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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.

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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.  

Find a garden designer

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.

Other garden design FAQ's

How much does garden design work cost?

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.

When do I need planning permission for a garden design project?

You generally do not need planning permission for standard landscaping, but it is required if decking exceeds 30cm in height or covers more than half of your garden area. Restrictions also apply if fences, walls, or gates exceed 2 meters in height, or 1 meter if running alongside a public highway or vehicle path. Furthermore, you must consult your Local Planning Authority if your property is a listed building or if you plan to pave over a front garden.

What insurance should a garden designer have?

While it is not a strict legal requirement, you should always verify that your garden designer holds active public liability insurance before they begin any work on your property. This policy protects both you and the tradesperson against any costly financial claims resulting from accidental property damage or personal injuries during the project. Choosing an insured professional ensures complete peace of mind while your outdoor space is being transformed.

What questions should I ask a garden designer before hiring them?

Before starting your project, you should ask the designer to see a portfolio of their past work and request a scaled design drawing of the proposed layout. It is also important to clarify if their quote includes green waste disposal and whether they provide a workmanship guarantee alongside separate warranties for new plants. Finally, always confirm their level of public liability insurance and what specific damage it covers.

I’ve started up my business around 25yrs ago decided to expand my business to other sites were professional and we do gardening and we are a freindly family based business and we give our customers our time and effort we are honest and reliable and any job isn’t to much we will do our up most to make our customers smile ? We also do gardening garden maintenance fencing jet washing and garden clearances my sister is the cleaner I’ myself is the Gardner and landscaper we do both trades

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Reviewed by Ian on 28/5/2026

Friendly business that covers all building work over North Wales, we take pride in our work and all work are done to a top standard

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Reviewed by Judith on 18/4/2026

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Reviewed by Trevor on 9/5/2018

didn't turn up for appointment.

At S&R Landscapes we have over 10 years experience in the landscaping business, and we pride ourselves on attention to detail and customer satisfaction All of our jobs are tailored to each customer to ensure we give them the garden they truly want Specialising in hard landscaping we are able to provide top quality materials and labour at a price that suits you. Some of our specialty areas include •porcelain patios •fencing •screening •block paving •decking •driveways •pergolas •garden buildings •turfing •planting •brickwork •cladding •ponds and water features

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Reviewed by julie on 19/4/2025

So happy with my New patio. Completed quickly and professionally. The guys cleaned up after themselves and took all rubbish away. Very satisfied customer. Will be using them again for more outside projects I have planned. Julie

Allseasons O/M have 10+ years experience in the maintenance of both domestic and commercial premises. Specialist in the maintenance of hedges and grass lawns.

Regenerated London LTD is a new building and construction venture founded by Kyle Doy, a professional builder with over 15 years of experience in the industry. Built on years of hands-on knowledge, craftsmanship and experience across a wide range of building projects, Regenerated London LTD aims to deliver high-quality workmanship with a professional, reliable and customer-focused approach. Whether it’s renovations, refurbishments, extensions, property improvements or general building work, Kyle brings the experience and attention to detail needed to complete projects to a high standard. Regenerated London LTD is committed to working closely with every client, understanding their vision and delivering a finished result they can be proud of. As a new company backed by 15 years of professional building experience, Regenerated London LTD combines the personal service of a growing business with the knowledge and expertise of an established tradesman. Quality workmanship. Professional service. 15 years of experience. A new chapter with Regenerated London LTD.

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

At m&m we offer Tree surgeon and garden service. All types of tree topped and shared. We are a family run business for 15 years Tree removal & pruning ? Fencing turfing new walls ? Hedges landscaping patios ? power washing cleaning ? garden clearance ? Complete garden Rip out & clearance ? loans tree work? Overgrown grass lawned ? Rubbish clearance? All garden work undertaken free advice. Portfolio available. All types of rubbish removed and all demolition work undertaken also scarp cleared House clearance garden waste free estimates fast & friendly service registered waste licence holders

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Reviewed by Isabel on 5/3/2023

Martin was excellent from start to finish. He did a great job clearing and tidying up a large front and back garden that had been neglected for several months. We were very pleased with the result and would certainly recommend.

Welcome to LSB PLASTERING SERVICES we offer a wide range of plastering work and are happy to work with our customers to get the job completed to top standard.

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Reviewed by Jess on 14/5/2026

Here at Drumderg Contracts we pride ourselves in satisfying our customers wants and needs. Although we are new to Rated People, we have numerous years of experience across all trades. We can cover all aspects of construction from new builds and extensions to simple maintenance jobs.

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Reviewed by Margaret on 1/1/2024

Property maintenance titan a variety of services under 1 roof

Hi guys I am a reliable and trust worthy builder that likes to meet any clients needs have a good eye and attention to detail

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Reviewed by Kate on 11/10/2023

Steve did a complete renovation of a 2 bedroom flat for us - rewire, beautiful herringbone oak floors, plaster, paint, amazing new kitchen including white quartz countertop sourced at a great price and bathroom. Great finish; amazing value; can’t recommend highly enough. Really appreciate his advice, including telling us where not to waste money

At Christian Seymour Ltd we offer a grade A service at a reasonable price. Our dedicated team go the extra mile and with a variety of offerings to choose from we are sure were the team for you.

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Reviewed by Gary on 20/12/2018

Came on Time every day , was willing to carry out extra work. Cleaned up after. Kept to the price even though it required more resource.

We are a family run and owned Joinery based company of 20 years .All types of Joinery 1st & 2nd fix ,Doors ,flooring. Kitchens ,Commercial ,Shop fit out Media Walls , Wall Panelling ,Decking , Garden Rooms , Fencing, We also cater for new builds extensions and general building work A 5 Star Rated Company

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Reviewed by Jane on 15/1/2025

Excellent service from Lee's team - quickly quoted for job - turned up as agreed and finished the job on time - I would highly recommend this company for anything you need to know about fire doors! Thankyou!

Chameleon Refurbs have over 25 years experience in all types of Building Refurbishments so choose Chameleon Refurbs with confidence.

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Reviewed by Denise on 24/4/2026

Bedfordshire based carpentry and property improvements company . offering carpentry internal and external , as well as having a strong diverse team of different trades operating within the company , all aspects of building work taken on board and a professional job from start to finish .

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Reviewed by Christopher on 27/3/2026

Very unprofessional Postponed the agreed date and then ignored all messages Avoid!

The services we offer Driveways & patios Artificial grass Decking Fencing Turfing Resin And much more We don't take any deposits till job is all completed and customer is very satisfied with the work All work comes with guarantee Full recites giving We cover around most of the northeast We will beat any genuine quotes giving All work is done to a very high standard Thanks Calvin

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Reviewed by Peter on 24/6/2026

WW Property Maintenance provide all types of maintenance and landscaping services through out Herts, Beds & Bucks. We're fully insured and high experienced landscapers and tree surgeons. Our rates are affordable.

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Reviewed by Alison on 4/8/2015

I will be using Walter again, and I highly recomend him to others. His work was of a high standard, he was a good comunicator and he went out of his way to ensure I was happy with everything he had done. Alison Jenkins, MK19

All work done as asked all rubish taken away we dont mind traveling to give a free quote

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Reviewed by mike on 13/7/2025

Very good job

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