Tired of the way your garden looks? From elaborate water fountains to fixing soggy lawns, hiring a professional landscape gardener is the best solution. Landscapers can radically reshape your grounds in ways your average gardener can’t. And, for the most part, your only limitation is your budget.
So, how much does it cost to landscape your garden? This article explores the options available – from budget features to ornate sculpturing.
How much does a landscaped garden add to house value?
Estimates vary, but the evidence suggests that gardens increase the home’s value. This is especially true if they are large and include features like a patio, privacy and a garden room – which landscape gardeners can create.
For example, a study of 30 cities by the AA concluded that gardens add an average of 5% to the value in the UK – and in some areas, upwards of 10% more. So, even if you have a modest garden without much landscaping, it will add value to your house.
What should your landscape gardening budget include?
First, it’s a good idea to decide on the features you’d like to include when landscaping your garden. This will depend from person to person, but here are some of the most common features to consider:
- Flooring (e.g. patio, decking, gravel)
- Levelling & terraces
- Plants
- Grass & lawns
- Lighting
- Garden rooms*
The most significant decisions revolve around your flooring choices and any earthworks (e.g. ground levelling). This is where you’ll incur the highest costs and need to consider your expenses. For the most part, plants and lighting can be installed separately after deciding on any significant re-landscaping of your garden.
Garden landscaping ideas and possibilities are endless. So, your budget is the primary constraint for what you can achieve. Hiring a garden designer can expose you to even more ideas for your outdoor space.
*Some garden landscaping services may include garden room installation, but most do not. Suppose you decide you’d like a fancy outdoor office space. In that case, you must be prepared to foot the additional cost – which is often significant.
How much does it cost to landscape small, medium and large gardens?
How much does it cost to landscape small, medium and large gardens?Landscape gardening costs depend upon several factors.
- Features you install (e.g. patio, garden room etc.)
- Garden size, and how much of it you are landscaping
- Labour and time costs
- Your budget and requirements
That said, it’s possible to make some cost estimations based on garden size. Per square metre (psqm), the cheapest rates are about £50, while the higher end is about £220. So, the costs for different garden sizes can be estimated like this:
- Small (40 psqm): £2,000-£8,800
- Medium (100 psqm): £5,000-22,000
- Large (200 psqm): £10,000-£44,000
(Data based on Household Quotes figures)
Even so, for much more extensive gardens or bespoke patios, the cost could be much, much higher. Also, if you want to landscape your back garden and your front garden, you’ll need to factor in the extra costs and design work required to shape both spaces.
How much does sloped landscape gardening cost?
Sloped landscape gardening is a fundamental part of landscaping. Gardeners will use various techniques to raise or flatten slopes, create terraces or combine these techniques in different parts of the garden.
Additionally, they can install a near-limitless combination of features – from mosaic pathways to water features and outdoor lighting. The cost of landscaping depends on the features and services you require. Here is a breakdown of some of the average costs you can expect for different landscaping features and materials.
The cost to level a garden
Approximately: £800*
Sometimes, garden slopes are annoying. They can be a tripping hazard or drainage disaster, so landscapers can level the garden and even out the surfaces. For example, you can flatten the ground for a seating area or barbecue grill.
The average costs vary depending on the size of your garden and how much of it you want to reshape. Some traders charged a fixed price, while others may charge hourly rates.
The cost of creating a garden terrace
Approximately: £1500
This is the other half of levelling a garden. Landscapers will usually restructure your garden with multiple, terraced sections. These terraces can be made from various materials at different heights across your garden. The price of terracing varies according to the amount you need, the materials you want to use, and the difficulty of installing it. These terraces can be simple walls, or they can be designed as flower beds for additional aesthetic effect.
It’s common for it to cost £150 per square meter to terrace your garden, and the total cost will depend upon the size of the terraced areas.
The cost of garden flooring
Garden flooring comes in many shapes, forms and sizes. A simple circular space with gravel flooring is much cheaper than a solid mosaic patio. So you’ll need to consider your preferences.
How much does a garden patio cost?
Approximately: £65-£350 (psqm)
Garden patios aren’t cheap, but they’re an aesthetic and functional delight when installed tastefully. Patios are usually built to order, and landscapers will examine your garden space to weigh up the costs. When it comes to materials, the cheapest option is budget paving slabs (£65 psqm), while top-end flagstones can cost an intimidating £350 psqm. You’ll want to weigh your options and preferences carefully.
While material costs vary, the labour involved and your specific requirements are an even bigger influence. Budget paving in a townhouse backyard will be much cheaper than laying a patio designed to host a 30-person garden party!
Garden decking costs
Approximately: £65 (psqm)
Decking is a common and cost-effective way to add a functional platform to your garden. Costs vary according to the type of decking material you choose, and there are many styles to choose from.
Brick flooring costs
Approximately: £40 (psqm)
Brickwork is a cost-effective way to pave your garden. The amount you spend will depend upon the type of bricks you use and the amount of space you intend to cover with them.
Gravel surface costs
Approximately: £20 (psqm)
Gravel is the cheapest option available and is very versatile. It’s cheaper as a material, and involves much less labour to add to your garden.
Costs of laying your lawn
Obviously, your lawn is a crucial part of your garden, and the primary decision you’ll need to make is whether you’d like artificial or natural grass.
Grass Costs
You’ll want to weigh whether you want an authentic grass lawn or an artificial grass surface for your garden. There are pros and cons for both:
- Natural grass – £10 psqm. Natural grass is very cheap and easy for a landscape gardener to lay. For many who want to invest in landscape gardening, the real thing is the only option.
- Artificial grass – £45 psqm. If you don’t like the idea of garden maintenance and want an easy, practical solution that lasts – then artificial grass is best. The main advantage is that it lasts for a very long time and requires none of the time-consuming maintenance familiar to those with large grass lawns.
Additional landscaping costs
Landscaping costs really depend upon your project and requirements. Some services below are optional and additional costs you should consider when commissioning a landscaper.
- Landscape designers (£50-£200 per hour, or 10-20% of the installation cost): Almost all landscape gardeners offer some design services and advice. However, if you’re managing a larger project, you may want to start working with a garden designer to come up with a comprehensive plan. Depending on their services, you may charge for a few hours of their time for consultation. Or, they may take a percentage cut if they are both designing and landscaping the garden.
- Skip hire (£100-£300): You’ll need to hire a skip to remove rubble and garden waste, especially if you’re having a large amount of work done.
- Outside storage (£700+): If you need a garden shed or storage space, then you can expect to pay upwards of £700. Depending upon the service of your landscaper, they may be able to install it in addition to leaving space for it.
- Garden offices & rooms (£1500+): Garden offices and rooms can add significant costs to your landscaping endeavour – and vary widely. The minimum you can expect to pay is £1500 for a small shed with basic insulation and an electric power supply. Beyond that, costs can go virtually as high as you like. For example, creating a sizeable brick office building with heating, electrics, and full insulation will cost many times more – easily £15,000+. Also, if you’re creating a large office, you must get planning permission.
- Garden access costs: If your garden is difficult to access, this may mean that the work takes longer, and therefore become more expensive. For example, if you have minimal access to the back garden, then landscapers may not be able to use a small digger to remove soil quickly. This means they must spend more time doing manual labour to reshape your grounds.
- Seasonal costs: Landscapers commonly charge more seasonally, either when they are swamped with work, or when the conditions make landscaping more difficult. It’s best to weigh the costs of different providers to see when you can get the cheapest deal for your garden.
At the end of the day…
Your garden is your space, and the possibilities for reshaping it are endless. If you hire a professional landscaper, you can execute your ideas safely and easily, and if you hire a designer, you can improve the aesthetics of your garden even further. How much it costs to landscape your garden depends upon its design, and how much you’re willing to dedicate to your budget.
*Estimate costs derived from Check A Trade data