FAQ’s

Landscaping a garden in the West Midlands can feel expensive—but you deserve a practical, beautiful outdoor space. As a guide, we use a transparent approach: typically, landscaping costs range from 5% to 15% of your property value. For example, on a £300,000 home, that’s roughly £15,000 to £45,000 for a full garden transformation. Costs vary with materials, logistics, and design complexity. We recommend collecting quotes from your favourites to compare—just remember, every company has different operating costs and services.

Garden build costs can shift with market prices and design details. We won’t give guesswork estimates—but we will provide a detailed specification of labour and materials after our consultation. This clear breakdown guides your budget and ensures accuracy throughout the project.

Our garden design is offered as a set fee — not tied to build budgets or percentages. Every project is different, so after your initial consultation we'll put together a transparent design package tailored to the size and complexity of your garden, with a clear fixed fee agreed before anything proceeds. Where needed, this also includes external topographical surveys, freeing us to focus entirely on the creative work.

We start with a no-obligation site visit—not a sales pitch—where we listen to your hopes, evaluate your garden, and suggest next steps. From there, you can decide to move forward based on your comfort level. We aim to make starting your garden design simple and clear.

Every design begins with your vision—and nature as our inspiration. We blend multidisciplinary training, creative flair, RHS-based planting knowledge, 3D scanning, and even AI tools. Before formal surveying, we’re already gathering materials and ideas to shape a unique, timeless design that reflects your home and needs.

We combine modern technology and craftsmanship—from 3D scanning and topographical surveying to AutoCAD, SketchUp (with plugins), Twinmotion, and detailed textures. The result? A compelling, realistic visual that lets you see exactly how your garden will look before we build.

We believe your garden should be an extension of your home—a functional and beautiful outdoor living space. From dining and entertaining to wellness and wildlife, our designs balance your lifestyle needs with planting that supports biodiversity and connection to nature.

Absolutely. While we often design larger landscapes, many of our clients have smaller urban or suburban gardens. With thoughtful planting, clever spatial planning, and sustainable materials, we can make even compact spaces feel timeless and full of character.

We’re based in Leamington Spa and design gardens across the West Midlands and surrounding counties. Depending on the project, we also take on work further afield. If you’re unsure whether we cover your area, just get in touch—we’ll let you know right away.

We choose materials that align with your home’s style. For older properties, we lean toward natural or reclaimed materials; for contemporary builds, we may use porcelain, sawn sandstone, or composite decking. Standout favourites include limestone, clay pavers, reclaimed cobblestones, and handcrafted oak-framed structures built with traditional techniques.

Planting beautifully requires thought, not just favourites. With RHS training and in-depth site assessments, we tailor planting schemes that thrive in your garden. On our own wishlist (when suitable) are Echinacea pallida, Cirsium atropurpurea, Briza media, Nepeta Six Hills, and Perovskia. But only where they suit—each design is unique.

Yes. We’re proud to be a pre-registered member of The Society of Garden Designers (SGD) and a full member of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture (CIH). We are also considering joining the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL). These memberships reflect our commitment to professionalism, accountability, and continual development—giving you confidence that your garden design is in safe hands.

Yes—we carry comprehensive insurance to protect you, your property, and our team. From liability and property damage to cyber liability, we cover all bases so you can focus on enjoying your garden with peace of mind.

We love gardens because they root us to our homes, improve well-being, and bring families together. At Umber Design, our passion is collaboration—guiding you to create high-quality, nature-anchored gardens built on beauty, function, and meaning.

My career began in landscaping—but I craved more creative control, closer client collaboration, and design-led projects. With a background in the Arts and visual training, I founded Umber Design to craft gardens that are personal, deeply rooted, and built with integrity through every step.