On this page
Need help with this?
Contact us on WhatsApp, get a quote, or browse our Chiltern Guides for premium PDF instructions.
Quick Answer
To plan a garden redesign without wasting money: start with a clear brief, work with the soil and conditions rather than against them, phase the work over 1 to 3 years, choose reliable plants over fashionable ones, and get at least three quotes for any major work. A typical Chiltern garden redesign costs 5,000 to 25,000 pounds depending on size and complexity. The biggest waste of money is redesigning without a plan.
Why Garden Redesigns Fail
Garden redesigns fail for predictable reasons. The most common is starting without a clear brief: "I want a nice garden" is not a brief. Without a brief, you end up with a garden that does not suit your needs, your soil, or your budget. The second most common reason is following fashion: trendy designs date fast, and what looks modern in 2026 will look tired in 2031. The third is choosing the wrong contractor: a cheap contractor often costs more in the long run, as you pay to fix their mistakes.
In the Chilterns, where gardens range from small courtyard plots in Marlow to large hillside gardens in Princes Risborough, redesigns vary enormously. But the principles of a successful redesign are the same regardless of size: work with the soil, choose the right plants, phase the work, and hire the right people.
Step 1: Write a Clear Brief
Before any work starts, write down what you want from the garden. A good brief answers these questions:
- Who uses the garden? Adults, children, pets, elderly relatives?
- What do you use it for? Entertaining, children playing, growing vegetables, relaxing, wildlife?
- How much time do you have for maintenance? Be honest. A high-maintenance garden is a burden if you do not have the time.
- What is your budget? Include a 15 percent contingency.
- What style do you like? Cottage, contemporary, wildlife, formal, low-maintenance?
- What problems need solving? Privacy, shade, drainage, slope, overlooking?
- What is the soil and light? Test the soil and note sun and shade through the day.
Show this brief to any designer or contractor you work with. It will save hours of misunderstanding.
Popular articles
Step 2: Work With the Soil
The biggest mistake in garden redesign is fighting the soil. If you have chalky soil, do not try to grow rhododendrons. If you have clay, do not try to grow Mediterranean herbs. Work with what you have.
In the Chilterns:
- Chalk soils (High Wycombe, Amersham, Wendover, Princes Risborough, Marlow, Henley): alkaline, free-draining, often shallow. Suit Mediterranean plants, herbs, drought-tolerant perennials. See our chalk soil planting guide.
- Clay soils (Aylesbury, Bicester, Didcot): heavy, wet in winter, dry in summer. Suit shrubs, roses, perennials that tolerate wet feet.
- Mixed soils: many gardens have both. Test in several places.
Step 3: Choose Reliable Plants Over Fashionable Ones
Trendy plants date fast. A garden full of ornamental grasses and prairie planting looked modern in 2015, but many of those gardens now look tired and need redoing. Reliable plants that have been grown in UK gardens for decades look good year after year and are easier to maintain.
Reliable choices for Chiltern gardens:
- Roses, flowering shrubs for months
- Lavender, drought-tolerant, evergreen, scented
- Choisya, evergreen, scented, reliable
- Philadelphus, scented flowering shrub
- Hardy geraniums, long-flowering ground cover
- Alliums, dramatic flowers in late spring
See our Chiltern Plant Library for more.
Popular articles
Step 4: Phase the Work Over 1 to 3 Years
A garden redesign does not have to be done all at once. Phasing the work spreads the cost and lets you see how each phase looks before starting the next. A typical phased approach:
| Phase | What to do | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Clearance and prep | Clear overgrowth, improve soil, repair structures | Year 1, autumn | 500-2,000 pounds |
| 2. Hard landscaping | Patios, paths, fences, raised beds | Year 1, autumn/winter | 2,000-10,000 pounds |
| 3. Planting | Trees, shrubs, perennials | Year 1/2, autumn/spring | 1,000-5,000 pounds |
| 4. Lawn | Seed or turf | Year 2, spring/autumn | 300-1,500 pounds |
| 5. Finishing touches | Pots, lighting, furniture | Year 2/3 | 500-2,000 pounds |
Step 5: Get Multiple Quotes
For any major work (over 1,000 pounds), get at least three quotes. Make sure each quote includes:
- Exactly what is included (and what is not)
- Materials and quantities
- Timescale
- Payment terms
- Warranty
- Waste removal ()
- Insurance details
The cheapest quote is rarely the best. Look for value: experience, references, and a clear plan.
What to Spend Money On
- Soil preparation: the foundation of a successful garden. 80 percent of planting failure is poor soil.
- Hard landscaping: paths, patios, fences. These last for decades and are worth doing well.
- Quality plants: from a reputable nursery, not a supermarket. Bigger plants establish faster.
- Drainage: if you have flooding, fix it before planting.
- Design: a good designer saves money by avoiding mistakes.
What Not to Spend Money On
- Fashionable plants: they date fast and often do not suit the conditions.
- Cheap materials: false economy. They fail and need replacing.
- Complex water features: high maintenance, often leak.
- Imported statuary: tastes vary, and buyers may not like it.
- Plastic lawns: divisive, hot in summer, no wildlife value.
Cost of a Garden Redesign
| Garden size | Basic redesign | Standard redesign | Premium redesign |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (100 sqm) | 2,000-5,000 | 5,000-10,000 | 10,000-20,000 pounds |
| Medium (300 sqm) | 5,000-10,000 | 10,000-20,000 | 20,000-40,000 pounds |
| Large (500+ sqm) | 10,000-20,000 | 20,000-40,000 | 40,000-100,000 pounds |
Common Mistakes
- Not having a brief. "I want a nice garden" is not a brief. Write down what you want.
- Fighting the soil. Acid-lovers die on chalk. Chalk-lovers struggle on clay. Match plants to your soil.
- Following trends. Trendy designs date fast. Choose classic, reliable plants.
- Not planning for maintenance. A high-maintenance design will become a burden. Plan for the time you actually have.
- Doing it all at once. Phase the work to spread the cost and learn from each phase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a garden designer?
For a small garden (under 100 sqm), probably not. For a larger garden or complex project, a designer saves money by avoiding mistakes. See our garden design service.
How long does a garden redesign take?
3 to 12 months for the work, plus 1 to 3 years for the plants to establish. Phasing the work spreads the cost and the disruption.
Should I do the work myself or hire a contractor?
A mix is usually best. Do the easy bits yourself (planting, mulching) and hire a professional for the hard work (patios, fences, large trees). Our base rate is 40 pounds .
Get Help Planning Your Garden Redesign
If you are planning a garden redesign in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire or Bedfordshire, send us a WhatsApp with photos and we will aim to respond within 12 to 36 hours, Monday to Sunday.
Further Reading
- Garden design mistakes that make maintenance expensive
- Low-maintenance garden design
- Our garden design service
- Chiltern Garden Design Plan PDF guides
Mature gardens require a different approach from newly landscaped gardens. Preserve established specimens wherever possible, as they provide instant structure and maturity that cannot be bought.
Relevant local areas
This advice is particularly relevant to gardens in these areas.
- Abingdon - Oxfordshire
- Ascot - Berkshire
- Crowthorne - Berkshire
- Leighton Buzzard - Bedfordshire
- Maidenhead - Berkshire
- North Ascot - Berkshire
- Oxford - Oxfordshire
- Reading - Berkshire
Put this advice into practice
Use the relevant CGM tool or follow a related guide, then send us a few photos if you would like a tailored plan.
Sources and citations
This article draws on the following sources. Specific claims are cited inline where relevant.
- CGM field records (2024-11. Site observations from gardens across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Bedfordshire.
- Royal Horticultural Society (2024). RHS Gardening Advice and Plant Finder. Available at rhs.org.uk.
- Met Office (2024). Regional climate averages, South East England. Available at metoffice.gov.uk.
- British Geological Survey (2024). Soil parent material data for the Chilterns and Thames Valley. Available at bgs.ac.uk.