Everything You Need To Know About Garden Design Costs In Surrey
Interest in creating beautiful, functional outdoor spaces has never been higher. More than just a patch of grass, the modern garden is an extension of the home, a place for relaxing, entertaining, and connecting with nature.
As we look ahead, new trends, innovative materials, and a growing focus on sustainability are shaping how we design these spaces, with garden space becoming a key consideration that influences garden design costs in 2025.
For homeowners in Surrey, planning a garden transformation can feel both exciting and overwhelming. What should you budget? Where does the money actually go? There are several factors that influence garden design costs, including the size and complexity of your garden space, materials, and project scope.
Understanding the investment from the outset is the key to a successful project that brings your vision to life without any unwelcome surprises.
At Taming Mother Nature, we specialise in creating bespoke gardens across Surrey and the South East. We believe that a transparent conversation about garden design costs is the first step towards building your dream outdoor oasis. How much does a garden design cost? The answer can vary significantly depending on your garden space, design complexity, and location.
This guide will break down the key factors that influence pricing, provide realistic garden design cost estimates for 2025, and offer tips to help you plan your budget wisely.
Key Factors That Influence Garden Design Costs
No two gardens are the same, which means no two quotes will be identical. The final cost of your project is determined by a combination of factors, each playing a crucial role in the overall investment. One of the most significant factors in garden design costs is the project scope, as the size, complexity, and scale of the garden design directly influence garden design costs.
Understanding these elements will help you appreciate where your money is going and what drives the value of a professionally designed garden.
Garden Size and Layout
It’s the most obvious factor, but also the most significant in garden design costs. A larger garden will naturally require more materials, more labour, and a more extensive planting scheme, all of which increase costs.
A medium-sized garden is typically defined as an outdoor space between 100 and 200 square metres, while a large garden generally refers to spaces over 200 square metres, often requiring more comprehensive planning and features.
The existing layout also matters. A flat, clear site is more straightforward to work with than a sloping or awkwardly shaped garden, which may require significant groundwork, terracing, or retaining walls to become usable.
These earthworks add complexity and expense to the project, and for many elements such as irrigation, planting, and hard landscaping, garden design costs are often calculated per square metre.
Design Complexity
The ambition of your design has a major impact on the budget. Exploring different design ideas can significantly influence both the complexity and cost of your project. A simple lawn and patio design will cost far less than a multi-level garden with bespoke features.
Elements that add to the complexity and cost include:
- Water features: Ponds, fountains, or rills require specialist installation, including pumps and electrical work.
- Outdoor kitchens and entertainment areas: These often involve building structures and installing utilities like gas, water, and electricity.
- Custom-built pergolas, seating, or storage: Bespoke joinery is a significant investment compared to off-the-shelf solutions.
- Intricate paving patterns or material combinations: Complex hardscaping takes more time and skill to execute perfectly.
Materials and Finishes
Your choice of materials is a major factor in garden design costs and a key area where you can influence the budget. High-end natural stone paving, premium hardwood decking, or designer lighting will cost considerably more than standard concrete slabs or softwood timber.
Material costs are often quoted per square metre, which allows homeowners to compare options more easily and accurately estimate the total cost based on the size of their project.
In 2025, there is a strong trend towards sustainable and durable materials like composite decking (made from recycled materials) and locally sourced stone. While some eco-friendly options may have a higher initial cost, they often provide better long-term value through durability and lower maintenance, making them a worthwhile investment for your garden landscaping in Surrey.
Planting Schemes
Plants are what bring a garden to life, but the cost can vary dramatically. A scheme featuring large, mature trees and shrubs will provide instant impact but comes at a premium. In contrast, using smaller, younger plants is more budget-friendly, though you’ll need to be patient as they grow and fill out the space.
Plant supply is a key consideration, as sourcing quality plants ensures the long-term success and health of your garden.
Other factors influencing planting costs include:
- Plant density: A lush, densely planted garden will require more plants than a minimalist design. The total garden design cost will depend on all the plants needed for the scheme, so understanding the full scope of plant selection is essential.
- Biodiversity focus: Gardens designed to attract wildlife with specific native plants and habitats can require specialist knowledge and a wider variety of species.
- Low-maintenance designs: While appealing, creating a genuinely low-maintenance garden often involves investing in robust, slow-growing plants and effective weed-suppressing membranes and mulches. Some ideas of low-maintenance plants are highlighted in this blog post.
- Soil preparation: Proper soil preparation is crucial for successful planting and establishment. Costs may include soil improvement, conditioning, and labour to ensure optimal growing conditions for all the plants.
Labour and Expertise
A beautifully designed garden is only as good as the team that builds it. The cost of labour includes the professional garden designers who create the vision, the skilled landscapers who execute it, and the project manager who ensures everything runs smoothly, on time, and on budget.
Labour costs are a significant part of the overall budget, reflecting the craftsmanship, project scope, and timeline required for your garden project.
Hiring a landscaping company like Taming Mother Nature means you are investing in years of experience, creativity, and technical knowledge. When you have your garden redesigned, the process typically takes about four weeks and involves consultations, planning, and careful budgeting for both materials and labour.
This expertise is what guarantees a high-quality finish that not only looks stunning but is also built to last, preventing many costly mistakes and ensuring the structural integrity of elements like patios, walls, and water features.
The Garden Design Process: From Consultation to Concept
Utilising professional garden design services enables the transformation of outdoor spaces into optimised garden environments through a structured approach that ensures each stage is carefully tailored to client requirements.
The garden design process establishes a systematic methodology that extends beyond basic planning documentation; it constitutes a professional consultation framework that facilitates the realisation of client vision whilst maximising the inherent potential of available outdoor space.
From the initial consultation phase, professional garden designers implement a structured guidance system through each developmental stage, ensuring the resulting garden installation achieves both aesthetic enhancement and functional optimisation.
Professional garden design practitioners initiate the process by conducting a comprehensive client assessment and spatial analysis, incorporating client requirements and establishing usage parameters for the designated outdoor area.
This systematic approach ensures garden design solutions consistently reflect client lifestyle requirements, whether the objective involves creating contemplative retreat spaces, entertainment-focused environments, or family-utilisation areas.
The design methodology is strategically structured to facilitate project progression from initial conceptualisation through to finalised installation-ready specifications, ensuring comprehensive detail consideration and maximum opportunity utilisation throughout the development process.
We explore the garden design process in more detail in this blog post.
Initial Consultation and Site Analysis
The pathway to achieving a professionally designed garden commences with an essential initial consultation and comprehensive site analysis.
During this crucial first meeting, your garden designer will assess your outdoor space to evaluate its distinctive characteristics; measuring the garden’s dimensions and configuration, examining the soil composition, and noting existing features such as established trees, garden walls, or variations in elevation.
This presents the optimal opportunity to discuss your aspirations for the garden, from the aesthetic and ambience you favour to practical requirements such as privacy considerations, recreational areas, or low-maintenance planting schemes.
This initial consultation represents a fundamental step in the garden design process, as it enables the designer to comprehensively understand your vision whilst identifying the opportunities and challenges presented by your outdoor space.
The garden designer will utilise targeted questioning about how you intend to utilise the space, your preferred materials, and any specific features you wish to incorporate. This approach ensures the resulting garden design is genuinely bespoke and precisely tailored to your requirements.
Typically, the initial consultation is charged at an hourly rate, which can range from £50 to £200 per hour depending upon the garden designer’s experience and geographical location. This investment establishes the foundation for a successful garden design project, ensuring that every decision is informed by a thorough understanding of your outdoor space and enhances the overall design outcome.
Design Development and Planning
Upon completion of the initial consultation, your garden designer will progress to the design development and planning phase. This is where your concepts begin to materialise, as the designer establishes a comprehensive concept for your new or renovated garden.
Utilising the information gathered during the site assessment, the designer will develop an optimised garden design that incorporates a precise layout, hard landscaping elements such as patios, pathways, and garden fencing, alongside a strategically considered planting scheme.
A professional garden designer will identify plants, trees, and shrubs that flourish in your local climate and soil conditions, ensuring your garden achieves both aesthetic appeal and long-term sustainability.
Comprehensive planting plans are established to demonstrate precisely where each plant will be positioned, enabling you to visualise the final outcome and ensuring a harmonious planting arrangement. The designer will also specify construction materials and finishes, optimising aesthetics, durability, and budget considerations.
The design development and planning phase can extend several weeks, depending upon the complexity of your garden design project and the designer’s current workload. Investment for this phase typically ranges from £500 to £5,000 or more, reflecting the scope and detail involved. By utilising professional garden design services, you benefit from expert guidance, innovative solutions, and the confidence that comes from avoiding costly errors.
Whether you possess a compact garden or a more extensive space, collaborating with a professional garden designer ensures your outdoor area is transformed into a well-optimised garden that enhances your property’s value and elevates your lifestyle.
With a comprehensive planting plan, thoughtful layout, and expert consultation, you can enjoy a garden that is not only visually striking but also practical and effortless to maintain for years ahead.
Average Garden Design Costs in Surrey (2025 Estimates)
To help you start planning, we’ve put together some estimated price brackets for garden design and build projects in Surrey. Please remember these are general figures; your final garden transformation costs will depend entirely on the factors discussed above.
Key components of the overall budget include installation costs, landscaping costs, and additional garden design costs that may arise during the project. A detailed, itemised quote from a designer is the only way to get a precise figure for your unique project.
Small Garden or Courtyard Design (Typically under 100m²): £5,000–£12,000
For a smaller space, this budget could cover a new patio or deck, simple planting, fencing, and perhaps a small lawn or gravel area. The design will focus on maximising the sense of space and functionality.
Medium Family Garden Redesign (100–250m²): £12,000–£30,000
This budget allows for a more comprehensive transformation. It might include a larger paved or decked area for dining, a new lawn, extensive planting beds, a simple pergola, and lighting. Soft landscaping, such as new shrubs and flower beds, and a garden makeover with moderate changes in level or a more complex layout, can also be included.
Large Bespoke Garden Transformation (Over 250m²): £30,000+
For larger gardens, the sky is the limit. This budget can accommodate significant structural work, such as terracing or major earthworks, and high-end features like an outdoor kitchen, a large water feature, automated irrigation and lighting systems, and extensive planting with mature specimens.
At this level, you are creating a truly bespoke and luxurious outdoor living space.
Large-scale projects may involve a complete garden renovation, a comprehensive garden design package, and the construction of features such as a garden wall or the replacement of a fence panel. Detailed construction drawings and construction details are provided to guide contractors, ensuring the final design is executed accurately.
Regular site visits and site visits by your designer help maintain quality and keep the project on track. For certain structures, you may also need to comply with building regulations, which can add to the overall garden design costs.
It’s important to view this as an investment, not just a cost. A professionally designed and built garden not only enhances your quality of life but can also significantly increase your property’s value, often by more than the initial outlay.
When planning your investment, be sure to consider both the garden designer and the overall garden designer costs to ensure you understand the full scope of your project.
Emerging Trends Affecting Garden Design Costs in 2025
The world of garden design is always evolving. Here are some of the key trends for 2025 that could influence your budget.
- Sustainability and Eco-Conscious Design: More than a trend, this is a movement. Homeowners are increasingly requesting permeable paving to manage rainwater, rainwater harvesting systems, and planting schemes that support local wildlife. Gardening practices that prioritise sustainability are also gaining popularity, as they contribute to biodiversity and long-term environmental benefits. While some sustainable materials have a higher upfront garden design cost, they often lead to long-term savings and a garden that’s kinder to the planet. For some ideas regarding sustainable gardening, check out this post on Water Wise Gardening.
- Smart Garden Technology: Technology is seamlessly integrating into our outdoor spaces. App-controlled lighting, automated irrigation systems, and robotic lawnmowers are becoming more common. New technologies are also shaping garden designs and garden layout, allowing for more creative and efficient planning of outdoor spaces. While they add to the initial project cost, they offer incredible convenience and efficiency, perfect for busy Surrey homeowners.
- The Rise of Outdoor Living Spaces: Gardens are now seen as fully functional outdoor rooms, as we explore in this post. The demand for sophisticated outdoor kitchens, weatherproof garden offices, and cosy covered seating areas with fire pits continues to grow. When planning these spaces, choosing the right garden designer is crucial, as their expertise in professional design ensures your garden is both beautiful and functional. These structures are significant investments but dramatically extend the usability of your garden throughout the year.
- Labour and Supply Costs: Like many industries, landscaping is affected by fluctuations in the cost of materials and a high demand for skilled labour. To manage your budget effectively, hire a garden designer who can help you avoid unexpected costs by providing clear communication and detailed planning from the outset. Working with an established company that has strong relationships with suppliers can help mitigate unforeseen price hikes and ensure your project stays on track.
How to Plan Your Garden Design Budget Wisely
A successful garden project starts with a clear financial plan. Here are our top tips for managing your budget effectively.
- Set a Clear and Realistic Budget: Before you even speak to a designer, decide how much you are comfortable investing. Be honest with yourself about your finances. This figure will guide every decision that follows. Make sure to plan for unexpected costs that may arise during the project, such as changes in materials or unforeseen site issues.
- Prioritise Your Wants and Needs: Make a list of everything you want in your new garden. Then, divide it into “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves.” This will help your designer focus on delivering your essential features first. If the budget is tight, the “nice-to-haves” can be phased in later.
- Work With a Professional Designer: An experienced designer does more than just draw pretty pictures. They are experts in creative problem-solving and can suggest clever ways to achieve the look you want within your budget. They know which materials offer the best value and how to design for maximum impact without unnecessary expense.
- Ask for a Transparent, Itemised Quote: A professional firm will always provide a detailed quote that breaks down the costs for materials, labour, and different features. It’s important to understand the overall cost of your project, including all elements such as design fees, materials, and labour. Clarify what is included in the design fees, as some services or revisions may incur additional charges.
At Taming Mother Nature, our design process begins with a thorough consultation to understand your vision and budget. We then create a tailored concept that maximises value and delivers a garden that exceeds your expectations.
Why Work with Taming Mother Nature?
As a leading team of Surrey garden designers, we pride ourselves on our creativity, local expertise, and commitment to quality. We live and work here, so we have an intimate understanding of the region’s soil types, microclimates, and architectural styles.
This allows us to create gardens that are not only beautiful but also sustainable and perfectly suited to their surroundings.
We offer a complete design-to-completion service, managing every aspect of your project from the initial sketch to the final plant in the ground. Our services include garden turf installation, ensuring your new lawn is expertly laid and ready for easy maintenance. Our dedicated team of designers and landscapers works collaboratively to ensure a seamless process and an exceptional finish.
We believe in building lasting relationships with our clients, grounded in trust, professionalism, and a shared passion for transforming outdoor spaces.
Your Dream Garden Starts Here
Understanding garden design costs in 2025 is the first step towards creating an outdoor space you’ll love for years to come.
By setting a realistic budget and working with a trusted local expert, you can make an informed investment that enhances your home and your lifestyle.
Contact Us Today
If you’re ready to transform your garden in 2025, contact Taming Mother Nature today to arrange a consultation and start planning your dream outdoor space.
FAQs
How much does professional garden design cost in Surrey in 2025?
Professional garden design costs in Surrey in 2025 typically ranges from £3,000 for smaller projects to £20,000 or more for large, bespoke designs. The final price depends on factors like the size of your garden, design complexity, materials used, and any additional features such as patios, lighting, or outdoor kitchens. At Taming Mother Nature, we tailor each quote to your space, needs, and budget.
What factors have the biggest impact on garden design costs?
The main factors influencing garden design costs are garden size, layout complexity, materials, and planting choices. Bespoke features, like water features, pergolas, or multi-level areas, can also increase the price. Sustainable materials and eco-friendly designs may cost more upfront, but often save money long term by reducing maintenance and water use.
Is hiring a garden designer worth it?
Yes, hiring a professional garden designer ensures your outdoor space is both beautiful and functional. A designer helps you make the most of your budget, avoid costly mistakes, and choose materials that will last. With Taming Mother Nature’s local expertise in Surrey garden design, you’ll get a space that complements your home and enhances your lifestyle for years to come.