How much does a garden designer cost?

Hiring a garden designer is a different decision from booking a landscaper for a single job. You are paying for a plan that fits how you live, the site you have, and a clear sense of cost before any construction starts. At Cedar Garden Design in Whickham, fees are always agreed up front — so you know exactly what the design work will cost before you commission it.

Most enquiries begin with an initial consultation. Within 10 miles of Whickham the fee is £50 for around an hour; within 20 miles it is £65. That visit is a chance to walk the garden, talk through what you want to achieve, and get a few practical suggestions. We will also discuss budget so you leave with a realistic sense of what is possible. If you are further than 20 miles, a price is given before you book. If you go on to full garden design, the initial consultation fee is deducted from the design fee.

Some clients prefer a one-off consultation rather than a full design package. That is a longer site visit — typically around two hours — followed by a written information sheet with photos showing how you can achieve the ideas discussed. For Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, Sunderland, North Tyneside and South Tyneside the fee is £250. Other areas are quoted on request. Smaller jobs may be priced as a project rather than an hourly consultation.

Full garden design is always bespoke. The fee depends on the size of the garden and how complex the brief is — slopes, levels, lighting, planting plans and construction detail all change the scope. Once you decide to proceed, the quoted design fee is broken into stages with payment intervals agreed before any drawing work begins. When the design is agreed, Kathryn works with you through to completion, either with the in-house landscape team or, for larger builds, a trusted pool of contractors.

The design fee does not cover everything. Planning application fees, tree surveys, land surveys, soil testing and other specialist surveys are separate if they are needed — and you will be told if they are. Plants and planting are quoted separately. Project inspection of external contractors during the build, if you want Kathryn on site in that role, is also a separate fee.

If you are still deciding whether a designer is worth it, the short answer for most North East gardens is yes when the space is awkward, tired, or simply never used well. A clear plan reduces expensive mistakes on site and gives you a garden shaped around your household rather than a catalogue of landscaping jobs. The Fees page sets out the current consultation and design options in one place.