design including lighting, water features, and a patio.
• Low cost: A simple planting plan with a few types of plants and shrubs.

Size of Garden

The larger the garden, the more supplies will be needed to make it a reality - and, of course, the larger the garden, the more work will be needed.

The labour cost is also likely to be higher, making for a two-fold increase in cost relative to a smaller garden.

• High cost: A large family garden with multiple different levels/slopes in the land.
• Low cost: A small courtyard garden with predominately turf.

Condition of Garden

The condition of the land will determine how easy it is to work on, which can affect the overall cost of the garden renovation.

If the area requires a lot of work before getting started, additional costs such as waste removal need to be taken into consideration.

• High cost: A large garden with undulating levels, overgrown shrubs/trees, or with existing patio/fencing/buildings needing to be removed.
• Low cost: A clear, level garden that's already prepped.

Ease of Access

Clear access to the garden makes delivering equipment and supplies much more straightforward, whereas any complications may add to extra labour costs.

• High cost: Carrying materials through the house, or down narrow alleyways, can complicate ease of access.
• Low cost: Wide access all on one level.

Location in the UK

Where you live is also relevant since labour rates vary across the UK.

• High cost: Higher labour rates in the southeast of England and London.
• Low cost: You'll likely find a lower labour price than the nationwide average in the north of England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

It’s also worth noting that trends within the wider construction industry can also impact how much you are quoted for a project.

What's Involved in Garden Design?

Now, let's look at the steps involved in designing and building a garden.

1. Garden Design Process

You'll collaborate with your garden designer to form a plan for your outdoor space.

Depending on the scope of your project, this may involve a site survey, design plan drawings, and revisions until you're both happy with the proposal.

2. Hiring Contractors

Once the garden design is in place, you'll need to hire someone to bring that design to life.

Using MyJobQuote, you can connect with local landscapers for free, no obligation quotes.

3. Work Begins

Your landscapers will then start work on your outdoor space.

Depending on your plans, this step will look different - this could involve groundworks, removing existing turf/patio, or levelling the land ready for new turf to be laid.

4. Waste Removal

Once the work is complete, waste will be removed from the site. Your labourer(s) will tidy up the area, and your brand-new garden will be ready to use!

Can I Design a Garden Myself?

It's possible to design a garden DIY, but there are clear advantages to hiring a professional garden designer - let's take a look:

• Professional garden designers have expertise and knowledge on plants, garden layouts, and design principles.
• Because of this, they can work to budgets and suggest what would work best in your unique situation.
• Garden design ideas are kept realistic and achievable, saving you money in the long run.
• They come with insurance as well as warranties/guarantees on the parts and labour, helping you out if anything goes wrong after the work is complete.
• Technical features such as drainage, levels, and access requirements will be front of mind, ensuring you don't make mistakes.
• They usually have preferred/reliable contacts within the industry, helping you out when searching for a local gardener or landscaper.

As with any DIY construction work, there are hazards/dangers that need to be considered.

There's always the risk of construction going poorly, in which case, you'd need to hire a professional anyway to fix your errors.

There are also more serious risks to take into account, including personal injury if you carry a heavy load or use heavy tools and equipment.

It's important to take the necessary safety precautions when building a garden, and weigh up your individual options.

Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Garden Design

Whether or not you need building regulations and planning permission for your garden re-design will depend on the work you're planning.

Generally speaking, most simple garden improvements won't need approval.

However, if you're planning on installing an outbuilding or other structure in your garden, you may need approval from:

• You should check that your structure is acceptable under planning permission.
• Building regulations will need to ensure the structure meets safety and building standards.

Most planning applications cost £258 to submit.

Types of Garden Design

There are many categories of garden design worth considering. To help you decide, here's our round-up of options:

Formal Garden Design

Formal gardens have a distinct focus on symmetry, clean lines, and structure.

They usually involve a mix of soft and hard landscaping, along with a key focal feature, such as a fountain or statue.

Pros

• ✔ Gives a classy, elegant look and feel
• ✔ Well-suited for those who like order and simplicity
• ✔ Works well with a centralised focal point

Cons

• ✖ May be a little dull for some
• ✖ It can be challenging to pull off in a small garden
• ✖ Requires a high level of maintainance

Eco-friendly Garden Design

Some homeowners like to encourage nature into their garden

For a garden that is especially wildlife-friendly, installing structures like water features, hedgehog boxes, log piles, and bee hotels can quickly turn your garden into a mini jungle.

Also, by attracting bees, you can encourage the pollination of flowers in your garden, which can make for a low-maintenance garden design.

Pros

• ✔ Eco-friendly, great for local nature
• ✔ Can create a vibrant mini-ecosystem in your garden
• ✔ Encourages pollination

Cons

• ✖ It can look messy
• ✖ May render some of the garden unusable
• ✖ Some upkeep is required to make sure the garden doesn't look too "wild"

Mediterranean Garden Design

Whether formal or informal, a Mediterranean garden can provide a wonderful and enchanting aesthetic to a property by replicating the warm tranquillity of Spain, Italy, or the south of France.

Mediterranean gardens often feature a swimming pool, suitable plants (e.g. vines, olive trees, lavender, and rosemary), and a visual blend of bright colours, like blue and orange.

Pros

• ✔ Beautiful holiday-style aesthetics
• ✔ Ideal for summer use
• ✔ Suitable for small gardens

Cons

• ✖ May feel/look out of place during the winter
• ✖ The UK climate might not lend itself to keeping Mediterranean plants alive
• ✖ Swimming pools carry high up-keep costs

Contemporary Garden Design

One option that has become increasingly popular in the UK in recent years is a contemporary garden.

This typically includes water features, hard landscaping materials (e.g. hardwood, stone, rendered walls), small grass plots, and subtle LED lighting.

Pros

• ✔ Modern look
• ✔ Low-maintainance
• ✔ Works well with lighting

Cons

• ✖ It lacks a traditional aesthetic
• ✖ Can look less inviting than more colourful garden designs
• ✖ May look unloved or clinical

Checklist: Hiring Contractors to Design a Garden

When hiring a garden designer, there are a few points you should consider.

For instance, you should consider what experience they have, take a look at their previous work, and check out any accreditation they have. It's also worth asking for some references.

You may wish to inquire about qualifications, although a garden designer doesn't need to have any. But it could be seen as a bonus, for sure. Some designers, for example, may have a garden design certificate or even a Higher National Diploma.