One question I get asked frequently on this site is, 'Why is garden design expensive?' and my answer is that garden design isn't expensive; it's good value for money given the vast multidisciplinary skills that go into making a successful garden design.
Garden designers should not be cheap. Combining plant knowledge, design skills, project management, and client requirements into one service is a very considered skill. Most quality garden designers will have trained for years, if not decades, and be well-versed in blending multiple disciplines to bring you your dream garden. It is not just one skill; it's a multitude of them packaged up as a garden designer.
When searching for a Garden designer online, you can quickly perceive it as an indulgence reserved for the wealthy, given some of the incredibly high-end work that pops up on social media and Google. But garden design is a versatile service that can cater to various budgets and needs. In my experience, the majority of garden designs in the UK are small urban plots and not just high-end mega gardens.
Whether you have oodles of money burning a hole in your garden design budget or a few thousand, a skilled garden designer's services can help you get the very best out of your design budget. Understanding the costs of garden design involves looking beyond the surface and appreciating the elements that contribute to creating a functional and beautiful outdoor space.
I find it disappointing to receive comments from people at events stating that garden design is 'too expensive'. This may be because good design will come with a responding price tag. You wouldn't expect to get a piece of fine artwork for a discount price, so why do people believe that garden design or gardening should be at the lowest possible price point? It shows that the expectation for quality garden design work is at a lower price point, probably because most people have no idea how much skill goes into competent garden design. It's an art, a science and a niche skill set. A great designer will save you money and avoid mistakes compared to an amateur designer or beginner.
It' also stems from magazine articles and TV shows displaying 'high-end design' with eye-watering price tags. These designs are priced to be exclusive, and these 'high cost' designs make the headlines, not the thousands of other small urban garden designers. You rarely get to see the full picture regarding the cost of garden design.
This article will explore the factors influencing garden design costs and provide insights into whether it’s worth investing.
Garden design comprises of two distinct costs, which are worthwhile separating out. These two costs are:
When considering the costs of garden design, people tend to fall into two traps. They focus on the cost of the designer's time to draw up their dream garden and forget the build costs or the converse, where they look at the overall cost and ignore the fact that the designer will have a fee, too. In reality, you need to look at both the overall budget and the design fee in tandem.
The cost of garden design varies widely depending on several factors, including the scope of the project, the materials used, and the expertise required. Here’s a breakdown of key elements that impact the cost:
It makes sense that the larger the garden, the more expensive a garden design will be in terms of drawing up the design and also its landscaping. Whilst the logic is true, garden design does not mean you must design every inch and reinvent the wheel. So, just because you have a large garden doesn't mean your design and build costs need to be excessive; it depends on the parts of the garden you will work with. Being selective can be the best method to make your budget go further in larger gardens.
For the most part larger gardens do require more time and resources to design and implement, increasing overall costs compared to smaller gardens. Smaller gardens can be more affordable but still require careful planning to maximize space, and certain design fees won't reduce due to size; after all, a survey and the same amount of creative process with mood boards and consultations still need to happen.
Choosing the right garden designer is probably the most important part of all garden design. In my experience, the garden designer will ultimately control the overall design, material choices, and planting plans, thus affecting the expense of the garden. Rather than the question of expensive vs cheap garden design, it's worth considering the experience level of the designers you are looking at hiring.
Hiring an experienced or award-winning designer typically costs more but can deliver exceptional results. An experienced designer will avoid mistakes and poor design choices compared to a trainee, and you can benefit from their network of suppliers.
Junior designers, however, should not be completely written off, or those early in their careers may offer more affordable rates and fresh ideas. The key requirement is that they have the relevant experience, qualifications or portfolio to explain why they are the best choice for your garden and budget.
I've seen many dissatisfied clients who chose a landscaper (rather than a specialist garden designer) who didn't have enough design experience to save costs. They tend to end up with a poor design that may be on a budget but doesn't deliver the wow factor or look piecemeal.
The complexity of your proposed garden design will also influence the overall cost. Simple designs focused on functionality are usually less expensive than intricate layouts involving bespoke features, multiple zones, or elaborate planting schemes. Part of the beauty of a fabulous garden design is often simplicity. If a designer tries to show off their entire creative tool kit with fussy, overly complicated designs, you not only pay the price in terms of costs but also can end up with a high-maintenance garden nightmare. Less really is more with design.
Hsrdlandscaoing elements such as patios, decking, pathways, water features, and pergolas can significantly add to the cost of a garden design, especially if you want to use high-quality materials like natural stone or hardwood, which are pricier than manufactured concrete pavers or softwood alternatives. Sometimes, using one high-end material as a focus point and then choosing more budget-friendly options can be a better approach if you need to save cash.
Landscaping material choices are one of the quickest ways to blow your garden design budget when in reality, it's the plants and soft landscaping features that often create the perfect garden, not Italian marble or composite decking choices!
The selection of plants and their sizes when planted influences costs significantly. Mature specimens or rare plants are more expensive than young or commonly available varieties. The time of year our garden is built also influences the costs of your plant list.
Planting in autumn using bare root specimens can save a significant amount, although you don't get that immediate wow factor. However, autumn planting requires far less watering, weeding, and maintenance, and it is actually a better way to implement a garden design.
Most people, however, opt for spring or summer build when the weather is nicer, meaning you are choosing pot-grown plants. The bigger the pot, such as 5lt vs little P9 pots, will influence both the cost of each plant and the amount of water needed. On Garden Rescue, for example, most plants ate 2lt or 5lt pots, requiring significant watering. In my real-life design practice, p9 or 1lt is often far better for clients in terms of cost and maintenance until the plants establish a solid root system.
Costs can vary depending on where you live, which is a sad fact. Urban areas with higher living costs or regions with limited access to materials and labour may see increased prices. You see this frequently in London and the South Coast vs the North in the UK. Whilst I'd love to see complete parity in costs regardless of where you live, you will pay significantly more near a capital city than in more regional areas.
Features like lighting design, irrigation systems, and maintenance plans can enhance a garden’s functionality and add to the final bill. I call these gotchas as often they are tagged on as the build starts, and suddenly, you end up with scope creep, and your budget gets blown. The same happens with drainage, grids and utilities in the garden, so always make sure you have discussed these with your garden designer early doors so they don't come around and bite you on the behind!
While every garden design project is unique, here’s a rough guide to what you can expect to pay at different budget levels for a garden designer in the UK:
Ideal for small gardens or simple layouts. Typically, it includes design consultations and basic plans without detailed implementation, such as technical drawings, topography or building plans. Usually takes between 2-6 months to implement, depending on complexity.
Includes more detailed garden designs, planting plans, and professional project management for medium-sized spaces with an accredited, experienced or award-winning designer. The timescales are usually 6-12 months.
Comprehensive services covering large gardens, bespoke features, and luxury finishes often involve multiple contractors, premium materials, technical specs and blueprints, and multiple project managers and contractors. These designs often take at least 12 months to 2 years to implement.
Obviously, as a garden designer, I'm going to say yes. Still, I'd like to detail why garden design is both a valuable and cost-effective way to redevelop any garden compared to a beginner just 'having a go'. Investing in garden design offers several benefits:
A cohesive garden design reduces costly mistakes, such as poorly chosen plants or inefficient layouts. The same is true with landscaping quantities and estimates. Without a design, you will have no clear idea of the quantities of plants, materials, and labour needed. This leads to your design quickly running out of cash and your original ideas being reduced or removed completely.
Compared to a basic lawn and flower bed configuration, a well-executed, cohesive garden design will add value to your property. If you have a garden designed by an award-winning gardener, then this can also be used in your marketing material when selling your property! A well-designed garden can significantly increase a property’s market value, often recouping the initial costs and making selling that bit easier.
Let's be honest: everyone is trying to utilise as much of their house space as possible, and the garden is no exception. Professional garden designers can maximize the potential of your outdoor area, ensuring it meets your aesthetic and practical needs. It also adds extra rooms or space to your home, especially with suitable garden buildings and design layouts, meaning you can utilise more of your property's space.
Garden designers tailor gardens to reflect your personality and lifestyle, creating a space you’ll love to use and showcase. Resulting in a truly personalised space. I consider this a bit like interior design for your garden. Most people like to have their own unique stamp on the inside of their homes, and the garden is no exception!
Whilst garden design can help you save money in the long term, you also need to keep control over the 'project costs' to ensure that scope creep doesn't take your original budget away. If you’re concerned about the costs of garden design, here are some tips to make garden design more affordable:
Communicate your financial constraints to your garden designer to ensure realistic planning from the get-go. Whilst all clients will have a budget, make sure you've set a realistic budget. If you've only got £3k, then you need to be pragmatic about what you can achieve, especially if £500-£1000 is spent on design. Likewise, if you have a healthy £25-40k garden design budget, then adding large outdoor rooms and structures can quickly eat into that, considering an outdoor office can be anywhere between £10-20k.
Focus on essential elements and consider adding luxury items in stages as your budget allows. I always opt to focus on what the client will be doing in the garden 90% of the time as the main priority. When working with a designer, keep track of your garden priorities to ensure your potentially never-ending needs and wishes don't consume the budget. This then takes you away from the essential components, i.e. a greenhouse, outdoor office or seating area, by adding things that don't feature in your absolute key needs, i.e. hot tubs, outdoor kitchen and helipads!
One way to keep your budget down is to look for durable yet affordable hard landscaping materials such as wood and paving. These options often multiply the cost as you move from machine-made concrete pavers to real stone and the same from heat-treated softwood to hardwood. For the most part, switching these potentially high-need materials to more budget-conscious choices has little effect on the success or impact of your garden but can help save you thousands of pounds.
While complex tasks require professionals, more straightforward jobs like planting plans, laying turf, creating gravel paths or even assembling complex furniture yourself can save money. If you can undertake parts of the build yourself, you save on the labour costs and can actually get far more enjoyment/learning from the design process than if you contract landscapers or builders to do it for you!
One of the last considerations that people forget when redesigning their garden is the ongoing maintenance of the garden. When working with a designer, ensure they design a garden that suits your ability to maintain it, avoiding expensive upkeep. Whilst you may be able to technically afford this dream garden, consider if you will need a gardener to maintain this and consider that cost!
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Garden design may initially seem expensive, but it’s a worthwhile investment for those seeking a personalized, functional, visually appealing outdoor space. By understanding the factors that influence costs and employing strategies to manage your budget, you can achieve a garden that enhances your quality of life and adds value to your home. Whether you’re dreaming of a tranquil retreat or an entertainer’s paradise, professional garden design can help turn your vision into reality. So, to answer the question, garden design is not expensive. It's a high-value skill that should be celebrated, not bargained, to get the lowest cost possible!
If you liked this article, why not check out my social media, where you can Tweet, Facebook, or Instagram me? Why not visit my YouTube channel for garden design hints and tips? I'd love to hear from you!
Happy Gardening!
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