HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BUILD A GARDEN
THE COST OF CREATING A GARDEN
So, you want to know how much it costs to build a garden? There are different ways to estimate the cost of redesigning a garden. We often recommend to clients that they use a ballpark of £250-£300 per square metre – of course there are always variables within this, but it gives an indication. The figure is reached by averaging out the cost of high spend areas like terraces and low spend areas like lawns. This works for an average garden, but if you have a larger plot, with an area of meadow, say, the cost per metre will be significantly less. Equally, high-spec materials and complex construction methods will exceed the upper end of this figure. Design fees are calculated in two ways. Some designers take a percentage of the overall value of the project – generally between 8 and 15% (they will need to know your build budget for this) – and others, like us, charge for their time.
GARDEN DESIGN COSTS: HARDSCAPE VERSUS SOFTSCAPE
Hardscape tends to cost more than planting, roughly double in fact. Plants and lawns come in much cheaper per square metre than a terrace, deck or path. Gravel is about as cost effective as it gets in terms of hardscape – although it requires a similar base to pavers, no cuts, mortar or grouting is needed, making it much less labour intensive. Reusing existing stone pavers that are already on site can make for a monetary saving in terms of materials, but remember to factor in the labour costs of cleaning them up and re-setting them; you might be surprised at how expensive this is. A light touch on hardscape will no doubt reduce cost, however most gardens require some element of hardstanding – for instance thresholds to doorways, or seating areas – but a good designer will utilise the space and materials for maximum efficiency (as well, of course, as making it work visually).
GARDEN DESIGN COSTS: SIZE ISN’T EVERYTHING
Small gardens often work out costing more per square metre than large gardens. With larger gardens, the higher spend is often given to the area closest to the house – with smaller plots, the area closest to the house may in fact equate to the entire garden! So what constitutes a higher spend area? The ratio of hardscape to planting is usually higher on a smaller plot – a seating or dining area is on most people’s wish-list, regardless of the size of the site, and there may be more need for complex structures, like retaining walls, near the house. Equally the planting itself may be less ‘broad brush’ in its approach. Individual perennial plants for instance may be planted to give a meadow-like aesthetic rather than sowing an actual meadow or buying meadow turf. In a small garden, larger, more mature specimen trees may be chosen over small ones – either for impact, shade or privacy. Trees take years to grow and for areas nearer the house, you may not be willing to wait years for the tree to fulfil its function – its height may be an important for visual impact; it may be required to shade a seating area, or maybe it’s been specified to screen neighbouring houses. It might be easier to wait it out if you own a larger plot. In turn the design fee may not be proportionate to the size of the plot – although smaller plots tend to command less fee, it will depend on the complexity of the site.
DESIGNING A GARDEN TO A BUDGET
Employing a garden designer will help you achieve an economical design for your garden. A designer will be able to advise you of the high spend areas are help you adapt and prioritise your wish-list accordingly. It should be possible to design to a budget, but first it is important to establish that the budget is realistic. It’s all too easy to think about materials and forget about labour costs of building the garden – although the cost of labour can range depending on who quotes, the cost of quality labour is nevertheless significant. Our clients tell us that the support and advice we provide at the tendering stage, and our relationship with the landscaping contractor, is invaluable to bringing in the project on budget.