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Excellent job done would recommend
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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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
- 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.
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We are a family run company, we have a reputation for excellence and attention to detail, not only in the quality of work we do, but also in the high standard of customer service we provide. You only have to read our ratings on rated people to know that we are competitively priced. But we don't cut any corners - quality and value are what we offer. We liaise with you every step of the way, are knowledgeable and willing to give advice, before, during and after your work. You will always find us willing to help and answer any questions you have.
Very busy at present due to recent storms, but came out next day to clear our bolcked gutterings. First class service as always
With over 30 years’ experience in the construction industry, we know how to deliver work that looks good and lasts. We work on properties of all shapes and sizes, commercial and domestic, turning your dreams into a reality.
What an amazing guy!, another 2 weeks and he would have become a member of our family!. You can set your clock with George, he was at our door an 8am on the dot every morning. He gave us so many different ideas which really helped us. His workmanship i, totally flawless. We know what quality looks like now. George is a loyal, honest and hardworking individual who will always be our first choice when getting work done.
Free quotes. Free Advice. Public Liability Insurance. Clean & Tidy Worker. Over 25yrs Experience in the building trade. We are a friendly family run business. We cover All roofing work undertaken, repairs to complete Re-Roof. Flat Roof. Chimney repairs. Fascia. Soffits. Guttering. Pointing. Also Landscaping. Patios. Blockpaving. Driveways. Fencing. External & Internal Painting. Brickwork. Extensions. Small jobs are welcome.
A really good job. Very happy with the finished product. Waiting on a quote for something else now.
At Pop Building Services we provide professional services in construction, painting, tiling,carpentry, and gardening, backed by over 3 years of industry experience. Our commitment to quality craftsmanship and attention to detail ensures outstanding results for every project. • Proven Expertise: Over 3 years delivering reliable and high-quality solutions. • Comprehensive Services: A full range of construction and home improvement offerings. • Customer-Centric Approach: Your satisfaction is our top priority. Partner with Pop Building Services for professionalism, precision, and results that exceed expectations. Let us bring your vision to life!
Really polite young man and friendly. Done an amazing job in such short time too. Thank you, I will definitely be recommending you to friends and family.
Taylors Building Contractors is your go-to solution for comprehensive property maintenance services. From routine upkeep to emergency repairs, here to ensure your space remains in optimal condition. With a focus on quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction, we take the hassle out of property care.we cover all traditional trades to plastering, carpentry, plumbing, and general building maintenance. Roofing, Brickwork,Fully insured, Credit & Debit cards excepted.
Steve and team did a fantastic job, fixing a few issues in the house for my tenant. Really good service and communication, and will ask him to do jobs in the future.
Here at West End tree and Landscaping our No1 aim is customer satisfaction and our team of professionals will do everything in there power to guarantee this happens. We are Family run, trained and qualified insured professionals. Please feel free to get in touch for a friendly meeting for free advise and a no obligation quotation.
Francis was fantastic! From coming out promptly and proving a quote promptly, from delivering the works I wanted as soon as he could, to a really high standard. Really really happy with the fencing and the garden archway/entrance and we will be 100% recommending and 100% using again????
"From Tidy-Ups to Transformations" - Building and Landscaping that lasts the test of time **One of our teams has just completed the YOTEL Edinburgh design and build project on Queen Street which you can go to observe for yourself. To be trusted by large commercial corporations and deliver a high standard of work in a time sensitive manner, we will surely be able to deliver a project you will be satisfied with! With over 30 years of landscaping and building experience enjoyed throughout the company, you no longer have to compromise quality. Be the envy of your neighbours and call the reputable company to get it done right the first time. We offer a full design and build landscaping function as well as a subscription service on fortnightly (or monthly) garden tidy maintenance as well. Not only can we transform your space, but keep it looking new year round! With highly skilled staff and constant support a text away, we are here to make your service experience as pleasureable as your new extension, patio, driveway, or fence is going to look.
instead of hiring and dealing with multiple people, let us handle the hassle out on your behalf! one deal, one man! My name is Behrooz, and I have 14 years' experience in building and carpentery works. We specialize in renovation and refurbishment of commercial and residential properties at the best quality and price with professional tools and masters. we are also have got a joinery factory in London, We manufacture any made to measure woodworking such as shop display and counters , kitchen units, wardrobes, TV stands, dining tables etc - you name it, we do it.
Good price, friendly guys, flexible on dates when we needed to.move them at short notice, great job, very happy.
We are a Worcestershire based building company. With 20 years experience. We specialise in brickwork stone work and natural stone. We offer a landscape groundwork and building service. All aspects of building and landscaping work undertaken. No job to big or to small
Mark came and looked at my hay barn where part of the wall had come down. He gave me a quote and came the next day even though the weather was very cold. He was very polite and did the whole job in one day. I would recommend him and want him back for more building work. Thanks Mark
We have been working at this trade for over 15 years. My company and works people hold a number of different NVQ qualifications such as electrical, engineering, railway engineer, civil engineering. We take customer service very seriously and we ensure to reply as soon as possible when someone contacts us. We also ensure we give a fair deal for a great service in return.
We hired Cani Building Services to replace the front stairs and pathway of our Victorian home with granite pavers in the spring of 2025. When evaluating the builders it was important to us that we found somebody who was professional, reliable, and detail-oriented. Durim offered a competitive quote and promptly started work. ?He completed our job to a high level of quality within a week’s time, and we are very pleased with the outcome. We would absolutely recommend his services to others!
Betterview Landscaping & Patios are a well established Paving contractor in Cardiff, we built up our business solely on reputation and quality of work. This is a reputation we value and work hard to maintain. We pride ourselves on offering first class workmanship to our clients, which includes a full range of roofing services from minor repairs to complete Driveway Renewal
Friendly boys, got the job done. Will definitely be in contact again soon!
PREMIUM BUILDING & LANDSCAPING Services With over a decade of experience we are the 1st choice when looking for a partner to advise and design your outdoor space into an extension of your living area. Patios & Paving, Hard landscaping, Decking & Fencing, Artificial Grass & Turf are just some of the projects we undertake. Everything you need in one place by a trusted name in the landscape gardening area Let’s sit down and talk about your vision
Absolutely delighted with the cost, customer service and finished job by Paul and the team. Would definitely recommend this company.
Evergreen landscaping is a professional garden services provider, offering gardening, landscaping services and tree works to both private and commercial customers. Covering Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and Norfolk. We hold 10+ years of experience and pride ourselves on customer satisfaction.
I was very happy with the work that was done for me I described what I wanted doing and they did exactly what I had asked for good job done.????
Family run business, with thirty years experience in the industry. We are a friendly and reliable service.
A good job, expertly carried out, but not quite up to our expectations with clearing the debris. It took us two days to get the garden back to normal. The second phase of the order is yet to be done and I’m sure that they will satisfy our requirements.
JGC Plumbing Heating And Cooling Oxford is a provider of Plumbing, Heating, Gas and Boiler services to domestic and commercial markets.Our team of highly experienced, professional and helpful engineers are all registered with the Gas Safe Register.
First class response and follow through.
Very happy with the work and good communication and will definitely use again
Contact us for a quote (Detailed estimates and surveys are chargeable ) NEW VR DESIGN SERVICE AVAILABLE https://www.rbbrefurbishmentsltd.co.uk Bathroom refurbishment Kitchen refurbishment Howdens kitchen supply and install service Decommission/ fit outs Removal of partition walls Wall panelling Media walls Design & planning Garage conversions Loft conversions Access to architect Access to structural engineer Steel rsj supply and install Full house refurbs Velux and windows supply and install
Punctual in getting back to me to offer their services, as of yet I've not picked a company for my project but was impressed with their initial professionalism and conduct.
Hello everyone ! My name is Emil, the founder of Emteam LTD, with 15 years of experience in construction, after 13 years of working at the largest construction company in London where I covered all branches in construction, I decided to go my own way; I am a punctual, disciplined person, who does everything professionally down to the smallest detail. Cleanliness is one of the most important things in the workplace. I am here to satisfy all the necessary ideas of the clients in the field of constructions. Contact me for a free quote . I provide the best quality services in the listed fields. Even the smallest job will benefit from the guarantee for at least 3 years .My services are to make people happy and delighted with the work done
Emil, was a very polite young man. He was reliable and his work was completed on time and to a good standard.
Bristol House Extensions is a family owned business. Our workforce is fully qualified and experienced at working in domestic and commercial properties and carries out work for our customer, customer satisfaction is our main priority.
Really helpful people to deal with.
We are a reliable and trustworthy company. We carry out small and large scale domestic and commercial projects, covering all aspects of construction. We can also offer finance options.
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