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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.

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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.

PM Gardens is a reliable and professional gardening and landscaping service with over five years of hands-on experience delivering high-quality outdoor solutions. We take pride in transforming and maintaining gardens to the highest standards, whether it’s regular upkeep or full garden makeovers. Our specialties include lawn care, hedge trimming, garden clearance, planting, and general landscaping. We focus on attention to detail, tidy workmanship, and making sure every job is completed to customer satisfaction. With relevant training and practical experience in garden maintenance and landscaping, we bring both knowledge and skill to every project. We’re committed to being dependable, affordable, and easy to work with—no job is too big or small. If you’re looking for a trustworthy gardener who cares about your outdoor space as much as you do, PM Gardens is here to help

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Reviewed by Nick on 7/5/2026

Came the next day, did a good job and for a fair price

At NEWBUILD, we are a family-based construction company located in the heart of Cambridgeshire. With a passion for quality craftsmanship and attention to detail, we specialize in a range of services including extensions, loft conversions, and renovations. Our team of experienced professionals is dedicated to bringing your vision to life, whether you're looking to expand your living space with a stylish extension, create a functional and beautiful loft conversion, or transform your existing property into your dream home through meticulous renovations. With a focus on customer satisfaction and a commitment to delivering projects on time and within budget, we strive to make the construction process smooth and stress-free for our clients. From concept to completion, we work closely with you every step of the way to ensure that your project meets your expectations and exceeds your dreams. Choose NEWBUILD for your construction needs and let us turn your dreams into reality.

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Reviewed by Richard on 16/9/2024

Would highly recommend Joey. Very reliable and good standard of work.

We have 7 years experience in the construction & landscaping trade. From single story extensions, to building walls, flagging & fencing are just some of the services we offer. We always strive to achieve the highest level of customer satisfaction.

Perfect gardens and landscapes Ltd has been trading for over 10 years and our team have over 25 years experience. We take pride in every job we do. Specialise in all aspects of landscaping from porcelain/sandstone patios, garden rooms, decking, fencing, artificial grass, planting and much more. We always make sure our work is at the highest standards and the customer is always happy.

Davies Building Services is a well established business based in Herne Bay. We service within a 50mile radius of Herne Bay, we provide a wide range of building services including extensions, loft conversions, garage conversions and barn conversions. We provide excellent communication and offer competitive prices, get in touch for a free quotation and we will get back to you quickly.

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Reviewed by Alex on 29/8/2024

Great job, professional to deal with and left job very clean. Would highly recommend.

The company started operating in 2017, and the business is general building , maintenance, carpentry first and second fixing, landscaping and gardening furniture, painting and decorating

Hitec was established in 2018 but with many years experience in landscape gardening. We are happy to help anybody in anyway we can no job to big or to small

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Reviewed by MARY on 16/5/2022

2 people turned up about 6 weeks ago I explained what was required they measured up said they send me a quote but to date nothing has been heard from them. The reason I gave 1 star was that turned up and there was way to rate no stars. I would not recommend this company to anyone very unprofessional

We offer a wide range of groundworks/landscaping services including: - slabbing - monoblocking - tarmac - fencing - decking - turf/astroturf - and much more

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Reviewed by Joe on 5/3/2024

Adam and his team were highly professional, hardworking and efficient. The job was completed to a great standard and all advice was considered and appreciated. I would recommend Adam and his team to anybody.

jv and sons resin drives and landscapes we are a local and friendly driveway and landscape company we cover all aspects of property maintenance and landscaping ... from resin drives to all types of landscaping we also cover all types of building and fencing work we are fast friendly and reliable .

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Reviewed by Jess on 7/4/2026

GreenOrb Professional Property Maintenance with over 10 years of experience! We cover most of London areas, depending on the type of work required. No job is too small or too big for us so give us a call for a free quote or visit. We offer the following services but are not limited to *Multiskill Builder *Carpentry *Handyman *Painting Decorating *Landscape Gardeners *Garden Maintenance *Lawn Mowing *Hedge Trimming *Patio Cleaning *Jet Wash *Gardening Services *Rubbish/Waste Removal *Garden Design Services *Fencing *Brickwork *New Lawn Installation *Decking *Paving *Tree Removal If you require a service that has not been written down above please do not hesitate and give us a call we still might be able to help. We offer very competitive rates and the best customer service! We supply all the tools and equipment needed to take care of your garden. Our gardeners are flexible so you can call us 7 days a week till 9 pm, when you make the call simply ask for Daniel. If you require an estimate without the visit, take a few pictures of your garden, give us a call so we can supply you with an Email, Whatsup, Messenger account and discuss the work that needs to be done. If your property needs some professional care or you are just too busy to take care of it yourself... We are here to help!

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Reviewed by Buchi on 10/10/2024

Pressure washing services domestic and commercial Bespoke Carpentery and Joinery. Decking build and repairs Hedge cutting Garden cleaning Garden Maintenance. Fencing Bespoke Timber Buildings and structures made to order.

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Reviewed by steve on 12/4/2018

Lewis is an excellent tradesman . I found him to be very personable, and knowledgeable in his field. My shed was expertly erected in just a few hours, and with meticulous detail. I would strongly recommend him, and would certainly use him again .......

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Reviewed by Sally on 30/4/2012

He's coming back to do some more work in June.

Hi welcome to my company, I've been in the building trade for 15 years with vast experience in the building and tree surgery/landscaping industry, all my work is always carried out to the highest of standards to over exceed customer expectations

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Reviewed by Kate on 22/8/2022

Bellhurst Construction gave me a very detailed quote and were able to start the job promptly. Darrel worked with me on adjusting he quote in order to prioritise the things that needed the most attention. We were held up a few days by the weather initially, but once things were underway I was very happy with how things progressed. The team were polite and worked hard through some of the hottest days of the year! The end result is wonderful and really makes the most of the garden.

ADDS Construction LTD is a well-established general building company with over 15 years of experience delivering high-quality construction and renovation services. We specialise in premium bathroom renovations, combining skilled workmanship with durable materials and modern finishes to achieve excellent results. In addition to interior works, we provide a comprehensive range of exterior services, including house extensions, paving and driveways, roofing works, landscaping, and ongoing property maintenance. Every project is approached with professionalism, clear communication, and close attention to detail. Our reputation is built on reliability, high standards, and customer satisfaction. We work closely with our clients to understand their needs and ensure each project is completed efficiently, safely, and to the highest standard.

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Reviewed by Raffaella on 18/2/2026

Alex was excellent: reliable, skilled, and reasonably priced. He repaired my collapsing chimney and also fixed my neighbours’ chimneys, and we were all very happy with his work. He completed everything quickly and to a high standard. It’s reassuring to know he’s an all round builder I can rely on for future jobs.

Over ten years experience with another landscape gardening company. Now set up on my own and offer general garden maintenance to installation of fences.

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Reviewed by Ellis on 7/9/2023

Daniel (Freddie) do a brilliant job on my overgrown garden. I would highly recommend him.

Our team of qualified landscapers are here for all of your landscaping needs for a free quotation find us on Facebook J&p landscaping J&P landscaping services apply Garden clearance Gardening Fencing and gates,,and repairs exterior painting New driveways and patios?? Jet washing and resealing Patio and driveway repairs Decking Flagging Block paving Graveling? Turfing Artificial grass Hedge trimming Tree service and removal

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Reviewed by Anne-Marie on 3/12/2025

Williams landscapes is family run landscape gardening company based in bristol. We also provide a garden maintenance service and we specialise in fencing, tree work and turfing. We cater for gardens of all shapes, styles and for all budgets.

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Reviewed by Mike on 20/4/2026

Really, really good. Quote accepted and work will start soon

Westbrook paving Limited is a family run business who specialise in driveways with a team of qualified tradesmen with over 10 years in the driveway and paving industrie here at Westbrook customer satisfaction comes first

Hi we do all types of landscaping like Astro turfing driveways patios fencing ponds turfing brick walls sleepers shed bases build sheds rendering . I also have 15 years experience and we have public liability

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Reviewed by Alexander on 28/6/2023

Mark and the team were a great team and work hard, with some good banter along the way. The patio is hundreds of times better than what we had. My only slight negative would be Conor watch those spacings / gaps between the slabs.

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