Redesigning your garden can be one of the most rewarding ways to enhance your outdoor space. But, if this is your first time giving your garden a makeover, you may be wondering if you should go it alone or hire a professional garden designer.
The answer depends on several factors: How complex is your project? What’s your skill level? What’s your budget? And what’s the vision you have for your garden?
In this article, we’re exploring when it makes sense to DIY your garden and when you should call in a professional garden designer, breaking down both approaches step by step.
When You Should DIY Your Garden
1. You Have a Limited Budget
Cost is often the biggest consideration for most people when it comes to doing up their garden, and DIY is a great way to save money. By sourcing materials yourself and doing the labour, you avoid having to pay professional fees.
To keep the cost even lower, you can upcycle materials for raised beds or create your own garden furniture from wooden pallets. These budget-friendly solutions not only save money but are also creative uses of resources and highly customisable, giving you the freedom to tweak designs based on your preferences.
2. You’re Working With a Small Space
If you have a small garden—like an apartment patio or a townhouse plot—or only need basic updates, like adding a few planters or flower beds, a DIY approach will probably do the trick. Revamping a small patio with potted plants, hanging baskets and a seating area can often be done in a few weekend hours, with a quick trip to B&Q and some inspiration from Pinterest and gardening blogs.
This is not only cost-effective, but you also have full creative control to tailor the space to your preferences and needs—all while working at your own pace.
3. You Enjoy Gardening as a Hobby
If, like us, you find gardening therapeutic, or maybe you're a budding gardener eager to get your hands dirty, designing your own garden can be a fulfilling challenge. It allows you to experiment with planting, explore different layouts and connect with your own space.
For garden enthusiasts who have space to play with, planting a fruit tree or building a vegetable garden is the perfect DIY project. These projects offer plenty of hands-on learning opportunities and the chance to develop new gardening skills. Not to mention you’ll get to relish the personal satisfaction of seeing your hard work come to fruition—no pun intended.
4. You’re Only Making Temporary Changes
If you’re renting, planning a short-term refresh or you simply like to experiment, a DIY approach just makes more sense. Temporary updates give you the flexibility to make big enough changes to your space without committing to anything permanent.
For example, adding a small herb garden or a movable water feature can spruce up your space without permanent installations—ideal because they’re easy to reverse when moving out. If you grow bored or decide to try something new, you can easily swap things out and keep your garden looking fresh throughout the seasons.
5 Reasons to Hire a Professional Garden Designer
1. You’re Working With a Large-Scale Project
Tackling larger gardens requires expertise to make sure everything is functional, safe and aesthetically appealing. So, if your plans involve significant landscaping, grading or structural elements, enlisting the help of a professional garden and landscape designer is the safest bet.
Designing a multi-level garden, incorporating water features or creating designated areas for entertainment, play and relaxation demands more than just a creative vision, it also requires expert knowledge to make sure everything goes smoothly—this includes:
A deep understanding of drainage, soil and materials
The skill and experience to manage complex layouts
Access to advanced tools and equipment to bring the design to life with precision
By working with a professional garden designer, you’ll make the best use of your time and resources, whilst achieving a garden that not only looks beautiful but stands the test of time.
2. You’re Looking for a Specific Garden Style
Do you have a particular style of garden in mind? Then you’re better off calling on a professional garden designer to bring your vision to life.
For specialised garden designs like tropical retreats, wildlife-friendly havens or contemporary family spaces, a professional knows how to balance aesthetics with functionality to make sure your garden matches your dream style.
Additionally, a specific garden style needs the right planting, materials and design elements to complete the look cohesively, and a professional will be able to achieve a personalised garden design that complements your property, which can in turn increase its value—an added bonus, which we’ll discuss more later.
3. You Don’t Have the Time or the Energy
The truth is, designing a garden takes time! Researching, sourcing materials, planning and executing the vision can easily stretch over months. So, if you’re a busy professional with a packed diary, hiring a professional garden design will get the work done more efficiently.
Rather than spending your precious weekends planting or laying paving, a professional can manage contractors and oversee your project to keep it on track on your behalf. You’ll have less stress knowing your garden is in capable hands, achieve better and faster results, and benefit from clear communication and updates throughout the process.
By entrusting the process to a professional also frees up your schedule and your mind for more important things in life—like running a business and spending quality time with your family.
4. Your Garden Poses Unique Challenges
Sloping land, awkward layouts, poor soil quality or exposed locations can make garden design tricky—these are just some of the obstacles our clients have dealt with.
A professional garden designer brings innovative solutions to these challenges, to make sure your garden is the most beautiful and functional it can be. For example, in this Marple Bridge project, we transformed a steep slope into a series of gabion steps that lead you on a journey beneath a canopy of tree ferns. And this required expert knowledge and problem-solving skills to overcome the unique challenges whilst delivering a striking yet practical design.
Attempting to DIY a project like this may cost you dearly—or worse, it may pose potential safety risks. For long-lasting results and peace of mind, we highly recommend that you consult a professional garden designer.
5. You Want to Increase Your Property’s Value
A professionally designed garden can significantly boost the resale value of your home.
Professional garden designers create outdoor spaces that are pleasing on the eye and highly functional, which automatically add curb appeal to attract potential buyers. If this is part of your goal, consider adding features like a sleek outdoor kitchen or a shaded pergola to make your garden a selling point.
Not sure where to start? This is where a professional garden designer comes in. With their expertise in market trends, they will help you create a design that suits your lifestyle as well as appeals to future buyers. The results are a higher resale value, competitive edge in the property market and a garden you can enjoy whilst you prepare for your next move.
Is Your Garden Ready for a Change?
Deciding between DIY and professional garden design depends on your goals, resources and the challenges of your space. Whilst a DIY approach can be rewarding and budget-friendly, working with a professional garden designer will ensure a seamless process that maximises your garden’s potential.
If your garden could benefit from some expert advice, get in touch now and find out how we can help you transform it into a space you will love.
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