Garden Design Kent

Looking for a garden designer in Kent? Soil Sisters creates bespoke outdoor spaces across the county, from the rolling North Downs to the coastal towns of the Thames Estuary. Whether you have a sprawling rural plot in Ashford, a period property garden in Sevenoaks, or a compact courtyard in Canterbury, we design gardens that work with Kent's varied landscapes and your lifestyle.

Every project starts with a free consultation where we visit your garden, understand how you use the space, and talk through your ideas. From there we produce detailed planting plans, 3D visuals so you can see the finished garden before a single spade goes in, and full build management if you want us to handle the whole thing.

Design fees from £1,500. Full design and build projects from £100 per square metre. Free initial consultation. Get in touch or call 0203 834 9807.

Completed garden design project in Shoreham, Kent — A completed garden transformation in Shoreham, Kent

Why Choose Soil Sisters for Garden Design in Kent?

We are not a franchise or a nationwide operation. Soil Sisters is a small, dedicated garden design practice working across Kent, Surrey, Essex, Buckinghamshire and London. That means you deal directly with your designer from first meeting to final planting, and every decision is made with your specific garden in mind.

Kent has some of the most varied growing conditions in the south east. The chalky soils of the North Downs suit very different planting to the heavy London clay around Maidstone or the sandy loam in the Weald. We know these differences and design with them, not against them. You get a garden that actually thrives rather than one that looks good on paper and struggles in the ground.

Our team also understands the planning context in Kent. Many gardens here sit within conservation areas or near listed buildings, particularly in towns like Tunbridge Wells, Westerham and Otford. We work within those constraints and, where needed, help with the planning process for garden structures like garden rooms and outbuildings.

3D garden design render showing planting layout for a Kent garden — 3D visualisation helps you see your Kent garden before the build begins

Our Kent Garden Design Services

Full Garden Design and Consultation

Our core service covers everything from the initial site survey through to a complete design package. This includes a detailed planting plan, hard landscaping layout, lighting scheme and material specification. We present the design with 3D renders so you can walk through your new garden virtually before committing to the build.

For larger or more complex projects, we also offer phased design, allowing you to develop different areas of the garden over time without losing the coherence of the overall scheme. Typical design fees range from £1,500 for a small courtyard or front garden through to £4,500+ for a full country garden scheme with multiple zones, terracing, water features and comprehensive planting plans.

Planting Design for Kent's Climate and Soils

Kent sits in one of the warmest parts of the UK, which opens up planting options that would struggle further north. We regularly use Mediterranean planting schemes in sheltered Kent gardens, particularly in the warmer, drier areas around Canterbury and the coast. Cottage garden planting suits the character of older properties across Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells and the Weald villages.

Soil type matters. The chalk downland around Westerham and the North Downs suits drought-tolerant planting, gravel gardens, and Mediterranean species like lavender, rosemary, cistus and euphorbia. The heavy clay around Maidstone, Ashford and parts of Sevenoaks needs tough perennials that can cope with winter waterlogging: geraniums, persicaria, astrantia, and shrubs like hydrangeas and philadelphus. Sandy soils in the Weald around Pembury drain fast and need mulch, compost, and plants that tolerate dry summers.

Every planting plan is tailored to your soil type, aspect, and how much time you actually want to spend maintaining the garden. Low-maintenance designs typically use structural evergreen shrubs, ornamental grasses, and tough perennials that need cutting back once or twice a year. Wildlife-friendly planting works particularly well in rural Kent gardens, with native hedgerows, wildflower meadows, and nectar-rich borders for bees and butterflies.

Traditional garden planting design in Kent with herbaceous borders — Traditional herbaceous borders suited to Kent's period properties

Garden Build and Project Management

If you want the complete package, we manage the build from start to finish. We work with trusted local contractors across Kent, many of whom we have been building with for years. That means quality control, realistic timelines and a single point of contact throughout the project. You can read more about our garden build service for the full details.

Build costs vary significantly depending on what you want. As a rough guide:

Simple soft landscaping (borders, planting, paths, lawn): £100-150/sqm
Standard hard landscaping (paving, retaining walls, raised beds): £150-250/sqm
Premium builds (bespoke stonework, water features, lighting, outdoor kitchens): £250-400/sqm
Specialist features (natural swimming ponds, glass balustrades, bespoke metalwork): priced individually

These are build costs only. Design fees are separate and typically range from 8-15% of the total project value for design-and-build projects, or a fixed fee for design-only work.

Small Garden and Courtyard Design

Not every Kent garden is a rambling country estate. We design plenty of courtyard and small garden spaces across the county, particularly in Canterbury, Maidstone and the commuter towns closer to London. Small gardens need careful planning to make every square metre work, and that is where good design really earns its keep.

Vertical planting, built-in seating, multi-functional zones, and careful material selection can transform a cramped 30sqm courtyard into a genuinely usable outdoor room. We have designed tiny walled gardens in Tunbridge Wells that pack in dining space, planting, lighting and storage without feeling cluttered.

3D design of a small courtyard garden in Kent with built-in seating and planting — Small courtyard design maximising space with built-in features and layered planting

Garden Design Styles That Work in Kent

Traditional and Cottage Gardens

Period properties across Sevenoaks, Westerham, Otford and the Weald villages suit traditional garden design. Think herbaceous borders, box hedging, York stone paths, and climbing roses on brick walls. Cottage garden planting works beautifully: loose, romantic borders packed with delphiniums, lupins, foxgloves, hollyhocks, and old-fashioned roses.

Contemporary and Minimalist Gardens

Modern properties in Canterbury, Ashford and Maidstone suit clean-lined contemporary garden design. Porcelain paving, rendered walls, architectural planting (grasses, phormiums, bamboo), built-in lighting, and simple water features. Less clutter, more impact. Works particularly well on smaller urban plots where simplicity makes the space feel larger.

Mediterranean and Gravel Gardens

The warmest, driest parts of Kent, particularly on chalk and sandy soils, suit Mediterranean-style gardens. Gravel paths, terracotta pots, drought-tolerant planting (lavender, rosemary, santolina, cistus, euphorbia), olive trees, and outdoor dining spaces. Low-maintenance, climate-resilient, and beautiful year-round. Gravel gardens are becoming increasingly popular as summers get drier and water restrictions more common.

Wildlife and Naturalistic Gardens

Rural Kent gardens, particularly on larger plots, are ideal for wildlife garden design. Native hedgerows (hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel), wildflower meadows, ponds for frogs and newts, log piles for insects, and nectar-rich borders for pollinators. Works beautifully in the Weald, around Pembury, Tonbridge, and the quieter villages. You get a garden that supports biodiversity, requires less maintenance, and looks stunning through the seasons.

Garden design project completed in Pembury, near Tunbridge Wells, Kent — A recent project in Pembury, just outside Tunbridge Wells

Areas We Cover in Kent

We work across the whole county. Some of the towns and villages where we have completed projects or have active clients include:

Sevenoaks and the surrounding villages including Otford, Kemsing, Seal, Ightham, Knockholt and Riverhead
Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Pembury, Southborough and Langton Green
Westerham, Brasted, Sundridge, Edenbridge and the Kent/Surrey border villages
Canterbury, Whitstable, Faversham, Herne Bay and the cathedral towns
Maidstone, Bearsted, Lenham, Harrietsham and the Medway towns (Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham)
Ashford, Tenterden, Headcorn, Charing and the rural Weald
Dartford, Gravesend, Swanley and the London border (overlapping with our London garden design work)

If your town is not listed, do not worry. If you are in Kent, we almost certainly cover you. Get in touch and we will confirm. We also work across Surrey, Essex, Buckinghamshire and London.

What Does Garden Design in Kent Cost?

This depends on the size of the garden, the complexity of the design and how much build work is involved. Here are realistic figures based on recent Kent projects:

Design-Only Fees

Small courtyard or front garden (up to 50sqm): £1,500-£2,000
Standard rear garden (50-150sqm): £2,000-£3,500
Large garden (150-500sqm): £3,500-£6,000
Estate-scale or complex multi-zone gardens (500sqm+): £6,000+

Design fees include site survey, concept design, planting plan, hard landscaping layout, 3D visuals, material specification, and contractor liaison if you proceed to build. Revisions are included within reason.

Design and Build Projects

For full design-and-build projects, design fees are typically 8-15% of the total build cost, or we roll them into the overall project quote. Build costs depend on what you want:

Soft landscaping (new borders, planting, paths, turfing): £100-150/sqm
Standard paving and hard landscaping: £150-250/sqm
Premium builds with bespoke features: £250-400/sqm

As a rough guide, a typical 100sqm rear garden redesign with new paving, borders, planting, lighting and a small water feature might cost £18,000-£25,000 including design and build. A larger 250sqm garden with terracing, extensive planting, outdoor kitchen and lighting could be £50,000-£80,000. These are ballpark figures. Every project is different, and we always provide a detailed quote before work starts.

We are always upfront about costs. You will get a clear quote before any work starts, and there are no hidden extras. The consultation itself is free, so there is nothing to lose by having that initial conversation. For more detail on pricing and what is included at different budget levels, see our garden design cost guide (London-focused but principles apply across Kent and the South East).

Completed garden design project in Otford, Sevenoaks, Kent — Garden project in Otford, Sevenoaks, showing traditional stone paving and mature planting

Planning Permission and Listed Buildings in Kent

Many Kent properties sit within conservation areas or are listed buildings, particularly in historic towns like Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Westerham, Canterbury and the Wealden villages. Garden structures like outbuildings, garden rooms, pergolas, and retaining walls can trigger planning requirements or listed building consent.

We work within these constraints. If your project needs consent, we will flag it early and advise on what is required. For garden rooms and outbuildings, we can guide you through permitted development rules (2.5m height limit for buildings within 2m of a boundary, 4m for dual-pitch roofs elsewhere) and when full planning permission is needed.

Listed building consent is more involved. Even external changes like new paths, walls, or removing hedges can require approval if the property is Grade I or II* listed. We have worked on listed properties across Kent and know how to design sensitively within the rules. Conservation officers generally prefer traditional materials (York stone, brick, gravel) over modern alternatives (porcelain, composite decking) in historic settings.

Kent Garden Design FAQs

How long does a garden design project take?

Design-only projects typically take 4-8 weeks from initial consultation to final presentation, depending on complexity and how quickly we can schedule the site survey. Full design-and-build projects take longer: 2-3 months for a small courtyard, 3-6 months for a standard rear garden, 6-12 months for larger estate gardens. Weather, material lead times, and planning consent (if required) can all affect timelines.

Do you offer planting plans only?

Yes. If you have an existing garden layout but want to refresh the planting, we can provide a standalone planting plan. This includes a scaled plan showing where everything goes, a full plant list with quantities, and planting notes. Fees start from around £800 for a small border, £1,500-£2,500 for a full rear garden planting scheme. See our planting design service for more detail.

Can you work with my existing landscaper or builder?

Absolutely. We produce detailed plans and specifications that any competent contractor can follow. If you already have a trusted landscaper, we are happy to work with them. We can also recommend contractors we have worked with across Kent if you need introductions.

What is the best time of year to start a garden project?

Design work can happen any time. For build projects, spring (March-May) and autumn (September-October) are ideal. Summer is fine for hard landscaping but avoid planting in July-August when it is too hot and dry. Winter (November-February) is the best time for structural tree and hedge work, but ground conditions can be tricky for heavy machinery on clay soils.

Do you design front gardens?

Yes. Front garden design is increasingly important, particularly in towns where parking and kerb appeal matter. We design front gardens for privacy, planting, parking, bin storage, and bike storage, while keeping the street-facing elevation attractive. Many Kent properties have front gardens that could be working much harder.

How to Get Started

The first step is simple. Book a free consultation and we will come to your garden, have a proper look at the space and talk through what you want to achieve. From there we will put together a proposal and, once you are happy, get started on the design.

You can also browse our portfolio of completed projects to see examples of what we do, or call us directly on 0203 834 9807 for an initial chat. No obligation, no pressure, just a straightforward conversation about your garden and what is possible.

For more Kent-specific inspiration, see our Kent garden design cost guide, or browse our blog for design ideas, planting advice, and seasonal maintenance tips.