Garden Landscaping in London
Soil Sisters provides professional garden landscaping across London, from compact courtyard makeovers in Islington to full rear garden transformations in Richmond. We are a design-led practice, which means every landscaping project starts with a proper design before anyone picks up a spade. That matters because a well-planned garden costs less to build, lasts longer, and actually works for the way you live.
Whether you need a new patio laid, borders replanted, fencing replaced, or a complete garden redesign and build, we handle the full scope. Call us on 0203 834 9807 or get in touch online for a free consultation and site visit.
What Our Garden Landscaping Service Includes
Garden landscaping is a broad term. Here is exactly what you get when you work with us.
Hard Landscaping
The structural bones of your garden. We design and install:
- Patios in porcelain, natural sandstone, limestone and granite setts
- Garden paths, steps and level changes with retaining walls
- Timber and composite decking
- Close-board, slatted and hit-and-miss fencing
- Brick and rendered garden walls
- Raised beds in sleepers, brick or corten steel
- Drainage, soakaways and SuDS-compliant surface water management
We also handle the less glamorous bits that cheaper quotes leave out: excavation, sub-base preparation, waste removal and skip hire. If it is not in the quote, it ends up as a surprise on the invoice. Ours are fully itemised.
Soft Landscaping
The planting and green elements that bring a garden to life:
- Bespoke planting design with seasonal interest and year-round structure
- Lawn laying (turf or seed) with proper soil preparation
- Border planting with specimen shrubs, perennials, grasses and ground cover
- Hedge planting for privacy and screening
- Tree planting, including semi-mature specimens
- Green walls and vertical planting for tight spaces
Garden Landscaping Costs in London
London landscaping costs more than the national average. Labour rates are higher, access is often restricted, and materials cost more to deliver to a terraced house with no rear gate than to a suburban plot with a wide driveway. That said, here are realistic 2026 figures based on our recent projects across south east and south west London.
| Project Type | Typical Scope | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Small garden makeover (up to 30 sqm) | New patio, fencing, turf, basic planting | £3,500 to £8,000 |
| Mid-range project (30 to 60 sqm) | Patio, decking, full planting scheme, lawn, fencing | £8,000 to £22,000 |
| Full garden transformation (60 to 100 sqm) | Hard and soft landscaping, drainage, lighting, premium materials | £22,000 to £50,000+ |
Cost Per Square Metre
| Element | Budget | Mid-Range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patio (porcelain, supplied and laid) | £85/sqm | £120/sqm | £160/sqm |
| Patio (Indian sandstone, supplied and laid) | £55/sqm | £80/sqm | £100/sqm |
| Composite decking (inc. subframe) | £120/sqm | £150/sqm | £200/sqm |
| Turf (supply, prep and lay) | £10/sqm | £15/sqm | £20/sqm |
| Planting (supply, soil prep and plant) | £30/sqm | £55/sqm | £90/sqm |
| Close-board fencing (per linear metre) | £80/m | £110/m | £150/m |
What Affects the Price
The biggest cost driver in London is access. If materials have to come through the house or over a narrow side gate, that adds labour time and limits the plant machinery we can use. A typical restricted-access job adds £1,500 to £4,000 to groundworks alone.
Other factors: garden size, material choices (porcelain vs concrete can double the hard landscaping cost for the same area), level changes requiring retaining walls (£800 to £2,500 per linear metre), drainage requirements on London clay, and how much clearance and excavation is needed before the build starts.
Our quotes are fully itemised so you can see exactly where the money goes. No lump sums, no surprises. For a detailed breakdown of garden design fees separately, see our garden design budget guide.
How We Work: From First Call to Finished Garden
Every project follows the same process, whether it is a small patio replacement or a full garden overhaul.
- Free consultation and site visit. We come to you, look at the space, talk through what you want, flag any issues (drainage, access, trees with TPOs) and give you a rough budget range on the spot.
- Design. We produce a full garden design including a 3D visual so you can see exactly what the finished garden will look like before any work starts. Design fees start from £1,500.
- Detailed quote. An itemised quote broken down by materials, labour, groundworks, planting and drainage. Every line priced, nothing hidden.
- Build. Our build team handles everything: clearance, excavation, hard landscaping, soft landscaping, lighting and irrigation. One team, one project manager, no subcontractor roulette.
- Handover and aftercare. We walk you through the finished garden, provide a planting care guide, and offer ongoing maintenance if you want it.
Most small to mid-range London garden landscaping projects take 2 to 4 weeks from start of build. Larger projects with significant hard landscaping or level changes can run 4 to 8 weeks. We will give you a realistic timeline at the quoting stage.
Why Design-Led Landscaping Costs Less in the Long Run
Most landscaping firms in London are trade-first. They will lay a patio, put up a fence, turf the rest and call it done. It works, but it is not designed. The proportions might be off. The planting might not suit the aspect. The drainage might be an afterthought.
We start with the design because it means fewer costly changes during the build, better material choices, planting that actually thrives in your specific conditions (shade, clay, north-facing, whatever the challenge), and a garden that adds genuine value to your property. A well-designed garden in London can add 5 to 15 percent to a property's market value.
See examples of our completed landscaping projects on our portfolio page.
Areas We Cover Across London
We work right across London, with particular strength in south, south east and south west London. Our team knows the soil conditions, planning quirks and access challenges borough by borough.
South West London
Fulham, Chelsea, Hammersmith, Barnes, Putney, Wandsworth, Battersea, Clapham, Wimbledon, Richmond, Kingston
South East London
SE London, Greenwich, Lewisham, Dulwich, Peckham, Bromley, Beckenham, Blackheath, Eltham, Woolwich
Central and North London
Kensington, Islington, Camden, Hackney, Hampstead, Highgate, Stoke Newington, Crouch End
We also serve the home counties surrounding London, including Kent, Surrey, Essex and Buckinghamshire.
London Garden Challenges We Handle Every Week
London gardens come with their own set of problems. We deal with all of them regularly.
- London clay. Heavy clay soil dominates most of the capital. It drains poorly, waterlogging lawns and borders in winter and baking hard in summer. We specify drainage from the design stage and choose plants that cope with clay.
- No rear access. Victorian and Edwardian terraces rarely have rear gates wide enough for a wheelbarrow. Materials go through the house, or over walls. We plan for this in the quote so it does not become a mid-project cost shock.
- Overlooked gardens. Privacy is a constant request. We use a combination of screening plants, slatted fencing, raised planting and pergolas to create shelter without making the garden feel like a box.
- Shade. North-facing gardens, basement courtyards, and spaces hemmed in by extensions all get limited light. Our planting schemes are tailored to the actual light conditions, not a generic plant list.
- Conservation areas and TPOs. Several London boroughs have strict rules on what you can do in conservation areas or near protected trees. We check before we design, not after the build starts.
Related Services
Garden landscaping often overlaps with our other London services. Depending on what your garden needs, you might also want:
- General landscaping services in London
- Hard landscaping (patios, paths, walls, fencing)
- Patio design
- Garden design and build (full service from concept to completion)
- Garden renovation
- Planting design
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does garden landscaping cost in London?
A small garden makeover (up to 30 sqm) typically costs £3,500 to £8,000. A mid-range project with patio, planting, decking and fencing runs £8,000 to £22,000. Full garden transformations with premium materials and multiple features start at around £22,000 and can exceed £50,000 for larger or more complex gardens. Cost per square metre ranges from £60 to £250 depending on materials and scope.
How long does a garden landscaping project take in London?
Most small to mid-range projects take 2 to 4 weeks once the build starts. Larger projects with significant hard landscaping, retaining walls or drainage work can take 4 to 8 weeks. The design stage before that typically takes 2 to 3 weeks. We always provide a timeline at the quoting stage so you know what to expect.
Do I need planning permission for garden landscaping in London?
Most rear garden landscaping falls under permitted development and does not require planning permission. However, if you are paving more than 5 sqm of a front garden with non-permeable materials, you do need permission. Conservation areas and listed buildings have additional restrictions. Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) prevent you from removing or significantly pruning protected trees without council consent. We check all of this at the design stage.
What is the difference between hard and soft landscaping?
Hard landscaping covers the built, structural elements: patios, paths, walls, fencing, decking, raised beds and drainage. Soft landscaping covers the planted and living elements: lawns, borders, hedges, trees and ground cover. Most garden projects involve both. A good design balances them so the garden feels structured without being stark, and green without being chaotic.
Can you work in a garden with no rear access?
Yes, and we do it regularly across London. Many Victorian and Edwardian terraces have no rear gate or a side passage too narrow for bulk materials. We plan the logistics at the quoting stage, factor in any additional labour for hand-carrying materials, and protect your hallway and flooring if materials need to come through the house. The extra cost for restricted access is typically £1,500 to £4,000 depending on the project scope.
Do you provide a garden design before building?
Always. Every Soil Sisters landscaping project starts with a proper garden design, including scaled plans and a 3D visual. This is not a sketch on the back of an envelope. You see exactly what the finished garden will look like before any work starts, which means fewer changes, fewer surprises, and a better result. Design fees start from £1,500.
What areas of London do you cover?
We work across all London boroughs, with particular concentration in south west London (Fulham, Chelsea, Wandsworth, Richmond, Putney), south east London (Greenwich, Lewisham, Dulwich, Bromley, Beckenham) and central London (Kensington, Islington, Camden). We also cover Kent, Surrey, Essex and Buckinghamshire.
Get a Free Garden Landscaping Quote
Ready to transform your London garden? The first step is a free consultation and site visit. We will look at your space, discuss what you want, and give you a realistic budget range.
Call us on 0203 834 9807 or send us a message to book your free consultation. No obligation, no hard sell, just honest advice from a team that has been designing and building gardens across London and the South East for over fifteen years.