6 min read

Getting Your Garden Ready Before the Team Arrives

A landscaping job runs faster, cleaner and cheaper when the site is ready on day one. None of the preparation below is difficult, and most of it takes a weekend. It also removes the small frustrations that cause delays: a locked side gate, a car in the way, a plant that nobody realised mattered.

Clear the ground

Move furniture, pots, ornaments, toys, trampolines and anything leaning against the fence into a safe area or the house. Empty and dismantle anything that will be removed anyway, and clear out sheds that are being relocated.

If you want the old paving slabs, decking timber or fence panels kept, say so before the first day. Otherwise they will be loaded straight into the grab lorry.

Sort out access

Check the side gate width and unlock it. Cut back overhanging branches on the route in. Move wheelie bins to somewhere they will not be in the way for a fortnight.

Where there is no side access, agree in advance how material will come through the house and what protection will be laid down. Where a skip or grab lorry needs to be on the road, confirm who is arranging any permit.

Rescue the plants you care about

Anything you want to keep should be lifted and potted a few weeks before, ideally in autumn or early spring, so it has a chance to settle. Take cuttings from anything sentimental that will not move well.

Point out anything staying, with a tie or a marker on it. Instructions given verbally on a noisy site get lost.

Services, drains and boundaries

Tell us where you know cables, water pipes, gas runs and drainage cross the garden, including anything a previous owner installed, such as a supply to a shed or a lighting cable. Locate manhole covers and mention any soakaway or septic arrangement.

If a boundary is shared and the work touches it, speak to your neighbour before the job rather than during it, and confirm who owns which fence line.

Pets, children and parking

An open side gate and a garden full of machinery is not a place for a dog or a small child. Plan where pets will be during working hours and where children will play.

Keep a space free for a van and materials where you can, since it saves carrying time, and let us know about any parking restrictions on your road.

Practicalities during the work

Expect noise, dust, deliveries and a garden that looks much worse before it looks better. Access to an outside tap and, by agreement, a power point helps a lot.

Agree how questions will be handled while work is going on. A quick call or message at the point a decision is needed prevents things being built twice.

Ready when you are

Once your quote is agreed we walk the site with you, confirm access and set out the working areas so day one runs to plan.

Arrange your site visit View Patio and Landscaping 07535 661664

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be at home while the work is done?

Not every day, but being reachable helps, and it is worth being there at the start and at key decision points such as setting out levels and confirming positions.

Who arranges skips or a road permit?

We handle waste removal as part of the quote and will tell you if the council requires a permit for a skip on the highway at your address.

Will my grass and borders be damaged by the work?

Areas used as a route or a working space usually take a beating. We agree the working route in advance and protect what can be protected, and reinstatement can be included in the quote.

What happens if something unexpected is found underground?

We stop, show you what we have found and explain the options and any cost before continuing, rather than pressing on and presenting a bill later.

Can I use the garden while the work is under way?

Not the working areas, for safety reasons. We will keep routes to bins and sheds usable wherever the layout allows.