Garden design and landscaping: compare quotes and prices

Separate advice, design and construction

Advice helps you explore options and priorities. A concept shows the layout. Construction may require further information about levels, materials, drainage and connections. An attractive illustration is therefore not automatically a construction drawing.

Agree which documents you will receive and how many options or revisions are included. Where plans already exist, the contractor needs to know which decisions are final and which still need resolving.

For a small, straightforward change, an agreed concept may be enough to carry out the work. Have the contractor check which further details are actually needed and reuse suitable existing plans. An additional visualisation can help you decide, but is not necessary for every job.

Start with how you use the garden

Identify the area that will actually change. A 600 m² plot tells a contractor little if the work concerns only a small patio and two borders. Trees worth keeping, useful paths and desired views all belong in the initial assessment.

Consider what is missing: shade, privacy, easy access, room to play or less maintenance. A few clear priorities are more useful than a collection of unrelated ideas. Balconies and roof terraces also require attention to load capacity, waterproofing, wind and material delivery.

• Leave usable space. Paths, doors, tools and garden furniture still need room once planting is established.
• Allow for growth. Choose plants for their mature size and conditions, rather than just their appearance when purchased.
• Keep what works. Healthy existing plants and sound features can become part of the new design.

Consider soil, water and maintenance early

Sunny and shaded areas need different planting. Compacted soil, wet spots and slopes also influence the design. Describe visible problems; you do not need to provide a soil analysis or a technical solution for an initial enquiry.

Drainage from paths and patios depends on the layers underneath, the ground, falls and connections as well as the surface. A product described as permeable does not by itself ensure suitable infiltration across the whole installation.

Varied planting suited to the site and retained habitats can support a wildlife-friendly garden. Low maintenance still involves some work: weeding, pruning, watering during establishment and looking after hard surfaces may all be needed.

How much does garden design and landscaping cost?

Design and construction are separate cost items. A short consultation cannot be compared with a complete transformation. An overall price per square metre is also of limited value when one project involves planting and another includes retaining walls, steps and services.

A tariff from a landscaping business in Uster, checked on 22 October 2026, lists on-site advice at CHF 120 per hour and a 2D design at CHF 1,500–3,000, excluding VAT. This is neither a market average nor a Quoti quote; detailed construction design and building work are not automatically covered.

This provider covers the advice costs if they are followed by a construction commission or a detailed planning commission. Check each quote for any such credit and the services it applies to, rather than automatically adding advice and design fees together.

Compare offers covering the same areas and tasks. Ask for essential work, optional extras and any later phases to be shown separately.

For work in stages, consider the total effort too: repeat visits, machinery, deliveries and reinstating previously worked areas can add costs. Ask for these items and future maintenance to be considered when comparing options.

What information helps with a suitable garden quote?

Describe the part of the garden involved, its approximate area and your priorities. Mention features to keep, visible site problems and whether you initially want advice, design or construction as well. Existing photos or plans can help; new documents and a plant list you have prepared yourself are not automatically needed to get started.

Example: “We would like to redesign about 60 m² of our existing garden. The apple tree and path should stay. We want a shaded seating area and borders with little routine maintenance. We are initially looking for advice with a design proposal; please list subsequent construction separately. Access is along a narrow side path whose width still needs checking. Our timing is flexible.”

The 60 m² refers only to this example and is not a pricing basis for other gardens. Say what is still undecided, including budget, plants or access. Before confirming construction, the contractor works with you to establish the necessary dimensions, quantities and technical requirements.

Clarify permissions and responsibilities before work

Retaining walls, major changes to ground levels and new structures may require enquiries with the municipality. Rules depend on the location and proposal. Have permissions, boundary distances and any protection requirements checked early.

Rental properties and shared areas require agreement from the responsible parties. Existing utilities, drainage, neighbouring access and vulnerable structures need to be considered before excavation. Agree who will obtain the information and prepare any required documents.

Plan the phases and handover

An overall plan is useful even when only part of the garden will be built immediately. Services, levels and access should suit later stages, avoiding unnecessary disturbance to a newly finished path.

At handover, clarify outstanding work and who will water the planting. Ask for care instructions and when new surfaces can be used. Weather, ground conditions, deliveries and approvals all affect the actual schedule.

1. Record needs and existing features. Identify the affected area, priority uses and features to retain.
2. Agree the scope. Define the design detail, construction work and responsibilities.
3. Compare like for like. Check quantities, exclusions, taxes and additional services.
4. Arrange construction and care. Plan phases, access, handover and establishment care.

Compare maintenance and future costs before choosing

Compare options by the work required in the first year and once the garden is established. Decide which tasks you want to do yourself and which to commission. Your own work takes time, supplies and sometimes equipment, so the initial construction price alone does not represent the total cost.