Choosing the right landscape company for your garden project is one of the most important decisions you will make when transforming your outdoor space. Whether you are planning a complete garden redesign, a new patio and entertaining area, an outdoor kitchen or a beautifully planted garden, the company you choose can have a significant impact on the finished result.
A great landscape company should offer much more than the ability to build a garden. They should listen to your ideas, understand how you want to use your outdoor space and help turn your initial thoughts into a practical, considered and beautiful garden design.
At Taylored Gardens, we believe choosing a landscape company should be the beginning of an enjoyable and collaborative process. Here are some of the key things we recommend considering before making your decision.
Start by thinking about what you want from your garden
Before contacting a landscape gardener or garden design company, spend some time thinking about what you would like your new garden to achieve.
You don’t necessarily need to know exactly what your finished garden should look like. In fact, developing those ideas is part of the role of a good garden designer.
Instead, think about how you would like to use the space.
Perhaps you want somewhere for family and friends to gather, an outdoor kitchen for entertaining, a shaded seating area, more colourful planting or simply a garden that is easier to maintain.
You may also have practical considerations such as storage, privacy, children’s play areas, pets, lighting or screening areas that you would rather not see.
Sharing this information gives your landscape company a much better understanding of your priorities and provides the foundations for the design.
Look for a landscape company that listens
Your first conversation with a landscaping company can tell you a great deal.
A good landscape designer should want to understand you, your property and your expectations before suggesting solutions.
At Taylored Gardens, our process starts with a conversation. We want to understand what you like about your existing garden, what doesn’t work and what you would love to change.
We also consider how the garden relates to the architecture and character of your home. A successful garden transformation shouldn’t feel disconnected from the property. The house and garden should complement one another.
Most importantly, you should feel comfortable discussing your ideas. Creating a garden is a collaborative process, so having a good relationship with your chosen landscape company is extremely important.
Look at previous garden projects
One of the best ways to assess a landscape company is to look carefully at its previous work.
Don’t simply look for gardens that match the exact style you have in mind. Instead, look for evidence of good design, attention to detail and consistently high-quality landscaping.
A varied portfolio can actually be a positive sign. It demonstrates that the garden designer isn’t simply applying the same formula to every project.
Look at how different materials have been combined, how planting has been incorporated, how spaces connect and how practical elements have been integrated into the overall garden design.
Completed projects can also give you ideas for your own garden that you may never previously have considered.
Check experience, recommendations and previous clients
Beautiful photographs are important, but you should also investigate the experience behind them.
Ask how long the landscaping company has been operating and whether they regularly undertake projects of a similar size and complexity to yours.
References, testimonials and recommendations from previous clients can provide another valuable insight into what a company is like to work with.
The Royal Horticultural Society recommends asking contractors for references and photographs and, where possible, speaking to previous clients. It also recommends obtaining more than one quotation and being clear about both the work required and the available budget.
Make sure they understand your budget
Talking about budget early in the process is important.
A professional landscape company isn’t there simply to encourage you to spend more. Their job should be to help you understand what can realistically be achieved with the investment you are comfortable making.
There can be significant differences in the costs of paving, decking, structures, planting, lighting and other landscaping materials.
Understanding the available budget allows your garden designer to prioritise the elements that will have the greatest impact and recommend appropriate materials and solutions.
Being open about budget from the beginning can ultimately save considerable time during the design process.
Understand their garden design process
Before appointing a landscape company, ask them to explain how the project will progress.
A professionally managed garden project will usually involve several stages, from the initial consultation and site visit through to garden design, material selection, construction and planting.
At Taylored Gardens, we take time to understand the site before developing the design. Measurements, levels, access, existing planting, drainage, sunlight and the relationship between the house and garden can all influence the finished scheme.
Detailed garden drawings and visualisations can then help you understand how the proposed garden will look before construction begins.
This stage is particularly important because it allows ideas to be discussed and refined before significant investment is made in building the garden.
Choose a company that considers the whole garden
Even if your immediate priority is a new patio or entertaining area, it is worth considering the garden as a complete space.
A well-designed garden brings together hard landscaping, planting, lighting, structures and practical requirements rather than treating each element independently.
For example, a pergola might provide shade over an entertaining area while also supporting climbing plants. Garden lighting can illuminate pathways for practical reasons while highlighting trees, architectural planting or textured walls after dark.
These connections are often what transform a collection of landscaping features into a cohesive garden.
Ask who will actually build your garden
Another important question is how the design will translate into construction.
If you are choosing a garden design and build company, ask how closely the designers and landscapers work together.
A beautiful garden design still needs to be constructed correctly. Paving, walls, drainage, decking, pergolas, lighting, irrigation and planting all require different skills and careful coordination.
Having a team that understands both the design intention and the practical landscaping requirements can make the process much smoother.
It also reduces the possibility of important design details becoming lost between the drawing board and the finished garden.
Don’t choose a landscape company on price alone
It can be tempting to simply compare quotations and select the cheapest landscaping company, particularly when several quotes appear to cover similar work.
However, make sure you are comparing like with like.
Look carefully at the specification, materials, quantities and services included. One quotation may include elements that another has excluded.
Quality landscaping is also an investment in your property. Materials need to be installed correctly and construction should be capable of coping with years of British weather.
The cheapest quotation isn’t necessarily the one that represents the best long-term value.
Ask about timescales
Popular landscape companies can become booked well in advance, particularly during busy periods.
If you are hoping to have your garden completed for a particular event or season, discuss this during your initial conversations.
Remember that designing the garden, agreeing materials, ordering products and completing construction all take time.
Starting conversations early gives you and your garden designer more opportunity to properly consider the project rather than rushing important decisions.
Think beyond how the garden will look on day one
A successful garden should improve as it matures.
When choosing a landscape company, ask about their approach to planting and how they expect the garden to develop over the coming years.
Plants need to be selected according to factors including soil conditions, sunlight, available space and the amount of maintenance you are comfortable undertaking.
Thoughtful planting can provide changing colour, texture, structure and interest throughout the seasons, helping your garden continue to evolve long after the landscaping work has finished.
Questions to ask a landscape company
Before making your final decision, there are several useful questions you can ask:
- Can we see examples of similar garden projects?
- Can you provide references or client testimonials?
- Who will design our garden?
- Who will manage the landscaping work?
- What is included within the quotation?
- How do you manage changes during the project?
- What timescale should we realistically expect?
- Can you work within our proposed budget?
- How will you help us choose materials and planting?
- What happens once the garden has been completed?
A professional landscaping company should be happy to discuss these questions with you.
Choosing the right landscape company is about trust
Ultimately, choosing a landscape company isn’t simply about finding someone who can lay paving, build a pergola or plant a border.
You are trusting a team to transform an important part of your home.
You should feel confident that they understand your ideas, have the experience required to deliver them and will communicate clearly throughout the process.
At Taylored Gardens, we design and build gardens around the people who use them. We take the time to understand your property, your lifestyle and how you want your outdoor space to feel before developing a garden design that brings those ideas together.
Whether you are considering a complete garden transformation or are only beginning to explore what might be possible, starting with the right landscape company can make the entire journey considerably more enjoyable.
Thinking about transforming your garden?
Talk to Taylored Gardens about your ideas. We can help you explore the possibilities, develop the design and create an outdoor space that feels completely at home with your property and the way you live.