I live in central London so I was expecting a steep quote, but £96,000?! No thanks! I’ll figure out how to do it myself. Nothing has ever made me feel as capable as manning a jackhammer, except maybe childbirth.

To be fair, the landscaping company was quoting based on some built in elements I decided I could live without (benches, barbecue area, etc), but I still find it outrageous!

I started in February of this year – had to get that astroturf OUT! – and have added, moved, and replanted probably 300 plants since then. I did it completely on my own, including carrying 2,000lbs of gravel from the street to my garden bag-by-bag.

All in, I’ve spent just under £16,000 which includes everything: tools, materials, plants, soil, furniture, barbecue, and even a skip hire to remove the rubbish. I paid top-dollar for quality plants and soil and that has paid me back ten-fold already. And it’s been So. Much. Fun!

The pics are in rough chronological order – the last one was taken this morning.

by GooseSubstantial2502

48 Comments

  1. Kindly-Ad-8573

    Well done you, sorry the mugs who ever pay money to the company that quoted you £96k.

  2. Fandangojango

    Well done, looks bloody brilliant. Enjoy it!

  3. Spazhazzard

    96 grand? Landscapers really do take the piss

  4. BlueberryLemur

    Amazing job! 👏 👏 👏

    £96k is an insane amount of money, outside of London that can get you a two bedroom house 😬

  5. Looks fantastic – a tad better than astroturf!

  6. Some_Ad7368

    Congratulations. 16k seems steep but I’m sure you’ve got some top quality plants. 96k is a war crime.

  7. Supercal25

    You’ve done an incredible job well done! Also £96k is mental

  8. 96k… was that a quote in Rupees or Yen because £96,000 Sterling is insane!

    Well done on the garden by the way, it looks stunning

  9. Firstly, and most importantly, your garden looks amazing and you have done a tremendous job.

    That £96k quote sounds like it’s at least 8-10 times what anyone should expect. We had a garden architect design ours and fundamentally change the shape of the garden, with a lot of materials over three levels, for a third of that price.

  10. homeostasis_queen

    First of all it looks great so well done. But can we talk about that 96k quote. That is absolutely mad!? We were quoted 19k for a large patio and I thought that was crazy

  11. CrashAndDash9

    Wow, that’s incredible you should be very proud!

  12. Omega-Ben

    Now start a landscaping business and charge other 96k

  13. calmarfurieux

    It makes me so happy to see these posts. Well done, you can be proud – and enjoy your stunning garden!

  14. Professional-Leg3685

    That was the we don’t want the job price I suspect. £16k still seems a lot but the end result is very nice 👍 and you can say it was your own hard work x

  15. Fruitpicker15

    I’m waiting for OP to say it was meant to be 9.6k. Surely?

  16. Cultural-Web991

    Oh WOW 😍😍 you did an amazing job there….
    Now go and quote someone 25K to do theirs

  17. frustratedworker1989

    The quote meant they don’t want the project.
    Looks amazing, well done.

  18. bobs-buhgah

    You did amazing. Incredible garden. I’m looking to start on the garden myself but been unwell.
    At what time of the year did you start?
    And what was your cost breakdown if you don’t mind me asking? (Curious to how much each thing cost that made up the £16K).

    Thank you in advance.

  19. organic_soursop

    They quoted you the price of a loft extension?!
    They really didn’t want the job!

  20. What is your edging and where from/how much per meter?

  21. Redditeer28

    Looked at image 2. Wasn’t impressed.

    Skipped to image 14. Was very impressed.

  22. bearddude2

    Oh uau, what a project. This looks absolutely amazing 👏
    Question: Did you had to do anything regarding water drainage or just remove the fake grass and put the stuff on top?

  23. Spacerxuk

    well done. London is getting more expensive and similar works are extremely over charged within London and best to learn and do it yourself. you have a job offer already 🙂

  24. Chaoslava

    Looks great and a service to society and ecology by tearing up that awful astro-turf and laying in a diverse, beautiful garden for the various forms of wildlife to thrive in. Well done.

  25. Sometimes_gruntled

    That is extremely inspirational! I’m toying with the idea of doing something similar myself, but have little to no experience, and I’m worried I’m going to make a mess of it. I’ve got a pal who’s massively experienced who’s offered to help, but you never want to take the P155 out of people do you?

  26. oaktreeflowers

    That is seriously impressive!!!! Did you have to level it also? I wouldn’t know where to start.

  27. honeybluebell

    That’s incredible! You did a great job!

  28. Spiderplantmum

    Well done, you’ve done a brilliant job. On top of it, when you look out the window I imagine you’ll feel proud knowing you’ve done it yourself (especially considering the quote…yikes!)

  29. ExtraPockets

    Looks beautiful, great for pollinators too.

  30. aviatori

    This looks incredible!! I have to ask, where did you find those large pots? They are gorgeous, perfect statement pots

  31. You could literally buy a 2 bedroom, semi detached house in my town in Scotland for that quote jfc

  32. Clamps55555

    £96k! Absolute blaggers! Or they didn’t want the job so just chucked a number out there.

  33. EllNell

    Well done, you’ve made a lovely space. It must be so satisfying to look out and think “I did that!”

  34. Madamemercury1993

    I can believe £96k when I got quoted 10k for 5 new fence panels and decking running for 2m across alongside it. 🥹

  35. mwreadit

    Think that was a “i don’t want to do this quote”

  36. Basic-Supermarket-27

    £96k…what on god’s green earth.

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