Garden Design Services
Over 10,000 rated tradespeople
are ready to help you get your job done
Over 3 million happy homeowners
have found a quality tradesperson
Over 1 million ratings
with 88,000 5* ratings in the last 12 months
Our most popular gardener / landscape gardeners jobs
Join our group of happy customers
Thousands of 5 star reviews
Read real reviews from customers about their service experiences.
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.
Browse Garden Design specialists
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
- 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 my name is John from John Alan, we are relatively new to rated people and look forward to offering our professional services. Our services include everything from handyman services to bathroom installations, heating and plumbing. Rest assured when you choose John Alan we provide a fast, clean and efficient service with competitive rates. We look forward to working with you. Public liability insured Gas safe registered
Loved this extremely professional team. I will hire them again in the future. Thorough, knowledgeable and affordable.
???? FIRST CHOICE HOME SERVICE Your Local Experts in Property Care, Roofing & Home Improvement At First Choice Home Service, we combine three generations of experience with modern technology and trusted craftsmanship to deliver outstanding results for both residential and commercial properties. As a locally based, family-run business, we pride ourselves on being reliable, friendly, and professional — offering a wide range of services that keep your home looking great, performing efficiently, and protected year-round. ? ???? Why Homeowners Choose First Choice • ? Family-run business with three generations of expertise • ? Fully insured & safety certified team • ? Free quotes, honest advice, and transparent pricing • ? High-quality materials and proven workmanship • ? No job too big or too small — we handle it all ? ???? Our Professional Services ???? Garden & Outdoor Care • Hedge trimming & shaping • Tree pruning, topping & felling • Grass cutting & general weeding • Leaf blowing & removal • Moss removal & prevention • Pressure washing (driveways, patios, walls) • Block paving re-sanding • Shed removal ? ???? Exterior & Window Services • Window cleaning (frames, sills & glass) • Window repairs & exterior painting • Fascia, soffit & gutter cleaning • Gutter repairs, replacements & leaf-guard systems • Fence painting & new fence installations ? ???? Roofing & Home Repairs • New roofs (pitched, flat, rubber & felt) • Roof repairs & storm damage restoration • Chimney stack repairs & re-pointing • Conservatory re-roofing & maintenance • Roof ventilation systems • Roof insulation & energy efficiency upgrades ? ?? Modern Property Solutions • Drone roof & gutter surveys – fast, safe, high-resolution inspections • Home inspections – detailed property checks with professional reporting • Solar panel installation & maintenance – sustainable energy solutions for your home • Smart ventilation & airflow systems – improve comfort and efficiency ? ???? Get in Touch Whether you’re refreshing your garden, repairing your roof, or upgrading to solar power, Tom and the team at First Choice Home Service are ready to help. ???? Local. Trusted. Professional. ???? Free estimates and expert advice always available. ???? Call us today — we’re only a phone call away
Hi I've lost your details, please can you contact me I have another job thanks
I have been self employed for 11 years, hard working and trustworthy. There is only me and 1 other on this company. We do most of the trades, nice and friendly people JRS property services Fully insured and check able
Delighted with Jamie's work . Hall and landing painted . Jamie came and gave us a quote . Once we had decided to hire Jamie he arranged a date and as agreed turned up . Job was carried out with no fuss and are pleased with the result . We will be using Jamie in the future .
Scotland's premier building joinery landscaping and tree surgery service we offer a wide range of services carried out by fully trained fully insured professional trades people full free written details provided 21 day cooling off period all work guaranteed insurance work undertaken sepa registered waste carriers no call out charge agents throughout Scotland we cover all of Scotland distance no object established 2008 hundreds of satisfied customers throughout Scotland no job to small
Alex and the team were quick, efficient and removed all rubbish accumulated. Would recommend and would hire them again.
If you are thinking of extending, converting, or in any way structurally altering your home, we can assist you with any or every stage of your project.
Paul did an excellent job of removing the old storm porch that was attached to my front door. Everything removed, rubble taken away, great chat & well priced. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Paul to anyone looking to get some demolition work done! Thanks Paul!
Dear customers If You are looking for a professional service- You are in a good place. Customer satisfaction is our priority. Many years of experience makes working with us a pleasure. Do not hesitate to contact us friendly staff.
Adrian replaced the timber slats I had on a 4th floor balcony with composite boards. Great job, fair price, and tidied up afterwards!
We are a family run business and been in the building trade for 35 years .We take pride in our work, great care and attention is paid to quality and detail .
Very good job fixing paving on garden path. Finished on time to good standard.
We are a small, family run company based in the Midlands with more than 25 years experience in concrete reinforced structures and groundworks. We specialise in raft slab foundations; reinforced bases for summerhouses, sheds and garages; concrete retaining walls; footing foundations and all associated groundworks. We pride ourselves in delivering high quality workmanship at a fair price. "We form a firm foundation for you to create your vision"
Craig was very responsive, knowledgeable and competitively priced when he came to quote. The work carried out is great, Craig and Connor worked tirelessly to finish in 30+C heat, and the results are better than what I had planned in my head.
Family company, that's has been going for 15 years, Happy to help with any job!
Dave did a great job at both my properties. His men left some work unfinished but he promptly came back to fix everything himself after.
We are a London based domestic focused electrical company. Chris and his team of highly qualified, friendly electricians can complete any task big or small. Our electricians are available 7 days a week 24 hours a day. Approved NICEIC domestic Installer
Was very professional. Even though the request was not possible he did take a look and explain what could/could not be done.
Located in Glasgow, we are a small, yet well-established, family-run business with over 15 years of experience in building and home maintenance. Our commitment to detail, service quality, reliability, and value for money sets us apart. We have earned an excellent reputation through word-of-mouth recommendations, thanks to our consistently high standards of work. Here's why you should consider choosing us: 1. Exceptional Workmanship: Our team takes pride in delivering work of the highest quality, ensuring every project meets or exceeds your expectations. 2. Comprehensive Guarantee: We stand behind our work and provide a comprehensive guarantee to give you peace of mind. 3. Diverse Trades: Our expertise covers various trades, allowing us to handle all aspects of your building and maintenance needs. 4. Competitive Pricing: We offer competitive prices without compromising the quality of our service, ensuring you get the best value for your investment. 5. Free, No-Obligation Quote: Contact us today to receive a free quote, with no obligation attached. At The Guy of all Trades LTD, we are dedicated to providing exceptional services. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you and meet your building and maintenance requirements. Contact us today to get started !
Great job, thorough efficient and clean. Would be happy to book again for another job
Pilot Home improvements is a family owned, customer driven company. Quality and workmanship assured as all our Engineers and Fitters are experienced in their field. With over 15 years of trade experience and recommendations from our customers, our pricing structure is very competitive and we will assist you in making the right choice of design for your bathroom which will be exclusive to you. See our reviews online.
Barbara came out to give us a quote. She was very friendly and helpful. We had the quote within 3 days. Now waiting for insurance to approve so we can get on with the work.
Pm building & landscapers ,with 35 years building experience we cover all aspects of building works to be carried out ,extensions ,conversions ,garages ,porches brickwork .stonework ,retainers and much more ,ins work carried out .
We are a family run business with over 15 years in the building trade. From joiners, plumbers, electricians, painting/decorators, landscapers and plasterers we have it all. We take great pride in our work and customer care is priority. We do apply an out of hours charge after 6pm, weekends and bank holidays.
Guy was great and so super helpful. Managed to get the job sorted that afternoon and couldn't do enough to help.
RAR offer a full hard landscaping, groundwork and building service, including but not restricted too, ~ Patios ~ Paths ~ Drive ways ~ Fencing ~ Turf ~ Bespoke timber structures ~ Sleeper work ~ Ponds ~ Small and medium sized building jobs ~ Garden clearance Specialising in low maintenance gardens. with over 20yrs experience in these sectors I offer high quality and am happy to chat through what is required.
Im Dannys gardening service a gardening company with 14 years experience in gardening and tree work i specialise in giving your garden the best work possible im reliable hard working and aim to please i give all my work 110% of my attention i will guarantee to beat any given quote if it’s in your garden we do it find us on yell or our website dgsgardenservice
Reliable and efficient. The garden is looking the best it's looked for a long time. Thank you Dan, I have already recommended you.
'%3e%3cpath%20fill-rule='evenodd'%20clip-rule='evenodd'%20d='M12.5%2020.392a1%201%200%2001-.54.888l-5.274%202.73a1%201%200%2001-1.435-1.109l1.494-6.588a1%201%200%2000-.306-.964l-4.723-4.254c-.65-.586-.287-1.666.585-1.74l6.105-.514a1%201%200%2000.846-.629L12.5%200v20.392z'%20fill='%23F7DB34'%20/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
At Cymraeg Construction, building work has been at the heart of our family for generations with skills, knowledge and training passed on from one to another, even in the day to day running of the business we can call upon over 40 years experience from my father who is an integral part of the company and has made us what we are today with a passion for quality that shines through on every job we undertake. Covering all of South Wales, you can be sure to rely on us to undertake any project you may have from conception to completion, we can take care of all aspects of the build including planning and skilled tradesmen in all trades, let us deal with all the complications and timings as we project manage the process to ensure everything is done correctly and to schedule all while keeping you informed every step of the way. Please feel free to contact us for a free no obligation estimate on any work you may have. Cymraeg Construction.
Gareth and his team were amazing and professional throughout. He was very knowledgable regarding the options available to us. All work was completed quickly and efficiently. Gareth kept in contact with us throughout our garage renovation and even kept in touch afterwards to check everything was ok for the fitment of the garage door. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Gareth and his team and would definitely use them again for any future building work on my home. Great job completed.
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.
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
MH Interiors for all your interior building works in the Eastmidlands.
First class job looks great
Smith & jones contractors. We are reliable,friendly,trustworthy & professional. We take pride in our work. Our reviews will show that our customers are always 100% happy. we have 15 years experience, so call the best & flush the rest!
Needed a new shower plumbing in as we have no bath & only a shower so we had to keep our water turned off at the water mains , so we rang these guys & they immediately came out & fixed the problem right away within minutes , i would DEFO use these again in the future , there amazing & thankyou , frank LL22
'%20rx='20'%20/%3e%3cg%20fill='%23FFF'%3e%3cpath%20d='M29.376%2016.914c-.555%200-1.006.454-1.006%201.013v37.416c0%20.578.472%201.014%201.097%201.014h34.109a1.007%201.007%200%200%200%20.972-.83%201.012%201.012%200%200%200-.161-.76l-6.446-9.416c-.375-.548-.567-1.085-.586-1.642-.034-.977.516-1.952%201.402-2.483%204.8-2.878%205.808-7.575%205.808-11.009%200-7.335-5.925-13.303-13.207-13.303H29.376ZM63.594%2059.75H29.467c-2.505%200-4.467-1.936-4.467-4.408V17.927c0-2.43%201.963-4.408%204.376-4.408h21.982c9.14%200%2016.577%207.49%2016.577%2016.698%200%205.879-2.46%2010.687-6.944%2013.607l6.17%209.017c1.37%202.002.868%204.752-1.12%206.132a4.336%204.336%200%200%201-2.44.778h-.007Z'%20/%3e%3cpath%20d='M38.767%2027.797c0-.749.603-1.357%201.347-1.357h6.427c3.979%200%206.426%201.72%206.426%205.099v.123c0%203.132-2.325%205.098-6.365%205.098h-3.848l-3.985%203.998V36.76h-.002v-8.963'%20/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cpath%20fill='%23FFF'%20fill-rule='nonzero'%20d='M18.176%2069.2h2.156v3.878h3.976V69.2h2.156V79h-2.156v-3.934h-3.976V79h-2.156v-9.8Zm16.428%207.98c.43%200%20.826-.08%201.19-.238a2.72%202.72%200%200%200%20.931-.658c.257-.28.457-.604.602-.973a3.21%203.21%200%200%200%20.217-1.183V74.1c0-.42-.072-.817-.217-1.19-.145-.373-.35-.7-.616-.98a2.96%202.96%200%200%200-.945-.665%202.873%202.873%200%200%200-1.19-.245c-.439%200-.838.08-1.197.238-.36.159-.667.378-.924.658s-.457.604-.602.973a3.21%203.21%200%200%200-.217%201.183v.028c0%20.42.072.817.217%201.19a2.959%202.959%200%200%200%201.554%201.645c.36.163.758.245%201.197.245Zm-.028%201.988a5.343%205.343%200%200%201-2.086-.399%205.187%205.187%200%200%201-1.645-1.078%204.823%204.823%200%200%201-1.078-1.596%205.029%205.029%200%200%201-.385-1.967V74.1c0-.7.13-1.356.392-1.967a5.075%205.075%200%200%201%201.085-1.61%205.05%205.05%200%200%201%201.652-1.092%205.395%205.395%200%200%201%202.093-.399c.756%200%201.451.133%202.086.399a5.187%205.187%200%200%201%201.645%201.078c.462.453.821.985%201.078%201.596.257.611.385%201.267.385%201.967v.028c0%20.7-.13%201.356-.392%201.967a5.075%205.075%200%200%201-1.085%201.61%205.05%205.05%200%200%201-1.652%201.092%205.395%205.395%200%200%201-2.093.399Zm8.14-9.968h2.324l2.576%204.144%202.576-4.144h2.324V79h-2.142v-6.398l-2.758%204.186h-.056l-2.73-4.144V79h-2.114v-9.8Zm13.152%200h7.392v1.918h-5.25v1.988h4.62v1.918h-4.62v2.058h5.32V79h-7.462v-9.8Zm13.866%209.94a6.49%206.49%200%200%201-2.198-.385%205.817%205.817%200%200%201-1.96-1.183l1.274-1.526c.448.364.908.653%201.379.868.471.215.987.322%201.547.322.448%200%20.796-.082%201.043-.245a.771.771%200%200%200%20.371-.679v-.028a.85.85%200%200%200-.077-.371.778.778%200%200%200-.294-.301%203.079%203.079%200%200%200-.602-.28c-.257-.093-.59-.191-1.001-.294a12.201%2012.201%200%200%201-1.344-.406%203.787%203.787%200%200%201-1.022-.553%202.237%202.237%200%200%201-.651-.819c-.154-.327-.231-.733-.231-1.218v-.028c0-.448.084-.852.252-1.211.168-.36.404-.67.707-.931a3.183%203.183%200%200%201%201.085-.602c.42-.14.882-.21%201.386-.21a5.86%205.86%200%200%201%201.981.322%205.743%205.743%200%200%201%201.659.924l-1.12%201.624a7.1%207.1%200%200%200-1.288-.707%203.292%203.292%200%200%200-1.26-.259c-.42%200-.735.082-.945.245-.21.163-.315.366-.315.609v.028c0%20.159.03.296.091.413.06.117.17.222.329.315s.376.182.651.266c.275.084.623.182%201.043.294.495.13.936.278%201.323.441.387.163.714.36.98.588.266.229.467.497.602.805.135.308.203.677.203%201.106v.028c0%20.485-.089.917-.266%201.295a2.66%202.66%200%200%201-.742.952%203.353%203.353%200%200%201-1.134.588%204.924%204.924%200%200%201-1.456.203Z'%20/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Get our app for homeowners
- Send messages and get notifications from tradespeople
- Add photos to get more accurate quotes
- View tradespeople's profiles