Cambridge Landscapes - Garden design, patios, lawns and fencing

What a landscaper does

Six kinds of work, each marked with the letter you will find on the garden plan below.

A
Patios and paving
Patios, paths, steps and driveways in stone, porcelain, concrete or block.
- Patios
- Paths and steps
- Driveways
B
Lawns
New turf or seed, repairs to a tired lawn, and artificial grass.
- Turfing
- Seeding
- Artificial grass
C
Borders and planting
Beds dug, the soil improved and a planting plan for every season.
- New borders
- Soil improvement
- Planting plans
D
Fencing and gates
Panel and close-board fences, gates and trellis.
- Fence panels
- Gates
- Trellis
E
Decking and garden rooms
Timber or composite decking, pergolas and the base for a shed or garden room.
- Decking
- Pergolas
- Bases for sheds
F
Trees, hedges and clearance
Hedge trimming, tree work where it is allowed, and garden clearance.
- Hedge trimming
- Tree work
- Clearance

A garden on paper first

A good job starts with a plan: where the sun falls, where the water goes and what each part of the garden is for.

APatio next to the house, with a firm base so it does not sink or tilt.
BLawn in the sunniest part, shaped so the mower can reach every edge.
CBorders along the boundaries, deep enough for layers of planting.
DFence and gate that mark the boundary and give privacy.
EDecking at the far end, where the evening sun arrives.
FTrees placed so their shade and roots stay clear of the house.

The ground around Cambridge

What lies under the lawn decides how a garden drains, what grows and how paving must be laid.

Ground	Where	What it means for the garden
Clay	Widespread across the county	Holds water in winter and cracks in a dry summer. Drainage and raised beds make the difference, and paving needs a proper sub-base.
Chalk	The southern edge of the county	Thin, alkaline and free-draining. Choose plants that tolerate lime, and add organic matter to hold moisture.
River gravels	Along the valley of the Cam	Free-draining and quick to dry out. Mulch and watering matter more than drainage.
Peat	To the north, towards the Fens	Low and soft, and it shrinks as it dries. Heavy structures need careful foundations.

Gardener in blue overalls digging a heap of dark soil with a spade next to a wheelbarrow

Before the digging starts

Five limits that come up again and again in a garden in England.

5 m²A hard surface over five square metres in a front garden needs planning permission, unless it is permeable or drains to a lawn or border.
2 mThe usual maximum height of a fence in a back garden without permission. Beside a road or path the limit is 1 m.
30 cmDecking more than 30 centimetres above the ground needs planning permission.
6 weeksNotice to the council before work on a tree in a conservation area. Trees with a protection order need consent.
2.5 mThe usual maximum height of an outbuilding within two metres of a boundary.

These are the usual limits for houses. Flats, listed buildings and homes where permitted development rights have been removed are different. Check with your local council.

Hands unrolling a roll of fresh turf onto bare soil next to an existing lawn

Turf, seed or artificial grass

Three ways to a lawn, and what each one asks of you.

TurfA green lawn within weeks. Best laid in early autumn or spring, on well-prepared soil, and watered every day at first.
SeedCheaper and slower. Sow in spring or early autumn, and keep off the lawn for the first six to eight weeks.
Artificial grassNo mowing. It needs a compacted sub-base and good drainage, and it can get hot in full sun.

What a patio is made of

The surface is the part you see. The base underneath is what lasts.

Material	Worth knowing
Natural stone	Sandstone, limestone and slate. Each slab is different and lasts for decades. Dearer, and worth sealing.
Porcelain	Hard and non-porous, so it resists stains and frost. It needs a firm base and the right adhesive.
Concrete	Affordable, in many colours and sizes. It can fade and mark over the years.
Block paving	Flexible, and easy to lift and repair. Weeds can grow in the joints, which need sand topping up.
Resin-bound and gravel	Permeable, which helps with drainage. Both need the right base, and gravel can drift.

Hands pressing red clay pavers into a herringbone pattern on a bed of sand

A garden through the year

When each kind of work goes best, in an East of England climate that is among the driest in the country.

SpringTurf and seed go down, borders are planted, fences are repaired after winter.
SummerThe best months for patios and paving, in dry weather. Water what is new.
AutumnA second chance for turf, and the time to plant trees, shrubs and hedges.
WinterTime to design, order materials and book work. Fencing and groundwork when the soil is not frozen.

Where we work around Cambridge

By postcode area, from the city to the villages along the Cam and out to the fen edge.

CB1Cherry Hinton, Romsey, Petersfield, Fulbourn
CB2Trumpington, Newnham, Queen Edith's
CB3Girton, Grantchester, West Chesterton
CB4Chesterton, Arbury, King's Hedges, Orchard Park
CB5Abbey, Fen Ditton, Teversham
CB21Fulbourn, Balsham, Great Abington
CB22Great Shelford, Sawston, Foxton, Duxford
CB23Cambourne, Bar Hill, Caldecote, Hardwick
CB24Histon, Impington, Cottenham, Longstanton
CB25Waterbeach, Bottisham, Burwell, Lode

Frequently asked questions

Early autumn and spring are the most reliable, when the soil is warm enough and moist. Avoid frozen ground and a dry summer, unless you can water every day.

A patio at ground level usually does not, except for the front garden rule on hard surfaces. Decking more than 30 centimetres above the ground does. Listed buildings and some conservation areas have extra rules.

For an average patio, often three to seven days: digging out, laying and compacting the sub-base, then laying the paving and pointing. The size, the materials and the weather change this.

Yes, with the right preparation. The ground is dug out, a compacted sub-base is laid, and a slight fall carries the water away. Laying on soft ground is what causes sinking.

It suits small, shaded or heavily used areas. It needs a proper base and drainage, it can get hot in the sun, and it does nothing for wildlife. Ask what the base is made of.

You must give your local council six weeks' notice first, and a tree with a protection order needs consent. Depending on where you live, that is Cambridge City Council or South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Yes: Cambridge and the villages around it, including Histon, Great Shelford, Sawston, Cottenham and Cambourne. Enter your postcode in the form to start.

Cambridge Landscapes: garden design, patios, lawns and fencing in Cambridge

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What a landscaper does

Patios and paving

Lawns

Borders and planting

Fencing and gates

Decking and garden rooms

Trees, hedges and clearance

A garden on paper first

The ground around Cambridge

Before the digging starts

Turf, seed or artificial grass

What a patio is made of

A garden through the year

Where we work around Cambridge

Frequently asked questions

Contact us

A garden job in Cambridge?

What a landscaper does

Patios and paving

Lawns

Borders and planting

Fencing and gates

Decking and garden rooms

Trees, hedges and clearance

A garden on paper first

The ground around Cambridge

Before the digging starts

Turf, seed or artificial grass

What a patio is made of

A garden through the year

Where we work around Cambridge

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to lay a new lawn?

Do I need planning permission for a patio or decking?

How long does a patio take to build?

Can paving go on clay soil?

Is artificial grass a good idea?

Can I prune or remove a tree in a conservation area?

Do you cover the villages around Cambridge?

Contact us

A garden job in Cambridge?