Home / Cost guides / What changes the cost of a garden renovation?
What changes the cost of a garden renovation?
A garden renovation costs more or less depending on how much has to be cleared, whether levels and drainage change, how much paving and building goes in, and the plants and lawn chosen. This guide prints no total, so it shows what each stage involves and how to compare quotes.
Last reviewed:What does a garden renovation include?
A garden renovation turns an old, tired or overgrown garden into one that works for how you live now. It usually combines several jobs:
- clearing overgrowth, rubbish and old structures
- fixing levels and drainage
- new or repaired paving, paths and steps
- new boundaries: fences, walls or hedges
- a new or repaired lawn
- new beds, borders and planting
- tree and hedge work
- sheds, decking or a seating area
Because it mixes so many jobs, there is no standard price. Two gardens of the same size can cost very different amounts depending on what is there now and what you want.
This guide does not print a total or a price per square metre. It walks through each stage, what changes the cost of that stage, and how to compare quotes. If you are deciding who to hire, what changes the cost of hiring a landscape gardener explains how landscapers build their prices.
QuoteZila starts in Cheshire, with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach first, and anyone in the UK can post a garden job.
Stage 1: what does clearance involve?
Clearance is often the first and most underestimated stage. It can include:
- cutting back brambles, ivy and self-seeded saplings
- digging out old shrubs and roots
- breaking up old concrete, paving or a shed base
- removing rubbish left by past owners
- stripping old turf
The cost depends on how much there is, how hard it is to get out, and how it leaves the site. GOV.UK's waste code says a tradesperson who carries out work on your property is responsible for the waste they produce, including its transport and disposal, and that the cost of its disposal should be included in what they charge [S6].
Some people book clearance as a separate job before getting quotes for the rest. With the garden cleared, contractors can see what they are pricing. Our rubbish clearance page covers firms that do this.
Stage 2: levels and drainage
Levels and drainage are the groundwork that the rest of the garden sits on.
Levels. A sloping garden may need terracing, retaining walls and steps. Moving soil is heavy work and can need machinery. What changes the cost of levelling a garden covers this in detail.
Drainage. A garden that stays wet may need land drains, a soakaway or a change in levels so water runs away from the house. Garden drainage explains the common causes and fixes.
Raised areas. The Planning Portal says decking or other raised platforms are permitted development if they are no more than 30cm above the ground, cover no more than 50 per cent of the garden together with other extensions and outbuildings, and none is forward of the wall forming the principal elevation [S3]. A higher raised area may need planning permission.
Stage 3: paving, paths and structures
This is usually the largest share of a renovation budget, because hard materials and the labour to lay them are expensive.
| Item | What changes the cost | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Patio | Area, material, sub-base, pattern, cutting | Which slabs, and what base and joints? |
| Paths | Length, width, edging, steps | Is edging included? |
| Steps | Number, material, handrails | How will they be made safe in wet weather? |
| Retaining walls | Height, material, drainage behind | Who designs walls holding back soil? |
| Fences and gates | Length, height, posts, gravel boards | Will old fencing be removed? |
| Garden walls | Length, height, foundations, coping | Brick, block or stone, and matching? |
| Decking | Area, height, timber or composite | How high above the ground? |
| Shed or garden room | Size, base, power | Is the base included? |
Boundaries. The Planning Portal says that you won't need planning permission for a fence, wall or gate up to 1 metre high next to a highway used by vehicles, or 2 metres high elsewhere, as long as other conditions are met, such as the house not being listed and no article 4 direction or planning condition applying [S2]. Our fencing cost guide covers fences in detail.
Front gardens. Paving over a front garden has its own rules about drainage. The Planning Portal says more than five square metres of traditional impermeable surface that doesn't let water run to a permeable area needs planning permission [S4].
For patio work, patio costs explains the price drivers, and how to lay a patio explains the job.
Stage 4: lawn and planting
Lawn and planting usually come last, so they aren't damaged by the heavier work.
Lawn. New turf, seed, or artificial grass. The RHS says making a new lawn from turf can be done from autumn to early spring, in suitable weather [S5]. Turf costs and artificial grass costs cover both options.
Beds and borders. The cost depends on soil preparation, the number and size of plants, and whether you want a finished look straight away or are happy to wait for plants to grow. Larger, more mature plants cost more.
Hedges. New hedges can be bought as small bare-root plants in winter or as larger potted plants. Ask about planting season and aftercare.
Aftercare. New lawns and plants need watering until they establish. Ask who does it, and what happens if plants fail.
What about trees?
Trees can change both the cost and what you're allowed to do. Citizens Advice says that one or more trees on your property might be protected by a tree preservation order, that if your property is in a conservation area there are other restrictions on working on trees, and that you should check with your local council before work is done on any trees, including most pruning [S1].
Large trees, stumps and roots are specialist work. Our tree surgeons page covers the trade, and tree removal costs explains the price side.
How do you keep a renovation on budget?
- Decide what to keep. Mature trees, a sound patio or a good boundary can save a lot.
- Get the groundwork right first. Fixing drainage after a new lawn goes down costs twice.
- Choose materials early. Changing paving after ordering can mean restocking charges and delays.
- Phase the work. Spread it over seasons, finishing with planting at the right time of year.
- Keep a contingency. Old gardens hide buried rubble, roots and old foundations.
- Ask for a staged price. It shows where the money goes and makes phasing easier.
Who should you ask to quote?
A garden renovation can involve several trades, and you can hire them in different ways.
One landscaper for everything. Simpler to manage. The landscaper may bring in a tree surgeon, fencer or bricklayer as needed. Ask who they use and whether those trades are in the price.
Separate trades for each stage. Clearance firm, landscaper, fencer, then a gardener for planting. Can give you more control over each part, but you coordinate the timing yourself.
Designer first. For a larger or more complicated garden, a designer draws the plan and planting scheme before any builder prices it. That makes quotes easier to compare, because everyone prices the same drawing.
Whichever route you take, agree in writing who is responsible for what, and what happens if one stage runs late and holds up the next.
How do you compare garden renovation quotes?
Give each contractor the same details: photos, rough measurements, what you want to keep, and a list of what you want. A sketch, even a rough one, helps.
Citizens Advice says a quote is a fixed price, while an estimate is just a rough guess, so you might end up paying more [S8]. It suggests getting written quotes from at least 3 different traders, being cautious if one price is a lot lower than the others, and not agreeing to a deposit of more than 25% if one can't be avoided [S8].
Check each quote says whether VAT is included. GOV.UK says a business must register for VAT if its taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over £90,000 [S7].
Our landscapers and gardeners pages cover the two trades most involved.
Jobs you might post
These are examples, not taken from real job posts.
- "Overgrown back garden in a house we've just bought. Need clearance first, then a plan for a patio, lawn and borders."
- "Garden slopes down from the house and stays wet. Looking for a landscaper to level it into two areas with drainage."
- "Front garden of mostly weeds and broken slabs. Want it cleared and replanted with low-maintenance planting."
Posting a garden renovation job
Photos of the whole garden from the house and from the far end, rough measurements, and a list of what you want to keep are the most useful things to add. Your job goes to up to five matched local businesses [QZ2]. QuoteZila is free for customers and local businesses [QZ1].
Honest status: QuoteZila is new. We're starting in Cheshire, beginning with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach, and growing area by area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business. How fast you get quotes depends on how many local businesses have joined near you. Businesses can register and receive jobs straight away. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire.
Posting a job is not open yet
Questions about garden renovation
How much does a garden renovation cost?
This guide does not print a figure. Clearing and replanting an overgrown border is a small job. Re-levelling a sloping garden with new walls, a patio and drainage is a large one. Ask each contractor to price the garden stage by stage so you can see where the money goes.
Where should I start with an overgrown garden?
Clear it first, then look again. Once brambles, rubbish and self-seeded growth are gone, you can see the real levels, the soil, the boundaries and what is worth keeping. Many people pay for clearance as a separate first job.
Can I renovate my garden in stages?
Yes. A common order is clearance, then levels and drainage, then paving and structures, then lawn and planting. Doing the messy groundwork first stops new lawn and plants being damaged later.
Do I need permission to cut back trees in my garden?
Check first. Citizens Advice says trees may be protected by a tree preservation order, that a conservation area brings other restrictions, and that you should check with your local council before work on any trees, including most pruning.
When is the right time to lay a new lawn?
The RHS says making a new lawn from turf can be done from autumn to early spring, in suitable weather. Hard landscaping can go ahead in most seasons, so plan the planting and turfing around it.
Who takes away the garden waste?
Agree it before work starts. GOV.UK's waste code says a tradesperson who works on your property is responsible for the waste they produce, and the cost of its disposal should be included in what they charge.
Does QuoteZila check landscapers and gardeners?
No. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire. You can report a quote or a business from your job page.
This page is general information, not professional or legal advice. QuoteZila does not check Gas Safe, WaterSafe, NFRC, NICEIC or other registrations against the register on your behalf: look them up yourself.
Part of Cost guides. All services
Related trades
Cost guides
Related pages
- Landscape Gardeners: What Changes the Cost. How landscape gardeners price work: day rates or fixed project prices, design fees, materials, machinery, waste, and what a written quote should list.
- Levelling a Garden: What Changes the Cost. How to level a garden in Cheshire and what changes the cost: the slope, cut and fill, moving soil out, access for machines, drainage and the finish on top.
Sources
- QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila home and FAQ copy.
- QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila FAQ How does getting quotes work.
- S1: Before you get building work done (trees), Citizens Advice. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/before-you-get-building-work-done/
- S2: Fences, gates and garden walls: planning permission, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/fences-gates-and-garden-walls/planning-permission/
- S3: Decking: planning permission, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/decking/
- S4: Paving your front garden: planning permission, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/paving-your-front-garden/planning-permission/
- S5: How to lay turf, Royal Horticultural Society. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.rhs.org.uk/lawns/lawns-from-turf
- S6: Waste duty of care: code of practice, GOV.UK (Defra). Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-duty-of-care-code-of-practice/waste-duty-of-care-code-of-practice
- S7: Register for VAT, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.gov.uk/register-for-vat
- S8: Before you get building work done, Citizens Advice. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/before-you-get-building-work-done/