Drainage Ignored
Cambridgeshire clay soil holds water; a layout quoted without a drainage check floods in its first winter.
Drainage Assessed First
A site survey covers soil condition and levels before any surface or planting is specified or priced.
Full Renovations
Garden Makeovers & Full Renovations in Cambridge
From bare new build plot to finished outdoor space, drainage, surfaces, planting, and boundaries in one coordinated scope.
- Itemised Quotes
- Survey First
- Hard & Soft Landscaping
What Goes Wrong
Why rushed garden renovations fail, and what a proper scope looks like
Stages Quoted Blind
A single combined figure hides which elements cost what, making it impossible to adjust scope without starting again.
Separate Line Items
Clearance, drainage, hard landscaping, soft landscaping, and fencing each appear as individual figures in the quote.
Hard & Soft Planned Apart
Patio and planting specified by different contractors leave gaps at edges, mismatched levels, and unfinished borders.
One Coordinated Scope
Hard and soft landscaping are planned together so surfaces, raised beds, turf, and borders connect without gaps.
Sub-Base Skipped
Paving laid without a compacted sub-base shifts and sinks within two seasons, requiring the surface to be lifted and relaid.
Ground Prep Included
Sub-base, topsoil, and levelling sit within the quoted scope rather than appearing as additions once work starts.
Scope of Work
What a full garden renovation covers
Every stage from initial clearance through to finished planting is included in the scope, nothing is treated as an optional extra.
Site Survey & Level Check
Drainage, soil condition, and ground levels assessed before any plan or quote is produced.
Garden Clearance
Existing structures, overgrown planting, and failed surfaces removed and cleared from site.
Hard Landscaping Surfaces
Patio in natural stone, porcelain, or block paving; paths and retaining walls built on a compacted sub-base.
Soft Landscaping & Planting
Turf laying, garden borders, and a planting scheme specified to suit the soil condition and aspect.
Drainage Solutions
Soakaways, channel drainage, or graded falls installed where the survey identifies water retention risk.
Fencing & Raised Beds
Boundary fencing, gravel boards, and raised beds included where needed to complete the layout.
New Build Garden Layout
Full design and structure for bare, unlevelled new build plots.
Worn Patio & Lawn Replacement
Lift failed surfaces, relay sub-base, and re-turf in one visit.
Low-Maintenance Redesign
Gravel, porcelain, and border planting chosen to cut ongoing upkeep.
Retaining Walls & Levels
Correct uneven ground with walls, steps, and graded drainage falls.
Why Choose Us
Why Cambridge Landscape Gardeners for a full garden renovation?
Every project is scoped, surveyed, and quoted in a way that keeps it accountable from start to finish.
Itemised Quotes, Not a Single Figure
Each stage, clearance, drainage, paving, turf, planting, is priced separately so you control what is included.
Survey Before Any Plan
Levels, drainage, and soil condition are checked on site before a layout or quote is produced.
Hard & Soft Landscaping Coordinated
Surfaces and planting are scoped together, so edges, levels, and borders connect without rework.
Ground Prep Within Scope
Sub-base, topsoil, and levelling are included in the quote, not added once work is under way.
Local Knowledge of Cambridge Soil
Every survey accounts for Cambridgeshire clay drainage, so the right solution fits the actual ground conditions.
How It Works
From first enquiry to finished garden in three steps
Describe Your Plot
Tell us the size, soil type, and how you want to use the space so we can schedule the right survey.
Survey & Itemised Quote
A site visit checks levels, drainage, and soil condition, then quotes each stage as a separate line item.
Build & Handover
Work progresses in agreed stages, clearance, hard landscaping, soft landscaping, and planting, through to a finished garden.
Pricing Estimates
Typical Garden Makeovers & Full Renovations Prices
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Small garden makeover | £1,800-£3,500 |
| Medium garden renovation | £3,500-£7,500 |
| Large garden renovation | £7,500-£15,000 |
| Full garden redevelopment | £15,000-£30,000 |
Common Questions
Questions about garden makeovers & full renovations in Cambridge
What does a full garden renovation usually include?
A full renovation typically covers clearing the existing garden, groundwork and levelling, drainage, hard surfaces such as patios and paths, fencing, turfing or planting, and any structural elements like walls or raised beds. The exact scope depends on what the garden needs, but most projects touch all of these areas rather than just one or two.
How do I know if my garden needs a full renovation rather than small fixes?
If the drainage is failing, levels are uneven, surfaces are cracked or sunken, and the planting is overgrown or patchy, small fixes rarely hold. Patching one area often exposes problems in the next. A full renovation makes sense when the underlying groundwork is the root cause, not just the surface finish.
Will a full makeover leave my garden unusable for a while?
Yes, for the duration of the build the garden will be a working site. Groundwork, hard landscaping, and planting happen in sequence, so there is no shortcut around that. Most projects restore basic access within a few weeks, though newly laid turf needs several weeks before it can take regular foot traffic.
What is included in the job from the first design idea to the finished garden?
The process runs from an initial site visit and design discussion, through a detailed quote broken down by element, then groundwork and drainage, hard landscaping, fencing, turfing or planting, and a final check. Each stage is agreed before work starts so there are no surprises mid-project. See Garden Design & Planning for more on the design stage.
How much disruption should I expect while the garden is being rebuilt?
Expect machinery, soil movement, and deliveries of materials during the groundwork and hard landscaping phases. Access to the garden will be restricted, and there will be noise and dust. Most of the heavy disruption is front-loaded in the first phase; planting and finishing work is considerably quieter.
How do I know the new garden will still look good after the first year or two?
Longevity comes from correct groundwork and material specification, not just appearance on day one. Hard surfaces laid on a properly compacted sub-base resist sinking and cracking. Planting chosen for the soil type and aspect establishes rather than struggles. Asking about sub-base depths and plant provenance at the quote stage is a reasonable check.
What does a full garden renovation usually cost?
Guide prices run from £1,800-£3,500 (Small garden makeover) to £15,000-£30,000 (Full garden redevelopment). Patio, paths, turf, fencing, drainage, and planting are each quoted as separate line items so you can see exactly where the budget is going.
What can make the cost go up or down?
Plot size, ground conditions, and material choice are the main drivers. Poor drainage or significant level changes add groundwork cost. Premium stone costs more than concrete pavers. Keeping an existing lawn or fence rather than replacing it reduces the total. A site visit identifies these factors before any figure is agreed.
Which areas do you cover for Garden Makeovers & Full Renovations?
We cover Garden Makeovers & Full Renovations in and around Cambridge, including Trumpington, Great Shelford, Sawston, Fulbourn, Histon, Cottenham, Waterbeach, Cambourne and Northstowe. If your area isn’t listed, send us a quick message to check.
Tell Us About Your Garden
Patio, paths, turf, fencing, drainage, and planting are each quoted as a separate line item, so you know exactly what you are paying for before any work begins.