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.
If you live in Melksham and are weighing up garden landscaping, the starting point is a visit to measure up and talk through what you want, which costs nothing. We cover homes across SN12, and a typical project of this kind in the South West lands somewhere in the £6,100–£15,500 bracket, including VAT. The exact figure depends on size, access and the finish you choose.
- Guide price
- £6,100–£15,500 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–4 weeks on site, depending on scope
- Postcodes
- SN12
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Wiltshire
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
Garden landscaping prices in Melksham
Below is a breakdown of typical costs for garden landscaping in Melksham. Because rates in the South West are about 2% above the national guide, the overall guide comes to £6,100–£15,500, including VAT. Size, materials and access move the figure, and a free-of-charge survey settles it.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Melksham |
|---|---|---|
| Garden refresh | Clearance, new turf, edging, bark or gravel and some planting. | £1,550–£5,100 |
| Typical garden makeover | A new patio, lawn, borders, paths and planting in a typical rear garden. | £6,100–£15,500 |
| Full redesign | Levels, retaining walls, large patios, lighting and drainage for larger or sloping gardens. | £15,500–£35,500 |
What moves the price up or down:
- 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
What does the job include in Melksham?
- 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
- Planting, bark or gravel finishing and outdoor lighting where included
Homes in Wiltshire
Salisbury has medieval and Georgian streets, the north-west around Corsham and Bradford on Avon uses Bath stone, and chalk and flint appear on the downland. Swindon has railway-village terraces and very large post-war and modern estates, and many Wiltshire villages have thatched cottages, some with chalk cob walls.
Cob and Bath stone walls need breathable, lime-based repairs, and thatched cottages may need careful roof work. Swindon's railway terraces suit loft rooms and rear extensions, while its large estates often add garage conversions, driveways and landscaping.
If your house in Melksham fits one of these patterns, it helps us anticipate what garden landscaping will involve, though we always confirm the details on site.
Permissions for garden landscaping in Melksham
For anyone in Melksham, the relevant framework is England's. The summary below is general, so we always contact the council about your address before putting a price in writing.
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.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
How does the job run?
We look at the job
A free survey comes first. It gives us what we need to price garden landscaping properly, including dimensions, existing materials and access for deliveries, and gives you the chance to ask anything you like.
Price and scope agreed
Next you receive a written quote with a fixed price for the agreed specification. It lists what is included, what is not, and how payments are staged, so you can compare it properly.
Getting ready
Once you accept, we agree start dates, order materials and deal with any planning, building control or neighbour notices the job needs. You'll know who is coming and when before work begins.
Build and hand over
Work goes ahead as scheduled and you deal with one contact throughout. When the last trade leaves, we clear and clean the site, talk you through what has been done and pass on any certificates and care instructions.
Why homeowners choose us
Common questions
Which postcodes in Melksham do you cover?
We cover SN12, along with the rest of Wiltshire. If your postcode is not listed, get in touch anyway: our coverage is UK-wide, and we can usually arrange a survey wherever you live. Enter your postcode in the guide-price tool or contact form and we will confirm.
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 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.
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.
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.
Nearby towns
Homes across SN12 in Melksham are within our coverage, as are those in Trowbridge, Chippenham and Bath. If you are just outside these areas, ask anyway, because we work right across the UK.