If you’re looking at your garden and you’re just not sure where to start, a garden designer can really help you look at your outside space with fresh eyes. Gardens can feel a bit of a burden and they are often the last thing that people think about when decorating their home, but over the past year I think we’ve all come to realise how important they are for our sense of well-being.
You might need better play space for the children, a cosy corner for adults to relax in or a combination of these things. We’re trained to look at your outdoor space and think about how it can work functionally and blend with your style. We think about maximising views, creating privacy from neighbours and we are experts in making sure your garden has balance in terms of structures and planting. We also recommend plants that give your garden softness, fragrance, good winter bone structure and which will thrive in your specific conditions. We design planting schemes that keep your garden looking good all year round and which can be as low or high maintenance as you would like. Having your garden designed should make it an easier space to take care of, as it is created for you with your requirements in mind.
The cost of garden design is always a key question for clients and it can be hard to put a definitive figure on as it is so dependent on how much of a change you want to make. I suppose a good comparison is whether you choose to get your kitchen from Neptune or Ikea! But I always make sure that clients are guided as to what’s achievable for the budget they have. Moving earth and laying new paving can be very expensive but smaller changes can be made which make a big difference and sometimes changing planting or extending borders can be enough to create a more beautiful space.
For a basic guide to garden build costs, including labour, I usually estimate around £75 per m2 for plants and planting (excluding trees and very large shrubs) and a minimum of £175 per m2 for hard landscaping (patios, paths etc). These figures are very much a guideline however and will depend on the complexity of your site, what you want to achieve and what kind of materials you prefer to use.
Creating a garden is a considerable investment, so I make sure that materials and planting are affordable and offer long term value.
Although the cost of building your garden can be variable, the cost of your garden designer will be fixed and they should tell you exactly how much they will cost before any work commences. Some designers charge a percentage of the overall build cost of the garden, whereas some, like myself, have a cost based on the complexity of the job involved. Even a small design can take four weeks of work if the space is complicated; from initial meeting to Masterplan, Construction Drawings and Planting Plans and so costs are scaled accordingly.
In the last year the positive effects of having outdoor space and being out in nature have really come to the fore. A beautiful garden that works for all the family will not only add significant value to your home but really improve your quality of life. And a well-designed and beautifully planted outdoor space is a long-lasting investment that can only enhance your love for your home.