Landscaper
A landscaper designs, builds, and maintains outdoor spaces including gardens, patios, driveways, and commercial grounds. Landscaping combines creative design with practical construction skills to transform outdoor areas.
What does a landscaper do?
Landscapers handle both hard and soft landscaping, including:
- Patio and paving installation (natural stone, porcelain, block paving)
- Decking installation (timber and composite)
- Fencing and boundary work
- Retaining walls and raised beds
- Turfing and planting schemes
- Drainage solutions and grading
- Driveway construction
- Garden lighting installation
- Water features and ponds
- Artificial grass installation
What to look for when hiring a landscaper
When choosing a landscaper, consider:
- Design capability — Can they produce a design plan or 3D visualisation, or do they work from your brief?
- Hard and soft landscaping — Some landscapers specialise in one area. Check they cover what your project needs.
- Drainage expertise — Poor drainage is a common issue. Your landscaper should plan for water management.
- Portfolio — Ask to see completed gardens, especially projects similar to yours in scale and style.
- Public liability insurance — Essential for work involving machinery, digging, and structural elements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does landscaping cost?
Costs depend heavily on the scope. A basic patio installation might cost £2,000 to £5,000. A full garden redesign with paving, planting, and fencing could range from £5,000 to £20,000+. Get a detailed quote based on your specific requirements.
Do I need planning permission for landscaping?
Many garden landscaping projects fall under Permitted Development rights, subject to conditions. However, planning permission may be needed for driveways with non-permeable surfaces over 5 square metres, raised platforms over 30cm, or work in conservation areas.