Setting a Budget for Your Garden Project
We’re often asked for advice on setting a budget for garden design and construction, so here are some answers to frequently asked questions.
How much will the garden build cost?
Three cost areas are involved in creating a new garden: garden design, hard landscaping, and planting. Hard landscaping takes up the most substantial proportion of the cost (on average, around 70-80%). The gardens featured in our gallery cost over £30,000 to build, and some cost more than £100,000.
Factors such as the surrounding topography and the availability of access for machinery also play a part in the cost of hard landscaping.
Installing a new garden should be considered an investment in your property, and a starting point to consider would be between 8-15% of the value of your home. A home worth £300,000 would mean a realistic budget of between £24,000 and £45,000.
Another way to estimate the cost of hard landscaping is to use a figure of £180-£250 per square metre. If your garden is 10m x 12m, the area is 120sqm, so a guideline landscaping budget would be £22k-£30k.
These figures are comparable with the cost involved in installing an extension, a new conservatory or a fitted kitchen, and an equivalent amount of work is required.
While this might sound like a substantial investment, consider the return – Ian Stuart of Savills Estate Agents wrote in the Financial Times that a designed garden could add 10-15% to the saleability of your home.
Why is it important to set a budget?
When working with you, we have one overriding objective: to deliver the best possible garden for your money. To do that, we need a realistic budget figure to work with.
The budget directly influences layout and materials in our designs. Without realistic figures, meeting expectations becomes challenging.
Are there ways to spread the build costs?
If you are committed to transforming your garden but don’t have the full amount available, building your garden in stages is possible. The first thing to do is to commission the design plans and have the garden build fully costed. Then you can decide which parts you can afford to have built now and which could wait until some time in the future.
We would be happy to provide you with advice on staging the build.
Another alternative, if you have the skills, is to build the garden yourself.
Funding solutions
Many clients fund projects through home improvement loans, mortgage extensions or equity release. Some landscapers offer finance, but compare rates or speak to your financial adviser first.
Want to find out more?
Book a discovery call to take the first step towards enjoying your new garden.