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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.
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.
We are are a Building ,civil engineering and hard landscaping company .we are a family run business with 30 years experience and offer expertise in house ,garden and driveway designs no obligation free quotations.
After a few logistical problems; the lads who came and did the work, were professional, friendly and hard working. I thank them for doing such a cracking job of the back garden. It’s now low maintenance and looks fantastic.
New Dawn - New Garden - New Life
Found Carl and team very professional the quote broken down to individual cost work was done on time. Everything from planning to building of the shed I was very impressed.
Landscaping company that specialises in low mantinance , astroturf ect.
Happy with work carried out by Eddie and his team. Very nice guys, friendly and polite. Would recommend.
Over 35 years of experience paving and landscaping across central Scotland, with 100% customer satisfaction.
Delighted!! From the initial detailed meeting to produce the quote, keeping in touch with anticipated start date, great communications throughout the job - to welcomed suggestions and enhancements as the job developed. A high quality end result exceeding all my expectations!! Utterly superb!
At LAMB Masonry & Garden Services, we are committed to delivering exceptional workmanship and achieving the highest standards in all our projects. Our areas of expertise include landscaping, stone restoration, conservation and garden maintenance. As a partnership, we are dedicated to providing our clients with a professional and reliable service that exceeds their expectations.
Welcome to G.S.C Construction & Ground Maintenance LTD, where expertise meets a family touch. With over two decades of experience, we pride ourselves on being a small, family-run business dedicated to delivering exceptional construction, landscaping, and ground maintenance services. We Specialize in: Patios Driveways Custom-built summer houses Our team of six highly skilled professionals is committed to exceeding your expectations. Equipped with public liability insurance and armed with site safety qualifications, we ensure that your project is not only executed with excellence but also adheres to the highest safety standards. At G.S.C Construction & Ground Maintenance LTD, we serve the communities from Swindon to Oxford and Tatcham. No job is too big or too small for us – we tackle each project with the same level of dedication, whether it's a small landscaping task or a large-scale construction endeavor. We prioritize customer satisfaction above all else, and our commitment to delivering quality results has earned us a reputation for reliability and excellence. Contact us today for a free quote, and let us bring our wealth of experience, skilled team, and passion for perfection to your construction, landscaping, or ground maintenance project. Your vision is our mission at G.S.C Construction & Ground Maintenance LTD.
Excellent service, punctual, efficient . Fantastic job.
We are a family run business for over 23 years with recommendations to back it up we do fencing gravelling turfing patios paths and all kinds of tree work we are fully insured you can also find us on Facebook and see the work with done thank you
The top of my back garden was overgrown with huge brambles. Clint and his son have done a fantastic job in clearing them all and tidying the rest of the garden. I'm very impressed with their great work ethic, thank you so much. I would definitely recommend them and will use them again.
We are a family run business covering all aspects of driveways and landscaping from a new block paved driveway to garden design and hard landscaping from trees felled to hedges trimmed we cover it all, all our work is guaranteed and quality assured
Great service from Jospeh and his team. Kept us updated as the job progressed and good follow on advice. The team worked efficiently and politely. Would highly recommend.
We are a small family run company, trading for over 25 years meaning we have lots of experience throughout all the building trade… you don’t ever need to worry that your job is too big or small! We take pride in each and every one of our job to ensure all customers are happy with the standard of service. At generation building we offer free, fast and competitively priced quotes.
It rained on the Tuesday you were scheduled to come on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which were all dry days. Your 'proof' of your van was a photo of a van outside a building which proved nothing. You offered the compensation and then failed to turn up with no notice at which point we decided we'd had enough of being messed around. And you can't even get my name right.
We have over 20 years experience in full garden makeovers, landscaping, block paving, fencing, decking, patios, bricklaying, carpentry and astroturf. We also offer garden designs for FREE!
Billy made a great impression from the start, with a good understanding of the outcome I was looking for, timely communication and a readiness to adapt the work if and when necessary. His team did a great transformation and were careful to make sure that I was happy as he progressed. I’d definitely recommend BGO and will use them again without hesitation.
I am an experienced multitrade individual with a passion for my work that meets and exceeds the needs of my clients. With over *15* years of experience in the construction industry, I have developed a diverse set of skills that enable me to manage projects of varying sizes and complexity. Key Skills: Expertise in building design and construction techniques Proficiency in project management and scheduling Excellent communication and problem-solving skills Strong attention to detail and quality control Ability to manage and supervise teams of workers Familiarity with planning and building regulations Experience: Worked as a builder for timeland ldt Construction* for over 5 years, managing projects ranging from residential homes to commercial buildings Led the construction of a high-end loft conversion and extension, overseeing a team of subcontractors and ensuring the project was completed on time and within budget. Collaborated with architects and engineers to develop building plans and designs that met client needs and complied with local planning authority. Worked with building control to ensure work finished to plan.
This person did an absolutely outstanding job, so professional its unbelievable, transformed my garden in 2 days with the hard work by him and his team. Layed out dust sheets, was so polite and couteous, understood the work I wanted done, was on time and kept to all his promises, the quote he provided was more than fair and perfect for me. I can swear you will love him, and you will keep on using him again and again, as I will be doing. Without a doubt the work he carried out was worth much more. so happy.
Wilson's Building & Landscapers have been in business for over 30 years. We are a professional and experienced firm. We have references to all our work and all work is guaranteed. We are a friendly and family run business. No job too big or too small.
I cannot recommend Gary and his boys enough, they have done a fabulous job on my back garden with a new patio, artificial grass and brick built planters. I have already asked them to quote me for my front garden as would not use anyone else now. Thank you again Wilson Builders.
We offer a wide range of professional landscaping services for the home garden or even yard. From complete garden design to one off tidy ups. We provide a high-quality service along with customer satisfaction at very competitive prices.
Excellent job of digging up and relaying pebbles on a strip of land between neighbours. Very tidy and reasonable quote. Done in a few hours.
Welcome to our landscaping and paving company! We are thrilled to have you visit our website and explore the services we offer. With our expertise and passion for creating beautiful outdoor spaces, we are dedicated to transforming your property into a stunning oasis that you can enjoy for years to come. Whether you need professional landscaping, paving, or both, we have the skills and knowledge to bring your vision to life. At our landscaping and paving company, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional quality and customer satisfaction. With years of experience in the industry, we have built a reputation for excellence and reliability. Our team of skilled professionals is committed to providing personalized solutions tailored to meet your unique needs and preferences. We understand that your outdoor space is an extension of your home, a place where you can relax, entertain, and create lasting memories. That's why we go above and beyond to ensure that every project we undertake is executed with precision and attention to detail. From concept to completion, we work closely with you to understand your goals and deliver results that exceed your expectations. One of the key factors that sets us apart from other landscaping and paving companies is our commitment to safety. We prioritize the well-being of our clients and employees, which is why we are fully insured. This means that you can have peace of mind knowing that we have the necessary coverage to protect you and your property throughout the entire project. Whether you need a complete landscape makeover, a new driveway, or any other outdoor enhancement, we have the expertise and resources to handle it all. Our comprehensive range of services includes landscape design and installation,hardscaping, paving, and much more. No matter the size or complexity of the project, we approach every job with the same level of dedication and professionalism.
Big thank you to Lee & his team. An amazing job. Completely transformed our garden. Team were hard working & professional. Followed the brief & could not recommend this company highly enough.
Dear customers If You are looking for a professional service- You are in a good place. Customer satisfaction is our priority. Many years of experience makes working with us a pleasure. Do not hesitate to contact us friendly staff.
Excellent job as agreed with no hassle. Adrian cleaned up thoroughly after the work was completed. Thanks Adrian
Dear Customers IE-DESIGN with years of experience offers interior and exterior work such as painting and decorating.We also undertake and manage landscaping and gardening services of any kind. Additionally our experience leads to the unique 3D projects if required. We can promise a competitive price and perfect finish as Customer satisfaction is at the heart of everything we do.
Really happy with job Peter done. He was willing to work with my budget and over delivered ???????? thanks.
We are a family run business specializing in various types of gardening/landscaping/tree/property maintenance services/roofing, lawn care, garden designing, pressure washing, patios, driveways and much more. Please contact us for more in depth information and advice or for a no obligation quotation.
Would recommend. Great experience.
We specialise in the installation of top quality artificial grass and all aspects of flagging our team work hard to provide the best service. Check out our page on Facebook greener lawn artificial grass
Wow - couldn't have asked for a better service, Shaun and Callum turned up on time and ready to go on two of the coldest days of the year, their work ethic was fantastic and the results far exceeded my expectations. Highly recommended.
Total landscape care NW is a company run by Garry fully qualified and insured with over 22 years experience the company’s been running since 2013 total landscape care NW covers every aspect of landscaping with our experience we can transform any space we cover all landscaping jobs from small to larger areas
Great job from start to finish. Gave ideas, advice and finished the job on time. Would definitely recommend m.
Professional tradesman providing Painting, Decorating, Plastering, Tiling, Landscaping and Gardening services across Scotland.
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