Typical London garden landscaping budgets
Small terrace garden (30–50m²) full redesign £8,500–£18,000: porcelain or natural stone paving 25–35m², small planting beds with mature shrubs, single boundary fence refresh, minimal lighting and irrigation. Medium garden (60–120m²) £18,000–£42,000: combination of paving (terrace + path) 40–60m², lawn or artificial turf 20–40m², 30–60m² planting with structural trees, full perimeter boundary treatment, garden lighting circuit, irrigation, water feature or pergola. Large garden (150m²+) £42,000–£85,000+: zoned design with multiple terraces and rooms, outdoor kitchen, hot tub or pool, mature 8–14m specimen trees, automated irrigation, integrated lighting and audio. Top-end Richmond/Wandsworth gardens routinely £85,000–£180,000 with bespoke joinery, water features, fully automated systems. London-specific cost drivers: site access (rear-garden access via side return adds £2,500–£8,500 for skip and material handling), clay soil drainage, restricted working hours in conservation areas, planning consents for boundary walls over 2m.
Hard landscaping rates
Porcelain paving (20mm vitrified) supply £55–£95/m²; install £85–£140/m²; total £140–£235/m² typical 2026 rates. Natural stone (Yorkstone, sandstone, limestone) supply £95–£180/m²; install £95–£160/m²; total £190–£340/m². Reclaimed Yorkstone (high-end Westminster/K&C spec) £180–£320/m² supply alone. Concrete pavers/granite setts £85–£140/m² supply; £85–£140/m² install. Path-grade gravel + edging £35–£75/m² total. Decking: composite (Trex, Millboard) £180–£280/m² installed; hardwood (iroko, balau) £220–£340/m²; softwood £85–£140/m² (5–8 year lifespan only). Sub-base preparation is critical and frequently underspecified: 150mm compacted MOT Type 1 + 30mm sharp sand + porcelain bedding = £45–£75/m² hidden cost. Skip on sub-base = surface failures within 3 years. Edging: granite kerb £55–£95 linear metre; aluminium edging £25–£55 linear metre; concrete kerb £45–£75 linear metre.
Planting, lawns and structural trees
Planting borders £45–£140/m² installed: lower range = standard 3L shrubs and perennials at 3–5 plants/m²; upper range = mature 10–25L shrubs and structural specimens. Mature multi-stem trees (4–8m height at planting) £450–£1,800 each + crane install for large specimens £450–£950. Specimen trees on Westminster/K&C/Wandsworth schemes commonly £2,500–£6,500 each (8–14m mature olive, Cornus controversa, Acer griseum, Liriodendron). Lawn options: turf supply + lay £8–£18/m² (instant lawn, requires irrigation and shade considerations); seed £2–£6/m² (8-week establishment); artificial turf £45–£95/m² installed (10–15 year lifespan, no maintenance, perfect for shaded London gardens where real grass struggles). Wildflower meadow £15–£35/m² seeded. Topiary balls/cones £180–£950 each by size. Pleached trees for screening £450–£1,200 each. Container plants for hard-landscaped gardens £85–£480 each including pot and substrate.
Drainage, lighting and integration with main house
London clay subsoil drains poorly — surface water runoff creates puddles and undermines paving. Standard SuDS strategy: permeable paving where possible (jointed porcelain on permeable bedding, gravel), linear drainage channels at hard/soft junctions, soakaways or rain gardens for collected water. Soakaway design £450–£950 (typically 2m³ chamber per 50m² hard surface). Surface drainage channels £85–£140 linear metre installed. Foul drainage for outdoor kitchen/garden WC: extending soil stack £450–£950. Garden lighting circuit: low-voltage 12V LED system £2,800–£8,500 fully designed and installed; transformer in garden plant cupboard or external IP-rated unit. Spike lights, recessed deck lights, uplighters on trees, path-edge bollards — 15–35 fittings typical. Integration with smart home (Lutron, Loxone, Hue Outdoor) +£1,800–£4,500. Irrigation: pop-up sprinklers for lawn, drip line for borders, controller with weather sensor — £1,800–£4,500 typical garden. Avoid expensive landscaping without irrigation in London — drought stress kills planting in first summer.
