When considering a garden renovation, one of the biggest questions on everyone’s mind is landscaping costs. It’s common for people to have a budget in mind – but often, that budget is only a fraction of what it will actually take to bring their vision to life.
The truth is, with rising costs for materials, labour, and waste disposal, many garden projects will end up over budget, and prices are often higher than expected. That’s why managing expectations from the start is crucial, so you can avoid the shock of an unexpected quote and plan realistically for your new garden.
How Much Does Landscaping Cost?
Here are some average costs to keep in mind for 2024/25:
- Skip or Grabber Lorry (Soil Removal): £125 – £400
- General Labourer: £150 per day
- Skilled Labourer: £250 per day
- Paving: £110 per m²
- Bricks: £2 per brick
- Plants: £4.99 for a small plant to £150 for a small tree
- Top Soil: £50 per tonne
- MOT (Hardcore): £75 per tonne
To put that into perspective, if you have a budget of £5,000, you could afford something like:
- One skip for waste removal
- One skilled labourer for a week
- A 4-metre-long brick wall
- 20 small plants
- Two small trees
- Three tonnes of topsoil
- A 2m x 2m patio
- A timber pergola
Let’s face it, that’s not a very big space.
Setting a Realistic Budget
While £5,000 can undoubtedly help make some impactful changes, transforming an entire garden usually requires significantly more. A complete garden transformation often falls within the £30,000 to £100,000 range – or even more for larger properties, especially those with challenging features like level changes or retaining walls.
For more complicated plots, site preparation alone can cost over £5,000. Being realistic about what your budget can achieve is critical.
If your budget is on the smaller side, a great first step is to invest in the design work. Having a professional design gives you a goal to work towards and allows you to transform your garden over time, stage by stage, without the financial stress of doing everything all at once. We can advise on staging your build to keep costs managable.
We can help you transform your garden into a space you and your family can enjoy. If you’d like to discuss your project, get in touch below.