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Excellent job done would recommend
Robert
James was responsive to our request for a quote, for felling a large ash tree we suspected had died. He replied to messages quickly, turned up when he said he would, and was correct that our tree had in fact died. James was professional the whole time and we would have no hesitation in hiring and recommending him to others in the future.
Joanne
Excellent service. Hard working, polite, professional team. Lovely job. Would recommend.
Anne
Below you’ll find information to help you understand the different elements of garden design and the key things to be aware of before you start transforming your outside space. Find some initial ideas to talk through with a garden designer, including making the most of a small garden.
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Garden Design Services
What does garden design involve?
Garden design is about more than mowing a lawn and putting a couple of plants in the ground. A good design takes into account a few key elements:
- How you want to use the space.
- The amount of light the garden receives, and at what times of the day.
- The quality of your soil.
For example, you won’t want to put a shed in the best spot for catching a bit of sun, or have a patio that’s entirely in the shade.
A garden designer will help you make the most of the available space, no matter how big or small. They’ll also establish how keen a gardener you are to make sure the finished garden is either easy to maintain, or gives you something to get your teeth into – if you’re the green-fingered type.
Cost of garden design work
The cost of the work will depend on what you’re having done and the size of your garden, but prices tend to start at around £200. A good garden designer will discuss what you want to get out of your garden and ask you about your budget before coming up with ideas.
Low maintenance garden ideas
- You can stop a garden from looking untidy by dividing it into small sections. Plants, hedges, low walls and raised beds give a sense of order. Paths made from wood chips, slabs or bark help prevent weeds.
- Growing plants at different heights can give the illusion of there being more than there are, so you get the look of a fuller garden, with fewer plants to keep healthy. Shrubs, herbs and verbena are low maintenance plant options for adding colour.
- Rockeries and water features don’t need much looking after. Avoid shallow water features to save needing to top them up when they dry out. If you’d like a pond, avoid getting fish as the pH balance of the water settles naturally without them, giving you fewer algae problems so less cleaning time.
- To save cutting the lawn, artificial turf could be your best friend but if you want the real thing and don’t mind doing a little cutting every now and again, slow growing or drought resistant turf could be better options.
Ideas for small gardens
- To create more space, choose similar flooring to the inside of your home when picking the outside tiling.
- Divide a garden into different sections and add diagonal or winding paths. Extending the time it takes to get from one side of the garden to the other will make it feel bigger.
- Laying pavers at an angle to the property instead of parallel will draw the eye across the garden and extend the space.
- Attaching foliaged climbers to wires across areas of your garden will give it an extra dimension.
- Think about growing upwards rather than outwards with a trellis attached to your fence, or a vertical wall made up of climbers, grasses and ferns. A green wall can also help you lower your energy bills through providing more insulation and reducing the amount of heat that’s lost through the wall of your home. When it comes to choosing other plants, pick types that grow upwards like sweet peas and black-eyed susans so they take up less room.
Planning permission for garden design jobs
Planning permission only comes into play when you’re building or installing decking, fences, walls and gates. You’ll need to apply for planning permission if:
- The decking would be higher than 30cm above the ground.
- The decking or other raised platforms would cover more than half of the total area of the garden.
- A fence, gate or wall would be over 2 metres high, or over 1 metre high near a highway that’s used by vehicles (or a footpath next to the highway).
- The fence, gate or wall would form a boundary with a listed building or land.
If you live in a listed building or you have a front garden that you want to pave over, you should check with your Local Planning Authority as different rules may apply.
Insurance for garden design work
While it’s not a legal requirement, it’s a good idea for all garden designers to have public liability insurance so they’re covered for personal injuries or accidental damage to a property.
Questions you should ask your garden designer
- How long have they been working as a garden designer for?
- Can they show you examples of work they’ve carried out?
- Can they give you a scaled design of what the finished garden will look like?
- Do they have public liability insurance and what does this cover?
- Will they give a guarantee for the work and how long does this last? Are there separate guarantees for different plants?
- Does the quote for the work include waste disposal? If not, check with your local council how you would go about getting it taken away.
Total Landscaping completes work to customers standards. We don't leave until we please! All work is carried out to high standards, currently rated 5 stars. Check out our customer reviews for details of our results.
Very good work and pricing, with great communication and advice. Areas that could use improvement are tidiness and detailing.
Calladine Services is a family run business which has been established since 1989. We specialise in painting agricultural, industrial and domestic buildings with our access platforms and American airless spray units.
Swift and thorough.
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I am a manager of the company Ace Landscapes which has been running for 20 years. We specialize in garden designing.
Well done guys, you did a great job despite numerous set backs. It is much appreciated.
We are a family run business with over 20 Years experience in gardening and landscaping. We take on any project no matter the size and work alongside our clients to achieve the best outcome for the job requested. Matthew has worked on various projects from garden maintenance to hard and soft landscaping including Patios, paths, decking, artificial grass, turfing weed management and much more...
Matthew and his colleague arrived on time and worked efficiently and effectively. They did a fabulous job and I am excited that they are going to carry on maintaining the garden throughout the year. Thank you - great service.
B M Tree Services are a family run business with 25 years experience In the tree surgery, gardening & landscaping industry. Covering the entire South and South East of England, we have full public liability insurance and are always here to help free quotations and advice
Hello “ I’ve been in the tree and garden services With 20 years experience from little jobs to big jobs taken on From lawn cutting hedge trimming as one offs or on a regular basis to full tree removals I’m happy to help with advice needed or any information needed on work you need carrying out I’m offering your local tree and garden services with free quotations on requests at an affordable rate please give me a call or txt anytime on 24/our call out Many thanks Ian
Hi im a local York based lad with just a 2 man team I’ve been in the garden work for about 2 years now and think it’s time to try and expand abit more now I’ve done some good gardening work for plenty off York and surrounding people and have along the way now got some regular customers who I visit every couple of weeks to undertake their work I’ve got a page on Facebook under (MR landscaping and property services) if you would like to take a look at some off the work and projects I’ve done we are happy to travel at are own cost and give free quotations in the garden industry
Got in touch and was up for the job. Then had to reschedule due to birthdays then ignored when trying to confirm when they were going to come get more details of the work needed. Still no contact after messages sent.
Transforming spaces into stunning havens, Clean Lines Paving is your go-to partner for all things construction and landscaping in North East London, Enfield, and beyond. With a rich legacy spanning over 20 years, our craftsmanship speaks volumes, whether it's crafting bespoke patios, driveways, fencing, or foundations. But we're more than just surfaces; we're your trusted allies in home transformation. From seamless garage and kitchen conversions to elegant one-story extensions and inviting porches, we bring your vision to life with precision and flair. At Clean Lines Paving, we understand that every project is unique, just like every home. That's why we offer a diverse range of designs to perfectly complement your space, ensuring that every inch reflects your style and personality. When it comes to property maintenance and repairs, trust in our expertise to keep your investment in pristine condition for years to come.
Very pleasant, understanding and efficient. Quote as would be expected for the job. I’m very happy with this company.
Hi everyone , thanks checking my profile I’m Vas , have more than 10 years experience in construction I got level 3 diploma in carpentry, my main job is carpentry, but being in the industry so long I also can do handyman, fencing, ground work and foundation, decking, etc j
Brilliant workmanship , did exactly how we needed the shelves to be made. Highly recommended
Just the Garden was established in West Molesey, with many years experience in the Gardening trade, Just The Garden are a professional, reliable and fully accredited company operating in West Molesey and the wider areas. We take pride in all our work.
Super value and first to respond
We are a small company that takes pride in our work. We cover a wide range of trades and work with a reliable team. Get in touch to find out more.
Brilliant painter, tidy, cleared up. Lovely to have round the house.
J4H Civil Engineering Ltd is a trusted company providing a range of property maintenance and home improvements for domestic and industrial customers in Feltham, Middlesex, West London, and the surrounding areas.
Delighted with the service received from this company. Completed the job to quoted budget and well within the maximum timeframe quoted including doing some extra work (painting hallways, replacing spotlights) that weren't in the original job. Everything looks really good, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.
We are a friendly family run tree/gardening team who take pride in completing your tree/gardening needs please feel free to contact us for free advice and estimates
Hello everyone, I am civil engineering, I worked with different company in France and UK , I finally decided to create my own company COMFOROOMS LTD. I have long experience in building and groundwork . I am a serious person, I like my job, I respect my customers and I always tried to make them happy. I promise you a good job, nice and clean. You have my warranty for every job I will do. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon Thank you H.Turki Director
Work completed quickly and efficiently. Area left clean and tidy.. Recommended
C & N Constructions is a well-established company offering construction and landscaping services for both residential and commercial clients. Our faith: We believe in open and honest communication and shared goals which will generate greater continuity in workload and thereby provide sustained improvements in quality, efficiency & delivery. Our mission: To safely deliver any project, any time, in any environment for the benefit of our customers, shareholders, employees and the communities we serve. Company vision: C&N Constructions is committed to building long-term relationships based on integrity, performance, value, and client satisfaction. We will continue to meet the changing needs of our clients with our quality services delivered by the most qualified people. Get in touch and we can start asap! We offer free and no obligation project estimate.
The job was to cut back a severely overgrown patch of garden. Chris & his team, Adrian & Cosmin, gave me a competitive quote, after coming to visit the site to assess what needed to be done. They started next day and completed the job quickly and to my complete satisfaction. The site was cleaned up & all waste taken away. I will definitely use them again and strongly recommend them.
Unicsconstruction it’s domestic and commercial landscaping company since 2007 includes fencing, patios, turfing, resin bound, all types of driveways and much more... We offer high quality services to our costumers from the start to the finish. Please call us for free/no obligation estimate.
Elite Homeworx offer a wide range of services from a basic tap change to full bathroom installations, repairs and heating systems, as well as home maintenance.
Scott didn’t seem to go through the Rated People site to get the job - the app told me I had had no quotes as Scott phoned me directly so this took me unawares! However he came promptly & did the job well so I gave no complaints.
My name it’s Cris. I am a person with many qualities in handyman.What a handyman means? A handyman, also known as a handyperson or handyworker, is a person skilled at a wide range of repairs, typically around the home. These tasks include trade skills, repair work, maintenance work, are both interior and exterior, and are sometimes described as "side work", "odd jobs" or "fix-up tasks". For me a handyman means the person who helps the people who are in need or not having the necessary training for that thing and at the same time the one who later gives a smile to the people's face. For this, please contact me in any need you have
Initial service was great. But grass that was laid hasn’t last a year with a lot of patches and bits that have died. I watered and cut the grass regularly as I trusted but the grass just hasn’t lasted. Unfortunately, after several requests for help, Christian hasn’t been very responsive and showing no signs of helping.
We are here to save your home from water damage with peace of mind, We have been about for many years to secure your first defense from bad weather entering your home
Nothing was to much trouble.Felt as if I had known Scott years.Proper professional and well pleased with what he done.Cheers Scott
i am a young man that currently works within the property developing business renovating homes but on the weekends looking to make myself and my family some more savings i am keen and reliable wont be beaten on price can do it all!!!
Found lads keen for job but was a little overpriced, hired anyway as thought would take care of all. Lylandia cut back after nesting season which is too big a job for me now. Not all plants pruned correctly and had to remove cuttings myself from bushes so not ideal, as noted in ad they'd dispose and clean up afterwards. Grass trimmed too but wasnt requested....decent effort all said and done. Thanks
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