Expert Garden Design Service UK — Bringing Your Outdoor Vision to Life

Garden design fees vary based on garden size, complexity, and deliverables required. For a typical domestic garden in Dorset, expect design-only services (concept drawings, planting plans, specifications) to range from £600 to £2,500. Larger gardens, those requiring detailed 3D visualisations, or designs with complex engineering considerations will sit higher. We always provide transparent quotations following an initial consultation, and design fees are often credited against implementation costs if we carry out the work. Many clients find this investment saves substantially more in avoided mistakes, unsuitable plants, and redesign costs.

If you're refreshing a single border or adding a few specimens to an established garden, you may not need full design services — we're happy to advise on plant selection during a consultation. However, comprehensive redesigns, new-build gardens, spaces with challenging conditions (poor drainage, heavy shade, coastal exposure), or projects involving hardscaping benefit enormously from professional design. A plan ensures everything works together, prevents expensive repositioning later, and creates a cohesive vision rather than a collection of unrelated features. Think of it as an investment that pays dividends in reduced maintenance, better plant performance, and a garden you'll genuinely love.

Absolutely. We're happy to provide design-only services with comprehensive plans, planting schedules, and implementation guidance for confident DIY gardeners. Our documentation includes everything needed to purchase materials and plants, plus phasing recommendations if you're spreading work across seasons. We can also offer a hybrid approach — perhaps we handle hardscaping or specimen tree planting whilst you tackle border planting. Many clients appreciate having professional plans to work from, with the option to call on us for specific tasks or troubleshooting as the project progresses.

From initial consultation to final design handover, most residential garden design projects take 3-6 weeks, depending on complexity and revision rounds. We'll conduct the site visit, then typically present initial concepts within 10-14 days. After you've reviewed and provided feedback, refined plans and full documentation follow within another 2-3 weeks. Rush services can be arranged if you're working to tight timelines, and we're always mindful of seasonal planting windows. Clear communication throughout means you're never left wondering about progress.

We specify plants appropriate to project scale and budget. Many UK native species, popular cultivars, and reliable garden staples are readily available at quality nurseries. For more unusual specimens or specific varieties that perfect the design, we provide supplier recommendations and can often source directly from specialist growers we work with regularly. Plant schedules always include botanical names and suggested sizes, with alternatives noted where appropriate. Our local knowledge means we understand what's reliably available in the Dorset area and time specifications accordingly for seasonal availability.

Very much so. We're passionate about creating gardens that support UK wildlife whilst remaining beautiful and functional for homeowners. This includes incorporating native species that provide nectar, berries, and habitat, designing shelter areas for beneficial insects and small mammals, specifying pollen-rich planting for pollinators, and including water features where appropriate. Wildlife-friendly design doesn't mean wild or unkempt — we create structured, attractive gardens with strong seasonal interest that happen to be ecological powerhouses. Many coastal Dorset gardens we design become vital corridors for birds, bees, and butterflies.

Definitely. Most gardens have elements worth preserving — a mature tree providing structure, a well-built wall, an established shrub with sentimental value, or quality paving. During our site survey, we discuss what you'd like to retain and assess its condition and design potential. Successful garden design often involves sensitively integrating existing features into the new scheme, perhaps giving them renewed prominence or softening hard edges with complementary planting. We'll always be honest if something is compromising the design or in poor health, but we love working with gardens' histories where it makes sense.

Our planting plans include scaled layouts showing exact plant positions, comprehensive schedules listing botanical names, common names, quantities, and recommended pot sizes, seasonal interest notes so you understand the garden's year-round performance, and spacing guidance for healthy establishment. We group plants by cultural requirements (sun/shade, moisture, soil preference) and note eventual mature sizes. Planting plans also indicate layering — canopy trees, understorey shrubs, perennials, and ground cover — creating the structure and depth that makes gardens feel professionally designed. You'll have everything needed to purchase and position plants with confidence, plus ongoing access to our advice.