When it comes to transforming your outdoor space, finding the right landscape gardener can make all the difference. Whether you’re dreaming of a lush garden retreat or need a practical, accessible layout for family use, choosing the right professional lies at the heart of achieving a result you’ll love for years to come.
So here’s our guide to finding a reliable landscaper you can trust to turn your vision into a garden dream and not a garden nightmare!
When do you need a landscape gardener?
People often begin looking for a landscape gardener at key transition points in their life or homeownership. Common triggers include:
- Moving to a new home: where the garden might be a blank slate or in need of serious attention.
- After building work: extensions or renovations can leave the garden in disarray. Or you might want to upgrade your outdoor living space to complement internal enhancements.
- Finally ready for change: a garden transformation may have been something you’ve been planning for years and now is the right time.
- Lifestyle changes: growing families may need safe play areas, or older relatives might need a more accessible and low-maintenance garden.
Why hire a landscape gardener?
While it can be tempting to try and tackle garden projects yourself. Professional landscapers bring skill, experience and the correct tools to handle jobs of all sizes. You might need one:
- For large-scale projects that go beyond basic maintenance.
- To collaborate with a garden designer, turning plans and sketches into reality.
- To ensure high standards are reached in both aesthetics and functionality.
- To manage the project safely and efficiently.
Where to look for a good landscaper
Start with recommendations from trusted sources. Talk to:
- Friends, family and neighbours who’ve had work done recently.
- Garden designers or architects you’ve worked with.
Then take your search online:
- Check out directories like Checkatrade, Trustpilot, or industry bodies like the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI).
- Look at online profiles on Google and local business directories, where you can browse reviews and portfolios.
- Review their websites and social media pages to see portfolios of their previous work.
What should you look for?
When reviewing your options, the signs of a quality landscaper are:
- A strong portfolio of completed projects.
- Positive reviews or testimonials.
- Experience with similar-sized projects to yours.
- Qualifications or trade memberships (such as BALI or APL).
- Public liability insurance and necessary safety certifications.
Next arrange a consultation and quote
After your research, it’s likely you’ll end up with two or three potential landscapers.
- Arrange a consultation to discuss your project so they can understand what you want to achieve. Share any ideas or garden design plans, as well as your budget and any timeframes for completion you have.
- Request a quote for your project including details of the payment structure.
How much should you expect to pay?
Costs vary depending on the scale and complexity of your project. For larger jobs a professional landscape gardener will typically charge from £5,000 for simple garden transformations, with more complex projects costing £15,000+.
Keep in mind: paying more often reflects better quality, proper insurance, safe working practices and durable materials. So while it might be tempting to go for the cheapest quote, you may find corners are cut in order to achieve this lower price.
Questions to ask a shortlisted landscaper
It’s useful to have some pre-prepared questions ready for your consultation. Things to ask include:
- Can I see examples of your previous work?
- What experience do you have with projects like mine?
- Do you have references I can speak to?
- What is your process for planning and executing a landscaping project?
- What qualifications or certifications do you hold?
- Are you insured?
- Will you provide a detailed quote and contract?
- Who will be carrying out the work (your team or subcontractors)?
- What is your estimated timeline for completion?
- When would you be available to start?
- Do you provide a written contract outlining the scope of work and costs?
Final thoughts
A great landscape gardener is more than just someone who moves soil and plants trees — they bring your vision to life with precision, creativity and care. Take your time researching, ask the right questions and don’t be afraid to invest in a landscaper who understands your goals.
At Thames Valley Landscapes, we’ve helped countless homeowners transform their outdoor spaces into beautiful, functional gardens. If you’re ready to take the next step, get in touch with our friendly team today.