Gardening & Landscaping · All 32 London boroughs
Gardeners and Landscapers in London: Clearance, Patios, Fencing and Decking
London gardens are small, often reached only through the house, and sit on clay that holds water in winter and cracks in summer, so a patio, fence or lawn that works elsewhere can fail here within a year. Soraiz Builders clears and maintains gardens, lays lawns and artificial grass, builds patios, paths, steps, driveways, walls and planters, and puts up fencing, gates, decking and sheds, with a reply to every enquiry within 2 hours.
Quick answer: 2026 London prices
A gardener in London typically charges £35 to £60 an hour, and clearing a medium overgrown garden costs about £380 to £1,200. Patios cost roughly £70 to £180 per m² installed depending on the stone, closeboard fencing £110 to £160 per metre, and composite decking £150 to £250 per m².
Send a few photos of the garden, rough measurements and your postcode, and we reply within 2 hours during business hours.
- Founded 2019
- 250+ London projects
- MyBuilder 5.0 from 23 verified reviews
- Fixed-price quotes
Before you start
Does your garden project need permission?
Most garden work on a house needs no planning permission, but front-garden paving, tall fences next to a road, raised decking, large outbuildings, dropped kerbs and trees in conservation areas all have rules. Pick your project to see the rule that usually applies to a house in England. Flats, listed buildings and some conservation areas have tighter rules.
What we do
What gardening and landscaping work do we carry out?
Garden care, hard landscaping and outdoor structures, from a one-day clearance to a new patio, fence and lawn. Tree surgery and felling are left to qualified arborists.
Garden clearance
Overgrown gardens cut back, brambles and weeds cleared, and rubbish and green waste taken away by skip or a licensed waste firm.
- One-off clearances
- End-of-tenancy tidy-ups
- Ready for a new design
Garden maintenance and hedges
Regular or seasonal visits for mowing, borders and tidying, plus hedge cutting and light pruning of small trees, timed around nesting birds.
- Regular visits
- Hedge cutting
- Seasonal tidy-ups
Lawns, turf and artificial grass
Ground levelled and prepared, then new turf laid or artificial grass fitted on a compacted, free-draining base, plus beds and planting.
- Turfing
- Artificial grass
- Beds and planting
Patios, paths and steps
Porcelain, natural stone and concrete slab patios, paths and brick or stone steps, laid on a proper sub-base with falls that drain away from the house.
- Porcelain and sandstone
- Garden paths
- Brick and stone steps
Driveways
Block paving, resin-bound and tarmac driveways, built permeable or drained to a border so a front garden can be paved without planning permission.
- Block paving
- Resin-bound
- Drainage that meets the rules
Walls, raised beds and planters
Low brick garden walls, raised beds and planter walls with stone coping, plus repairs to leaning or cracked garden walls.
- Brick garden walls
- Raised beds and planters
- Wall repairs
Fencing and gates
New closeboard, panel and slatted fences on timber or concrete posts, storm repairs, and timber or metal side gates.
- New fences
- Storm repairs
- Side and front gates
Decking
Timber and composite decks on a ventilated, level frame, with steps and edging, plus repairs and refinishing of old decks.
- Composite decking
- Timber decking
- Repairs and refinishing
Sheds and bases
Concrete or slab shed bases, sheds supplied and assembled, and repairs to roofs, doors and floors.
- Concrete and slab bases
- Supply and assembly
- Shed repairs
Every garden job includes
- A written price listing the work, materials and waste removal
- Underground pipes and cables checked before digging
- Levels and drainage set so water runs away from the house
- Floors and hallways protected where access is through the house
- Waste removed by skip or a licensed waste carrier
- A walk-round with you before we finish
2026 costs
How much does gardening and landscaping cost in London?
A gardener in London typically charges £35 to £60 an hour in 2026, and landscaping is priced by area: about £70 to £180 per m² for a patio, £110 to £160 per metre for closeboard fencing and £150 to £250 per m² for composite decking.
The tables below are typical market ranges, not fixed Soraiz Builders prices. Every job is priced in writing after we have seen the garden, because access, levels and waste drive the cost more than size.
Garden care and lawns
| Job | Typical London cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gardener, hourly | £35–£60 | Regular maintenance visits |
| Small garden clearance | £250–£450 | Light overgrowth, little waste |
| Medium garden clearance | £380–£1,200 | Overgrown beds, hedges and brambles |
| Large or heavily overgrown | £900–£2,500+ | Waste volume sets the price |
| Hedge trim | £90–£220 | Standard hedge; waste removal often extra |
| New turf, laid | £20–£38 per m² | Including basic ground preparation |
| Artificial grass, installed | £65–£110 per m² | Sub-base is about 60% of the cost |
Sources: Fantastic Services gardener, garden clearance, hedge trimming, turfing and artificial grass cost guides (2026, London and South East figures), Housekeep turfing and synthetic lawn guides (2026), BestBuilders lawn turfing costs (August 2026). Typical market ranges, not fixed Soraiz Builders prices.
Patios, paths, driveways and walls
| Job | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab patio | £70–£110 per m² | Installed, including sub-base |
| Sandstone patio | £90–£140 per m² | Indian sandstone, installed |
| Porcelain patio | £120–£180 per m² | Installed; a 20 m² patio takes 3–5 days |
| Block paving driveway | £70–£120 per m² | A 40 m² drive is about £2,800–£4,800 |
| Resin-bound driveway | £60–£95 per m² | On a suitable existing or new base |
| Brick garden wall, 1 m high | £120–£220 per metre | Single skin; double skin £220–£400 |
| Retaining wall | £300–£700 per metre | Structural, holding back soil |
| Drainage or soakaway | £400–£1,200 | Where a patio or drive needs it |
Sources: BestBuilders patio, driveway and garden wall cost guides (July to September 2026, UK figures), MyJobQuote resin driveway costs (2026), less.co.uk block paving costs (2026), Trade2Base patio laying and porcelain patio costs (2026). London and the South East typically run 25–35% above UK averages. Typical market ranges, not fixed Soraiz Builders prices.
Fencing, decking and sheds
| Job | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Closeboard fence | £110–£160 per metre | Timber or concrete posts, gravel boards |
| 6 ft fence panel, fitted | £100–£180 | Per panel, including posts |
| Softwood decking | £80–£140 per m² | Supply and fit; lasts 10–15 years |
| Composite decking | £150–£250 per m² | Supply and fit; lasts 25–30 years |
| 8 x 6 ft shed, base and build | £1,200–£2,300 | Shed, concrete base and assembly |
| Concrete shed base | £500–£1,500 | Depending on size and access |
Sources: Trade2Base fence installation and decking costs (2026), Book A Builder UK fence installation costs (2026), BestBuilders fencing and garden shed costs (2026), MyJobQuote composite decking costs (2026). Typical market ranges, not fixed Soraiz Builders prices.
Skips sitting on the road also need a council permit, and some London councils charge a separate application fee for a dropped kerb, from about £100 to £475 before the construction cost. We include these in the quote where they apply.
Rules
Which rules apply to garden work in London?
The rules that catch London homeowners out are about front gardens, boundaries, trees, nesting birds and waste, not the planting. These are the points we check before quoting.
- Paving a front garden: on a house, you need planning permission to cover more than 5 m² of front garden with an impermeable surface that drains onto the road. A permeable surface, such as gravel, permeable block paving or porous asphalt, or one that drains to a lawn or border, needs no permission at any size.
- Fences, walls and gates: under permitted development, they can be up to 1 metre high next to a road used by vehicles and up to 2 metres elsewhere. Anything taller needs planning permission, and conservation areas and listed buildings can have tighter controls.
- Decking: it is permitted development if it is no more than 30 cm above the ground, is not in front of the house, and together with extensions and outbuildings covers no more than half the garden.
- Sheds and garden rooms: outbuildings are usually permitted development within size and height limits, including a 2.5 metre height limit within 2 metres of a boundary and the same half-the-garden rule.
- Dropped kerbs: driving over the pavement to a new driveway needs a vehicle crossover approved and built to the council’s rules, usually with an application fee. Paving the front garden alone does not give you the right to cross the pavement.
- Walls on the boundary: building a new wall on or astride the boundary line is covered by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, which requires at least one month’s notice to the neighbour before work starts.
- Trees: trees with a Tree Preservation Order need council consent before pruning or felling, and in a conservation area you must give the council six weeks’ notice before working on most trees with a trunk over 75 mm across, measured 1.5 m above the ground. We cut hedges and prune small trees; tree surgery and felling are for a qualified arborist.
- Nesting birds: under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it is an offence to damage or destroy an active nest. The RSPB advises avoiding hedge cutting from March to August, so we check hedges first and leave any active nest until the birds have gone.
- Garden waste: householders have a legal duty of care to give waste only to a registered waste carrier, and councils fine residents whose waste is fly-tipped by an unregistered collector. We use skips or licensed waste firms, and you can check any carrier on the Environment Agency’s public register.
- Japanese knotweed and asbestos: knotweed needs a specialist treatment plan, and old garage or shed roofs made of corrugated cement sheets may contain asbestos. We do not treat knotweed or remove asbestos, and will tell you if we find either.
London gardens
What makes London gardens different?
Most of the cost and most of the problems come from four things that are worse in London than almost anywhere else.
Clay soil
Much of London sits on London Clay, which swells when wet and shrinks when dry. Patios and paths need a deeper, well-compacted sub-base, and planting thirsty trees close to the house can dry the clay under its foundations.
No side access
Many terraced gardens can only be reached through the house, so every bag of waste and every slab goes through the hallway. That means protection, more labour, and sometimes a skip or a wait-and-load collection on the road.
Water and drainage
Paved-over front gardens push more rainwater into the drains. Falls away from the house, permeable surfaces or a soakaway keep water off walls and out of air bricks, and keep you within the planning rules.
Shade and damp
Small, overshadowed gardens stay damp, so timber decking can turn slippery and lawns go mossy. Composite decking, textured porcelain and shade-tolerant planting cope better.
Recent Gardening & Landscaping projects
Real jobs that included this work, documented from the dated photos taken on site.
22 photosBlendon, Sidcup (Bexley)
Whole-home renovation in Blendon, Sidcup
A Sidcup home taken back to bare walls and finished as new over about 13 weeks: re-plastered throughout, a new kitchen and boiler, a new tiled bathroom, new flooring, decoration and a cleared garden.
Read the case study
Hazlemere, High Wycombe (outside London)
Patio with a tiled inset in Hazlemere
A patio laid in large pale slabs with a patterned tile section set into it.
North Greenford (Ealing)
Front garden planter wall in North Greenford
A brick planter wall built along a front garden and finished with stone coping.
How it works
What happens when you book a garden job with us?
Send photos and measurements
A few photos of the garden, rough sizes, how we get in (side gate or through the house) and your postcode.
Site visit
We check levels, drainage, access, existing pipes, trees and boundaries, and whether any permission or notice is needed.
Written quote
You get a price listing the work, materials, waste removal, skip or permit costs, and the time on site.
The work
Ground cleared and prepared, sub-bases built and compacted, then the paving, fencing, decking, lawn or planting goes in.
Clear-up and handover
Waste removed, surfaces cleaned, and a walk-round with care advice for new turf, stone or timber.
Timing
How long does garden work take, and when is the best time?
A clearance usually takes a day or two, a run of fencing one to two days, and a 20 m² patio three to five days; hard landscaping can be done most of the year, but turf and planting do best in autumn or spring and hedges are best cut from September to February. Frost and heavy rain stop mortar and concrete work, and clay ground that is waterlogged in winter can delay digging, so we plan around the weather.
How to choose a landscaper in London
- A written quote that includes the sub-base, not just the surface
- Drainage and falls explained
- Waste removed by a registered carrier or skip
- Planning rules checked for front gardens, fences and decking
- Public liability insurance
- Photos of recent finished work
Questions
Gardening and landscaping in London: frequently asked questions
How much does garden clearance cost in London?
Garden clearance in London typically costs £250 to £450 for a small job, £380 to £1,200 for a medium overgrown garden, and £900 to £2,500 or more for a large or heavily overgrown one in 2026. The amount and type of waste sets the price more than the size of the garden, and access through the house or a skip permit add to it.
How much does a new patio cost per square metre?
Installed patios typically cost about £70 to £110 per square metre in concrete slabs, £90 to £140 in sandstone and £120 to £180 in porcelain, including the sub-base, with London prices at the top of the range or above. A 20 square metre patio usually takes three to five days. Drainage, steps and poor access add to the cost.
Do I need planning permission to pave my front garden?
Not if you use a permeable surface, such as gravel, permeable block paving or porous asphalt, or let the water drain to a lawn or border. You do need planning permission on a house to cover more than 5 square metres with an impermeable surface that drains onto the road. A dropped kerb for parking needs separate council approval.
How high can a garden fence be without planning permission?
Up to 2 metres high in a back garden, and up to 1 metre next to a road used by vehicles, under permitted development rules for houses. Trellis on top counts towards the height. Listed buildings, some conservation areas and estates with restrictive covenants can be stricter, so check before ordering a taller fence.
Do I need planning permission for decking?
Usually not. Decking is permitted development for a house if it is no more than 30 centimetres above the ground, is not in front of the house, and together with extensions and outbuildings covers no more than half the garden. Higher, raised decks need planning permission because of the overlooking they can cause for neighbours.
When is it illegal to cut a hedge?
Cutting a garden hedge is not illegal in itself, but damaging or destroying an active bird’s nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The RSPB advises avoiding hedge cutting from March to August, when most birds nest. September to February is the safest time, and any nest found should be left alone.
Is composite decking better than timber?
Composite costs more, typically £150 to £250 per square metre supplied and fitted against £80 to £140 for softwood, but it lasts around 25 to 30 years instead of 10 to 15, needs no staining, and stays less slippery in shady, damp London gardens. Timber suits a tighter budget and a more natural look, with regular treatment.
Who is responsible for garden waste removal?
You are. Householders have a legal duty of care to hand waste only to a registered waste carrier, and councils issue fines when waste from a home is fly-tipped by an unregistered collector. Check any carrier on the Environment Agency’s public register before they take your waste, or use a skip. We use skips or licensed waste firms.
Verified reviews
What London clients say about Soraiz Builders
★★★★★
“They did a repair job for me and came the next day and finished the works in one day. Worked hard and the pricing was very fair for the hard work and in comparison to other quotes.”
ewald, Clapton · 3 room repair and touch up · December 2024
★★★★★
“Soraiz was excellent! He is professional,and efficient. Fast response and did a great job. I’m satisfied with his work.”
Wahid Rakesh, Holloway · Handyman work · April 2024
★★★★★
“Was very professional and polite, communicated clearly throughout the process, including a clear quote and what was included in the work. The work was completed as agreed and looks great! Left the house clean and tidy.”
Victoria, Watford · Plaster wall repair · May 2025
Rated 5.0 from 23 verified reviews on MyBuilder. These reviews reflect Soraiz Builders’ wider portfolio of work across London, not garden jobs specifically.
Get started
Get a free garden quote in London
Send a few photos of the garden, rough measurements, how we get in and your postcode. We reply within 2 hours during business hours and give you a written price, including waste removal, before work starts.
- Founded 2019
- 250+ London projects
- MyBuilder 5.0 from 23 verified reviews
- All 32 boroughs