How to plan a DIY landscaping project

Garden landscaping can completely transform your outdoor space. With some detailed planning, a keen design eye, the right plants and some clever science, you can carve your garden into a space that you’ll never want to leave. This guide will go through all the steps from planning to completion covering the following areas: 

 

How to approach your DIY landscaping project

Garden landscaping is a science and an art - that’s why there’s a whole professional industry based around it!

But perhaps hiring a professional garden landscaper isn’t possible for you. Or, perhaps you’d prefer to get your hands dirty and realise your vision yourself. Either way, many people choose to revamp their outdoor space with their own hands, and it can be a very pleasing and exciting experience!

However, before you rush to get the spade out, there are some things you need to consider before you start your DIY landscaping project.

What do you want to achieve in your garden?

And be realistic! While the Chelsea Flower Show is inspiring, some designs might be a tad difficult to recreate - especially if you’re not using any professional help. So, carefully consider what’s realistic for you to do with your own two hands.

Here are some landscaping ideas you might want to consider:

  • Planting a new hedgerow to break up space
  • Installing new decking to create levels
    • Decking gets a big “yes” if you want to add some depth to your garden. By creating different levels, your space can feel more dynamic and offer the perfect space for outdoor entertaining and dining.
  • Creating new flower beds
    • Flower beds can be an inexpensive yet transformative way to give your garden a breath of fresh air. You can get creative with how they look, too. For example, you can raise them, expand them or add depth by layering different plants by height. From wild meadows to neat flower designs, plants and flowers add colour and life to any garden.
  • Installing simple ponds and water features
    • Water features are often the wow factor in impressive gardens - and the good news is that you don’t need cascading waterfalls to impress. Small ponds and fountains are easy to install in DIY gardens. You can find many options at your local garden centre.
  • Planting a variety of different plants
    • Different types of plants add texture and vibrancy to gardens, so playing with a variety of greenery will make a huge difference to your outside space. Combining seasonal flowers with evergreen hedges will make sure your space feels alive throughout the year. You can also experiment with different sizes and levels to add more contrast.


If you’re still short on ideas for your DIY landscaping project, there are plenty of places to find inspiration.

For example, you can get ideas by browsing online. Social media sites such as Pinterest and Instagram are bursting with great garden design inspiration that are bound to get your design juices flowing.

For real life inspiration, you can also visit botanical gardens, local parks and gardens. This will also help you to feel how outside space can be used - rather than just seeing it.

For example, a beautiful and overly structured garden might feel too busy or crowded for you. Equally, a very neat and organised-looking garden might lack a bit of natural disorder! Knowing how you feel in different types of spaces is an important aspect of landscaping to consider. After all, you’ll spend a lot of time in your new garden, so you'll need to feel as happy and as relaxed as possible.

Think about “the science” of your garden

You will need to consider what is ecologically possible in your garden.

While there are endless possibilities for any landscaping project, the space you have and what the conditions are like will inform what’s possible for you.

For example, the amount of sun your garden gets during the day throughout the year could impact what you can grow and where. Or, if your garden doesn’t have much protection from the wind or rain, erosion and wear and tear will take their toll on any new decking or furniture much quicker than you’d expect.

The point of this section is to make sure you understand exactly what will thrive and what will fail in your garden. Understanding this “scientific” part of the design process will ensure the changes you make will flourish for longer.

Do your research about which plants thrive in your local area, the position of your garden (south facing/ north facing) and in the type of garden you have. This will prevent any sudden plant die off (or even failure to launch), and also improve the longevity of your new garden features.

Plan your landscaping budget from the get go

Even the most diligently planned DIY projects add up in cost quickly, so it’s important to plan your budget before you start on your landscaping project - especially if saving money is a big reason behind doing it yourself.

Bear in mind that doing it yourself will save you money compared with using a professional landscaper, you’ll still need to take into account costs for things like:

  • Gardening equipment, such as trowels, wheelbarrows, ladders etc
  • Materials, such as decking, soil, or fencing
  • Plants
  • Water features

To make sure your spending doesn't get out of control, come up with a total budget that you’re comfortable with. Then, start working your way back, assigning that budget into the above areas.

This will give you a good idea of what you can spend on each area and prevent you from going over budget as the project develops. Doing this will also give you the space to research which materials you can afford within your budget, making material planning a lot easier, too.

Design your garden landscape project on paper

Once you have an idea about your budget and what you’d like to create in your garden space, it’s time to start designing your landscaping project.

A professional landscape gardener would take time to plot the space meticulously on paper. This is so they can calculate what materials they’ll need for different parts of the garden and how much of everything they’ll need.

While you might not need to be so precise in your planning, it’s important to come up with a rough diagram of how you’ll separate your garden, where you’ll put different plants and/or features, along with anything else you want to include in your new garden.

Putting your design on paper will help you:

  • Visualise your design
  • Help you stay on track
  • Plan which materials you’ll need, and how many/much of them

Once your design is visualised, you can start purchasing the materials and equipment needed to make your garden transformation.

Make a list of the materials you need

The materials you’ll need for your landscaping project will be split into two different areas.

  1. The tools you need to help you do the project
  2. What materials you need for the design of your new garden 

DIY tools you need for your landscaping project

If you’re an avid gardener, you may already have a lot of the tools needed to carve your garden into something brand new. However, you might be missing a few of the things needed to build your new garden in the most safe and efficient way.

Tools needed for landscaping might include:

At Henchman, we’re market leaders when it comes to providing safe gardening equipment. From our best-selling tripod ladders that make working at heights safer, to our wide selection of gardening tools, we have everything you need to create the outdoor space of your dreams. To start building your garden toolkit, read our guide. 

If you’re planning on installing a new hedge row or trimming down an existing one, our selection of Henchman ladders will make sure you’re as safe as you can possibly be while working from height, and will also allow you to keep on top of your garden maintenance long after your new garden is completed. If you’re unsure about staying safe while using your ladder, check out our guide here.

Materials you need for your landscaping project

Once you have all the tools to get to work, make sure you have everything you need for your design. This might include:

  • New fencing
  • New plants
  • Water features and any new tap connections needed
  • Decking
  • Garden furniture

Make sure you have all of your materials ready before you start your project. This will prevent issues such as long delivery times, stock issues or any other type of unforeseen delay that could stop your project in its tracks. These issues are even more frustrating if you’ve already started working on your garden!

Starting and finishing your landscaping project

Now you have everything planned, bought and ready to start, you can finally begin your DIY landscaping project.

Remember: unlike other DIY projects, how you’re able to progress with your landscaping will depend on the weather, your free time and how much manpower you have available to get the job done. Depending on how big your garden is, expect to spend a good few full days in the garden.

Be weather wary

Be wary of the weather forecast when you start - consistent weather is important so you can get on with the big changes such as laying the decking, creating new flower beds or creating your new hedge row (For future hedge maintenance, you can also read our guide about hedge cutting).

Rules for efficient landscaping

Stick to the following general rules for safe, efficient working:

  • Clear your space before you start
    • This might sound obvious, but it’s important to start on as much of a blank canvas as possible. So remove any unwanted plants, rocks, pots and furniture before you start digging things up.
  • Tidy up after yourself every day
    • Before you end for the day, make sure you tidy up as much as possible. From a safety point of view this will make sure you don’t fall victim to any cartoon-like rake moments, but it will also help you approach your project with a fresh perspective the next day.
  • Don’t work when you’re too tired
    • While it’s tempting to power through and get as much done as possible, this can actually be counterproductive and unsafe. If you’re working from heights, this could be especially dangerous. If you’re feeling tired, take a break and return to your landscaping with a rested body and mind.
  • Get a skip
    • You may have a lot of old bits to throw away (soil, stones, furniture, debris etc) it’s important to make sure none of that debris stays in your way - not even if you manage to push it all into a corner. From a safety standpoint, less clutter will lessen the likelihood of any accidents, and it will also make your new garden design come together quicker.


And that’s it! Now you have all the information you need to start your very own DIY landscaping project.

Expert gardening equipment from Henchman

At Henchman, we’re all about keeping you safe when working at height when in the garden. With many homeowners tackling their own landscaping projects every year, our goal is keep you as safe as possible - no matter how big the project!

Our range of garden products is especially designed to keep you as safe and secure no matter what terrain you’re working on, and no matter how high your hedge is. From our professional standard ladders to our garden accessories - we have everything you need.

Browse our products now and discover everything you need to make your DIY landscaping project a success.

If your Henchman kit has already helped you tackle a landscaping project, send us your photos! We would love to see them, email us at marketing@henchman.co.uk .