Soft Landscaping London
Soil Sisters design and install bespoke soft landscaping across London — from herbaceous borders and planting schemes to turf laying, tree planting and seasonal colour. We cover all 32 London boroughs, working across everything from compact Hackney courtyards to large family gardens in Richmond and Wimbledon. If you want planting that actually suits your soil, your light, and the way you use your garden, get in touch for a free consultation or call us on 0203 834 9807.
What Is Soft Landscaping?
Soft landscaping is everything living in a garden — the planting, turf, trees, hedging, climbers, and ground cover. It is the part of a garden that moves and changes through the seasons, and it is what gives a space warmth, character, and a sense of place that hard materials alone cannot deliver.
Done properly, soft landscaping requires genuine horticultural knowledge. London clay soils are heavy and slow-draining. Many London gardens are north-facing. Rooftop gardens have exposure and weight constraints. Getting the species selection wrong costs time and money. We design the planting around the conditions, not the other way around.
Our Soft Landscaping Services in London
We offer a complete soft landscaping service from initial design through to supply and installation. Everything is tailored — no catalogue planting schemes, no off-the-shelf borders.
Planting Design and Installation
Bespoke planting plans drawn up for your specific garden, soil type, and aspect. We specify plants by Latin name with seasonal interest mapped across the year, then source and install everything. Small schemes from £800. Full garden planting installations from £3,000.
Herbaceous Borders
Mixed herbaceous borders designed for London clay soils and the typical challenges of urban gardens — shade from buildings and boundary walls, air pollution, and the dry spells that hit when clay bakes hard in summer. Supply and plant from £35 per sqm.
Turf Laying and Lawn Renovation
New turf laid on properly prepared sub-base, or existing lawns scarified, aerated, and renovated. London gardens often have compacted, impoverished soil under turf — we always assess and address the base before we lay. Turf laying from £22 per sqm including labour and soil preparation.
Tree and Hedge Planting
Trees are the most structural element of any planting scheme and they are routinely under-specified on London projects. We advise on species suited to restricted root runs, proximity to buildings, and TPO conditions. Semi-mature tree supply and plant from £350 per tree. Hedging (bare root and container) from £18 per linear metre.
Climbers and Wall Planting
London gardens are often bounded by high walls and fences. Climbers — roses, clematis, hydrangea petiolaris, wisteria, star jasmine — turn those boundaries into assets. Supply and plant from £45 per climber including support wire fixing.
Seasonal Colour Programs
Bulb planting, annual schemes, and structured perennial planting to give the garden colour and interest from January through to December. Particularly effective on commercial sites, roof terraces, and gardens used for entertaining.
Soil Improvement and Mulching
London clay needs work before planting goes in. We incorporate organic matter, grit where drainage is poor, and apply a finish mulch after planting to suppress weeds and retain moisture. Included in all installation quotes; as a standalone service from £500 for a typical London garden.
Wildlife and Sustainable Planting
Native species, pollinator-friendly borders, wildlife corridors, and rain gardens using permeable planting. Increasingly popular across London boroughs where planning authorities encourage biodiversity net gain. We design to RHS Greening Grey Britain guidelines where relevant. Learn more about our sustainable garden design approach and wildlife garden design.
Soft Landscaping Costs in London
Pricing depends on the scope of the planting, the size of the garden, plant sizes specified, and access conditions. London projects carry a premium over the national average — fuel, parking, ULEZ, and congestion charges all feed into contractor costs. The table below reflects what clients typically pay for professionally designed and installed soft landscaping in London in 2025/2026.
| Project Type | Scope | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Planting design plan only | Full planting specification, plant schedule, sourcing list | £500 – £1,500 |
| Small garden planting installation | Up to 30 sqm, borders and feature planting | £3,000 – £7,000 |
| Medium garden planting installation | 30–80 sqm, full border scheme with structural plants | £7,000 – £18,000 |
| Large garden planting installation | 80+ sqm, specimen trees, hedging, mixed borders | £18,000 – £40,000+ |
| Turf laying only | Supply, prepare, and lay turf | £22 – £35 per sqm |
| Border planting only | Supply and plant, excluding design fee | £30 – £60 per sqm |
| Tree planting | Semi-mature to large specimens, supply and plant | £350 – £1,200 per tree |
| Irrigation system | Drip or pop-up system with smart controller | £1,500 – £4,000 |
All quotes are itemised — materials and labour listed separately. We always include a contingency note for any soil improvement required once we start work, because London soils frequently surprise you once you dig in. Design fees are credited against the installation quote when we deliver both services.
For a full breakdown of what garden work costs in London, see our garden design cost London guide.
Why London Soft Landscaping Requires Local Expertise
London is not one growing environment. It is dozens of them compressed into a relatively small area.
The heavy London clay that runs under much of Wandsworth, Lewisham, and Bromley behaves completely differently to the sandy loam you get in parts of Richmond and the Thames corridor. The atmospheric conditions in the City and Canary Wharf gardens are harsher than anything in the outer suburbs. Basement gardens in Kensington and Chelsea that never see direct sunlight need a completely different plant palette to a sun-baked south-facing roof terrace in Southwark.
Beyond the horticultural specifics: access matters. Getting a semi-mature tree down a Victorian terrace side return in Clapham is a logistics problem as much as a gardening one. Carrying tonnes of topsoil through a flat in a mansion block requires planning and protection. We have done all of it.
A few things that come up consistently on London soft landscaping projects:
- London clay — amend before you plant or you will lose the plants. We always specify grit and organic matter incorporation for clay-heavy sites.
- Restricted light — shaded urban gardens need species chosen for tolerance, not just for a look.
- Party wall considerations — tree planting close to boundaries triggers questions about root spread and neighbour agreements. We flag these early.
- Roof and balcony weight limits — planting on roof terraces is always subject to a structural load check. We work with clients and structural engineers to specify accordingly.
- Tree Preservation Orders — large garden projects in older London suburbs frequently involve protected trees. We check TPO registers as part of our initial assessment.
How We Work: From First Conversation to Planted Garden
- Free consultation. We talk through what you want from the garden, your budget range, and any site-specific constraints. This is done on-site or by video call — whatever suits you. No obligation.
- Site survey and soil assessment. We visit the garden, take measurements, and assess the soil and conditions. For planting-only projects this typically takes an hour.
- Planting design. We draw up a full planting plan with a plant schedule, Latin names, seasonal interest, and approximate costs broken down by area. You review, amend, and approve before we proceed.
- Sourcing and costing. We source plants from specialist nurseries — mostly UK grown where possible — and prepare a detailed installation quote. Semi-mature specimens are priced individually once sourced, as quality and availability varies.
- Installation. Our team carries out the installation on agreed dates. Soil preparation, planting, staking, mulching, and initial watering are all included. For larger projects we work in phases if the garden is occupied.
- Aftercare guidance. We leave you with a written care schedule — what to water, what to cut back and when, what to expect in the first growing season. For clients who want ongoing maintenance, we can recommend trusted partners.
From first conversation to planted garden, a typical soft landscaping project takes 4–8 weeks from instruction. Larger projects with bespoke nursery-grown specimens can take 10–12 weeks. We will always tell you at the outset if your preferred plants have a lead time.
Soft Landscaping Alongside Hard Landscaping
Soft landscaping rarely sits in isolation. The best gardens integrate planting with the hard structure — patios, paths, raised beds, retaining walls — so that both are designed together from the start. Specifying the planting after the hard landscaping is finished often leads to compromise: borders that are too narrow, no soil depth over drainage layers, or planting that visually fights the materials rather than complementing them.
We offer a full garden design and build service in London covering hard and soft landscaping together. If you already have a completed hard landscaping scheme and just need the planting designed and installed, we can work to that brief too. See our hard landscaping London and planting design London pages for more on those specific services.
You can see completed projects showing how we integrate hard and soft elements on our project portfolio.
London Boroughs We Cover
We work across all of Greater London. Our most active areas for soft landscaping are:
South West London: Wandsworth, Clapham, Battersea, Tooting, Balham, Wimbledon, Putney, Richmond, Barnes, Kingston, Merton. Full service page: Landscaping South West London.
South London: Lewisham, Hither Green, Blackheath, Deptford, Greenwich, New Cross, Forest Hill. See our garden design South London page.
South East London: Bromley, Beckenham, Penge, Sydenham, Crystal Palace, Dulwich, Southwark. See garden design South East London.
East London: Hackney, Bethnal Green, Bow, Walthamstow, Stratford, Clapton. See garden design East London.
North London: Islington, Camden, Highgate, Muswell Hill, Crouch End, Stoke Newington, Finchley, Barnet. See our landscaping North London page.
Central and West London: Chelsea, Kensington, Fulham, Hammersmith, Chiswick, Shepherd's Bush, Westminster, Notting Hill.
We also cover Surrey, Kent, and Essex — see our full service areas page for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in a soft landscaping package?
A soft landscaping package from Soil Sisters typically includes a planting design plan (plant schedule, species list with Latin names, seasonal interest diagram), soil preparation, supply of plants from specialist nurseries, installation, mulching, and a written aftercare guide. We can also include turf laying, hedging, tree planting, and irrigation within the same project scope. What is excluded: ongoing maintenance, which we can refer to trusted gardening partners.
How much does soft landscaping cost in London?
A small garden planting installation (up to 30 sqm) typically costs £3,000–£7,000 including design, plants, soil preparation, and installation. Medium gardens (30–80 sqm) run £7,000–£18,000. Large gardens with specimen trees and extensive hedging can reach £18,000–£40,000+. Standalone turf laying runs from £22–£35 per sqm. London projects carry a modest premium over national averages due to parking, ULEZ, and access costs.
How long does a planting installation take?
From first consultation to completed installation, most projects take 4–8 weeks. The design phase typically takes 1–2 weeks, sourcing and costing another 1–2 weeks, and the physical installation is usually completed in 1–3 days for a typical London garden. Larger projects with specimen trees or bespoke nursery-grown plants can take 10–12 weeks to source, so early planning makes a real difference if you have a target completion date.
What plants work best in London clay soil?
London clay is heavy and slow-draining but actually quite fertile once you work it. Plants that do well include Alchemilla mollis, Persicaria, Astrantia, Geranium, Cornus, Viburnum, and many ornamental grasses once established. We always amend the soil with organic matter and horticultural grit before planting into heavy clay, which significantly improves drainage and root penetration. We avoid drought-sensitive Mediterranean species unless the site has been substantially improved or the drainage addressed.
Can you plant in a shaded London garden?
Absolutely — shade planting is something we do a lot of in London. Walls, buildings, and neighbouring trees create deep shade in many urban gardens. We specify plants like Hakonechloa macra, Fatsia japonica, Sarcococca, Asplenium scolopendrium, Hydrangea petiolaris (climbing), Pulmonaria, and Epimedium for difficult shaded conditions. The key is being honest about the light levels rather than specifying sun-loving plants that will struggle and fail within a season or two.
Do you provide ongoing garden maintenance?
We specialise in design and installation rather than ongoing maintenance. After completing a soft landscaping project we provide a full written care guide and can refer clients to trusted maintenance gardeners in their area. Some clients return to us annually for planting refreshes, seasonal bulb planting, and border restructuring — which we are happy to quote for.
Can you design soft landscaping for a roof terrace or balcony?
Yes, with the right approach. Roof terraces and balconies have constraints that ground-level gardens do not — weight limits, wind exposure, drainage, and container depth all need to be factored in before plant selection begins. We always request structural load information before specifying planters and growing media. See our balcony garden design guide for more detail. For London roof terraces specifically, we often combine soft landscaping with hard elements — built-in planters, seating — as part of a cohesive design and build.
Get a Quote for Soft Landscaping in London
Tell us about your garden — size, location, what you want to achieve, and your rough budget — and we will come back to you within 24 hours to arrange a site visit or initial call.
Book a free consultation or call us directly on 0203 834 9807.
We are a small, experienced team — not a large firm handing your job off to a subcontractor. The people you speak to in consultation are the same people who design and oversee your installation. That matters when you are investing in planting that is going to be in your garden for years.
Qualified garden designers. Fully insured. Over 15 years designing and planting London gardens.