How much a landscape design costs and when it pays off
A design feels like an extra cost: “let’s just plant.” When landscape design saves money — and when you truly do not need it.
“Why pay for paper — let’s just plant” is something we hear regularly. Sometimes the client is right: a small front garden does not need a design. More often the design is the cheapest part of the garden and saves the largest sums.
What makes up the project price
Cost depends on plot size and depth of detail. A sketch design: zoning, paths, a principle planting scheme. A full design adds planting drawings with exact plant lists, irrigation and lighting schemes, and material specs. For most private plots a middle option is enough: sketch plus planting plan.
Where a design saves money
- Phasing: with a design you can build the garden over 3–4 years in stages that still form a whole. Without one, every stage fights the previous - Plants: an exact list lets you order wholesale from the nursery instead of topping up retail “whatever looked nice” - No rework: moving a path on paper takes a minute. In granite it costs hundreds of euros - Utilities: irrigation and lighting go into the ground once, where they are needed
When you do not need a design
If the job is point-specific: replace a lawn, plant a hedge along the fence, pave one path. A specialist visit and on-site marking are enough.
Our honest scheme: if you order the garden build from us, part of the design cost is deducted from the works price.