Garden Design Cost

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

As we've already seen, there can be quite a wide range when it comes to the cost of having your garden designed, with the final cost largely down to the size and scope of your project.

To help provide a better understanding of how much your garden design project might cost, the table below breaks this range down into costs by typical garden design projects, and gives you a better idea of what you can expect for your budget.

The table above explains garden designer costs for typical projects, but it's important to remember these are just the costs for the garden design. Depending on what your garden designer comes up with, there will be further costs to turn their design into reality.

Would you prefer a traditional, modern, natural or eco-friendly garden?

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Garden Design Landscaping & Construction Costs

If you're hiring a garden designer to create your perfect outdoor space, you're also going to need to budget for implementing their design and constructing your new garden.

The table below shows you the average costs for typical landscaping and construction features designers use to bring a garden design to life.

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 Pond Costs

Garden ponds are a popular element in many garden designs, and create an attractive focal feature that can be adapted to suit any garden design, from ornamental gardens to wildlife-inspired spaces.

The cost of a new garden pond will be affected by its size, how much excavation is required, and what equipment and features it needs, but expect average pond costs of around £3,000.

Pergola Costs

Pergolas can create lovely, shaded spaces for garden seating or dining areas and are common in many contemporary and Mediterranean-style garden designs.

Depending on the size and complexity of your pergola, and whether you choose timber or aluminium, expect an average cost of around £1,750.

Irrigation System Costs

Automated watering systems are a great way to reduce the maintenance of your new garden space, whilst also making sure your new planted areas and lawn always look amazing.

The cost of your new irrigation system will depend on its size and complexity, but expect to pay between £500 and £5,000 for installing an irrigation system as part of your garden design.

Garden Lighting Costs

Many modern garden designs incorporate garden lighting, which is an attractive feature that enhances the enjoyment of your garden at night, but also improves security.

Your garden lighting costs will depend on the number of light fittings you want, and the electrical wiring work required, but expect to pay anywhere from £200 to £1,000+.

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.
• A small garden design would typically take 1 to 2 weeks.
• Designing a medium-sized garden would usually take 2 to 4 weeks.
• Expect a large, complex garden design to take 4 to 8 weeks or longer.

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 and landscaping 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 predominantly 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 or sheds 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.

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 maintenance

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-maintenance
• ✔ 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:

• Do they have experience with similar gardens? You ideally want to work with a designer experienced in the size and style of garden you're looking to create.
• Can they show you examples of their previous work? Viewing their previous designs and pictures of completed projects will help you find the right designer for your project.
• Do they get positive reviews for their designs? Use MyJobQuote to check their positive reviews from other garden designed clients.
• Will they carry out a design consultation and survey on site? Understanding your property's layout and requirements will make sure the design is perfectly tailored to your space.
• Do they include revisions to their design? It can take a few rounds of amends to get the perfect design, so clarify if these are included or chargeable.
• What qualifications and training do they have? There are no essential qualifications for a garden designer, but design certificates, horticultural qualifications, or a Higher National Diploma are beneficial.
• Are they insured? They may be doing minimal work on your property but should still have Public Liability Insurance in case any problems occur.
• Can they help implement their design? A dream garden on paper is one thing, but will they help find, brief, and manage landscapers who will make your garden a reality?

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