Garden Landscaping Cost

Looking to find out what the cost to landscape a garden is in 2026?

If you'd like to get an idea of the average cost of landscaping, then you can expect to pay around £500.

Our guide includes garden landscaping costs in the UK per square metre for different types of projects, like laying turf and installing decking or patio. On top of that, we cover how much landscapers charge in 2026, additional landscaping costs you might need to budget for, and more!

We have a range of companies specialising in garden landscaping near you ready to give you a free, no obligation quote!

Let's get started!

How Much Does It Cost to Landscape a Garden?

So, how much does a landscaper cost in the UK?

Landscape gardeners charge between £30 and £60 per hour, equating to £110 to £180 per day.

Labour costs in the UK will fluctuate depending on your location, and the contractors' experience.

What about job-specific landscaping costs?

The costs involved in garden landscaping vary depending on the individual outdoor space and garden design you're looking for. This is because the garden landscaping cost for laying new turf, a new patio, decking, or building a garden wall can be influenced by:

• The size of your garden.
• Your location in the UK.
• The ease of access to your property.

Most garden landscaping costs are priced per square metre. To give you an idea of how garden size affects the overall cost, here's what you might expect to pay per square metre for turf, artificial grass, a patio, or decking across different garden sizes:

Garden Landscaping Prices

The table below compares typical job-specific garden landscaping prices. Use it as a starting point when setting a budget or checking a landscaping estimate.

How Much Do Landscape Gardeners Charge?

Now, let's discuss landscaping labour costs.

In the UK, professional landscape gardeners will usually charge between £30 and £60 per hour, equating to £110 to £180 per day.

This averages out to a total labour cost of around £505. This covers the landscaper's time only and does not include the cost of materials, which are charged separately.

Ongoing garden maintenance and professional design are separate costs. The cost of hiring a garden designer ranges from £600 for a basic consultation to £4,500 for a detailed plan covering features such as decking, irrigation, a sloped garden, pathways and patios.

Garden Landscaping Costs Across the UK

Garden landscaping costs in the UK can vary depending on where you are located. For example, London tends to be above the national average due to a higher cost of living and transport expenses.

As such, the below table helps to give a rough idea of approximate landscape gardening fees based on labour only for various key locations around the UK:

Cost of Garden Landscaping Materials

Let's now take a look at the garden landscaping cost based on the materials in particular.

This will give you an idea as to how much you might spend to undertake this work DIY:

Additional Garden Landscaping Costs

Combining related gardening work can reduce repeat call-out, access and preparation costs. Check whether each item is included in the quote and whether VAT, waste removal or unforeseen groundwork will be charged separately.

Garden Fence Installation Cost

The average garden fence installation cost is around £1,500 in the UK. However, the cost depends on the number of fence panels required, the height of the fencing, and the type of fencing you're after.

Damaged fencing can reduce security and deteriorate further. Replacing it alongside other garden work can make better use of the landscaper's daily rate.

Shed Installation Cost

The average new shed costs around £1,000. A shed provides secure, weatherproof storage and helps keep tools and equipment out of the garden.

Garden Waste Removal Cost

Landscaping can create a significant amount of soil, vegetation and building waste.

The average garden waste removal cost is around £200.

If you want to hire a skip instead to deal with your waste, this can cost closer to £220 for a mini skip.

Your landscaper may remove the waste for an added fee, so check the itemised quote before booking a skip separately.

Garden Design Fees Cost

If you want a professional plan before any work begins, the cost of hiring a garden designer ranges from £600 to £4,500 depending on the level of detail required. Some landscapers include a basic design consultation within their overall project quote. Always confirm this upfront before assuming it's included.

Garden Lighting Cost

If you're planning to add outdoor lighting as part of your landscaping project, it's far cheaper to run cables before paving, decking, or water features are installed than to add it afterwards. A basic outdoor lighting setup costs around £200, rising to around £1,100 for a full set of landscape lights.

Pergola or Gazebo Cost

Adding a pergola or gazebo at the same time as wider landscaping work can save on labour costs compared to having it installed separately. Pergola costs range from £300 for a small timber structure up to £4,100 for a larger build, while a gazebo typically costs between £1,200 and £3,500 installed.

VAT Cost

Most professional landscapers who are VAT-registered will add VAT on top of their quoted price. Always check whether a quote includes or excludes VAT before committing as this can add 20% to the final bill.

Unexpected Groundwork Cost

Poor drainage, waterlogged soil, tree roots, or uneven ground can all emerge once work begins, adding time and cost to the project. Building in a contingency of around 10 to 15% on top of any quote is a sensible approach for any landscaping project.

How Long Do Landscaping Jobs Take?

Depending on the job's scope, your timeframes will be different. Here's what you can generally expect:

• Turf laying — Half a day up to 3 days.
• Artificial turf laying — 1 to 2 days.
• Decking installation — 2 to 4 days.
• Raised vegetable bed — 1 to 2 hours.
• Building a garden pond — 1 to 5 days.
• Laying a patio — 1 to 2 days.
• Gravel path or border — Half a day to 1 day.
• Garden levelling — 1 to 2 days.
• Water feature installation — 1 to 2 days.
• Pergola or gazebo — 1 to 3 days.
• Garden lighting — 1 to 3 hours.
• Tree planting — 30 minutes to 1 hour per tree.

Both the labour cost and timescale will vary depending on the size of the installation, the number of labourers hired, ease of access, and the current condition of the work area.

Factors That Impact Garden Landscaping Costs

Type of Landscaping

One of the most important cost factors is the type of work that's being carried out within your outdoor space.

For instance, laying turf or installing a patio would likely cost a few hundred pounds, but the installation of artificial grass is likely to cost thousands.

Size of Garden

The scale of your garden may or may not be directly linked with the cost. That obviously depends on whether or not the landscaping work is to cover the entire garden.

However, as a rule of thumb, the bigger the garden, the larger the work is likely to be.

The larger the landscaping work, the pricier the supplies will be, and most likely, the higher the labour cost will be. Therefore, garden size often correlates with a two-fold increase in job price.

Condition of Garden

The better the state of the garden, the easier the work will likely be, and the lower you can expect your labour costs to end up.

Not only that, but if the garden is in a poor condition to start with (e.g., overgrown trees, shrubs, and other plants), there'll be more waste to remove at the end of the project, increasing your overall costs.

Likewise, if it is difficult to access your outdoor space, the job can take longer and cost more as a result.

Location of Property

Labour costs in the UK tend to be higher in the southeast of England and London in particular, but lower in regions such as Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the north of England.

As an example, for regular garden maintenance in London, you can expect to pay an additional £3 to £10 per hour to cover travel expenses and the city's overall higher cost of living. As such, a professional landscape gardener working on your outdoor space is also going to charge proportionally more in such high value areas too.

Gradient

A sloped or uneven garden requires additional groundwork before any surfacing or planting can begin. Levelling, terracing, and installing retaining walls all add to the cost. The average cost of levelling a garden ranges from £1,500 to £2,800 for a mildly uneven plot, rising to £5,500 to £8,000 for a steeply sloped garden.

Access to the Garden

If a garden is difficult to access (for example, with no side gate or a narrow passage), it takes longer to move materials and equipment in and out. This additional time adds to the labour cost. Always inform your landscaper of any access restrictions before they provide a quote.

Material Choices

The materials you choose have a major impact on the final price. Basic concrete paving is far cheaper than natural sandstone or porcelain tiles, and standard timber decking costs considerably less than composite options. Opting for premium materials can easily double the cost of a project compared to budget alternatives.

Time of Year

Demand for landscaping work peaks in spring and summer, which can mean longer lead times and, in some cases, higher prices. Winter is generally quieter, and some landscapers offer more competitive rates during this period. However, ground frost can cause delays for certain types of work, including laying turf and groundworks.

What's Involved in Garden Landscaping?

A landscaping project normally follows three stages:

Planning and Preparation

• Initial Planning — Before you begin anything, you'll need to decide what type of landscaping work you want. Once you've decided, you can start reaching out to local landscapers that fit the bill. We suggest you gather at least three quotes to compare costs.
• Site Visit — Your chosen landscaper will need to visit the site before the project begins to measure the space and survey the land to make sure there aren't any unexpected issues (e.g., the land is significantly uneven, requires levelling, drainage problems, or pitches to be adjusted).
• Preparation — With some careful planning before any work begins, you can save money on your overall project costs. This can be as simple as removing garden furniture and pruning shrubs and plants.

Doing the Landscaping

• Setting Up — On the day of the work, the landscaper will begin to prepare the garden and set up any necessary materials and equipment. You can speed things up by moving any garden furniture or large planters out of the way.
• Landscaping — Once everything is in place, it's time for the landscaping to get underway. This step may be broken up into several phases depending on your exact project.

Inspecting and Clearing Up

• Waste Removal and Wrapping Up — Once the work is complete, any waste will be disposed of (if previously agreed), and the area will be tidied up before work concludes. This is also a good time to confirm any aftercare requirements.

Types of Landscaping

Let's break down the various types of landscaping in more detail:

Laying Turf Cost

Natural turf installation costs around £15 per square metre, and gives your outdoor space an organic, traditional feel.

Pros

• ✔ Authentic grass, traditional-looking.
• ✔ Less expensive than artificial grass.

Cons

• ✖ Requires quite a bit of maintenance.
• ✖ Prone to damage and disease over time.

Artificial Grass Cost

Unlike real turf, artificial grass doesn't require much maintenance, but it does cost more at around £20 per square metre.

Pros

• ✔ Durable and long-lasting.
• ✔ Little to no maintenance required.

Cons

• ✖ More expensive than real turf.
• ✖ Less authentic in appearance.

Decking Cost

Installing decking is a great way of creating a social fixture in your garden. The average cost of decking is around £1,750.

Pros

• ✔ Quicker to install than paving.
• ✔ Fits in aesthetically with most modern gardens.

Cons

• ✖ Can become slippery when wet.
• ✖ Regular cleaning and treatments required.

Patio Installation Cost

Installing a patio is an alternative to decking. Like with a deck, a patio can create a nice social spot in your outdoor space that is especially valuable during the summer months in the UK.

There are various patio materials (e.g., concrete, tile, brick, and granite) and styles to choose from. The average cost of laying a patio is £1,200.

Pros

• ✔ Durable and low-maintenance.
• ✔ Lots of materials and designs available.

Cons

• ✖ Can be expensive to install.
• ✖ Hard to install if you don't have a perfectly even surface.

Planting Cost

Landscaping often involves plenty of planting, whether that means adding pots and flowers, creating a raised bed, growing climbing plants, or choosing species to attract pollinators like bees.

The typical garden maintenance cost is around £200 in the UK.

Pros

• ✔ Decorative, instantly improving your garden's appearance.
• ✔ Lots of plants to choose from for different settings.

Cons

• ✖ Upkeep will be required throughout the year.
• ✖ If you have a large garden, adding plants/shrubs to it can become expensive.

Paths and Gravel Cost

Adding a gravel path or border is one of the most cost-effective ways to define areas of a garden and improve access across the outdoor space. Gravel costs around £8 to £30 per square metre installed, making it significantly cheaper than paving or decking.

For a more structured finish, a paved path using concrete slabs or natural stone costs more but offers greater durability. You can find more detail in our garden steps cost guide if your project also involves a change in level.

Pros

• ✔ Cost-effective and quick to install.
• ✔ Good natural drainage properties.

Cons

• ✖ Gravel can spread onto lawns and patios over time.
• ✖ Less durable than paving for high-traffic areas.

Garden Levelling Cost

If you have a sloped or uneven garden, levelling the ground is often necessary before any other landscaping can begin. The cost of levelling a garden ranges from £1,500 to £2,800 for a mildly uneven plot, rising to £5,500 to £8,000 for a steeply sloped garden. If you want the garden split across two tiers with a retaining wall, expect to pay between £11,000 and £13,000.

For complex slopes, a landscaper may recommend terracing (creating a series of level tiers) rather than fully levelling the entire plot.

Pros

• ✔ Opens up more of the garden for practical use.
• ✔ Makes subsequent landscaping easier and less expensive.

Cons

• ✖ Can be expensive depending on the gradient and size.
• ✖ May require drainage work to be carried out alongside levelling.

Water Feature Cost

Water features add movement, sound, and visual interest to an outdoor space. The average cost of installing a water feature is around £500, though this varies considerably by type. A basic 1.5m diameter garden pond including digging, lining, and filling typically costs around £600 in total. Larger partially raised ponds with a filter and rockery can cost £4,500 or more.

It's also worth budgeting for lighting around any water feature for both safety and aesthetics.

Pros

• ✔ Creates a focal point and adds character to the garden.
• ✔ Encourages wildlife, including birds and insects.

Cons

• ✖ Requires ongoing maintenance to keep clean.
• ✖ Can be a safety consideration where young children are present.

Pergola and Gazebo Cost

A pergola or gazebo creates a defined outdoor seating or dining area and adds structure to the garden. Pergola installation costs range from £300 for a small timber structure up to £4,100 for a large build, with aluminium options costing between £1,000 and £4,000. A gazebo typically costs between £1,200 and £3,500 installed, with custom builds and larger structures costing more.

Both structures may need a suitable base. Installing decking or a patio underneath is a popular combination that adds to the overall cost but creates a more complete outdoor space.

Pros

• ✔ Adds a functional and visual focal point to the garden.
• ✔ Extends the usability of outdoor space across more of the year.

Cons

• ✖ Higher cost than most other individual landscaping features.
• ✖ Larger structures may require planning permission.

Garden Lighting Cost

Outdoor lighting extends the hours you can enjoy your garden and enhances the look of other landscaping features after dark. The average outdoor lighting installation cost is around £200 for a basic setup, rising to around £1,100 for a full set of landscape lights. Running costs are minimal, typically just pennies per day.

Lighting is best planned at the same time as other landscaping work. Running cables before paving, decking, or water features are installed is far cheaper than adding it afterwards.

Pros

• ✔ Extends the usability of the garden into the evening.
• ✔ Enhances the appearance of other landscaping features.

Cons

• ✖ More expensive to install after paving or decking is already laid.
• ✖ Running costs add to energy bills over time.

Tree Planting Cost

Adding trees to a garden provides structure, shade, and privacy screening. The average cost of planting a tree ranges from £150 to £450 per tree, with an average of around £300. This varies depending on the size and species. A small sapling costs £150 to £250, while a semi-mature tree of 6 metres or more can cost £600 to £1,500 or more to plant.

If you have existing trees that need removing before planting, you may also need to budget for garden waste removal and stump grinding as additional costs.

Pros

• ✔ Provides long-term structure, shade, and privacy screening.
• ✔ Benefits local wildlife and garden biodiversity.

Cons

• ✖ Takes time to establish, particularly from bare-root or sapling stock.
• ✖ Protected trees and trees in conservation areas may require council consent before work.

Checklist: Hiring Landscape Gardeners in the UK

Here are a few things you should consider when hiring a professional landscaper:

• Compare recommendations and reviews — Ask people you trust, read recent customer feedback and check the landscaper's MyJobQuote profile.
• Get at least three itemised quotes — Compare labour, materials, VAT, waste removal, and any likely extras on the same basis before deciding.
• Check relevant experience — Ask how long they have been completing similar landscaping work and whether they hold useful training or qualifications, such as a Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) certificate.
• Review previous projects — Look for photographs or a portfolio showing work similar in size and style to your garden.
• Agree delays, changes and aftercare — Confirm how bad weather, hidden ground conditions, extra work, warranties, and maintenance will be handled.
• Check insurance — Public liability insurance is not a legal requirement for every landscaper, but it can protect against accidental injury or property damage.

FAQs