Garden landscaping is designing and building an outdoor space as a whole, combining hard landscaping such as patios, paths, walls and steps with soft landscaping such as lawns, planting and beds, plus drainage and lighting, so the garden works for how you live.
We landscape gardens of every size, from small courtyards to large family gardens. Our free site survey and written quote looks at your garden's size, shape, levels, soil, drainage, sun and shade, and access for machinery and materials. We talk about how you want to use the space, such as dining, children's play, low maintenance or growing food, and suggest a layout and materials to suit. Landscaping suits new homes with bare gardens, overgrown or tired spaces, and gardens that need to work harder. We handle groundworks, drainage, patios, paths, walls, raised beds, turf and planting, coordinating everything so the garden comes together as one design.
What’s included?
- Survey of size, levels, soil, drainage and access
- Layout plan agreed with you before work starts
- Site clearance and removal of old features and waste
- Groundworks, levelling and drainage
- Patios, paths, steps and edging laid on proper bases
- Raised beds, low walls or sleepers built to the agreed design
- Turf or artificial grass laid on a prepared base
- Planting, bark or gravel finishing and outdoor lighting where included
Which options can you choose from?
How much does garden landscaping cost?
Most jobs fall between £6,000–£15,000 for a typical 50–60m² rear garden with patio, lawn, planting and edging, including VAT at 20%. The table shows three typical levels of work; the figures are national guides, confirmed in writing after a free site survey.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide price |
|---|---|---|
| Garden refresh | Clearance, new turf, edging, bark or gravel and some planting. | £1,500–£5,000 |
| Typical garden makeover | A new patio, lawn, borders, paths and planting in a typical rear garden. | £6,000–£15,000 |
| Full redesign | Levels, retaining walls, large patios, lighting and drainage for larger or sloping gardens. | £15,000–£35,000 |
What affects the price?
- Garden size, access and the amount of clearance needed
- Ratio of hard landscaping to lawn and planting
- Levels, slopes, retaining walls and steps
- Drainage, soil quality and ground conditions
- Materials chosen for paving, walls and features
How do prices vary across the UK?
| Region | Guide price |
|---|---|
| London | £7,800–£19,500 |
| The South East | £6,700–£17,000 |
| The East of England | £6,300–£16,000 |
| The South West | £6,100–£15,500 |
| The West Midlands | £5,900–£14,500 |
| The East Midlands | £5,800–£14,500 |
| The North West | £5,700–£14,000 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £5,600–£14,000 |
| The North East | £5,400–£13,500 |
| Wales | £5,500–£14,000 |
| Scotland | £5,800–£14,500 |
| Northern Ireland | £5,200–£13,000 |
Regional figures apply typical labour and material cost differences to the national guide. They are not quotes.
Do you need planning permission for garden landscaping?
Most garden landscaping does not need building regulations approval. Retaining walls holding back significant ground, new outdoor electrics and drainage connections must meet the relevant regulations and be certified where required.
England
Most garden landscaping in England needs no planning permission. Trees protected by a Tree Preservation Order, or trees in a conservation area, need the council’s consent or notice before work; outbuildings and raised platforms have their own limits.
Building Regulations rarely apply to landscaping, though new drainage and garden electrics must comply.
Wales
Most garden landscaping in Wales needs no planning permission; protected trees and conservation areas need the council’s consent or notice.
Building Regulations rarely apply, apart from drainage and outdoor electrics.
Scotland
Most garden landscaping in Scotland needs no planning permission; protected trees and trees in conservation areas need the council’s consent or notice.
A building warrant is rarely needed for landscaping.
Northern Ireland
Most garden landscaping in Northern Ireland needs no planning permission; protected trees and conservation areas need the council’s consent.
Building control approval is rarely needed for landscaping.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
How long does it take?
Typical time on site: 1–4 weeks on site, depending on scope. Lead times for materials, drawings and approvals come before that and are set out in your written quote.
How does the job run?
Free site survey
We visit, measure up, look at access and the condition of what’s there, and talk through options and budget with you.
Written quote
You get a written quote with a fixed price for the agreed specification, what’s included, the payment stages and a likely start window.
Plan and prepare
We sort drawings, approvals and materials, agree dates with you and explain what to expect each week before work starts.
Build and hand over
The work is carried out, checked and cleared away. We walk round it with you and pass on certificates and product details.
Garden landscaping: frequently asked questions
How much does garden landscaping cost?
Landscaping a typical 50–60m² rear garden with a patio, lawn, borders and planting costs £6,000–£15,000. As a guide, allow roughly £90–£220 per square metre of garden plus fixed costs for clearance and set-up, with gardens that are mostly lawn and planting at the lower end and those with large patios, walls and lighting at the top. Slopes and poor access add cost. We confirm a fixed price after the survey.
Do I need a garden designer?
You do not always need a separate garden designer. For many gardens, a clear layout plan agreed at the survey is enough to build from, covering patio size, paths, lawn and beds. Larger, sloping or complex gardens benefit from more detailed design, including levels and planting plans. We can work from an existing design or put together a practical layout with you.
What time of year suits garden landscaping?
Hard landscaping such as patios, paths and walls can be built most of the year, though frost and heavy rain cause delays. Planting is usually most successful in autumn and spring, when plants can establish roots before summer. Turf can be laid in most months if the ground is not frozen or waterlogged. We plan the order of work around the season.
How long does a garden makeover take?
A typical garden makeover takes around one to four weeks on site, depending on size and scope. Clearance and groundworks come first, then drainage, patios, paths and walls, followed by turf and planting. Larger or sloping gardens with retaining walls take longer. Weather can affect timings, especially for groundworks and laying turf. We give you a programme with your quote.
How can I make my garden low maintenance?
A low-maintenance garden reduces mowing, weeding and watering. Paving or porcelain patios, gravel areas on a weed membrane, artificial grass and raised beds with hardy, slow-growing plants all help. Mulching borders with bark suppresses weeds and holds moisture. Some planting keeps the space feeling green and supports wildlife. We balance hard and soft areas to suit the time you want to spend.
What can be done about a waterlogged garden?
A waterlogged garden is usually caused by heavy clay soil, compacted ground or water running off from hard surfaces. Solutions include French drains, soakaways, improving soil with organic matter, and making new paving permeable or directing its run-off to drains. Raised beds help plants in wet areas. We look at the cause during the survey and include drainage in the design.
Do I need planning permission for landscaping?
Most garden landscaping does not need planning permission, but it depends on the work, your home's location, whether it is listed or in a conservation area, and which UK nation you are in. Raised decking or patios, high walls and front garden paving can need permission, as can work affecting protected trees. We check the rules for your garden before quoting.
Can you work around existing trees and plants?
We can design around trees and plants you want to keep, protecting their roots from digging and machinery and keeping levels unchanged near trunks. Some trees are protected by tree preservation orders or conservation area rules, which require permission before cutting or significant root work. We note any trees and plants you want to keep at the survey.