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.
In County Down, we price garden landscaping against our guide for Northern Ireland, £5,200–£13,000 including VAT, then adjust it once we have surveyed your home. We work across Bangor, County Down, Castlereagh, Newtownards and Newry and the rest of the county or region. Planning and building control requirements follow the rules for Northern Ireland, and we look into your property's position before a written quote is sent.
- Guide price
- £5,200–£13,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–4 weeks on site, depending on scope
- Planning rules
- Northern Ireland
- Price level
- About 14% below the national guide
- Towns listed
- 5
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does garden landscaping cost in County Down?
Prices for garden landscaping vary from house to house, but in County Down most projects fall within £5,200–£13,000 including VAT. That reflects costs in Northern Ireland, about 14% below the national guide. Treat the table as a budgeting aid; the written figure follows a survey we carry out for free.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in County Down |
|---|---|---|
| Garden refresh | Clearance, new turf, edging, bark or gravel and some planting. | £1,300–£4,300 |
| Typical garden makeover | A new patio, lawn, borders, paths and planting in a typical rear garden. | £5,200–£13,000 |
| Full redesign | Levels, retaining walls, large patios, lighting and drainage for larger or sloping gardens. | £13,000–£30,000 |
What moves the price up or down:
- 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
What do you get?
- Survey of size, levels, soil, drainage and access
- Site clearance and removal of old features and waste
- Groundworks, levelling and drainage
- Patios, paths, steps and edging laid on proper bases
- Turf or artificial grass laid on a prepared base
- Planting, bark or gravel finishing and outdoor lighting where included
Homes in County Down
County Down takes in suburbs of Belfast, Bangor and Holywood with Victorian and Edwardian villas, and Newry, Downpatrick and Banbridge with older town centres and newer estates. Mourne granite appears in buildings around the mountains, and detached rural homes and bungalows are common across the county, often rendered or pebbledashed.
Villas and semis suit kitchen extensions, loft conversions and garden landscaping. Rural detached homes commonly take extensions and driveways, and rendered houses often need re-rendering, roofline renewal and window replacement.
Coastal areas such as the Ards Peninsula face salt and wind, and the Mournes bring heavier rain and colder conditions.
Planning and building rules in County Down
Which rules apply depends on where you live. For County Down, the answer is Northern Ireland, and the points below reflect that; we verify them with the council before quoting.
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.
From survey to handover
Survey and measure
We begin by looking at the job in person. During the free survey we discuss options, materials and budget for garden landscaping, and photograph or measure anything the quote needs to reflect.
Written quote
After the survey we send a quote for garden landscaping that fixes the price for the scope we've agreed. If you want to change materials or scope, we revise it in writing before anything is booked.
Booking the work
We handle the paperwork side: checking whether planning permission or building control approval is needed, submitting applications where they are, and scheduling the trades and materials around your dates.
Finish and handover
During the work we protect the areas around it and tidy up at the end of each day. Once complete, we check the finish, remove our materials and hand over paperwork such as building control sign-off where it applies.
How we work
Frequently asked questions
What happens at the survey?
We visit your home at a time that suits you, look at the area involved, take measurements and check access, condition and any services that might be affected. We talk through what you want from garden landscaping, explain the options and answer questions. There is no charge and no obligation; afterwards we send a written quote.
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 much does garden landscaping cost?
Landscaping a typical 50–60m² rear garden with a patio, lawn, borders and planting costs £5,200–£13,000. 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.
Can I stay at home during the work?
In most cases, yes. Most people can live at home throughout, and we plan the work to keep disruption down by protecting floors, agreeing working hours and keeping access routes clear. Bigger jobs affecting kitchens, bathrooms or heating may mean a short spell with reduced facilities, and we talk this through with you at 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.
Towns in County Down
These are the towns in County Down where you can book a free survey for garden landscaping. Each has its own page with guide prices and coverage details.