Instant
01 · Ask
Patio, lawn or full redesign?
Describe the garden, the budget and the goal — the AI tells you whether it's a weekend job, a £5k facelift or a £30k redesign.
Install a pond or water feature.
Excavated, lined, pumped and filtered — EPDM liner, sized pump and Part P outdoor power.
✓ Updated May 2026✓ Free quotes✓ Vetted pros
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Hire a landscaper. Built to last a decade.
Read the brief on sub-bases, drainage and retention — then let three BALI/APL landscapers quote on the same drawing.
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02 · Read the brief
Walk in informed
Type 1 MOT depths, falls and drainage, planting timing, hard vs soft landscaping ratios. Know how to read the quote.
60 seconds
03 · Compare
Compare 3 landscaper quotes
Three local landscapers quote on the same drawing — materials, sub-base depths, drainage spec — so the cheapest isn't accidentally the shallowest.
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Get landscaper quotes Ready when you are
Enter your postcode and get free quotes from local pros.
Top tips
Hiring a landscaper, without the regret.
Four moves that separate a smooth job from a nightmare.
Insist on a scaled drawing before quoting.
On anything over £5k, a measured drawing — even sketched — is the basis of a fair quote. Vague specs mean vague quotes that creep at every change.
Get the sub-base in writing.
On patios and paths, the sub-base (Type 1 MOT, compacted) is where the job lives or dies. If they're not specifying depths and grades, walk.
Plan drainage before planting.
Surface water needs somewhere to go — soakaway, French drain, slot drain. Adding it after the lawn's down is twice the price.
Hold 10% retention for one growing season.
Trees, hedges and lawn settle over a year. Hold 10% until you've seen one full season — that's when settlement, dying plants and bad drainage surface.
Costs & timeline
Know what it costs. Know when it ends.
Indicative UK ranges and a typical week-by-week schedule.
Cost range
By job type
Inc. VAT · 2026
Source: NMT quotes
Source: NMT quotes
Day rate (lead landscaper)
£250–£450/day
New lawn (turf laid, per m²)
£12–£28/m²
Patio install (mid spec)
£100–£200/m²
Decking (composite, per m²)
£150–£280/m²
Garden redesign (full)Mid-size garden
£8k–£35k
Retaining wall (per linear m)1m high, block
£250–£500
!
Quote spread is typically ± 18% — always get 3 quotes.
Timeline
Mid-size garden redesign · week by week
Typical
5 phases · 6 wk
5 phases · 6 wk
W1
W2
W3
W4
W5
W6
Design + materials order
Clear + level + drainage
Hard landscaping
Soft landscaping + planting
Snags + handover
!
Schedule slips on dependencies — pad each phase by 10–20% for real-world delays.
At a glance
Infographic · VideoThe Landscaper briefing.
Infographic
Landscaper quick-view
Video guide
Landscaper explained
A garden pond looks simple but rewards proper engineering — wrong liner choice, undersized filter or no shelf for plants and the water goes green within months. Specialist landscapers know what to specify.
What's involved
- Excavation with shelves for marginal plants
- Underlay + EPDM or butyl liner (15+ year lifespan)
- Pump, filter, UV clarifier sized to volume
- Outdoor power supply (RCBO, IP68 cables) — Part P notifiable
- Edging, plants and (if requested) fish stocking
Typical UK costs (2026)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Small wildlife pond (2×2m) | £1,200–£2,800 |
| Formal koi pond (4×3m) | £3,500–£8,500 |
| Rill / formal water feature | £1,800–£5,500 |
| Pre-formed pond install | £700–£1,400 |
What to check
Liner type (EPDM lasts 30+ years, butyl 15+, PVC 8–10), pump turnover (whole pond volume every 2 hours), and that the outdoor electrics are Part P certified.
This guide was written with AI assistance and is intended for general information only. Prices are estimates based on UK averages and may vary by region. Always get at least three quotes and consult a qualified professional before starting any work.
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