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Garden Design Services

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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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Take a look at our Garden Design specialists profiles, read reviews and request quotes directly.

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

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  • 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.

Hi welcome to first choice property services Hee at first choice property services we have 20+ members to sort ur needs Chimney repair and installation? Roof repair/cleaning/pressure wash? Repointing? Pressure wash walls drives roof etc? Gutter repair and installation? Step repair and installation? Patio/block pavement repair and installation ? Fencing repair and installation? All gardening services? Tree removals? No job too small don't hesitate to give first choice property services a call or text.

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Reviewed by Mark on 22/2/2026

After a week or so of back and forth as they kept cancelling, they sent 2 young lads who had 0 to little experience. Most of the work will need redone. They created alot of mess and had to use my ladders for some of the work which was not very professional and took 2 days for a few hrs of work as they couldn't do it. Their manager was very apologetic but still charged £500 for the "work" Terrible experience.

Great hard working lads. We take on all aspects of pointing, roofing, gardening, just ask. No job too big no job too small

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Reviewed by Sandi on 2/2/2025

John and his team did a fantastic job replacing a Velux window for a larger one, fixing the flashing on two chimneys, fixing and clearing my gutters. It was a pleasure having them advise and fixing damp penetration issues I was having. Would recommend highly.

Insight can help you create your dream home with our wide range of different, Home improvements, including driveways & patio's, Hard Landscaping, re roofs, chimney repairs and removal, Upvc facias soffets and guttering etc) And with over 20 years experience, we really can make your dream home come to life.

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Reviewed by Patricia on 16/3/2017

Francis and his team were very helpful and gave advise about best type of patio they were quick even turned up in the rain. I have requested them again to do other jobs I feel that I can trust them to do a good job they worked hard. I think the price was good value and I am very happy with the work done.

we are a transparent company with over 5+ years experience. no job to small or to big. we specialise in blockpaving, patios, artifical grass, fencing and more. dont hesitate to get in touch for a free quotation! you dream it, we make it a reality!

Here at Caledonea we are a local company providing a friendly, reliable service with competitive pricing keeping to a high quality finish in all of our projects big or small.

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Reviewed by Dep on 30/1/2026

Dave and his mate were very professional did a excellent job would recommend Dennis

Hi my name is Lee Baker and I’m a household handyman and landscaper. Any work needed doing from fitting to complete refresh’s Im able to do, this includes gardens and outdoor spaces. Need a quote? get in touch for a free consultation, all done at a time that suits your needs. Quotes can be done via zoom or FaceTime due to Covid restrictions or equally an old fashioned face to face

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Reviewed by Liz on 11/5/2022

Lee is a great guy and super reliable. We are very happy with what he’s done for us!!

We are Andon and Krassi – the team behind AK Professional Maintenance Services. We both have an extensive experience in the industry. Andon has been a landscaper for the last 8 years, whereas Krassi has been a skilled handyman for the last twenty years. We are highly motivated and incredibly friendly, so do not hesitate to get in touch with us – we will be more than happy to get the job done. Our team specializes in house repairs and maintenance that will help keep your home running smoothly. Although we operate mainly in South London, we are available around all areas of London and beyond. AK Maintenance provides a wide range of services from one-off handyman jobs, to complete home refurbishment. If you have any other questions, please contact us.

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Reviewed by James on 17/1/2024

We are a small run company with high values and dedication to the works required by our clients. Most of our clients have us back for more work, read the reviews for yourself ... 40 + 5 star ratings and members for over 7 years.

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Reviewed by Hilary on 25/2/2026

Wanted a tidy up, skirting, window sills, paint walls a coupe of repairs. Paint is peeling off skirting boards, window sills, patches on walls. Lovely guys, but no prep. I know I said I wanted a freshen up, but didn't expect to have to redo their work. Now site won't let me submit

Hi folks my names lee Im green fields garden services, I can do any work mostly that you require for your work projects, digger work get your garden back to basics Chainsaw for small projects Trained to prune roses shrubs and level hedges and take height off to a level that’s Manageable ,advice on gardening and planting Design boarders , Garden clearance Jungle gardens back to basics All rubbish taken back to our farm and I’m a bit of an echo warrior So I’ll compost what I can or it goes through my chipper back at the farm Im a people’s person and take pride in being able to be sympathetic with my elderly Customers and new , I’m not one to come in to your premises ,home and just cut what ever, I’ve been working in the horticultural business for 35 years , Please ring or email for any info With rated people I’ll give you on the spot prices and a written quote, Please look at my photos of my work projects Happy gardening folks lee

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Reviewed by Steve on 16/11/2025

Excellent worker gives you a price and sticks to it Lee erected my Summer house he did a great job and offered valuable advice along the way. I couldn't recommend Lee highly enough definitely a go to tradesman for any other work I need doing , he also crowned a wayward plum tree as well . Lee many thanks .

With over 25 years of experience, we are a fully insured professional building company specialize in all aspects of home improvements, We are a team of hard workers, giving the best at all the time. We pay a great attention to details and we put the quality first. Keeping the work area tidy is a habit for us. Quality and meeting the deadline are very important factors for us when we doing a job. Our goal is to achive customer satisfaction when we doing a job! We offer competitive prices and free quotes

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Reviewed by Zak on 9/1/2020

Excellent family run business with father (Marion) who is the main man for the job Reasonable quotes and prompt with phone calls and replies Would highly recommend the team

Hello and welcome to compatible concepts a company that specialises in the services of landscaping & carpentry. With over 15+ years of experience in our trades. We pride ourselves in clean and competent work no matter the job to ensure customer satisfaction.we make sure your concept is compatible to your needs.

Dumitru Negria Home Services Dumitru Negria Home Services is a premier home improvement and maintenance company founded and operated me, a dedicated sole trader with over 8 years of invaluable experience in the field. Specializing in a wide array of services including tiling, painting, plastering, bricklaying, carpentry, and general handyman tasks, I pride myself on delivering top-notch craftsmanship and exceptional customer service. In addition to my core services, I also collaborates with trusted professionals in the fields of electrical work and plumbing, ensuring that all aspects of your home improvement needs are met efficiently and effectively. Servicing the areas of Reading, Oxford, Banbury, and their surrounding regions, I am committed to bringing quality craftsmanship right to your doorstep. Igo above and beyond to ensure that every project is completed to the highest standards, with a keen attention to detail and a focus on customer satisfaction. Experience the difference with Dumitru Negria Home Services – where quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction are our top priorities.

Elevate your outdoor space with BH Home Services Ltd. We specialise in: Decking: Wood and composite options for a stylish, functional space. Fencing: Privacy and curb appeal in perfect balance. Slabbing: Transforming patios, walkways, and driveways. Gardening: Bringing vibrancy and charm to your landscape. Why Us? Expertise: Skilled craftsmen with years of experience. Quality: The finest materials for lasting results. Personalization: Tailored solutions for your unique vision.

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Reviewed by Graham on 6/8/2024

These guys were excellent; they quoted a good price, turned up when they said they would, did a good job and tidied up after themselves. Very pleasant and helpful throughout. Happy to recommend.

Hello and welcome to the home of PDB garden services we are a small gardening and landscape company. We can give your garden a one of general tidy or if your garden requirts more to be done we also do fencing ,slabbing,turfing,artifical grass,driveways,gardens sheds, play houses and child freindly play areas .our aim is to leave your garden looking happy and loved.there is no job to big or small all quotes are free with no obligation .

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Reviewed by Dorothy on 18/8/2025

Ian came and salvaged wooden gates that had been poorly constructed by a con man. Ian showed both amazing carpentry skills and his people skills are exemplary. Straight out of hospital I was scared I'd be taken for a fool, again. Instant replies, reasonable quotes and talented guy. Delivered what he promised.

With 10+ years of experience in the industry, Builder Boys Service brings a wealth of expertise and proven success to every project. Our extensive experience allows us to deliver top-quality workmanship, exceptional service, and unmatched professionalism. Trust in our seasoned team to bring your building visions to life with precision and dedication that only come with years of experience. We understand the importance of meeting deadlines and strive to complete every project within the agreed-upon timeframe. Our efficient planning, skilled team, and streamlined processes ensure that your project progresses smoothly and is completed on schedule. You can trust us to deliver exceptional results without compromising on quality, ensuring your satisfaction with our punctuality and dedication to meeting your timelines. We are deeply committed to providing our clients with the highest level of dedication and transparency throughout every step of their building journey. Our honest approach ensures that you can trust us to deliver on our promises and provide reliable solutions tailored to your needs. With Builder Boys, you can count on a partner who is genuinely dedicated to your satisfaction and committed to building lasting trust and relationships.

Gabrica Ltd provides reliable and high-quality property refurbishment and maintenance services across London. We specialise in kitchen and bathroom installations, tiling, flooring, carpentry, painting & decorating, and general home improvements. With years of hands-on experience, we take pride in delivering clean, precise workmanship and completing projects on time and within budget. ✔ Fully insured ✔ Attention to detail ✔ Clean and tidy work ✔ Friendly and professional service Customer satisfaction is our priority.

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Reviewed by Joe on 27/5/2025

Brilliant. Efficient, hard working, friendly, professional, good vale and quality work. I'm very pleased and will use again.

Absolutely and garden services I provide reliable professional and high quality solutions for all aspects of tree care and garden maintenance with a strong commitment to the customer satisfaction and a passion for outdoor work I take pride in developing services that keep your property looking its best year-round with over 22 years of experience

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Reviewed by Stephen on 26/11/2025

Arrived on time made a good job and tidied up afterwards

10 years of experience in all tree and landscaping industry specialised in all types of fencing work free quotation and advice no job to big no job to small we can do it all

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