Garden Design and Landscaping in Norfolk and Suffolk
Complete gardens designed and built across Norfolk and Suffolk
Hilton & Green Landscaping designs and builds complete gardens across Norfolk and Suffolk, and Ben and Ed do both the design and the build themselves.
Most of our design work is one of two jobs: a new-build plot that is bare earth and a fence, or an established garden that no longer works for the people living with it. Either way we start with a visit, walk the garden with you and ask how you use it, how much upkeep you want and what you want to spend, before anything is drawn.
Because the same two people do the paving, the planting and everything in between, there are no separate contractors to line up and nobody passing problems to the next trade. Contemporary or cottage garden, the approach is the same: find out what you want, plan it properly and build it to last.
What's included
- Initial design consultation and site survey
- Hard landscaping: patios, paths, steps and edging
- Soft landscaping: planting, turfing and border preparation
- Plants chosen for your soil and aspect
- Drainage solutions where required
- Waste removal throughout
- Handover and aftercare advice
How we work
-
Initial consultation
We visit the site, listen to what you want and talk through what is realistic given the space, soil and budget.
-
Design proposal
We put together a written proposal with a clear scope of works and material options. No computer-generated visuals, just straight talk about what we plan to do.
-
Material selection
We help you choose between hard landscaping materials, planting schemes and finishes. We use trade suppliers and can show you samples.
-
Installation
We work methodically through the project. Hard landscaping first, then soft. We keep the site as tidy as possible and remove waste as we go.
-
Handover and aftercare
We walk you through what has been done and give you honest advice on looking after the new garden, particularly any new planting and turf.
Materials and Options
Most full garden projects involve a combination of hard and soft elements. Design options range from hand-sketched layout plans to more detailed planting schemes with plant lists and spacing guides. We do not produce computer-rendered 3D visuals, but we find most customers get a clearer picture from seeing sample materials in person than from a screen render anyway.
For paved areas we typically use natural stone or porcelain slabs. Natural sandstone has character and beds in well, but it needs sealing after laying and occasional re-pointing over the years. Porcelain is harder wearing, more stain resistant and comes in consistent sizes, which suits contemporary styles. For planters and borders, Norfolk's clay-heavy soils across South Norfolk and the sandier, free-draining ground to the north and east affect which plants we recommend and how we prepare the ground. Drainage is always considered early, because getting water away from the house and off paved areas matters as much as how things look.
What the design covers
By the time we start building you should know where everything is going, what it is made of and roughly what it costs, so no decision gets made in a hurry with a digger already on the drive.
That means a measured survey of the plot as it stands, levels included, with anything we have to work around such as drains, manholes and access for materials. A layout for the paving, paths, steps, beds and lawn. A planting plan that says what goes where and when it is at its best. And a specification of the materials, so a slab is a named slab rather than just porcelain.
We draw it knowing we will be the ones building it, so you will not end up with something that looks right on paper and then needs a retaining wall nobody costed.
The ground you are working with
Most of the gardens we design sit on the heavy clay that runs through central and south Norfolk. Clay holds water through the winter and dries hard in the summer, and that changes what is worth doing. Patios and paths need a properly dug and compacted sub-base. Borders usually want breaking up and improving before anything goes in. The planting list leans towards plants that put up with wet roots through a Norfolk winter.
Nearer the coast it is the other way round. The soil is lighter and drains fast, which is easier to work but dries out quickly, and wind matters more than drainage. We design for the ground the garden actually has.
What affects the cost of a garden
A full garden is priced from the design, so the cost follows the decisions in it. The biggest are how much hard landscaping there is and what it is made of: a large porcelain terrace with steps costs far more than a gravel path and a lawn. Levels come next. A sloping garden that needs retaining walls or steps is a bigger build than a flat one.
After that it is ground preparation, access and waste. Clay that needs improving, a garden that can only be reached through the house, or an old patio and a shed base to break out and take away all add time. Planting is usually the smaller part of the bill, and it is the easiest part to phase if the budget needs spreading.
We price every job after seeing it, and the visit and quote are free.
Common questions
Have a question not answered here? Get in touch and we will be happy to help.
How does the design process start?
With a visit. We walk the garden with you, talk about how you use it and how much upkeep you want, and take the measurements and levels we need before we draw anything.
Do you charge for the first visit?
No. The first visit and the quote are free and there is no obligation.
Do you produce 3D drawings?
No. We draw layout plans and planting plans, and bring material samples so you can see the real thing in your own garden. Most people find that clearer than a screen render.
Can you build to a plan someone else has drawn?
Yes. We are happy to build to another designer or architect’s drawings, and we will tell you early if anything in them will cause a problem on the ground, such as levels, drainage or access.
How long does a full garden take?
It depends on the size and how much hard landscaping is involved. A straightforward garden can be a couple of weeks; a full redesign with paving, levels and planting runs longer. You get a realistic timescale with the quote.
Can the work be done in stages?
Yes. We can design the whole garden first and build it in phases, so each stage is finished properly and nothing has to be undone later.
Get a free garden design consultation
Free, no-obligation quotes. We cover Norfolk and Suffolk.
In our customers' words
Genuine reviews from clients across Norfolk and Suffolk
-
★★★★★
Ben and Ed at Hilton & Green have done amazing and difficult landscaping jobs for me in the past few years, from erecting a fence close to the house in a challenging setting, to a transformational soft landscaping project at the rear of the sloping garden. The guys are very professional and the results are stunning. I highly recommend Hilton & Green for your landscaping requirements.
George Smithon Google
-
★★★★★
Hilton and Green Landscaping have done wonders to our driveway and fencing. Their work is competent and professional. They are both very friendly and knowledgeable in how to make your ideas practical.
Scott Leamonon Google
-
★★★★★
We are so pleased we found Ben and Edd to put in our new patio. They have done an awesome job. They are two of the nicest people we have met and their work is exemplary. From start to finish the guys were brilliant at their work and the end result is awesome. Would highly recommend Hilton and Green to everyone. Two thumbs up for excellent work!
Su Eyleson Google
We design and build gardens across Norfolk and Suffolk. Most of our work is in and around Norwich, Long Stratton, Diss and Wymondham, and we travel further for the right job.