Landscaping Cost Guide Prices
Garden Landscaping & Groundworks Price Guide (South London & Surrounding Areas)
At ECO Contractors & Sons, we believe great landscaping starts with clear advice, realistic budgets and honest pricing. This guide gives you an indication of typical costs for garden landscaping, driveways, paving, fencing, drainage and groundwork-related external projects.
Every project is different, so all prices below are guide prices only and depend on site access, ground conditions, drainage requirements, material choice and the overall specification.
We provide tailored quotations following a site visit so you know exactly what is included before work begins.
Typical Project Budget Levels
Essential Garden Refresh — from £8,000 to £18,000
Ideal for smaller gardens or practical upgrades. Typical works may include clearance, a patio or pathway area, fencing repairs/replacement, turfing and simple borders.
Complete Garden Landscaping Build — £18,000 to £45,000
Suitable for full garden transformations. Often includes new levels, drainage improvements, patios, pathways, fencing, raised beds, retaining walls, turf/lawn areas and planting zones.
Premium Landscaping & Groundworks Project — £45,000 to £100,000+
For larger or more complex schemes involving extensive excavation, retaining structures, premium paving, bespoke brick/blockwork, multiple zones, drainage systems, driveways and structural groundwork elements.
Note: Final costs are confirmed after survey and quotation.
How Landscaping Prices Are Built
Most landscaping and groundworks projects are priced in stages. Understanding these stages helps you budget more accurately:
- Site clearance & preparation – removing waste, vegetation, old paving, walls or structures.
- Groundworks & drainage – excavation, levels, sub-bases, drainage runs, soakaways and foundations.
- Hard landscaping – patios, paving, paths, steps, walls, edging and driveways.
- Boundaries & structures – fencing, gates, screens, retaining walls, bases and brick/blockwork.
- Finishing works – turfing, topsoil, beds/borders, decorative gravel and planting preparation.
For many projects, the biggest cost differences come from access, excavation, drainage and material specification.
1) Site Clearance & Preparation
A clean, well-prepared site is the foundation of a successful landscaping project.
- General garden clearance (labour only): from £350 – £850
- Removal of old paving / concrete / rubble (small to medium areas): from £900 – £3,500+
- Skip hire (guide only, size/location dependent): from £300 – £650 per skip
- Mini digger & operator works (excavation/clearance): from £450 – £900 per day
- Bulk excavation / muck away (project dependent): quoted after site visit
Prices vary based on waste type, access and disposal requirements.
2) Groundworks, Levels & Drainage
Groundworks and drainage are often the most important (and most overlooked) parts of an outdoor project. Good preparation protects your investment and helps prevent standing water, movement and paving failure.
- Groundworks team / machine works (guide): from £1,200 – £2,200 per day
- Sub-base preparation for patios / paths / driveways: from £35 – £75 per m²
- Drainage channels (supply & install): from £85 – £160 per linear metre
- Soakaway installation (domestic, typical): from £1,200 – £3,500+
- Excavation for foundations / bases: quoted by size, depth and access
- Retaining wall groundwork & footing preparation: quoted per project
If your site has poor drainage, clay-heavy soil or existing buried rubble, additional groundwork may be required.
3) Fencing, Boundaries & Retaining Walls
ECO Contractors & Sons carry out boundary works including fences, walls and structural garden features.
- Timber fence panel replacement (supply & install): from £110 – £220 per panel
- Closeboard fencing (supply & install): from £90 – £160 per linear metre
- Concrete posts & gravel boards upgrade: from £65 – £130 per linear metre (add-on/varies)
- Timber gates (standard sizes): from £180 – £650+
- Brick/block garden walls: from £180 – £380 per m²
- Retaining walls (engineering dependent): from £250 – £650+ per m²
Retaining walls are priced by height, foundation depth, loading and drainage requirements.
4) Patios, Paving, Paths & Steps
Hard landscaping is where the look and function of your garden really comes together. Costs vary widely depending on the material, pattern, cutting detail and site preparation required.
- Concrete slab patio (budget range): from £95 – £145 per m²
- Indian sandstone patio: from £120 – £190 per m²
- Porcelain patio: from £160 – £260 per m²
- Block paving pathways / patios: from £110 – £190 per m²
- Decorative gravel paths (with membrane & edging): from £55 – £110 per m²
- Garden steps (simple paving/brick construction): from £250 – £700 per step section
- Edging details (brick/stone/metal): from £25 – £95 per linear metre
Important: Per-m² rates can rise on smaller areas because cutting, edge details and setup time form a larger part of the job.
5) Driveways & Front Garden Surfacing
We also undertake driveway and paving works as part of external landscaping and groundwork projects.
- Block paving driveway: from £120 – £210 per m²
- Resin-bound surface (on suitable base): from £130 – £220 per m²
- Gravel driveway (with proper sub-base & edging): from £70 – £140 per m²
- Concrete driveway / hardstanding: from £110 – £190 per m²
- Kerbs / edging / thresholds: priced separately or as part of full quote
Driveway pricing depends heavily on excavation depth, waste removal, existing base condition and drainage compliance.
6) Lawns, Turfing, Beds & Finishing Works
Finishing works complete the project and make the space usable, neat and ready to enjoy.
- New topsoil supply & spread: from £45 – £95 per m² (depth dependent)
- Turfing (supply & lay): from £18 – £35 per m²
- Artificial grass installation: from £75 – £140 per m²
- Raised beds / borders (timber or block built): from £180 – £650+ each
- Decorative bark / gravel finishes: from £20 – £55 per m²
- General garden finishing / snagging works: quoted by scope
Planting schemes and mature specimen planting can be priced separately depending on plant size, quantities and access.
7) Groundwork & Structural Extras (Project Dependent)
As groundworking contractors, we also price and deliver more technical external works where required.
- Concrete bases / foundations for sheds, garages or outbuildings: from £150 – £300 per m²
- Excavation for services / drainage runs: from £65 – £180 per linear metre
- Brick & blockwork features / supports: quoted by design and structural requirement
- Demolition / removal of small structures: quoted after inspection
- Site clearance and preparation for larger projects: priced on survey
Structural or engineered work may require drawings, calculations or specialist approvals.
What Affects Landscaping Cost?
- Access & logistics: Narrow side access, restricted parking or no machine access can increase labour time.
- Ground conditions: Heavy clay, poor drainage, buried rubble or uneven levels can increase groundwork costs.
- Waste removal: Demolition spoil, soil and concrete disposal can be a significant part of the budget.
- Materials chosen: Porcelain, natural stone, bespoke brickwork and premium fencing cost more than standard options.
- Design complexity: Curves, multiple levels, steps, retaining walls and intricate laying patterns require more labour.
- Project size: Small jobs may have a higher per-m² rate due to setup and fixed costs.
- Drainage / compliance needs: Surface water management may require channels, soakaways or additional groundwork.
How We Quote Your Project
We provide clear, practical quotations based on a site visit and discussion of your goals, budget and preferred finish.
- Initial conversation – tell us what you need and your rough budget range.
- Site visit – we assess access, levels, drainage and existing conditions.
- Scope & options – we advise on suitable materials and build methods.
- Written quotation – a clear breakdown of the proposed works and pricing.
- Scheduling – once approved, we agree a start date and programme.
We aim to deliver quality workmanship, reliable service and a finished result that is built properly from the ground up.
Landscaping Cost Guide FAQs
Are these fixed prices?
No. These are guide prices to help with budgeting. Final prices depend on site conditions, access, material choices and project scope.
Can you quote from photos?
We can often provide a rough budget estimate from photos and measurements, but an accurate quotation usually requires a site visit.
Do you take on small jobs as well as larger projects?
Yes. We undertake a range of domestic and commercial landscaping and groundwork projects, subject to availability and scope.
Do you cover only South London?
We are based in South London and work across London and surrounding areas, including projects within and around the M25.
Can drainage and groundwork be included in the landscaping quote?
Yes. Groundworks, drainage, excavation and preparation can all be included as part of a complete project quotation.
Need a Landscaping Quote?
If you’re planning a garden makeover, patio, driveway, fencing or groundworks project, contact ECO Contractors & Sons for a tailored quotation and practical advice.
Call: 07979 323906 / 0203 524 9727
Email: contractor@ecosons.co.uk
All prices shown on this page are guide prices and subject to survey and specification.