What Should Be Included in a Garden Landscaping Quote?

Getting a garden landscaped is a significant investment, whether you are replacing an old patio, redesigning the entire garden or creating a new outdoor living space.

One of the easiest ways to avoid confusion is to make sure you understand exactly what is included in the landscaping quote before work begins. Two contractors can quote for what appears to be the same garden but arrive at very different prices because they have allowed for different materials, preparation, labour or finishing work.

A good landscaping quote should make it clear what you are paying for, what is not included and what could affect the final price.

So, what should you look for in a garden landscaping quote?

1. A Clear Description of the Work

The most important part of a landscaping quote is the scope of work.

It should explain what the contractor is actually going to do rather than simply saying something like “landscape garden” or “install patio”.

For example, a quote for a new patio might include:

• Removing the existing patio

• Excavating the area

• Preparing the ground

• Installing the sub-base

• Laying the chosen paving

• Cutting and fitting the slabs

• Jointing the paving

• Installing edging

• Removing waste

• Cleaning the finished area

The more clearly the work is described, the easier it is to understand what the price represents.

2. Quantities and Measurements

Where possible, the quote should show the approximate quantities involved.

This could include the square metres of paving, metres of fencing, size of a lawn, number of plants or length of drainage required.

For larger projects, having measurements makes it easier to compare quotes because you can check whether contractors are actually pricing the same amount of work.

For example:

This level of detail can also make it easier to understand why one quote is higher or lower than another.

3. Materials and Their Specification

A landscaping quote should identify the main materials being used.

Simply writing “patio paving” does not tell you whether the quote is for porcelain, natural stone or another material.

Where relevant, the quote should state the material, product range, size, colour or specification.

The same applies to fencing, decking, turf, artificial grass, aggregate, bricks and other materials.

For example, a fencing quote could specify:

6ft closeboard panels with treated timber posts and concrete gravel boards.

That is much clearer than simply stating:

New fencing.

The specification matters because materials can vary considerably in appearance, quality, durability and price.

4. Ground Preparation and Foundations

What goes underneath the finished landscaping can have a major impact on both the price and the longevity of the work.

A patio may require excavation and a suitable sub-base. A wall may require foundations. Decking needs an appropriate supporting structure, while drainage installations need properly prepared trenches and routes.

A good quote should make clear what preparation work has been allowed for.

This is particularly important when comparing landscaping quotes because two apparently similar prices may include very different levels of ground preparation.

5. Labour Costs

The quote should make it clear that the required labour is included.

For a larger project, it can also be useful to understand which stages are covered, such as:

• Site preparation

• Groundworks

• Installation

• Planting

• Finishing

• Cleaning and removal

This does not necessarily mean every contractor needs to show an individual hourly rate for every worker.

The important thing is that the total price clearly reflects the labour required to complete the agreed scope of work.

6. Waste Removal and Site Clearance

Waste is an important part of many landscaping projects.

Old paving, soil, broken concrete, timber, turf, plants and general construction waste may all need to be removed from the property.

Find out whether waste removal and disposal are included in the quote.

For example, a project might include:

Removal and disposal of existing patio and excavated material.

Or it might state that waste disposal is charged separately.

Neither approach is necessarily wrong, but the homeowner should know which one applies before work begins.

A lower quote can look very different once significant waste removal has been added separately.

7. Machinery and Equipment

Large landscaping projects may require machinery such as mini diggers, dumpers, breakers, compactors or other specialist equipment.

Check whether the cost of required equipment is included.

This can be particularly important for projects involving:

• Extensive excavation

• Major level changes

• Heavy soil removal

• Large patios

• Retaining walls

• Drainage

• Driveways

Machinery costs should ideally be considered as part of the overall project rather than appearing as an unexpected additional charge later.

8. Drainage and Other Ground Conditions

Ground conditions can have a significant influence on the cost of landscaping.

For example, a garden with heavy clay soil, poor drainage, significant slopes or difficult ground may require more preparation than an easily accessible level site.

A quote should explain what has been allowed for and identify anything that may need further investigation.

If the contractor cannot determine what lies beneath the surface before excavation begins, the quote should make that clear.

This is particularly useful for major projects where unexpected ground conditions could result in additional work.

9. Garden Design and Drawings

Some landscaping projects begin with a full garden design, while others work from a simple brief.

If design work is part of the project, check exactly what you are receiving.

This might include:

• Initial consultation

• Site measurements

• Garden layout

• Material choices

• Planting plans

• Construction details

• Revisions

• 3D visuals

Not every project needs detailed drawings, but it is important to understand whether design work is included in the landscaping price or charged separately.

For a full garden transformation, having the design and construction clearly connected can make the process much easier.

10. Planting and Turf

Planting and lawn work should also be clearly specified.

For planting, this could include the plants themselves, soil preparation, compost or mulch and installation.

For a new lawn, check whether the quote includes:

• Removal of existing turf

• Ground preparation

• Soil improvement

• New turf

• Installation

• Initial watering or aftercare

Plant quantities and plant sizes can also affect the cost considerably.

A quote that includes small starter plants is not directly comparable with one using larger, more established specimens.

11. Lighting and Irrigation

If your garden design includes lighting or irrigation, check whether these systems are included in the quoted price.

For lighting, the quote may cover fittings, cables, transformers, installation and controls.

For irrigation, it may include pipework, sprinklers, drip irrigation, valves, controllers and connections.

These systems are often easier to install while the rest of the garden is being constructed, so their inclusion should be established before work starts.

12. What Is Not Included?

This is one of the most important parts of the quote.

A professional quote should not only tell you what is included. It should also identify significant exclusions.

Possible exclusions might include:

• Planning fees

• Specialist surveys

• Certain electrical work

• Unforeseen ground conditions

• Additional drainage

• Extra planting

• Waste beyond an agreed allowance

• Repairs to existing structures

• Work requested after the quote has been accepted

This does not mean that a quote with exclusions is a bad quote.

In fact, clearly stated exclusions can make the agreement much easier to understand.

13. VAT and Other Charges

Check whether VAT is included in the quoted price.

If VAT applies, the quote should make this clear rather than leaving the customer to assume whether the advertised price is the final amount.

The same applies to other known charges such as delivery, specialist equipment, waste disposal or subcontracted work.

The goal is to understand the total expected cost, rather than just the basic landscaping figure.

14. Start Date and Estimated Duration

A good landscaping quote should give you an idea of when the project is expected to begin and how long the work is likely to take.

The exact programme can change because of weather, material availability, site conditions or additional work, but an estimated timeframe is still useful.

For example:

Estimated start: October 2026
Estimated duration: 2–3 weeks

For larger projects, it may also be useful to understand the order of the work, such as groundworks first, followed by hard landscaping, planting and finishing.

15. Payment Terms

The quote should explain how and when payment is expected.

For a larger landscaping project, this may involve a deposit followed by staged payments as different parts of the work are completed.

For example:

The exact structure will vary between contractors and projects.

The important thing is that payment expectations are agreed before work begins.

16. How Changes and Extra Work Are Handled

Garden projects can change once work is underway.

A homeowner may decide to extend a patio, add additional planting or change the paving. Equally, excavation may reveal a problem that could not reasonably be identified beforehand.

Find out how additional work will be handled.

Ideally, additional work should be explained and priced before it is carried out rather than appearing unexpectedly on the final invoice.

This gives the homeowner the opportunity to understand the extra cost and decide whether they want to proceed.

Quote vs Estimate: What's the Difference?

It is worth understanding the terminology used by a landscaping company.

A quote generally relates to an agreed scope of work and gives a specific price for completing that work.

An estimate is more of an indication of likely cost and may change as the project is investigated in more detail.

For straightforward work, a fixed quotation may be possible. For larger projects where important details are not yet known, an initial estimate may be more appropriate.

If you are unsure, ask the contractor what the figure represents and under what circumstances it could change.

How to Compare Two Landscaping Quotes

Price should not be the only thing you compare.

Imagine you receive two quotes:

At first glance, Quote A appears cheaper.

However, if you need drainage and waste removal, the final cost could be much closer than the initial figures suggest.

This is why it is important to compare what you are getting for the money, not simply the headline price.

Questions to Ask Before Accepting a Landscaping Quote

Before agreeing to the work, it is worth asking:

What exactly is included?

Which materials are being used?

Is ground preparation included?

Is waste removal included?

Are machinery and equipment included?

Is VAT included?

What isn't included?

What happens if additional work is needed?

When can the work start?

How long is the project expected to take?

What are the payment terms?

A few minutes spent checking these details can prevent much bigger misunderstandings later.

What Makes a Good Landscaping Quote?

A good landscaping quote should be clear enough that you understand what will happen, what materials will be used and what you are paying for.

It should give you enough information to compare it fairly with other quotations and identify anything that has not been included.

For a larger garden project, that detail becomes even more important because landscaping can involve several different stages, materials and trades.

The cheapest quote is not automatically the best value, and the most expensive quote is not automatically the most comprehensive. What matters is understanding the scope behind the price.

Get a Clear Picture Before Work Begins

Landscaping is a combination of design, construction and finishing work. A quote should reflect all three where they form part of the project.

Whether you are installing a new patio, redesigning the entire garden or adding features such as planting, lighting and outdoor living areas, make sure you understand exactly what is included before committing.

The clearer the quote, the easier it is for everyone to start the project with the same expectations.

Need a Landscaping Quote in Surrey?

Planning a garden project can involve a lot of different decisions, from materials and layout to groundworks and planting.

Surrey Oak Landscapes can help with garden design, hard landscaping, planting, lighting, outdoor living and complete garden transformations, with the different elements planned as part of the wider project.

Planning a landscaping project in Surrey?

Get a free quote.