Our Garden Services

Most patios in Milton Keynes come in between £1,200 and £3,000 for a typical 20m² area, fitted. Block paving sits at the lower end, around £1,200 to £1,800, while porcelain runs £2,000 to £3,000. The final figure depends on access, ground conditions and the material, and you get a fixed written price after a free site visit.

A patio laid at ground level has no height limit and needs no permission. Once a patio or platform sits more than 30cm above the ground it counts as a raised structure and falls outside permitted development. Above that height you usually need planning permission, mainly because of the effect on neighbours' privacy.

For a normal ground-level patio in a back garden, no. It counts as permitted development, so you can start once the design is agreed. You only need permission for raised patios over 30cm, more than 5m² of non-permeable paving in a front garden, or if you are in a conservation area or listed building.

Porcelain is usually the best bet on Milton Keynes clay because it does not stain, crack or shift once it is laid on a proper sub-base. Clay moves a lot with the seasons, so the groundwork underneath matters more than the slab itself. Sandstone also works well when it is bedded on a full mortar layer with good drainage.

A standard 15 to 25m² patio takes about 3 to 5 working days once we are on site. Bigger or multi-level patios take longer, and a wet week can stretch the groundwork stage. Your quote sets out a clear timeline before anyone starts digging.

It depends on what you want. Indian sandstone is cheaper to buy and gives a warm, natural look, but it needs sealing and weathers over the years. Porcelain costs more up front yet stays non-slip, stain-free and almost maintenance-free, which is why most people choose it for a wet UK climate.

A proper patio quote covers digging out and removing the old surface, a compacted sub-base, the paving itself, laying, jointing and edge restraints. It should also spell out drainage falls and any cutting around drains or manholes. Every quote we send is itemised, so you can see exactly what your money pays for.

Installed decking runs from about £60 to £180 per m² in 2025, depending on the boards. Softwood is the cheapest at £60 to £100, hardwood sits at £100 to £160, and composite lands at £100 to £180. Those prices include the frame and labour, not just the boards.

Often, yes, but it depends on the material and the ground. A ground-level softwood deck usually costs a little less than a block paving patio of the same size, while composite is closer to porcelain paving. On a sloping garden decking tends to win on price, because a patio would need the ground levelled first.

Labour normally makes up 40 to 60% of a decking quote and is built into the per m² price rather than charged on its own. A typical 15m² deck takes 2 to 4 days to build. Sloping ground, raised platforms and a heavier frame all push the labour cost up.

Pressure-treated softwood is the budget choice at £60 to £100 per m² fitted, including the frame and labour. It is the cheapest way to get a deck, but it needs re-oiling or staining every year or two. Left untreated on a damp MK plot it will go green and grey fairly quickly.

Composite decking costs £100 to £180 per square metre installed in 2025, with the frame and labour included. It costs more than softwood to start with, but there is no sanding, staining or sealing to do. Most boards come with a 25-year warranty, so it usually pays for itself over time.

Good composite decking lasts 25 to 30 years, and most brands back it with a 25-year warranty. It will not rot, warp or fade like timber, so there is no yearly upkeep. The one thing that matters is a well-built frame, since that is what carries the boards.

Most ground-level decking in Milton Keynes is permitted development and needs no permission. You do need it if the deck sits more than 30cm off the ground, or if it and other buildings cover more than half the garden. A raised deck close to a boundary is the usual case that needs approval.

Plenty do well once the soil is opened up a bit. Reliable choices for MK clay include roses, hardy geraniums, astilbe, hydrangea, and shrubs like viburnum and dogwood, all of which cope with heavy, moisture-holding ground. Adding grit and compost at planting helps roots get going, and we pick the mix to suit your soil and how much sun the border gets.

A designed planting scheme for an average border usually starts around £500 to £1,500 for plants and planting, and more for a larger or fully stocked garden. The cost depends on plant sizes, how many you want, and whether the beds need improving first. You get a clear plant list and price before anything is ordered.

Yes, and it is one of the most popular things we are asked for. We lean on hardy shrubs, ornamental grasses, ground cover and mulched borders that need little more than a tidy once or twice a year. The aim is a border that still looks good without weekend-long upkeep.

Autumn and spring are the two best windows, as the soil is warm and damp and roots settle before summer. Autumn is ideal for shrubs and perennials on clay, giving them months to establish. Container-grown plants can go in almost any time of year as long as you keep them watered.

Both, and usually a mix of the two. Native plants are great for wildlife and cope well with local conditions, while ornamentals bring longer colour and structure. We balance the two around your taste, the aspect of the garden and how much maintenance you want.

As a guide, supplied and fitted closeboard or featherboard fencing runs about £90 to £150 per metre in the MK area. Panel fencing can be a little cheaper, and composite costs more but lasts longer. Post condition and access affect the price, so a quick site visit gives you a firm figure.

Usually not. You can put up a fence up to 2 metres high anywhere in your garden without permission. The limit drops to 1 metre if the fence borders a road used by vehicles. Above those heights, or next to a listed building, you will need planning permission.

It depends on your priorities. Closeboard timber looks right against MK's brick-built homes and is easy to repair, but it needs treating every few years. Composite and metal panels cost more up front and last far longer with almost no upkeep, which suits people who would rather not think about it again for a decade.

On clay, posts should go in at least 600mm deep, and 750mm for a 2 metre fence, set in a concrete collar with a drainage gap at the base. Clay holds water, so posts that are too shallow work loose or rot at ground level. Getting the depth right is what keeps a fence standing through wet winters and wind.

A standard garden fence run of 15 to 20 metres usually takes 1 to 2 days. If old posts are set in concrete or access is tight it can take a little longer. Posts often need a day for the concrete to set before panels go on, which we plan around.

A typical two-car driveway of 40 to 50 square metres costs between £2,500 and £8,000 fully installed, depending on material. Resin-bound and block paving are the most popular choices for durability in UK weather.

Usually not, if you choose a permeable surface like gravel, permeable block paving or resin-bound, or drain water to a soakaway on your own property. Permission is only needed for impermeable surfaces over 5 square metres that drain onto the road.

Resin-bound is roughly 25 to 35 percent cheaper upfront and lasts 20 to 25 years. Block paving costs more but lasts 40+ years and individual blocks can be replaced if damaged.

A standard two-car driveway typically takes 3 to 5 working days, depending on material and groundwork needed.

Yes, a well-installed driveway typically returns 50 to 75 percent of its cost at resale, and adds valuable off-street parking in areas like Milton Keynes where on-street parking can be limited.

Yes. Laying a cable duct while the ground is open costs roughly £120 to £400, versus £600 to £1,200 to retrofit one afterwards.

A garden makeover in Milton Keynes typically runs £5,000 to £15,000 for a small to medium garden, and £20,000 or more for a large, full redesign. How much hard landscaping, planting and lighting you want is what moves the figure. A free design visit gives you a clear, itemised quote to work from.

Most full design and build projects take 3 to 8 weeks on site, depending on size and how much groundwork is involved. Design and planning beforehand add another 2 to 4 weeks. You get a firm timeline in writing before work starts.

The free visit covers a look round your garden, a chat about how you want to use it, notes on soil, drainage and access, and rough budget guidance. There is no charge and no obligation to go ahead. Afterwards you get a written quote and a clear steer on the design.

Yes, low-maintenance gardens are one of our most requested designs across Milton Keynes. We use hard landscaping, gravel, mulched borders and tough planting that suits the local clay to cut down the weekly jobs. You end up with a garden that looks after itself for the most part.

Yes. Every design and build gets a fixed, itemised written quote after the free site visit, so there are no nasty surprises. The only time it changes is if you alter the plan, or if something unexpected turns up underground, and we agree any change with you first.

Contemporary, low-maintenance and cottage-style gardens all sit well in MK. The right one comes down to your house, how much upkeep you want and the amount of sun the garden gets, with planting chosen to handle the local clay. We shape the style around your home rather than a template.