How Much Does a Planting Design Transformation Cost?

When a client contacts me about planting design it's usually when they've realised that they need help from a professional when selecting, combining and planting the right plants for the right place in their garden.  I've been working with plants for 21+ years and over that time I've developed a wealthy of knowledge and expertise about which plants work well together and where, when they need to be planted, how they will grow and how to care for them.  When you're considering asking us to  transform the planting in your garden, how much will it cost?

There are a few things to consider when you're thinking about budgets for a planting design project:

How big is your garden?  The size of space to be transformed has a huge effect on the overall costs. Large gardens take considerable time to design, prepare and plant, plus there will be large quantities soil improver and plants needed ...

What is the scale of the project?
Is the space a blank canvas, an established garden or an overgrown wilderness? If you are looking to create new planting areas in a lawn, then there is little preparation work to be carried out - simply remove the turf, turn the ground and incorporate soil improving materials. Most gardens have some existing planting which will need to be removed or pruned before the ground preparation and planting can start, so they'll be additional labour and waste removal costs. For those with a wild overgrown garden, it's likely that a team of landscapers and machinery will be required to clear the site. Skips or grab lorries are often used for waste plant/soil removal so the more you have the higher the cost. 

What is access to the site like and how does the land lie?
Straight forward flat sites with wide easy access are a landscapers dream, there are fewer hours spent to-ing and fro-ing and fewer issues with moving materials around the sight. Bear in mind that sites with awkward access, sloping ground or minimal space to work in will cost more to transform. 

What are you hoping to achieve?
A traditional country garden mix of shrubs, perennials and grasses with the occasional small tree is the most cost effective way of greening up a garden. If your tastes are more tropical or you're looking for instant wow factor with specimens, then plants for these styles will be more expensive.

So what should you budget for?
In order to transform a space with planting, there'll be several phases - the creation of the Planting Design Package, the garden clearance and soil preparation by a landscaper and finally the planting.  When clients have asked us to design, clear, prep the soil and plant up the garden, we consider projects with a minimum of 50 square metres of planting, so that we are cost effective for the clients.
In my experience, areas of 50sq/m cost from £8k+ for design, clearance of existing planting, soil improvement and planting using a traditional mix of shrubs, perennials and grasses. Areas larger than 100sq/m cost from £12k+ depending on the scale of works required. It is possible to spend considerably more on larger gardens. These rough costs are very much dependent on the factors outlined above and each project is unique.

How much does it cost for planting design?
The costs of a planting transformation outlined above, takes into consideration the Design, ground prep and Planting of the garden.  The actual design element is a small proportion of these costs. Typical fees for a Planting Design Package start from £850+vat for a small garden and from £1500+vat for medium - larger gardens.
We are happy to simply create the Planting Design Package for you to plant up yourselves. If you would like us to design, clear, prep the soil and plant then we have a minimum size area of 50 sq/m, in order to be cost effective for the client and time efficient for ourselves.   
Want to know what's included in a planting design package? Take a look at this article for more info:  Planting Design Package   

In conclusion, when it comes to planting design and installation the square meterage of ground to be planted has a strong correlation with costs. A starting figure of £8k for design, installation and planting for a small easy to access garden is feasible. If you are lucky enough to have a larger garden then be prepared to spend from £12-30k+ and above to achieve the results you require. ​​  If you are simply looking for a set of planting plans then the fees for a Planting Design Package cost from £850+vat for small gardens and from £1500+vat for medium - larger gardens. 

Author: Bel Grierson of Bel Grierson Garden Design Limited

Expert Plantswoman,  Garden and Planting Designer with 21+ years experience in horticulture.  Bel loves to share her knowledge and enthusiasm with those with gardens large and small.​

Bel Grierson offers Garden and Planting Design in Loughborough, Leicestershire and beyond. Bel is an experienced Garden and Planting Designer and Plantswoman with 21+ years experience in the industry. A fully qualified horticulturalist and designer, Bel’s expertise enables her to design, create, rejuvenate and manage beautiful gardens for clients, listening to their needs and desires for the space. Bel offers a flexible service tailored to suit each project and the client requirements. Services offered by Bel Grierson Garden Design include: 2D Garden Design Plans, 3D Garden Design Visuals, Scope of works for landscapers, Setting Out Plans for landscapers, Planting Plans, Maintenance Schedules, Plant sourcing, Planting services.

Bel Grierson Garden Design Ltd is based in the East Midlands and offers services to clients in Loughborough, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicester and across ​Leicestershire, South Derbyshire & South Nottinghamshire.

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