FAQ

It is always hard to know what the cost of a garden will ultimately be; every garden, every space and everybody is different. The design fee will take into account the size of the garden, the complexity of the site and the features and dreams that you, the client, has for their space.

I have provided the links below to a couple of articles regarding the cost of a garden design. They are not written by me, but I find it helps people to understand what to expect if they have some more context and understanding of the process. All of us have our own slightly different ways of working.

I charge a fee for the design process, and I design with the budget in mind. I do not build the gardens – a contractor does that, but I will be happy to suggest a contractor colleague.

My fee for a full garden design (inclusive of landscaping or planting plans) for a small-sized garden of 120m2 and under starts at £1500, while for landscaping or planting plans only for that same size of area, the fee is reduced.

The price of the design increases as the size and complexity (steep slopes and water courses, for example) of the site increases.

If a full garden design is out of your budget, many designers – including myself – offer a Garden Design Consultation Service. I will come to your space, chat to you about what you want to achieve and work through some potential options with you. At present, I charge £75ph (minimum 2 hours) plus travel; please let me know if I can help.

Oxford College of Garden Design

https://garden-design-courses.co.uk/employing-a-garden-designer/

Houzz Website

https://www.houzz.co.uk/magazine/how-much-would-it-cost-to-redesign-my-garden-stsetivw-vs~127833468

Fellow Garden Designer

http://lempsink.co.uk/blog/so-how-much-does-garden-design-cost/

Gardener Website

https://www.getagardener.co.uk/garden-design/

Thoughts on Garden Design TV programs from a colleague…

https://www.getagardener.co.uk/garden-design/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gardening-blog/2012/jul/19/small-garden-design

Hopefully, if you are here, you are interested in using a garden designer, and value the benefits of a trained, experienced designer and the long lasting positive impact that engaging one can have. However, if you are not too sure and would like to know more, I have a small sample of the reasons for employing one below. It is not an exhaustive list.

• Good design can make all the difference to an outdoor space. Even down to the path widths, heights of structures and the journey through the different spaces in your garden, starting with a good design is key. If done badly, this can create a disjointed space that doesn’t give you what you need from your garden. But it is the first step so you can be out in that space as much as possible, enjoying it and getting a bit of Vitamin D!
• They will (usually) have Garden Design Training. This will mean that a garden designer will have an understanding of how to create a space for you. A space that you can enjoy for a long time to come. They will know a good deal about how to specify your site such that the construction of the garden is done with safety and longevity in mind. They will have an understanding of what materials would be best suited to your garden and design. Importantly, they will be well informed on any regulations that impact the work.
• They are (usually) horticulturally trained. This means that a garden designer understands what the plants in your garden need, where they should go, how they should be planted, and what needs to be done to make sure the plantings perform as well as possible for you.
• They are members of some trade associations. This will mean that a garden designer stays as up to date as they can with changes to regulations and the new and exciting products that are always coming out in the landscape and garden world.
• They are experienced. Garden designers are always developing their knowledge from project to project. I doubt any designer, or indeed many professionals, would say that they do now what they did ten years ago, and you are benefitting from that knowledge by employing a designer to create your garden. This includes constantly updating their planting, paving and product choices as they go and from year to year to provide you with the best garden they can.

So if, despite your best efforts or due to time constraints, your garden needs help, why not give a garden designer a call? They are usually pretty pleasant people, who can either work with you to design your dream garden, or provide a consultation service and guide you towards making your garden space work for you.

Well, if you are not so keen on my work (sorry to hear that) or perhaps you’re not too sure that you can afford to have a designer travel to your space, then there are many places to start…

• SGD (Society of Garden Designers)
• APL (Association of Professional Landscapers)
• BALI (British Association of Landscape Industries)
• Garden Design Colleges
• Attend your local garden show and see the work of the designers in your area and often further a-field, remembering most are happy to travel for a project – including us!

Once we have designed a garden for you, we will suggest one of the contractors we have worked with before to build your project.

We only suggest one contractor, otherwise we end up with our contracting colleagues repeatedly not getting the work that we suggest them for, the quoting process takes time and we make a suggestion of someone we trust not to ‘over-quote’ in anyway and to do the design justice.

Of course, any of our clients are welcome to look at other contractors and here are some places to start:

Trade Associations

• APL
• BALI

Suppliers- many of the suppliers in the landscaping industry can make suggestions to you about the contractors you might use for your project, and will sometimes even have pictures of their work.

• CED
• London Stone
• Marshalls