Landscaping
Landscaping: from a design to a finished garden
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A landscaping project is mostly groundwork. The planting and the paving people notice come last; before that there are levels to set, soil to move, drainage to plan and waste to take away. Getting those early decisions right is what separates a garden that still works in ten winters from one that floods by the back door. Describe your garden once and the request goes to one landscaper who covers your area.
- Exactly one business. Your request is handed out once. After that, no other business sees it.
- You know who will be in touch. Before the business receives your contact details, we send you its name, address and phone number.
- Withdraw at any time. You can withdraw your consent at any time – using the link in our email.
Design first, or design and build
Some people commission a garden designer, get a scaled plan and planting scheme, and then ask landscapers to build it. Others go to a landscaping firm that designs and builds. A separate design gives you a fixed document that any contractor can price and makes it easier to phase the work over several years. Design and build is simpler to manage, but the design is then tied to that firm.
Either way, the plan should show levels, not only shapes. A lawn that looks flat on paper may fall towards the house; a raised terrace changes how rainwater runs. A survey of existing levels, services and drainage runs is money well spent before anything is dug.
What a new garden build usually involves
The order of work matters. Clearance and removal come first, then groundworks and drainage, then hard landscaping such as walls, steps and paving, then topsoil, planting and turf. Lawns laid from turf give an instant result; seeding is cheaper but needs time and the right season. Planting is best done when the ground is workable and not frozen or baked dry, which is why many landscapers plan planting for autumn or spring.
Ponds need a liner or preformed shell, a sensible depth and a plan for overflow in heavy rain. If young children live in or visit the house, talk to the landscaper about a grille, a raised edge or leaving the pond until later. Irrigation systems connected to the mains must meet the water fittings regulations, which protect drinking water from backflow; your water company can advise on what is needed.
- site survey: levels, existing drains, services, soil
- clearance, muck-away and how waste is disposed of
- drainage for lawns, paving and retaining walls
- hard landscaping: walls, steps, edging, paving
- topsoil depth and quality, turf or seed
- plant list with sizes, and who replaces plants that fail
- ponds, lighting, irrigation and outdoor power
Rules that can apply to a garden project
Most garden work needs no permission, but a few elements do. Paving a front garden with an impermeable surface over a certain size needs planning permission in England, and raised decking and platforms can too. Garden buildings and outbuildings have permitted development limits on height, position and the share of the plot they cover, and listed buildings and conservation areas bring extra controls. A new circuit for garden lighting or a pond pump is notifiable electrical work under Part P, and in Wales any outdoor electrical work counts as a special location.
Trees are the other trap. Before a landscaper removes or cuts back a tree, check whether it has a Tree Preservation Order or stands in a conservation area; the council can tell you. Hedge work also needs care in spring and summer, because it is an offence to damage or destroy an active wild bird nest.
Waste, access and the neighbours
Landscaping produces a lot of spoil, old paving and green waste. A business that carries waste away must be a registered waste carrier, and you can check the registration on GOV.UK. If waste from your garden ends up fly-tipped, the householder can be held responsible, so ask where it goes.
Access decides a good part of the price. A garden reached only through the house means everything goes through by hand or with small machines, protected floors and more labour. If a skip or grab lorry has to stand on the road, the council may need to issue a permit, and the landscaper should include that.
What a landscaping quote should make clear
Two quotes for the same drawing can differ because one includes drainage and the other does not, or one allows for a depth of sub-base the other skips. Ask for the scope in writing, the materials by name, and what is excluded. Staged payments tied to finished phases are common on larger jobs; avoid paying most of the price before work starts. Ask whether planting comes with any replacement if plants die in the first season, and what aftercare the firm expects you to do.
Sending one request to one landscaper
Tell us the size of the garden, what exists now and what you want. We check your phone number by text and your email by link, then offer the request anonymously to landscapers in your area. One firm can buy it and pays Offrano for it; you pay nothing. Before that firm receives your details, we email you its name, address and phone number.
It may happen that no landscaper takes a request; after 21 days it is withdrawn. You are not bound to accept a quote. Offrano verifies only that the buyer is a registered business, so look at the firm's previous projects, ask for references and confirm its waste carrier registration yourself.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a garden designer as well as a landscaper?
Not always. For a simple layout, a design-and-build landscaper is often enough. For a complex garden with level changes, a planting scheme or work phased over years, an independent design gives you a plan you own and can have priced by any contractor.
When is the best time of year for a garden build?
Hard landscaping can go ahead most of the year, although heavy rain and frost slow groundworks. Planting and new lawns do best in autumn or spring. Many landscapers book up for spring, so asking in late winter helps.
Do I need planning permission for landscaping?
Usually not for planting, lawns or low walls. Paving a front garden with an impermeable surface over the size limit, raised decking, higher boundary walls, outbuildings beyond permitted development, and work in a conservation area or around a listed building can need permission. Ask your council if unsure.
Can the landscaper remove trees at the same time?
Often, but check first whether any tree is protected by a Tree Preservation Order or stands in a conservation area. Large or awkward trees are a job for a tree surgeon with the right training and insurance.
What happens to the soil and rubble that is dug out?
It should be taken away by a registered waste carrier or reused on site where it is suitable. Ask the landscaper how waste is handled and check the registration on GOV.UK, because illegally dumped waste can be traced back to you.
How many landscapers will see my contact details?
One: the firm that buys your request. We email you who it is before your details are passed on, and the request is then removed from our shop.
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