Garden makeover

    Hard landscaping first, planting last, and most of it is DIY

    Gardens are the one project where the labour saving is biggest: a landscaper’s day rate on groundwork dwarfs the materials. Get levels and drainage right before anything is fixed down, because a deck laid on a soggy base is a two-year deck.

    What it costs

    All in, doing the DIY jobs yourself

    £1,300 – £5,150

    ~158 h · 24/24 you can do this

    All in, everything outsourced

    £4,300 – £15,500

    Indicative ranges for a typical project. Materials are what you would pay at a merchant; labour is what a trade would charge for the same line.

    What the job involves

    Plan & prepare

    • Set the budget and a contingencyBeginner

      £0 – £0

      Materials

    • Sketch the layout and mark it outEasy

      £0 – £50

      Materials · Labour £130 – £520

    • Check permits and building rulesEasy

      £0 – £0

      Materials

    • Measure up and order materialsEasy

      £0 – £0

      Materials

    • Book a skip or waste collectionBeginner

      £150 – £300

      Materials

    Strip out

    • Clear the garden and dig out old bedsEasy

      £0 – £35

      Materials · Labour £170 – £520

    Second fix

    • Lay a gravel pathIntermediate
      Work out quantities

      £130 – £430

      Materials · Labour £300 – £770

    • Build a deck or terraceAdvanced
      Work out quantities

      £520 – £1,700

      Materials · Labour £690 – £1,900

    • Build raised bedsEasy

      £100 – £340

      Materials · Labour £220 – £520

    • Put up a shedIntermediate

      £340 – £1,300

      Materials · Labour £260 – £690

    • Build a pergolaAdvanced

      £430 – £1,400

      Materials · Labour £520 – £1,300

    • Dig and line a pondAdvanced

      £220 – £1,050

      Materials · Labour £340 – £1,050

    • Lay artificial grassIntermediate

      £340 – £1,300

      Materials · Labour £430 – £1,200

    • Repair fence panelsEasy

      £35 – £170

      Materials · Labour £100 – £280

    • Lay drip irrigationEasy

      £70 – £300

      Materials · Labour £150 – £390

    • Fit a rainwater buttEasy

      £50 – £220

      Materials · Labour £70 – £170

    • Fit outdoor lightingIntermediate

      £45 – £170

      Materials · Labour £130 – £300

    • Fit an outside tapIntermediate

      £35 – £100

      Materials · Labour £130 – £300

    Decorate

    • Treat or paint the fenceBeginner
      Work out quantities

      £50 – £170

      Materials · Labour £170 – £430

    • Stain the deckingEasy

      £35 – £140

      Materials · Labour £130 – £330

    Finish & check

    • Clean the patio and pavingBeginner

      £15 – £70

      Materials · Labour £100 – £300

    • Lay or restore the lawnEasy

      £70 – £300

      Materials · Labour £130 – £390

    • Set up a compost binBeginner

      £25 – £130

      Materials · Labour £50 – £140

    • Walk round and write a snagging listBeginner

      £15 – £70

      Materials · Labour £85 – £260

    Plan your renovation, job by job

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