Frequently Asked Questions
Landscape Design Experts & Creators
Welcome to our FAQ section where we aim to provide quick and helpful answers to our clients most commonly asked questions.
If you don’t find what you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to contact us
How do we get started working with you?
To get started working with us, please book your complimentary consultation call on our website using the green button on this page. During the call, we will discuss your project, location, details, timelines, and budget to ensure that we are a good match for your needs. At the end of the call, you will have a clear understanding of the process and next steps.
What will is cost to landscape my garden?
Determining the cost of a landscaping project can be difficult. On average, gardens cost between £90 (larger gardens) and £320 (smaller gardens) per square meter, depending on the size and scope of the project. Factors that can affect the cost include the size of the garden, location, access, project timeframe, and specific materials and techniques used.
It is important to note that not every area of a garden or landscape will need redesigning, such as large lawns, existing terraces, driveways, etc. so take these into consideration when working out your own garden size. It is difficult to provide a cost estimate until a design has been completed, as the design process allows us to consider your specific site, preferences, budget, and any specific requirements you may have. However, we have provided a rough guide of budget brackets for gardens of different sizes, which can be seen below, to help you understand the general cost range for your project.
Our team is dedicated to transparency and open communication, and we are always happy to answer any questions you may have about the design process and how it will impact the final cost of your project. We encourage you to discuss your specific ideas with us in detail so that we can provide a more accurate estimate.
Please note that these figures are an average cost guide for all hard and soft landscaping to include labour, materials and plants but do not include large, expensive, or complex items such as pools and garden studios. We will work with you to develop a design that fits within your budget and may suggest alternative materials or techniques that may be more cost-effective.
The final cost of a landscaping project will depend on the scope of the project and it is important to understand that cost per square meter drops as the size category increases due to economy of scale, the cost per meter is spread over larger areas of focus, as well as larger cheaper areas such as lawn and planting, and also because logistics and access costs are reduced on larger properties.
| Garden size | Average cost per m2 | Landscaping budget bracket |
| 50-100m2 | £320 | £15,000-32,000 |
| 100-250m2 | £300 | £30,000 -70,000 |
| 250-500m2 | £285 | £60,000-120,000 |
| 500-750m2 | £270 | £110,000- 165,000 |
| 750-1,000m2 | £255 | £145,000-195,000 |
| 1,000-1,250m2 | £240 | £185,000-23,000 |
| 1,250-1,500m2 | £225 | £220,000-260,000 |
| 1,500-1,750m2 | £210 | £250,000-290,000 |
| 1,750-2,000m2 | £195 | £280,000-320,000 |
| 2,000-2,250m2 | £180 | £300,000-375,000 |
| 2,250-3,000m2 | £165 | £340,000-400,000 |
| 3,000-3,500m2 | £150 | £360,000-420,000 |
| 3,500m2-1 acre | £135 | £385,000-545,000 |
| 1-1.5 acres | £120 | £485,000-730,000 |
| 2-3 acres | £110 | £890,000-1,335,000 |
| 3 acres + | £90 | £950,000 |
How much will my garden design cost?
The cost of our garden design service varies and depends on factors such as the size and complexity of your garden, your location, and your design brief. Our fees typically range from 8-12.5% of your landscaping project budget.
Our team of expert garden designers will collaborate with you to bring your vision to life and create a personalised design that meets your needs and budget.
From your initial call, we will provide you with an estimate of the cost of your project to give you a clear understanding of what to expect and help you decide if we are the right fit for your project.
We pride ourselves on offering high-quality end-to-end service, not only design.
If you’re interested in working with us, we’d be happy to provide you with a detailed quote for your project. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for more information or to schedule a consultation.
What locations do you cover?
Our design services cover a radius of up to 2.5 hours driving time from our design studio in Chichester, West Sussex. This allows us to visit you in person and provide the best possible service. Within this radius, we serve a large portion of Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, and Greater London, including many of their major cities and towns such as Brighton, Guildford, Southampton, Reading, Milton Keynes, Bournemouth, Salisbury, Oxford, and London.
If you’re located outside of this radius, don’t worry, we can still work with you remotely or through video conferencing. This is a great option for clients who are not able to visit our studio in person or who are located in a different time zone.
We also offer our design service for larger projects further afield or abroad, and can include travel times and costs accordingly. We have completed large and complex private and commercial gardens projects in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sydney and across Europe.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss your specific needs and how we can accommodate them. We’re here to help bring your vision to life. If you have any other questions please see our other FAQ page or if you’re ready to create your dream garden now, book a call with our team using the button at the top of the page.”
Do you carry out the landscaping as well as design?
Yes, we offer end-to-end service for landscaping and design. We work with a network of carefully vetted and preferred landscapers, specialist tradespeople, contractors, and craftsmen to design and build your garden. These professionals are chosen specifically for your project based on factors such as timeframe, size, budget, and location. We have over 20 years of experience building relationships with these contractors, so you can trust that your garden is in good hands.
All of our contractors are well-experienced, fully vetted by us, and typically members of landscaping governing bodies. This ensures that they work to the highest standards and adhere to industry best practices. We provide oversight for the project with the chosen main contractor and a site inspection and consulting service to ensure that your garden is built according to the design, on time, and within budget.
We’re available to answer any questions you or the contractor may have and make minor design adjustments as needed. We understand that the process of creating a garden can be exciting, but also overwhelming, that’s why our team is available to guide you through the entire process.
"Whats the smallest size project you design?"
The smallest project we design is typically around 50 square meters, but it can vary depending on the location, project budget, and specific design requirements. We have experience designing and constructing a variety of outdoor spaces including courtyard gardens, city gardens, and roof top gardens. However, we typically only take on projects with a landscaping budget of at least £30,000. If your budget is below this or quite tight, our advice is to use a good and experienced landscaper to carry out your project and save on design costs. Although, we can still advise on products and material palette choices from ranges that we can provide from our showroom.
What size projects do you design?
We design projects of varying sizes, from small residential spaces starting at 50 square meters to large commercial properties spanning over 3 acres.
We have experience working on multi-phased projects, as well as designing private residencies, derivatives, and large corporate gardens and roof terraces for entertaining.
What’s your process?
Our end to end service includes the following steps:
- Complimentary consultation call: We offer an initial complimentary consultation call to discuss your project, location, details, timelines, and budget to ensure we’re a good match.
- Complimentary proposal presentation meeting: We will arrange a following complimentary proposal presentation meeting either via Zoom or in-studio (or on-site unperson for a small fee) to present an example project, discuss your design brief in more detail, and present your design fee proposal.
- Initial Onsite Consultation: We will discuss the landscaping project with you to obtain a thorough understanding of your aspirations and needs for the garden. Following this, a written design brief will be sent to you for your approval.
- Topographical Survey: We will arrange for our third party surveyors to carry out a topographical survey which is a highly detailed survey providing an accurate depiction of the site, showing all the natural and manmade features and their levels.
- Design Team Analysis: We will have further detailed discussions of your design brief, review inspirational images and ideas, and analyse the garden in its current state.
- Design Stage 1 Concept Design: This stage includes everything you’ll need to clearly visualise your new dream garden and includes a 2D concept layout plan with associated mood-board and 3D visualisations. This stage will include one full round of revisions.
- Initial Costings: We will provide an initial cost estimate for the project based on the design concept and initial material selections.
- Design Stage 2 Design Detail: This stage provides every detail to cost and build your garden from accurately and includes construction detailing, setting-out plan, planting plan, lighting plan, drainage plan, irrigation plan, material and product quantities and material and product specification. This stage will include one full round of revisions.
- Showroom Consultation: Meet at our showroom where you can view, discuss and choose your final material, feature and product selection.
- Further design revisions and value engineering: Additional design revisions and adjustments, such as value engineering, will be carried out if needed.
- Managing the landscaping quotation process: We will work with our network of vetted, recommended and preferred contractors to produce at least one detailed quote as well as a quote to cover any materials and products from our showroom.
- Landscaping and the build: Your landscaping is then carried out by the chosen contractors and specialist trades.
- Site Consultancy and inspections during the build: We will provide site consultation and inspections during the construction process to ensure that the project is being built according to the design and specifications.
- Project Handover: We will conduct a final inspection to address any outstanding issues, and once satisfied, the project will be signed off. We will also provide copies of any maintenance, cleaning, product, and materials guides to ensure the longevity and upkeep of the garden.
- Maintenance schedule: We will provide a maintenance schedule that includes your chosen and specific plants, lawns, hedges, trees, and general maintenance tasks. This schedule can be used by you or shared with your existing maintenance contractor or gardener.
- Maintenance after the build: We will recommend a vetted and preferred maintenance contractor to work alongside an existing gardener or handle the maintenance of your project for years to come, following a clear maintenance schedule, making sure your investment is always looking at its best.
"Whats included in your garden design service?"
Our garden design service includes the following steps:
- Initial Onsite Consultation: We will discuss the landscaping project with you to obtain a thorough understanding of your aspirations and needs for the garden. Following this, a written design brief will be sent to you for your approval.
- Topographical Survey: We will arrange for our third party surveyors to carry out a topographical survey. This is a highly detailed survey providing an accurate depiction of the site, showing all the natural and manmade features and their levels.
- Design Team Analysis: We will have further detailed discussions of your design brief, review inspirational images and ideas, and analyse the garden in its current state.
- Design Stage 1 Concept Design: We will present a 2D concept layout with associated mood-board and 3D visualisations. This stage will include one full round of revisions.
- Initial Costings: We will provide an initial cost estimate for the project based on the design concept and initial material selections.
- Design Stage 2 Design Detail: We will provide construction detailing, setting-out plan, planting plan, lighting plan, drainage plan, irrigation plan, material and product quantities and material and product specification. This stage will include one full round of revisions.
- Showroom Consultation: Meet at our showroom where you can view, discuss and choose your final material, feature and product selection.
- Further design revisions and value engineering: Additional design revisions and adjustments, such as value engineering, will be carried out if needed.
- Managing the landscaping quotation process: We will work with our network of vetted recommended and preferred contractors to produce at least one quote from a contractor that suits your timeframe, budget, location and size of project.
- Site Consultancy and inspections during the build: We will provide site consultation and inspections during the construction process to ensure that the project is being built according to the design and specifications.
- Project Handover: We will conduct a final inspection to address any outstanding issues, and once satisfied, the project will be signed off. We will also provide copies of any maintenance, cleaning, product, and materials guides to ensure the longevity and upkeep of the garden.
- Maintenance schedule: We will provide a maintenance schedule that includes your chosen and specific plants, lawns, hedges, trees, and general maintenance tasks. This schedule can be used by you or shared with your existing maintenance contractor or gardener.
- Maintenance after the build: We will recommend a vetted and preferred maintenance contractor to work alongside an existing gardener or handle the maintenance of your project for years to come, following a clear maintenance schedule, making sure your investment is always looking at its best.
Can you provide just a design for us to arrange the landscaping ourselves?
Yes, we can provide a design for you to arrange the landscaping yourself. However, we strongly advise against using your builder as landscaping is a highly skilled trade. Landscaping projects often require the use of multiple specialised contractors such as groundwork, soft landscapers, hard landscapers, electricians and specialists like pool and garden studio contractors.
We recommend using our end-to-end service as it eliminates the hassle and stress of arranging the project yourself. We have chosen and vetted contractors over the last 20 years who are the best in the industry and we can ensure the quality of the work.
Additionally, we have a materials and product showroom that offers a wide range of high-quality products. Even if you choose to physically landscape yourself, we can still provide you with many of the necessary materials and products.
How long does a design take?
The duration of a design project can vary greatly depending on factors such as location, size, project budget, project specifications, and complexity.
On average, a design project starts at 8 weeks, not including surveys, meeting times and site visits. Our schedule typically allows for 12-16 weeks for a design project, but this can change depending on the specifics of your project.
We typically allow for two weeks of feedback time (two weekends for our busy clients) between stages and revisions to keep the project moving and to help stay on schedule. However, if sticking to this feedback time period is not possible, we will work with you to adjust new schedule dates accordingly.
Other factors such as house works, renovations or extensions can also impact the design and landscaping schedule and need to be considered. Our recommendation is to start the design process as early as possible to help plan, schedule, and budget the entire project.
How long does landscaping take?
The duration of a landscaping project can vary greatly depending on several factors such as:
- Access: Depending on the location of the property and the proximity of the garden area, access can be a key factor that affects the duration of the project.
- Location: If the garden is located in a remote area or a hard-to-reach place, it can take longer to complete the project.
- Size: The size of the garden is an important factor to consider. A small garden will typically take at least 4-6 weeks to fully landscape, while a medium-sized garden will take at least 8 weeks and a large garden will take at least 12 weeks.
- Project budget: The budget allocated for the project can also affect the duration. A more elaborate or high-end project may take longer to complete than a simpler one.
- Project specifications: The specific elements included in the project such as the type of materials, plants, lighting, irrigation systems, etc. can also affect the duration of the project.
- Complexity: The complexity of the project can also affect the duration. A simple design will take less time to complete than a complex one.
There is also the factor of the time of the year when the landscaping is being carried out. There are pros and cons to working at different times of the year:
- Summer is dry and hot but has longer hours but landscapers tend to be much busier and you’d probably want to make use of your current garden.
- Winter is wet, cold, messy but landscapers tends to be slightly quieter and larger plants, trees and hedging are cheaper and you wont be needed to use your existing garden.
- Spring and autumn are great times for planting but are a mix of summer and winter pros and cons.
Your project times will be very specific to you, your property and your bespoke design that is being created for you. Our advise is to be patient wait until our contractors are free, as it will be worth waiting for, rushing any construction project leads to mistakes. We will be on hand and assist every step of the way.
When are you free to landscape our project, once a design is completed?
Our landscapers and specialists are typically available for projects every 3-4 months, depending on the size of the team and the contractor we recommend for your project.
It is important to note that a well-established contractor will likely have a busy schedule, so if a contractor is not busy, it may be a red flag.
Before we can schedule a project, a design or at least concept design must be completed. This will give us a clear understanding of the scope of the project and allow us to recommend the best contractor for the project. We will then provide initial cost estimates and schedule the project at the earliest availability of the chosen contractor. The final details of the design can be completed while we are waiting for the contractor’s availability.
Who are your clients?
When you are searching for a professional garden design and landscaping company, it’s important to know who their clients are and the types of projects they have experience with.
We work with successful and busy individuals who own houses valued between £800,000 and £5,000,000+ with an average value of £1,500,000. These clients typically live within 2.5 hours of travel from our studio in Chichester and the surrounding areas of Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, and Greater London.
We also provide remote working services for clients who are further afield or located abroad, and we take on in-person projects for larger projects further afield as well. Our clients come from all walks of life and appreciate good design, quality workmanship, and well-planned projects. They often undertake renovations, extensions, or rebuilds of their main or second homes, and we frequently collaborate with their architects, interior designers, developers, and high-end construction companies to match the standard of the home’s architecture and interior design.
In addition, we work with private HNW individuals with property portfolios and on commercial projects for companies such as high-end developers, Airbus, Neptune, and NHS hospitals.
We understand that when you are looking for a garden design and landscaping company, you want an end-to-end, hassle-free and stress-free service to achieve your dream garden, whether it’s for a project property to sell or a house for life. You want to create a space that adds value, improves outdoor living, serves as a destination to enjoy with friends and family, and serves as an extension of the home or property.
Our company is dedicated to providing this level of service and creating gardens that match the standard of your home’s architecture and interior design. With our team of experienced professionals, we are confident that we can help you achieve your dream garden.
Do you offer landscaping only?
We specialise in providing a wide range of landscaping services, including designing, installation, and maintenance for various outdoor spaces. However, these services are only offered to clients who have contracted and paid for a design service with us.
For small projects that do not require design work, such as a small patio or fencing project, we recommend searching for a well-experienced, qualified, and insured landscaping contractor. You can use industry associations such as APL and BALI to find one in your area.