How much should I budget for a new garden?

One of the most important questions to answer before redesigning a garden is also one of the most difficult: How much should you spend?

There is no universal figure because gardens vary enormously in size, complexity and ambition. A small garden might need relatively simple changes, while a large country garden could involve significant earthworks, structures, planting and construction.

The important thing is to establish a realistic budget before the design becomes fixed.

Start with how you want the garden to work

Rather than starting with a shopping list of features, start with the experience you want.

Do you want a large entertaining terrace? A beautiful planting scheme? A productive garden? A swimming pool? A place for children? A quiet retreat? Better connections between the house and garden? Once you understand what the garden needs to do, you can decide where the budget should go.

Not everything needs to be expensive

A successful garden isn't necessarily the one containing the most expensive materials. Good design can make relatively simple materials feel sophisticated. The proportions of a terrace, the alignment of a path, the relationship between planting areas and the house, and the positioning of trees can have a greater visual impact than expensive individual features.

Where does the money go?

A garden budget can include:

Garden design fees, Site clearance, Groundworks, Drainage, Walls and retaining structures, Paving, Paths, Steps, Fencing and boundaries, Timber structures, Lighting, Irrigation, Planting, Lawn, Trees, Garden furniture and other features

The construction element can therefore vary considerably and a garden involving major changes in level will require a very different budget from one where the existing levels can be retained.

Don't underestimate planting

Planting can transform a garden, but a good planting scheme is an investment that develops over time. It isn't simply a case of filling borders with as many plants as possible.

Good planting uses structure, repetition, contrast, seasonal interest and carefully selected plants to create a coherent composition. It should also consider how large plants will become.

A border can look sparse immediately after planting and then become wonderfully full over the following years.

Why a design can save money

It might seem strange to suggest spending money on design before spending money on construction but design can actually help control the overall project.

Once you have a clear plan, decisions can be made in advance rather than during construction.

You can identify priorities, obtain more accurate quotations and phase the work if necessary, but most importantly, you can avoid building something that doesn't ultimately work.

Think about the garden as a long-term investment

A garden isn't something you replace every few years. A well-designed garden should develop with time, trees mature, planting fills out, materials weather and the garden becomes established.

This is why it's worth thinking beyond how the garden will look on completion day.

Ask instead: How will this garden look in five years? Ten years? Twenty years?

That long-term view is particularly important when choosing trees, shrubs and structural planting.

Can a garden be created in stages?

Absolutely, sometimes a phased approach makes more sense and for some projects, completing everything at once is the best approach.

The key is to design the whole garden first, even if it will be built in stages. That way, today's work forms part of a coherent long-term plan.

The right budget is the one that matches your ambitions

There is no magic number for a garden.

The right budget is one that realistically reflects the garden you want to create.

If you're considering a new garden in North Devon, I can help you understand what is achievable within your budget and where investment is likely to have the greatest impact.

Contact Ian Smith Garden Design to arrange an initial conversation about your garden