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Landscaping specialists - what you need to know

Few tradespeople can match the breadth of knowledge and skills of a landscape gardener. They flip that old cliché on its head and are every bit the master of all trades, jack of none.

Your pro will begin the landscaping process by looking at what’s already in place in your garden and drawing up a variety of design options for you to consider. You can then work with them to refine those early sketches and find the ideal blend of form and function for your outdoor space. Your gardener can draw upon their green-fingered expertise to make recommendations for the type of plants and shrubs that’ll suit your garden and advise where they can thrive.

Once the design and accompanying quotes are agreed, work can begin. That first step will usually involve locating any water pipes and electricity cables that are buried under your garden, to ensure they don’t dig through anything. If you’re planning to install any features that require water or power, the necessary connections can be laid at this stage.

Usually “hard landscaping” features (such as patios, decking or paving) will follow next, and this is the most labour-intensive phase of garden landscaping. Then it’ll be time to position and plant your shrubs and smaller plants, as well as carefully laying your lawn. And, with any finishing touches installed, your new garden should be ready to enjoy.

How much does landscape gardening cost?

Landscape gardening prices can vary wildly, depending on the size of your garden and the level of finish you’re looking for.

Smaller landscape gardening projects, lasting around a week to a week and a half, will come in at around £5,000–£7,000.

Larger projects, stretching into many weeks and even months, can rack up a bill that strays into the tens of thousands.

What are the main features of a landscape garden?

• Patios. Provided the land you want to build your patio on is level, this is a fairly simple job, but it requires meticulous planning and careful execution. Your tradesperson will dig down to create a base at the right level, removing excess soil as they go. They’ll then lay that base using hardcore or cement, before positioning your paving slabs. When laying those slabs, they should use a level line to ensure the patio is perfectly flat. The patio can then be finished by pointing in a dedicated patio cement.
• Decking. Creating a wood deck is a relatively simple job, but a lot depends on the ground you’re looking to build on – namely whether it’s level and sturdy. If it is, then installing the joists, decking and facing boards is much easier.
• Raised beds. Whether you want to grow your own vegetables or simply want to introduce a bit of colour with a vibrant plant or shrub, installing a raised bed allows you to test how green-fingered you are. Building a raised bed can provide an impressive contrasting feature for your garden.
• Pond. You might be tempted to dismiss that most quintessentially British of garden features – the noble pond – as a tad dated. But today’s varieties can be modern and elegant. As well as encouraging aquatic wildlife into your garden, a pond is a relaxing and calming feature. Your landscape gardener should be able to deliver every phase of this project – from excavating the ground to form your pond through to lining, filling it and planting the necessary water-loving plants.
• Laying turf. Creating a bowling-green lawn is much trickier than it looks. The key is painstaking preparation of the soil that your gardener will lay the new turf on. That soil will need to be levelled, tamped, neatly raked and then watered before your gardener can carefully roll out the new turf. And depending on when your lawn is laid, a period of intense watering and care may be required in the days and weeks afterwards.
• Outdoor lighting. If you plan to spend long summer evenings in your garden, you’ll need to think about how to create the right lighting setup. That way you can view your plants or water feature in all their splendour. Whether you’re looking for subtle ground-level LED lighting or a light source that illuminates your entire outdoor space, your landscape gardener should be able to install the necessary circuits required for your desired lighting arrangement.
• Fencing. Your fences aren’t just there to mark the boundary of your property. They provide security and add a finishing touch for your garden too. Frankly, cheap fencing looks naff and can have a negative impact on the overall aesthetic of your home. Your landscape gardener can advise on the type of fencing that’s most durable, as well as offering you recommendations on the right design options to suit your outdoor space. They’ll then be able to install your fencing correctly, digging in the fence posts and ensuring a sturdy assembly to withstand the elements.

When to plan your landscaping project

The time of year you choose for your landscaping project may depend on when you want to use your garden, as well as what features are going into it.

Surprisingly, it’s often best to avoid summer, as that’s precisely when you’ll want to be enjoying it. And most experts will probably advise to look at autumn and early winter, or later winter into early spring.

There are a few reasons for this:

1. You’ll be ready for the summer. If you want to enjoy your garden throughout the whole summer, starting your landscaping project early will help to ensure your plants and shrubs have time to establish themselves. Plus, the wet winter and spring seasons provide “nature’s watering can”, meaning you don’t need to spend time trying to rescue your newly laid lawn or plants from the scorching summer heat.
2. Less disturbance to plants and wildlife. Autumn and winter means hibernation – and not just for all the birds and small animals that may have made a home in your garden. Plants won’t be growing either, and that means they’re easier to move. It also makes your gardener’s life easier, without having to contend with as many overgrown shrubs and leaves.
3. Less hassle for you. You won’t be using your garden as often in the autumn and winter months. That means garden furniture will be packed away, and you won’t be so inconvenienced by any work going on. It’s much easier for landscape gardeners to work when they have the entire space to themselves, without having to dodge kids’ toys, plant pots and BBQs.

The qualifications your tradesperson needs

There are a number of gardening and horticulture qualifications out there, awarded by everyone from City & Guilds through to prestigious bodies like the Royal Horticultural Society. Those accreditations can be useful, but – as the old saying goes – there’s no substitute for experience. Specifically, experience in creating gardens similar to what you’re dreaming of.

Every landscape gardener worth their salt should be able to show you photos and drawings of outdoor spaces they’ve created previously. So, expect any professional you speak with to have examples of their recent projects.

Planning permission for garden landscaping

Provided none of the elements in your new garden extend too high and overlook a neighbour’s property or a public highway, you won’t need planning permission to landscape your garden.

If your project features a single storey log cabin or shed, you should be fine to proceed. But if you’re unsure, you can always consult the planning portal website: www.planningportal.co.uk.

Insurance your tradesperson needs

Just because your landscape gardener is mainly working outside, that doesn’t eliminate the potential for damage to your property. It’s all too easy to dig through pipes, or damage external walls and other features in your home.

Public liability insurance will protect the tradesperson and you from any mishaps, giving you peace of mind throughout the duration of the project.

Questions you should ask your tradesperson

• Can they provide plans or drawings to propose designs for your garden?
• What access will they need to your property while work is taking place?
• What watering routine do you need to follow for your new lawn or plants?
• Are there any jobs your landscape gardener cannot do, or would prefer to use a specialist for (building a garden wall, for example)?