Garden designer and landscape contractor introductions in London.
A London garden is often the last part of a house to be considered and the first to be damaged by building work. Epelle & Co. introduces independent garden designers and landscape contractors suited to the size of the space, the design ambition and how it will be built.
We do not design or build gardens. Designers and contractors are appointed by you and contract directly with you.
What garden projects typically involve
Hard landscaping usually carries most of the cost: excavation, drainage, levels, paving, walls, steps and edging. Around it come planting, lighting, irrigation, and structures such as garden rooms, pergolas or outdoor kitchens.
Many London gardens have restricted access, sometimes only through the house, which shapes how materials arrive and spoil is removed. Where an extension is also being built, the sequence between the builder and the landscaper needs to be agreed early.
Designers, design-and-build or contractors
Garden designers
Produce the layout, planting plan and construction drawings, and may oversee the build.
Design-and-build landscapers
Offer design and construction together, often suited to more straightforward schemes.
Landscape contractors
Build to a designer's drawings, with their own hard-landscaping and planting teams.
What to prepare
- Photographs and rough dimensions of the garden
- How access works for materials and machinery
- What you want to use the garden for, and at what times of year
- Any existing trees you want to keep or that may be protected
- Whether building work is planned at the same time
- A budget range and preferred season for the work
Common pitfalls
- Designing levels and drainage after the extension has fixed the floor height
- Underestimating the cost of access and waste removal
- Choosing materials without seeing them wet and in shade
- Planting at the wrong time of year to suit the programme
- Not checking whether any trees are protected before work starts
How we approach a garden enquiry
We look at the scale, whether a design exists, and whether a builder is working on the house. Where design is needed, we may introduce a garden designer first; where it exists, we look for landscape contractors with comparable recent work. Introductions are made with your agreement and you appoint directly.
Working with a garden designer
A garden designer usually begins with a survey of levels, soil, aspect and existing planting, then develops a concept and a detailed design with planting plans and construction drawings. Some remain involved during the build to check the scheme is executed as intended; others hand over at the drawing stage.
Ask how the designer works with landscape contractors, whether they have builders they prefer, and how planting will be sourced. Ask too how the garden will be maintained once complete. A beautiful scheme that needs more care than you can give will not stay beautiful for long.
For larger or more complex gardens, an arboricultural consultant, structural engineer or drainage specialist may also be needed. We can introduce them where your designer does not already work with one.
Budget and programme
Budgets vary widely with size, specification and site conditions; we discuss realistic ranges once we understand the brief.
- 1. Review
We read your brief and ask what we need to understand it.
- 2. Qualify
We check budget, decision-maker and timing are in place.
- 3. Source
We identify a small number of potentially suitable firms.
- 4. Introduce
With both sides' agreement, we make a direct introduction.
Frequently asked questions
- Should I wait until my extension is finished before planning the garden?
- It usually helps to plan both together, even if the garden is built afterwards, so levels and drainage are coordinated.
- Do you introduce garden designers as well as builders?
- Yes. Whether you need one depends on the scheme. We consider that when reviewing your brief.
- Can you advise whether my trees are protected?
- No. Your local council or an arboricultural consultant can confirm this.
- Do you handle small garden makeovers?
- We review all enquiries, though introductions are most useful for projects with meaningful hard landscaping or design.
Next step
Enquiries are free and reviewed individually. Epelle & Co. makes introductions only. It does not design, build, project-manage or guarantee work; appointed parties contract directly with the client. See our Privacy Notice.