While cost to build prices vary depending on the location, size and design complexity of your garden, the general rule of thumb a completely new garden with all hard landscaping (material prices vary), planting, lighting and furniture will cost 5-10% of the property value (e.g. for a property worth £500k is would be £25-50k).

Our garden build service utilises the same labour/ materials and are governed by the same laws as general house building. The build costs vary, depending on the quality of finish and products selected. This means a basic garden can cost £150 per/ m2 and up to £5000+ per/ m2 for a Chelsea show garden.

For clients in need of some creative help who don’t want a complete re-design, we offer flexible services to help clients inject some design flair and cohesion into an outdated or dull existing garden. This means we can artfully design some wow-factor features and planting before carefully inserting them amongst the existing garden. Wherever possible, and if desired, we aim to reuse materials, lift and replant plants, recycle and rehome to reduce our impact on the planet.

These programmes are excellent sources of inspiration, but not based on real life prices. Design and labour costs are not included, materials are either donated in order to appear on TV or hugely discounted, and these programmes are not a ‘going concern’ with business costs and tax to pay.

If done well and with a strong design, yes it can. The outside of your house is your ‘red carpet’ and a gorgeously landscaped garden will turn buyers’ heads. Chic, simple and elegant garden design and quality landscaping create can get potential buyers weak in the knees. Studies have shown that a beautiful garden can add up to 20% more to a properties valuation.

A new garden design can occur all year round. Builds can commence all year, usually except Jan and Feb due to freezing temperatures and mud control in the UK. General planting and turf are best installed in spring or autumn, while trees/ hedging can be installed all year. Most planted material can be installed through summer heat, but extra care is needed with frequent watering and if your local area is prone to hosepipe bans there are restrictions you will need to be mindful of.

The design process takes a minimum of 6 weeks and can take up to 3 months, depending on our collective availability and the ease of decision making. Its best not to rush these decisions and to give enough time to reflect creatively before committing.

For the build this depends on the project complexity. Build scheduling commences as soon as the build contract is signed. It can take 1-3 months for the build to commence. When a build has started a small project can take a week, a medium project can take 3 weeks and larger projects can take months. All builds are balanced against multiple schedules for each specialist trade, so often need to be managed in non-consecutive days.

No, construction projects do not always run to initial estimates (budget or schedule). Projects occasionally go over their initial budget and/or exceed their planned timeline and others come in under. This is due to various factors, including, but not limited to:

• project complexity (multiple trades working in tight spaces delivering complex builds), scope changes (many small scope tweaks can be cumulatively impactful and new scope items will require a scope variation order)

• issues working in the ground (you cannot predict what you cannot see)

• deferred or changing decisions (client indecision or not being present on site during the build)

• weather

• material availability delays

• site access problems (difficult neighbours, tight sites, parking challenges)

• people management (sick days, availability, etc).

We offer pragmatic solutions to help clients manage their build. A 10-20 percent contingency is recommended.

Yes, it’s often the best way to manage finances. The essential phase is to complete the design process in order to set the overall game plan for change (a cohesive design is paramount), determine the maximum spend and to segment the build into phases that support a logical delivery. Sometimes it’s sections of the garden that get built, or it’s the hard landscaping year 1 and the planting in year 2. We always suggest alternative materials and ideas for keeping build costs to budget, and offer pragmatic solutions if client tastes don’t match their budget.

It’s important to realise that all materials and plants exposed to the elements have a lifespan.

Hard landscaping like driveways and brickwork, generally last longer than soft landscaping, potentially serving for years or even decades. Factors like material quality (high quality materials will inherently last longer), installation (to BSI standards by highly skilled trades), weather (extreme weather can effect durability), usage (the amount and type of traffic significantly) and maintenance (appropriate maintenance schedule) impact their lifespan.

Soft landscaping is not a ‘once and done’ endeavour. By understanding the lifespan of different soft landscaping elements, providing proper care and replacing planting when needed, you can ensure that your outdoor space remains beautiful and vibrant for many years to come

Tees and shrubs can last 20-60+ years, while herbaceous perennials can last 2-5+ years - careful pruning, feeding and watering will extend their lifespan. Shorter lifespan planting allows you to inject a different feel over time and keep the overall aesthetic fresh.

Rest assured, we provide all our clients with advice and support in keeping their garden investment looking at its best.